NZ578627A - Spraying apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A spray delivery unit 2 for dispensing a chemical formulation onto a crop includes first and second air outlets 5, 7 joined at the base 8 through which pressurized air is emitted and diverging at an acute angle from each other so that the pressurized air emitted from the outlets diverges from the outlets at the acute angle. A pair of spray jets 16 is attached to each outlet to emit pressurized chemical formulation into the vicinity of the outlets between the acute angle. The pressurized air directed over the crop from the first and second outlets creates a turbulent air stream into which the spraying liquid from the spray jets is drawn and entrained so as to dispense droplets of the chemical formulation over and throughout the crop.

Description

578627 I *10057488778* "Spraying apparatus" 5 7 8 6 2 7 Cross-Reference to Related Applications The present application claims priority from Australian Provisional Patent Application No 2008903852 filed on 29 July 2008, the content of which is incorporated 5 herein by reference.

Field of the Invention This invention relates to a spraying apparatus and more particularly to a spraying apparatus for dispersing chemical formulation onto vegetables, fruit and grain.

The apparatus enables the chemical formulation to be directed to substantially cover the surface of fruit, vegetables and grain including foliage, trunks, branches, canes and stems.

Background of the Invention 15 Existing fruit, vegetable and grain spraying equipment has generally been of a type where the spray plane is one dimensional. In other words, the spraying jets or nozzles travel in a single direction and emit a spray from nozzles essentially in one dimension. Sprayers that spray from the underneath of a canopy of fruit trees spray upwards and only enable chemical formulation to contact the underneath side of the 20 fruit. A shadow is effectively cast upon the top section of each fruit where the chemical formulation does not reach. This behaviour also applies to vertical tree fruits and ground crops, such as apples, grapes, strawberries and vegetables. This has obvious drawbacks in that the fruit, parts of the fruit trees and vegetables and ground crops, including grain, can be attacked by insects and fungal species as well as from 25 other sources.

Conventional air blast type spray systems do not provide an even spray delivery, for example, to the canopy of fruit trees and typically is concentrated in a central part of the canopy with an uneven disproportionate amount of chemical formulation being delivered to the edges of the canopy. Another problem is that with existing spray 30 systems chemical formulation cannot cover the entire surface of the crop due to shadowing effects of part of the crop or its canopy.

The present invention seeks to overcome one or more of the above disadvantages by providing a spraying apparatus which seeks to provide a substantially even distribution of chemical formulation to crops, such as fruit, vegetables and grain. 292124_1 INTEilEO^ALPROPEmY 27 JUL 2009 RECEIVED 578627 2 Summary of the Invention The invention provides a spray delivery unit comprising: a first air outlet and a second air outlet forming a pair of air outlets through which pressurised air is emitted, said first and second air outlets forming an acute angle 5 therebetween; at least one spray jet attached to each outlet for emitting pressurised chemical formulation at or near the vicinity of said air outlets; wherein the spray delivery unit is moved relative to a crop such that on emission of chemical formulation into or onto the crop, the pressurised air is directed over the 10 crop to create air turbulence in order to disperse droplets of the chemical formulation throughout the crop so as to substantially cover the crop with the chemical formulation.

At least one spray jet of one of the outlets may direct a spray pattern of chemical formulation that covers a section of the crop, while at least one spray jet of the other of the outlets can direct a spray pattern of the chemical formulation over 15 another section of the crop as the outlets are moved relative to the crop.

The crop may be any one of a fruit, vegetable or grain including branches, vines, trunks, canes, stems, seeds, vegetation or flowers and foliage. The spray delivery unit can be moved underneath a canopy of, for example, vines or trees, beside the trees or vines or over the trees, vines or ground crops.

The pair of outlets are preferably formed integrally and are joined at the base section which is releasably detachable from a hose through which the pressurised air is delivered.

