Abstract: A wick applicator assembly for wiping liquid chemical on vegetation, such as weed growth among young field crops, comprises a tractor-mounted elongated bar having a plurality of individual wick stations arranged serially therealong. Each wick station comprises a porous tube individually connected at one end to a common line containing liquid chemical under pressure and at the other end to a common return line for recycling unused liquid to a supply tank. Each tube is covered with a sleeve of fabric material which becomes saturated with liquid seeping from the tube pores for wiping against target vegetation. Adjustable flow restrictors at the inlet and outlet ends of each tube serve to control the saturation level of its sleeve.
Abstract: A recirculating sprayer adapted for mounting on a vehicle is improved for use at increased travel speed and for operation in higher wind conditions by angling the solid spray streams forwardly or rearwardly from a direction transverse to the travel direction. The sprays are employed in criss-cross, opposite pairs, with the spray stream patterns of adjacent pairs of spray nozzles abutting or overlapping one another for full coverage of all upstanding weeds or crops in an area traversed by the sprayer. A series of collector mats or panels may be arranged transverse to the travel direction, with sprays trained thereon for contacting each weed twice in its upstanding position once by each spray of a pair; the weeds may also be contacted once more as they are bent forward to pass beneath the panels and a reservoir thereunder. The collector may also be arranged in panels parallel to the travel direction, for increased ease in negotiating sloping terrain.
Abstract: An apparatus for controlling weeds and for treating crops planted in rows has a horizontal frame connected to a transverse, horizontal tool bar of a propelling vehicle by a parallelogram linkage which is maintained in gauged vertical relation to a crop row shoulder surface by a pair of gauge wheels affixed to the frame and rolling along the shoulder surface. A pair of disc blades which may be rotatable if desired are adjustably carried along either side of the crop row shoulder by shafts mounted in the clamps on the frame, the clamps permitting vertical, lateral, and angular positioning of the shafts and disc blades. A pair of spray nozzles may be carried from the rear end of the frame for positioning on either side of the crop row for application of herbicides and other chemicals.