GB2153194A

GB2153194A - Apparatus for spraying fluids on a ground surface

Info

Publication number: GB2153194A
Application number: GB08413286A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Reus Cornelis Nicholaas De
Original assignee: CEBECO HENDELSRAAD NATIONALE C; REUS C N DE
Current assignee: CEBECO HENDELSRAAD NATIONALE C; REUS C N DE
Priority date: 1984-01-26
Filing date: 1984-05-24
Publication date: 1985-08-21
Also published as: GB8413286D0; NL191726B; NL191726C; GB2153194B; DE3501729C2; DE3501729A1; NL8400243A

Abstract

An apparatus for spraying fluids on a ground surface having a fluid distribution member (4) which is journalled on a tractor frame (3) by means of a balancing device (8). The balancing device comprises a carrier (12) fastened to the frame and having a curved top surface (13) on which the distribution member bears for oscillation. Thus, unevennesses in the ground surface can easily be compensated for. Further, adjustable means are provided for displacing the centre of gravity of the distribution member bearing in the carrier, just in case the apparatus has to operate under varying land conditions, such as e.g. a transition from flat land to sloping land or vice versa. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Apparatus for spraying fluids on a ground surface This invention relates to an apparatus for spraying fluids on a ground surface, comprising a distribution member provided with spraying nozzles, said member with the interposition of a balancing device being journalled in a frame carried by an agricultural tractor.

Such an apparatus which may be used for spreading liquid manure or pesticides, is known in many forms.

An important component part of such spraying apparatus is the balancing device which serves to prevent unequal distances of the spraying nozzles from the ground and to prevent contact between one of the ends of the distribution member and the ground. Since the distribution member usually has a large working width (up to 24 metres or more) it will be obvious that the balancing device has to meet stringent requirements.

Balancing devices are known in which the distribution member is suspended in a freely oscillating manner on the tractor-carried frame by means of a reciprocatory construction. This reciprocatory construction is sometimes double or triple. With such a construction, the distribution member will constantly tend to maintain its state of equilibrium by oscillating as soon as the frame starts swinging due to unevenness of the soil. A disadvantage is, however, that the distribution member will respond to every swing of the frame and exhibit a fairly large deflection during oscillation which can only be avoided by complicated damping structures (see, for example, French patent specification 2.289.116).

Other balancing devices are known which comprise a carrier fastened to the frame and having downwardly inclined ends on which the distribution member is journalled by means of rollers or skids (PCT-application WO 83/02544). With such a balancing device the distribution member may also oscillate freely, but due to its inertia the oscillations will be less frequent and have a smaller deflection so that the distribution memer is apprecially less influenced by swings of the frame. A disadvantage is, however, that the distribution member always has the same, usually horizontal state of equilibrium, which cannot be simply altered in he event of varying land conditions, for example. at the transition from flat land to sloping land.

The invention has for its object to overcome the disadvantages of the known balancing devices and in particular to provide a spraying apparatus in which the balancing device can be adapted to operation under varying conditions, in particular, varying land conditions.

The invention provides in the first place a spraying apparatus of the kind set forth in the preamble which is characterized in that the balancing device comprises a carrier fastened to the frame and having a curved top surface on which the distribution member bears so as to be able to oscillate and in that adjustable means are provided for displacing the centre of gravity of the distribution member bearing on the carrier. With such a construction small swings of the frame, for example, due to uneveness of the soil can be effectively compensated for by oscillations of the distribution member, the extent of oscillation being only small as a result of inertia, while larger amendments requiring a different state of equilibrium of the distribution member can be carried out with the aid of the means for displacing the centre of gravity.Such an apparatus is eminently suitable for use on fields having alternating flat and sloping lands.

In the second place the invention provides a spraying apparatus of the kind set forth in the preamble which is characterized in that the balancing device comprises, in addition to or instead of said means for displacing the centre of gravity, means for adjusting the radius of curvature of the curved carrier surface. By such means the balancing device can be adapted to a variable hardness of the land which gives rise to variable oscillations of the distribution member and also adapted to varying dimensions and weight of the distribution member.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the drawing where some embodiments of the invented apparatus are shown by way of example.

Fig. 1 shows the compiete spraying apparatus on a strongly reduced scale during operation.