The outlets may each have an inner face, an outer face, and side portions formed around a passage and opening through which pressurised air is dispensed. Preferably 25 the outlets are each in the shape of fishtail nozzles, or flat fans, joined at a base to form a substantially V-shaped delivery unit. The at least one spray jet attached to each outlet may be attached to the inner face or an outer face of the respective outlet. Each of the at least one spray jets may be connected to a respective tube through which the chemical formulation passes, with both tubes joining into a single tube connected to a 30 reservoir.

Accordingly, in a first aspect the invention provides a spray delivery unit for dispensing a chemical formulation onto a crop, said unit comprising a first air outlet and a second air outlet forming a pair of air outlets joined at a base through which pressurised air is emitted, said first and second air outlets diverging at an acute angle 35 from each other, such that said pressurised air emitted from said respective outlets diverge from the outlets at the acute angle with respect to each other; 314107 1 578627 2a at least one pair of spray jets attached to each outlet for emitting pressurised chemical formulation at or near the vicinity of said air outlets between said acute angle such that pressurised air directed over said crop from said first and second air outlets cooperate to create air turbulence so as to draw spraying liquid from a spray head and 5 dispense droplets of said chemical formulation substantially throughout said crop and substantially cover said crop with said chemical formulation.

The invention also provides a spray distribution system comprising a series of spray delivery units, wherein each spray delivery unit comprises: a pair of air outlets through which pressurised air is emitted, each air outlet 10 forming an acute angle therebetween; 578627 3 at least one spray jet attached to each outlet for emitting pressurised chemical formulation; wherein each spray delivery unit is connected to boom, the boom being connected to a vehicle and wherein the vehicle is moved relative to a crop such that on 5 emission of chemical formulation from one or more of the units into or onto the crop, the pressurised air is directed over the crop to create air turbulence in order to disperse droplets of the chemical formulation throughout the crop so as to substantially cover the crop with the chemical formulation..

The invention further provides a method of dispersing a chemical formulation 10 throughout a crop using a vehicle having a boom to which is attached a series of spray delivery units, the method comprising the steps of: moving the vehicle relative to the crop; emitting pressurised chemical formulation into or onto the crop from at least one spray jet attached to each of a pair of air outlets, the pair of outlets forming part of each 15 spray delivery unit and having an acute angle therebetween; emitting pressurised air from one or more of the air outlets such that the air is directed into or onto the crop to create air turbulence in order to disperse droplets of the chemical formulation throughout the crop.

The at least one spray jet are preferably mounted in a position such that the 20 chemical formulation is entrained into the air stream from the outlets.

Preferably the pressurised air is dispersed into or onto the crop at multiple angles. The air may be directed into the crop between two spray angles.

Brief Description of the Drawings 25 A preferred embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which: Fig 1 is a perspective view from above of a spray delivery unit including a pair of fishtail nozzles; Fig 2 is a perspective view of the spray delivery unit of Fig 1 showing the 30 ejection of chemical formulation as a liquid spray together with a turbulence effect created by delivery of air from each of the fishtail nozzles and its effect on the liquid spray; Fig 3 is a perspective view from below of the spray delivery unit of Fig 1; Fig 4 is a perspective view from below of the emission of the spray of chemical 35 formulation and air with reference to Fig 2; Fig 5 is a perspective view from the front of the spray delivery unit of Fig 1; 292124 1 578627 4 Fig 6 is a front view of the delivery of chemical formulation and air in accordance with Figs 2 and 4; Figs 7 A and 7B are respectively rear and side views of a collection of spray delivery units affixed to a common boom and attached to a vehicle; Fig 8 shows the vehicle of Figs 7A and 7B with the series of delivery units attached thereto and in use spraying chemical formulation into a fruiting vine canopy; and Fig 9 is a schematic view showing a single fruit being sprayed twice, from a single pass of a vehicle having mounted thereto the spray delivery units, so that all of 10 its surface area is covered with chemical formulation as the vehicle moves in a forward or alternatively reverse direction.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments Although this embodiment is described with reference to fruit-bearing trees, the 15 invention is equally applicable to other crops such as vegetables and grains and their foliage as well as other vegetation that requires spraying.

