NZ286820A

NZ286820A - Spraying apparatus for orchard with with fan assisted rotatable spray heads with adjustable flow and rotation rates

Info

Publication number: NZ286820A
Application number: NZ28682096A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: George Alexander Eady
Original assignee: George Alexander Eady
Priority date: 1996-06-13
Filing date: 1996-06-13
Publication date: 1997-04-24

Description

<div class="application article clearfix" id="description"> 28 6820 Priority Data(s): Complete Specific aun.i Fiisd: ?i ^£?jg?./.j.afe. Oi&ss- ... 2 4 APR 1997 r>' if «n C'< rv-v lU-fe Ar *» I, ;10 ;PATENTS FORM 5 Number ;PATENTS ACT 1953 Dated ;15 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION / ^" o\\ ;^v-\ V ;i.' -\\ ;\ 13-J U '< 1S9R ;AN IMPROVED SPRAYING APPARATUS r t? / ;( •?> ;I, GEORGE ALEXANDER EADY, a New Zealand citizen, of Pughs Road, RD 1, 20 Richmond, New Zealand do hereby declare the invention for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: ;- 1 - ;28 682 0 ;AN IMPROVED SPRAYING APPARATUS FIELD OF INVENTION ;5 The present invention comprises an improved spraying apparatus which is particularly suitable for orchard oj other agricultural spraying. ;BACKGROUND OF INVENTION ;10 The application of insecticides, pesticides and fungicides to growing crops is usually effected by some form of spraying. In an orchard context this will most likely be carried out using aerial or ground based fan spraying. A ground based apparatus typically utilises a large fan blowing a mist of spray behind it as it moves down the lanes between rows of trees. In both the aerial and fan spraying methods there is considerable waste and drift of ;15 spray as this is not well targeted at the tree canopies. ;SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention provides an improved or at least alternative spraying apparatus. ;20 ;In broad terms the invention comprises a spraying apparatus comprising: ;a vehicle base; ;- 2 - ;286820 ;a driven power conversion means on the base; and one or more fan assisted rotatable spray heads driven by the power conversion means, with the rate of the or each spray head controllable independently of the drive rate of the power 5 conversion means, the spray head(s) being carried on a structure extending from the base. ;Preferably the power conversion means is an electric generating means, for example an alternator. ;10 Preferably the po ver conversion means is driven by the power takeoff of a vehicle towing the apparatus. ;Preferably the structure is upstanding from the base. ;15 DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS ;A preferred embodiment spraying apparatus of the present invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, by way of example only and without intending to be limiting, in which: ;20 ;Figure 1 is a front end view of the preferred embodiment apparatus showing the mast fully extended; ;Figure 2 is a side view of the apparatus showing the mast unextended; and ;- 3 - ;28 6820 ;Figure 3 is a closeup view of a fan assisted spray head of the apparatus. ;DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORM ;5 Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, the preferred spraying apparatus 2 includes a vehicle base 14, a spray tank 6, a mast 7 (including a mast extension 8, lateral members 17 and mast supporting brackets 9), six fan assisted rotating spray heads 3, an alternator 4, a control box 5, spray hoses and electrical cables 10, a spray concentrate filler 12 and chemical induction unit 13, and a pump IS with associated valving arrangements (not 10 shown separately). A towing vehicle 16 such as a tractor tows the apparatus 2 and drives the alternator 4 via a coupling link 11 from its power takeoff unit 17. ;Referring to Figure 3, a fan assisted rotating spray head 3 is shown in more detail and comprises fan blades 35, a fan cowling 36, a fan guard 34, a fan drive shaft 31 including 15 a region of spray holes 32, an atomizing mesh 33 and end plates 39, an electric motor 37 and a mounting bracket 38 for mounting the spray head 3 to the mast 7, mast extension 8 or lateral members 17 (shown in Figures 1 and 2). ;Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the alternator 4 is driven by the power takeoff unit 17 of 20 a towing vehicle 16 via a coupling link 11, and provides electrical power to the spray heads 3 and spray pump 15 of the apparatus 2. The drive speed of each of the spray heads 3 and the pump 15 is controlled by the control box 5, and is independent of the drive speed of the power take off unit 17, and hence also the towing vehicle 16. ;- 4 - ;28 6820 ;The control box 5 includes means for regulating and distributing the power supplied by the alternator 4 to the spray heads 3 and the spray pump 15. It also controls the electric motor 37 speed of each spray head 3 and the electric spray pump 15, which pumps the spray mixture from the spray tank 6 and chemical induction unit 13 to the spray heads 3. ;5 ;The spray rate of each spray head 3 may be adjusted. This is achieved by suitable valve arrangements (not shown) either at the spray heads 3 or adjacent the pump 15, which can be controlled either manually or by the control box 5. ;10 The adjustable spray rate and adjustable fan speed of each spray head 3 (independent of the power take off unit 17 rate) allows the apparatus 2 to independently vary parameters such as required spray rate and ground speed. This also allows for the setting of various spraying conditions, for example spray heads 3 on one side of the apparatus may not be required, or different spray rates may be required from different spray heads 3. ;15 ;The control box can be used to log data such