Fig. 2 shows the main parts of the spraying apparatus of Fig. 1.

Figs. 3 to 7 show various embodiments of the balancing device in the apparatus of Fig.

1 and 2.

Figure 1 shows a spraying apparatus in operation for spreadig a fluid on a ground surface. An agricultural tractor 2 is provided with a frame 3 in which an elongate distribution member 4 provided with spraying nozzles 5 is suspended. This distribution member 4 extends transversely to the direction of movement of the tractor 2 and has a working width such that a large surface is covered when spraying a fluid on the ground 6. The distribution member can be folded together along pivots 7,7 so as to occupy little space when the apparatus is out of use. The main component parts of the spraying device of Fig. 1 are shown in Fig. 2 as an enlarged scale, some parts being broken away for the sake of clarity.It can be seen that the distribution member 4 is suspended for free oscillation on frame 3 with the interposition of a balancing device 8, and that a distribution member is only to oscillate in a vertical plane transversely of the direction of movement of the tractor due to guides 9,9 of the frame 3.

Frame 3 furthermore carries a hopper 10 for the fluid to be spread and a pump 11 connected through ducts (not shown) with the spraying nozzles 5 of the distribution member 4.

Some embodiments of a balancing device 8 of the spraying apparatus 1 of Figures 1 and 2 will be discussed in detail now with reference to Figures 3 to 7.

The balancing device of Figure 3 comprises a carrier 1 2 fastened to the frame 3 and having an upwardly curved top surface 13. A girder 14 of the distribution member is bearing on this surface and is able to oscillate thereon to a limited extent. The curved carrier surface 1 3 has a smaller radius of curvature at its ends than in its centre (see the arrows A and B).

At one of its ends, the carrier 1 2 is pivotally connected through a connecting flange 1 5 with a bracket 1 7 fastened to the frame 3 such that the carrier end concerned will always be at a constant height with respect to the frame. The other end of the carrier is pivotally connected through a connecting flange 1 6 with a piston rod 1 8 adapted to slide with a piston (not shown) in a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 19, which in turn, is pivotally connected with the frame 3. In this way the carrier end concerned is adjustable in height with regard to the frame 3.

Furthermore a strut 20 is pivotally connected at one end, with the frame 3 and at the other end with the girder 14 of distribution member 4. Thanks to this strut 2, small oscillations of the girder 14 bearing on the carrier 1 2 are allowed without need for further means. However, large oscillations unavoidably result into a displacement of the centre of gravity of the girder 14 with respect to the carrier 12.

When a spraying apparatus equipped with such a balancing device is used on substantially flat land, the carrier 1 2 is set with the aid of cylinder 1 9 in-a position such that the two ends of the carrier are at the same height with regard to the frame. Then the distribution member will automatically be in horizontal state of equilibrium, which means that the spraying nozzles 5 are at equal height above the ground. When the tractor is running on the land, the fluid from hopper 10 will be uniformly spread on the ground without risk of the ends of the distribution member touching the ground.As soon as the tractor encounters an uneveness in the ground and deflects laterally on consequence thereof, the distribution member will rapidly recover its state of equilibrium by means of a slight oscillation so that the spraying nozzles remain at substantially the same height above the ground. Thus the distribution member is hardly affected by the deflections of the frame.

If subsequently the spraying device has to be driven on sloping land, the carrier 1 2 is set with the aid of cylinder 1 9 in a position in which the carrier end carrying the flange 1 6 is higher or lower than the other carrier end. The girder 1 4 of the distribution member then tends to perform a large oscillation to restore its equilibrium, but it is hampered in its movement by strut 20 and thereby slightly displaced along the carrier surface. As a result.

the centre of gravity of the girder and hence of the distribution member is displaced with respect to the frame and the girder 1 4 will get into an inclined state of equilibrium with regard to the frame. The spraying apparatus can then be run on sloping land without any difficulty, and the position of the distribution member ensures that the spraying nozzles will constantly remain at the same height above the ground. Small unevennesses of the soil resulting in a deflection of the frame are again compensated for without any difficulty by means of slight oscillations of the distribution member.