Referring to Figs 1 to 6 there is shown a spray delivery unit 2 which comprises a first and second outlet forming a pair of air outlets, in the form of fishtail or fan-shaped nozzles 4 and 6 which form an acute angle therebetween and formed as a single integral 20 piece joined together at a lower portion thereof. The integral delivery unit 2 of the two outlets 4 and 6 are secured to a flexible hose 8 by suitable means, such as a clamp 10. Pressurised air is delivered through the hose 8 to be expelled through the openings 5 and 7 of the outlets 4 and 6.

Attached to inner faces 12 and 14 of the nozzles 4 and 6 are a series of spray jets 25 16 which supply pressurised liquid chemical formulation through feed hoses 18 and 20. The spray jets may be attached to an outer face of the nozzles 4 and 6. The hoses 18 and 20 join to tube 24 through a common manifold 22 to ensure delivery of equal pressure of the liquid spray of chemical formulation. The liquid is delivered from a reservoir to be emitted under pressure through each of these spray jets 16. 30 The delivery unit 2 is one of a plurality of such units that are respectively joined to hoses 8. The hoses 8, from a series of such delivery units 2, are connected to a common fan which supplies air to each of the nozzles 4 and 6.. The nozzles 4 and 6 are connected to a boom structure of suitable shape to hold the nozzles in a fixed position suitable for the target crop type. The boom structure is attached to a vehicle. 35 Referring to Fig 2 there is shown the emission of chemical formulation as a spray 30 and 32. The spray pattern from each of the spray jets 16 is fanned in a two 292124_1 578627 dimensional space, however, pressurised air that emits from the outlets 4 and 6 create a venturi effect between the two flat fan planes of air from each unit 2. This in turn creates air turbulence of air which affect the droplets of chemical formulation inside the two flat fan planes of air swirling the droplets of spray deep into the canopy, helping 5 cover both the front and back sides of the trunk, branches, canes, leaves, flowers, fruit or vegetable crops being sprayed. Effectively a vacuum is created initially into which the air is forced. The driving upward, downwards or sideways by the air and the air turbulence pattern 34 effectively disperses the droplets of chemical formulation throughout the canopy.

Referring to Figs 7a and 7b there is shown a spray distribution system 40 that comprises a series of the individual spray delivery units 2 and respective hoses 8 attached to a boom 42 which is affixed to the rear of a vehicle 44. The boom 42 is only one example of many possible mounting structures to support the units 2 in an operational, transport or storage position. The boom 42 can be of any shape or style 15 required for a particular task. Although not shown, a series of tubes 24 which carries the chemical formulation to the spray jets 16 would form part of a series of tubes that goes to each unit 2 sourced from a suitable reservoir or tank of chemical formulation which is fed through each of the tubes 24 under pressure. Attached to the boom 42 are respective mounting brackets 46 which are joined or otherwise connected to each of the 20 units 2. The mounting brackets are adjustable to allow the operator to position the nozzles in an optimum position to ensure the best possible spray coverage. Air is delivered from a suitable air compressor or fan delivery unit to feed air through each of the hoses 8.

In Fig 8 there is shown the vehicle 44 having attached thereto the spray 25 distribution system 40 underneath a canopy 50 of fruiting vines. Individual fruit is shown at 52 which may be kiwi fruit or alternatively, persimmon or grapes or any other type of crop. Vertical tree, vine, vegetable crops and ground crops can also be sprayed using this system which may be fixed to a differently shaped supporting structure. As the vehicle moves underneath, over or beside the canopy 50 the chemical formulation is 30 emitted from the spray jets 16 and air is emitted from each of the fishtail (fan) nozzles 4 and 6. As many units of nozzles that are required for a particular spraying application can be used. Fig 8 shows a series of eight such spray delivery units 2 connected to boom 42 which are evenly spaced along the boom 42 so that the canopy 50 can be effectively and evenly sprayed from underneath. Thus, the air turbulence that is created 35 between each of the spray patterns from each unit 2 effectively disperses the droplets of 292124_1 578627 6 spray throughout all of the canopy so that each of the individual fruits 52 and its surface thereof can be covered by the spray droplets.