as temperature, humidity, speed, chemical flows, chemical concentrations. ;The control box 5 can also be used to warn the driver of the towing vehicle 16, that the 20 drive rate of the alternator 4 is too slow or the ground speed too fast or too slow for the current spray head 3 and pump 15 settings. If the warning is ignored the control box 5 may be programmed to disable the apparatus 2. ;Preferably the control box 5 is a programmable logic controller. ;- 5 - ;28 682 ;The control box 5 may in turn be controlled by a suitable remote control device (not shown) mounted in the towing vehicle 16 such that the operator can adjust the apparatus 2 operating parameters while towing it. ;5 Instead of utilising an alternator 4 or other electrical generating device such as a generator, a hydraulic or pneumatic system could be used to drive the spray heads 3 and pump 15 independently of the drive rate of the power takeoff unit 17 of the towing vehicle. ;Instead of the power takeoff unit 17 of a towing vehicle, a stationary engine could be 10 mounted on the apparatus 2 and used to drive the alternator 4 or other power conversion means. In a further alternative, the apparatus 2 may be incorporated into a powered vehicle such as a truck, which both drives the power conversion means and propels the apparatus 2 along the ground. ;15 The spray heads 3 are mounted on the mast 7, mast extension 8 and lateral members 17 as shown. The mast extension can be raised and lowered to change the height of the top most spray heads 3. This is achieved by manually winding a winch mechanism (not shown) at the base of the mast 7 which via a pulley at the top of the mast 7 pulls the extension 8 up, or allows it to fall under its own weight The mast 7 may also be folded down for 20 transportation of the apparatus 2. ;The mast 7 need not be extendable and may be in the form of a single member structure. Instead of a mast 7, other structures such as upstanding frames may be used. In a further ;- 6 - ;28 682 0 ;alternative, a horizontal boom may be used, for example for broad acre spraying of crops such as wheat. Any number of spray heads 3 may be mounted on these structures. ;Referring to Figure 3, the electric motor 37 which is controlled by the control box 5 drives 5 the fan blades 35 via the drive shaft 31. The drive shaft 31 is also used to supply the spray liquid for dispensing and extends beyond the fan guard 34 where spray holes 32 allow the spray liquid under pressure to be forced out. An atomising mesh 33 is secured about the shaft and around the spray holes 32 by end plates 39, such that the spray forced out of the spray holes 32 is atomised by the mesh 33 and is then blown by the fan 35 onto the tree 10 canopy. The fan 35, drive shaft 31 with spray holes 32, atomising mesh 33, and end plates 39 form a rotatable unit driven by the electric motor 37. A cowling 36 houses the fan blades 35. The spray mixture is supplied to each spray head 3 by a hose 10 from the spray pump 15 to the drive shaft 31 (shown in Figures 1 and 2). ;15 The spay holes 32 need not be formed in the drive shaft 31 and may be formed in a tube or other structure which rotates independently of the drive shaft 3 and is supplied with spray liquid. The number, size and pitch of the fan blades 35 can be varied. ;The spray head unit 3 is mounted to the mast 7 (or mast extension 8 or lateral members 17) 20 using a U-bracket such that the spray angle of the head can be adjusted. Other mounting arrangements could also be used. ;A chemical induction unit 13 (including a filler 12) is used to mix concentrated spray chemicals loaded into the filler 12 with water from the spray tank 6. The concentration of ;- 7 - ;28 682 ;the spray chemical and water mixture pumped by the pump 15 to the spray heads 3 can be controlled by the induction unit 13. This in turn may be controlled by the control box 5 and, if available, a remote control (not shown) in the towing vehicle 16. ;5 Instead of utilising a chemical induction unit 12 and 13, the spray mixture may be made up in the spray tank 6 and pumped from there to the spray heads 3. ;The apparatus 2 can also utilise a fresh water tank (not shown) fitted in or about the spray tank 6. After spraying, a control valve (not shown) allows clean water to be pumped 10 throughout the system which cleans the valves, hoses 10, spray heads 3, and related components. ;In use the apparatus 2 is secured to a towing vehicle 16 such as a tractor, a coupling link 11 is secured between the power takeoff unit 17 of the towing vehicle 16 and the alternator 15 4. As the power takeoff unit 17 drives the alternator 4, the electrical energy generated is distributed by the control box 5 to the spray heads 3 and the pump 15. The control box 5 is programmed to control each spray head 3 fan speed and spray rates as required. The mast extension 8 may be raised or lowered as required. Water in the tank 6 is drawn out and after mixing with concentrated spray chemicals by the chemical induction unit 13, the 20 resulting spray mixture is pumped to the spray heads 3. The spray mixture is concentration controllable by the control box 5. ;The control box 5 may be controlled by the towing vehicle 16 operator using a remote control unit (not shown), such that the spray rate and fan speed of each spray head 3 ;- 8 - ;28 6820 ;(including switching off one or more spray heads 3), as well as the spray concentration may be controlled from the towing vehicle 16 while in motion. ;The foregoing describes the invention including preferred forms thereof. Alterations and modifications as will be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof, as defined in the accompanying claims. * </div>