When subsequently the land is flat, the carrier 1 2 is reset in its initial position so that the distribution member will be in a horizontal state of equilibrium. In this way the spraying apparatus can match varying field conditions without need for further means.

The embodiment of Figure 4 is a variant of that of Figure 3 and differs therefrom only in that the curved carrier surface 1 3 is formed by a plurality of adjacent flat parts 21, 21.

The mode of operation is the same as that described with reference to Figure 3.

The embodiment of Figure 5 is more different. A girder 1 4 of the distribution member 4 is bearing again on the curved top surface 1 3 of a carrier 1 2 fastened to the frame, in such a way that oscillations are allowed to a limited extent. Internally the girder 1 4 holds a piston rod 22 having a thickened end 23 and being adapted to slide with a piston 24 at its other end within a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder 25. Cylinder 25 is undisplaceably fastened to the girder 1 4.

The thickened end 23 of the piston rod 22 is provided with a laterally projecting pin 26 extending through a slot 27 in the girder wall and fitting in a groove 28 of the carrier surface 1 3. The groove 28 is designed so that small oscillations of the girder 1 4 on the carrier surface 1 3 are freely allowed, whereas large oscillations are prevented. For the rest, the operation of the parts is such that upon actuation of cylinder 25 the girder 14 is displaced with respect to the carrier 1 2 and the centre of gravity of the distribution member is displaced with respect to the frame 3.

When the spraying apparatus equipped with the balancing device of Fig. 5 is used on substantially flat land, the girder 14 is set with the aid of the cylinder 25 in a position so that the centre of gravity of the distribution member is located in a vertical plane going through the groove 28. The distribution member will then be in a horizontal state of equilibrium, which means that the spraying nozzles 5 are at the same height above the ground and that the fluid will be uniformly spread on the land during operation. Deflections of the frame due to unevennesses of the soil can be readily compensated for by slight oscillations of the distribution member, which will maintain its horizontal state of equilibrium.If the spraying apparatus has to go over to sloping land, the girder 14 is displaced along the carrier surface 1 3 with the aid of cylinder 26 to an extent such that the centre of gravity of the distribution member will then have a sloping position of equilibrium with respect to the frame and the spraying apparatus can be driven without any difficulty on the sloping land, small deflections of the frame being again neutralized by oscillations of the distribution member. Therefore the embodiment of Fig. 5 is capable of readily matching varying field conditions to ensure a uniform spread of the fluid on the ground.

The embodiment of Fig. 6 differs in that the carrier 1 2 has a concave, curved top surface 1 3 and in that the distribution member 4 bears on said carrier surface by means of rollers 29, 30. Two girders, 14, 31 of the distribution member 4, interconnected by posts 32, 33, are shown. Roller 29 is rotatably journalled on post 32, whereas roller 30 is rotatably journalled on a triangular lever 34, which is pivoted to post 33. There is furthermore a piston rod 35 adapted to slide with a piston (not shown) within a cylinder 36, said parts being pivotally connected with the triangular lever 34 and the post 32, respectively.

By displacing the piston rod 35, the position of lever 34 and hence the distance of roller 30 from the girder 1 4 of the distribution member can be varied.

When the spraying apparatus equipped with the balancing device of Fig. 6 is used on subtsantially flat land, the balancing device is set with the aid of cylinder 36 so that the two roller 29, 30 are at equal distances from the girder 1 4. The centre of gravity of the distribution member is then located in a vertical plane going through the centre of frame 3 and the distribution member will automatically be in a horizontal state of equilibrium in which the spraying nozzles 5 are at equal heights above the ground When the apparatus is running on the land the fluid from hopper 10 will then be uniformly spread on the ground.

Deflections of the frame due to slight unevennesses of the soil are easily compensated for by oscillations of the distribution member, the inertia of the distribution member and the specific curvature of the carrier providing the required damping effect then. When the spraying apparatus has to be used then on a sloping site, the roller 30 is moved with the aid of cylinder 36 to a different distance from girder 14. The centre of gravity of the distribution member is then automatically displaced so that the distribution member will get into a sloping position with respect to the frame (indicated in Fig. 6 by broken lines).The spraying apparatus is ready then for a run along sloping land, since the inclined position of the distribution member will ensure that the spraying nozzles always remain at the same height above the ground, whilst deflections of the frame are neutralized by the distribution member without any difficulty. Therefore, also in this case the spraying apparatus can readily match varying field conditions.

