Wheelbarrow Herbicide Tank

Wheelbarrow Herbicide Tank CROPS New Techniques 6-3-6 Richard Henry, LaPlace, Ill., designed this "wheelbarrow" herbicide tank which is pushed by the tractor and rides on its own wheels. The unit is low in profile for easy filling and whatever Henry hooks behind it, such as a disk or field cultivator, automatically takes out the wheel tracks. The "wheelbarrow" is mounted to a tractor and oscillates to follow the contour of the field. To get this rocking action, Henry used ball and socket hitches, the type used for trailers. Instead of pulling, as with a trailer, they push. To make the carrier's wheels follow the ground surface, Henry used a solid axle, attached with a sleeve in the center. A shaft on the axle slides into the sleeve and is pinned in place. This permits the axle, right and left, to rise and fall as needed in following the ground surface. This rising and falling, in turn, raises and lowers the wheelbarrow "handles" that carry the tank. The wheels are "Oliver helper wheels" for 3 pt. hitches. They operate in caster fashion, turning any which way the tractor turns. Henry built the frame of mild steel, making square beams from angle iron. The tank holds 350 gal., which is large enough for covering about 20 acres per fill. Henry uses it for both corn and soybean herbicides.

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