Single Disc Liquid Fertilizer Opener

Abstract

A method and apparatus to be mounted upon a planter row unit for delivering liquid fertilizer to the bottom of a trench without contacting the seed to be planted may be integrated with a cleaner for the furrow opening device. The system as claimed and described is adapted for mounting to substantially all modern row units employing floating row units. The method and apparatus as described does not interfere with existing down pressure or seed placement systems as found on modern row crop planters. As described and implemented, the method and apparatus is more compact and lighter in weight than the prior art. The attached assembly for a seed planting unit works in combination with a seed trench opener to form a trench for the deposit of liquid fertilizer offset from and parallel to the later formed seed trench.

1 . A method of placing a material in the bottom of a furrow, said method comprising:
 a. opening a furrow in a top surface of the ground via an opener assembly;   b. positioning a material placement shoe in said furrow, wherein said material placement show comprises:
 i) a main body comprising:
 (1) a first end, wherein said first end is configured to pivotally affix said shoe to said opener assembly about an axis substantially perpendicular to the fore-aft direction; 
 (2) a second end, wherein said second end is configured to engage said furrow formed by said opener assembly; 
 (3) a bottom surface, wherein said bottom surface is configured to engage the bottom of said furrow; 
 (4) a top surface, wherein said top side is opposite said bottom surface; 
 (5) an inner surface, wherein said inner surface is adjacent to said opener assembly, and wherein a portion of said inner surface is in contact with said opener assembly; and 
 
 ii) a tube, wherein said tube is affixed to said top surface of said main body, and wherein said tube includes a discharge end positioned above said main body second end such that said main body second end is positioned between the bottom of said furrow and said discharge end of said tube; 
   c. depositing said material into said tube such that said material travels through said tube and out said discharge end into said furrow.   
     
     
         2 . The method to  claim 1  wherein said tube is defined as being integrally formed with said main body of said shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said furrow opener assembly is further defined as a disc opener. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said shoe is further defined as being pivotally affixed to the hub of said disc opener. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 3  wherein said shoe is further defined as being within the shadow of said disc opener during forward travel of said disc opener. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1  wherein said second end, said bottom surface, and said inner surface are further defined as being constructed of a wear-resistant material. 
     
     
         7 . A method of placing a material in the bottom of a furrow, said method comprising:
 a. opening a furrow in a top surface of the ground via an opener assembly;   b. positioning a material placement shoe in said furrow, wherein said material placement show comprises:
 i) a cantilevered first end, wherein said cantilevered first end is configured to pivotally affix said shoe to a hub of a disc opener; 
 ii) a tapered second end, wherein said tapered second end is configured to engage the bottom of a furrow; 
 iii) a bottom surface, wherein a portion of said bottom surface connects said cantilevered first end to said tapered second end, and wherein said bottom surface is configured to engage the bottom of said furrow; 
 iv) a tube, wherein said tube is positioned away from said bottom surface; and 
 v) an inner surface, wherein said inner surface is positioned adjacent said disc opener, and wherein at least a portion of said inner surface engages said disc opener. 
   c. depositing said material into said tube such that said material travels through said tube and into said furrow.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7  wherein said tube is further defined as being internal to said material delivery shoe, wherein a first end of said tube is positioned adjacent said first end of said material delivery shoe, and wherein a second end of said tube is positioned adjacent said second end of said material delivery shoe. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8  wherein said material placement shoe further comprises a spring engagement slot formed in said material placement shoe adjacent said first end, wherein a spring is engaged with said spring engagement slot such that said material delivery shoe is simultaneously biased against said disc opener and the bottom of said furrow.