Abstract: Apparatus for creating a ditch or furrow for agricultural use, including an implement pulled by a tractor. Generally, an implement includes a plow, a roller, and a wheel, such as a packer wheel. A plow is located towards an implement front end, and a wheel is located towards an implement back end, typically with the plow coaligned with a wheel. A roller is located on one or both sides of the plow wherein a frame supports the configurations of the plow, roller, and wheel.

Abstract: A marker assembly for use with an agricultural implement includes a float linkage that allows limited vertical displacement of the marker assembly when the marker assembly is in a fully deployed position. This limited vertical displacement accommodates changes in surface terrain (contour) as well as in-field obstructions. The marker assembly is comprised of a series of interconnected linkages. The linkages are extended by an actuator, e.g., hydraulic cylinder and ram. The float linkage allows for vertical displacement of the extended linkages even when the actuator is in an extended position.

Abstract: A control system is provided for automatically deploying the field markers on an agricultural planter in an alternating manner without requiring operator input. The control system utilizes a proximity sensor to determine whether the tool bar is coming from the lowered working position to the raised headland position or vice versa. Solenoid valves in the hydraulic circuit to the field marker actuators are activated to retract both actuators to retract the deployed one of the field markers when the tool bar is moved into the headland position. When the tool bar is returned to the working position after making a turn at the field headlands, the control system remembers which field marker had just previously been deployed and then extends the other field marker to score the field. The control system permits the operator to remain attentive to the turning of the tractor and implement at the headlands and the setting of the planting implement into the ground at the proper location for planting the crop.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling the above-ground "raise height" of a seed-planting row unit on an agricultural planter having a row marker, a marker switch and a positioning assembly such as a solenoid valve and hydraulic cylinder for raising and lowering the row unit. The method includes enabling the positioning assembly to raise the row unit and changing the marker switch from its first to its second position when the row unit reaches a predetermined height. The positioning assembly is thereby disabled. Such assembly is re-enabled after a brief time delay. The method is carried out using a unique implement control circuit connected to the marker switch and the positioning assembly.

Abstract: A process of growing crystals in which the uniformity of the oxygen concentration is desirable. In the process, the upper part of the material in the crucible is heated to form a molten layer, and a solid layer is formed at its lower part, then a seed crystal is made to contact the surface of the molten layer, and pulled up to grow a crystal, while characteristically a magnetic field is applied to the molten layer. This method produces single crystals with a uniform distribution of oxygen concentration. Furthermore, this method produces single crystals at low cost and with a high productivity.

Abstract: A low profile folding row marker apparatus is provided for use with an agricultural implement, such as a seed planter or the like. The apparatus includes inboard and outboard arm assemblies that are supported on the implement by a marker mount. The inboard and outboard arm assemblies are connected to the marker mount and to each other for relative pivotal movement about horizontal axes between a generally vertical storage position and a generally horizontal use position. A linkage assembly is connected between the inboard and outboard arm assemblies for controlling relative movement of the outboard arm assembly, and an actuating means is provided between the marker mount and the linkage assembly for moving the inboard and outboard arm assemblies sequentially between the storage and use positions.

Abstract: An apparatus to be advanced in a travel direction by a vehicle to continuously mark underlying soil. The apparatus has an elongate body with first and second portions and leading and trailing surfaces. Structure is provided at a first location on the elongate body for engaging and marking underlying soil as the soil marking apparatus is advanced over underlying soil. Structure is provided for connecting the elongate body to a vehicle to advance the soil marking apparatus over underlying soil. First structure cooperates between the first and second elongate body portions to allow the first portion of the elongate body to reposition relative to the second portion of the elongate body upon the first portion of the elongate body being acted upon by a predetermined force applied in the first direction at a first point.

Abstract: A field marker is disclosed for selectively dropping sections of rolled paper tissue to the ground surface to indicate the boundary of an area being treated with a liquid. The marker includes a device for mounting a tissue roll for rotation to facilitate unraveling the free end of the paper tissue. A gripping mechanism is provided to take hold of the free tissue end and pull it from the roll. The action is such that individual tissue sections are selectively removed from the tissue roll and dropped to the ground surface. Preferably, the area marked is slightly inward of the treatment pattern such that the dropped tissue sections are saturated by the liquid being applied and thereby secured to the ground surface.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a marker which can be dropped from an aircraft, such as an airplane or a helicopter, so that the pilot of an airplane can see the marker on the ground or on the growing plants and trees, and know, when he is in the aircraft, where the aircraft has flown for spraying fertilizer, insecticides, herbicides and the like. The drop marker comprises a base member which may be unitary or integral. The drop marker upon falling from the aircraft towards the ground is of such a construction that the base member divides in two pieces. The drop marker also comprises a folded streamer strip. One end of the streamer strip is attached to the first piece of the base member and the other end of the streamer strip is attached to the second piece of the base member. The drop marker unfolds upon falling from the aircraft toward the ground.

Abstract: A row crop planter supports at least two vertical guide making blocks to form superficial trenches about four or five inches deep precisely midway between adjacent rows as they are planted. Tires with trench-riding central ridges on front wheels of a tractor powering a subsequent row crop processing implement along these rows serve to guide the tractor down the rows. Vertical guide following blocks on such a subsequent processing implement such as a cultivator, for example, find and follow exactly the previously formed trenches and so serve to guide cultivator blades to follow every minor deviation of the rows, even on hillsides causing the implement to be tilted transversely of the direction of movement of the implement down the rows. The depth of the guide trenches and the depth of penetration of the guide following blocks is determined by implement support wheels near those blocks.

Abstract: A grain drill having a plurality of closely spaced seeding units is modified to change the pattern of seed flow through one of the seeding units so that when the plants emerge, the one row will be visibly different from the other rows. The visibly different row can then be used as a marker for weed control spraying or the like.