The embodiment of Fig. 7 is highly similar to that of Fig. 3, but it has an additonal effect. In this case the carrier comprises two parts, that is to say, a curved, flexible plate 37 which is slidably fastened to a non-flexible plate 38 by means of sliding bearing 39, 40 at both ends. Clamping means 41 are provided between the two plates. The non4lexi- ble plate 38 is pivotally connected through a flange 42 at one end with a bracket 1 7 of frame 3, whereas the other end of the plate 38 is pivotally connected through a connecting flange 43 with a piston rod 1 8 adapted to slide with a piston in a cylinder 19, which is pivotally fastened to frame 3. Furthermore a strut 20 is pivotally connected at one end with the girder 14 and at the other end with the carrier plate 37.

With the aid of the clamping means 41, the distance between plate 37 and 38 and hence the curvature of the surface 1 3 of the carrier plate 37 can be set. Strut 20 allows slight oscillations of the girder 1 4 bearing on the carrier surface 13, but in the event of larger deflections it brings about a displacement of the centre of gravity of the girder. The entire carrier can be adjusted by actuating cylinder 1 9 so that one of its ends is higher or lower than the other end.

When a spraying apparatus provided with the balancing device of Fig. 7 is run on flat land, the two ends of the carrier 37, 38 are previously set with the aid of cylinder 1 9 at the same height so that the distribution member bearing on the carrier will be in a horizontal position. When going over to sloping land the carrier ends are set at different heights so that the girder 1 4 and hence the centre of gravity of the distribution member are displaced by the action of the cylinder 1 9 and the distribution member will be in an inclined position. In both cases deflections of the frame can be compensated for by small oscillations of the girder 1 4. So far the operation is identical to that of the embodiment of Fig.

3. Apart therefrom, there is a further possibility of setting.

Thanks to the clamping means 41, which are adapted for adjusting the curvature of the carrier surface, an adaptation to hard and less hard soils is possible. Thus, if a set of different hardness is met during operation, the apparatus can be adapted thereto by resetting the curvature of the carrier so that the balancing device will always operate to the optimum.

It will be obvious that various other modifications of the embodiments described are possible, within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An apparatus for spraying fluids on a ground surface comprising a distribution member provided with spraying nozzles, said member with the interposition of a balancing device being journalled on a frame carried by an agricultural tractor, characterized in that the balancing device comprises a carrier fastened to the frame and having a curved top surface on which the distribution member bears so as to be able to oscillate and in that adjustable means are provided for displacing the centre of gravity of the distribution member bearing on the carrier.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for displacing the centre of gravity comprises means for adjusting one of the ends of the carrier in height and means for limiting the potential oscillations of the distribution member.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for height adjustment of one of the carrier ends comprises a piston rod and a piston slidable in a cylinder.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for displacing the centre of gravity comprises means for a direct displacement of the distribution member along the curved carrier surface, as well as means for limiting the potential oscillations of the distribution member.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the means for displacing the distribution member along the carrier surface comprises a piston rod and a piston slidable in a cylinder.

6. The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for limiting the potential oscillations of the distribution member comprises a strut pivotally connected at one end with the carrier and at the other end with the distribution member.

7. The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means for limiting the potential oscillations comprises a pin connected with a piston rod and engaged in a groove of the carrier surface.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim wherein the distribution member is bearing by means of rollers on the curved carrier surface and wherein the means for displacing the centre of gravity comprises means for varying the distance of one of the rollers from the distribution member.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 wherein one of the rollers is fastened through a pivotable lever to the distribution member and wherein means are provided for varying the position of the pivotable lever with regard to the distribution member.

1 0. The apparatus as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the means for varying the distance of the roller or the pivotable lever comprises a piston rod and a piston slidabie in a cylinder.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein means are provided for varying the radius of curvature of the curved carrier surface.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the curved top surface forms part of a curved, flexible plate, which is fastened at both ends in a slidable manner to a nonflexible plate and wherein means between the two plates are provided for varying the distance between the central parts of the two plates.

1 3. A device for spraying fluids on a ground surface substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.