Claims

<div class="application article clearfix printTableText" id="claims"> WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 286 820

1. A spraying apparatus for orchard or other agricultural spraying comprising: a vehicle base; a driven power conversion means on the base; and one or more fan assisted rotatable spray heads driven by the power conversion means with the spray flow and rotation rates of the or each spray head controllable independently of the drive rate of the power conversion means, the spray head(s) being carried by a structure extending from the base.

2. A spraying apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power conversion means is an electric generating and control means.

3. A spraying apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the electric generating means is an alternator.

4. A spraying apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the power conversion means is driven by a power takeoff of a vehicle towing the apparatus.

5. A spraying apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the or each spray head comprises: a fan driven by the power conversion means; a perforated tube which rotates with the fan and which is supplied with liquid; and an atomising mesh - 10 - 1 1 1997 28682 0 secured around the tube such that it rotates with the tube to atomise to a spray liquid forced out of the tube perforations to be blown forward by the fan.

6. A spraying apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the 5 structure extending from the vehicle base which carries the spray head(s) is an upstanding structure.

7. A spraying apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the upstanding structure is an extendable mast. 10

8. A spraying apparatus as claimed in claim 6 or claim 7, wherein multiple spray heads are mounted above each other on each side of the structure.

9. A spraying apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the or 15 each spray head is mounted to the structure such that the spray angle of the head can be adjusted.

10. A spraying apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the spray rate and fan speed of the or each spray head is controllable by a programmable logic 20 controller.

11. A spraying apparatus as claimed in any one of the previous claims, wherein the apparatus further comprises a spray tank, a pump, and a chemical induction unit such that the chemical concentration of the spray supplied to the spray head(s) is controllable. - 11 - 286820

12. A spraying apparatus for orchard or other agricultural spraying, substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. GREG WEST-WALKER & COMPANY per: ATTORNEYS FOR THE APPLICANT END OF CLAIMS % n ~13 JUM908 "'•Jv t » j-r t y - 12 - </div>