Referring to Fig 9, there is shown the movement of each of the units 2 in a direction from left to right where in Fig 9A the spray pattern 30 from spray jet 16 is 5 directed to a top side and left side of the crop 52, in this case fruit. (In a vertical crop, a similar effect would occur but cover from the front side to the back side). Through the turbulence 34 all of the left side from top to bottom of the crop 52 and other parts of the canopy 50 are covered with the droplets of chemical formulation. A similar effect would occur in spraying a vertical standing crop with the nozzles 4, 6 mounted in a 10 suitable position spraying horizontally to a vertical hanging crop with coverage of the liquid spray plume occurring around the fruit, vegetable, flower, foliage, trunk, branches, stems or canes.

Referring to Fig 9B, the vehicle and hence the distribution system 40 have moved further along the crop being sprayed and the same crop 52 is able to get a 15 second spray of chemical formulation through the second of the fishtail (fan) nozzles 4 and corresponding spray jets 16, from a different spray angle. This produces the spray distribution pattern 32 directed to the right side of the crop 52 from top to bottom (or left to right in spraying a vertical standing crop) and additionally any other parts of the surface which are in direct line of the spray 32. Again, this is assisted by the air stream 20 and turbulence 34. Thus, each crop is sprayed twice to effectively cover the entire surface of the crop 52 which chemical formulation.

Although Fig 9 shows a crop of the pergola-type canopy being sprayed, the nozzles can be fitted to a boom to spray vertical crops or ground crops as well as other crop growing structures.

The chemical formulation can be emitted at a pressure of between 1.5 bar and 40 bar. The types of chemical formulation that can be used include any one or more of insecticides, fungicides, growth regulators and stimulants, fertilizers, defoliants and oils. Air is generally emitted from the nozzles at speeds of between 5 metres per second and 35 metres per second, depending on the requirements of the crop being 30 sprayed.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as broadly described. 35 The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. 292124_1 578627 7

Claims (14)

CLAIMS:

1. A spray delivery unit for dispensing a chemical formulation onto a crop, said unit comprising a first air outlet and a second air outlet forming a pair of air outlets joined at a base through which pressurised air is emitted, said first and second air 5 outlets diverging at an acute angle from each other, such that said pressurised air emitted from said respective outlets diverge from the outlets at the acute angle with respect to each other; at least one pair of spray jets attached to each outlet for emitting pressurised chemical formulation at or near the vicinity of said air outlets between said acute angle 10 such that pressurised air directed over said crop from said first and second air outlets cooperate to create air turbulence so as to draw spraying liquid from a spray head and dispense droplets of said chemical formulation substantially throughout said crop and substantially cover said crop with said chemical formulation.

2. A unit according to claim 1, wherein said air outlets include an inner face, an 15 outer face and side portions defining an elongate opening.

3. A unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said air outlets are formed as generally flat fans with respective first and second outlet joined at the base to form a substantially V-shaped delivery unit.

4. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said spray jet or spray jets 20 are attached to the inner or outer face of said air outlets.

5. A unit according to claim 4, wherein said spray jet or jets are attached to the inner face of respective said air outlets.

6. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said spray jet or jets are connected to a respective feed tube through which said chemical formulation is fed 25 with the tubes of said spray jets fitted to said first and said second air outlets being joined into a single feed tube connected to a reservoir.

7. A spray unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said pair of air outlets are formed integrally and joined at the base which is releasably detachable from a feed hose through which pressurised air is delivered. 30 8. A spray delivery and distribution system comprising two or more spray delivery units according to any one of claims 1 to 7, connected to a boom such that pressurised air directed over said crop from a plurality of said first and second air outlets cooperate to create air turbulence so as to dispense droplets of said chemical formulation substantially throughout said crop and substantially cover said crop with said chemical 35 formulation. 314107 1 578627

8

9. A method of dispensing a chemical formulation throughout a crop using a vehicle having a boom fitted with a plurality of spray delivery units according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising the steps of: moving said vehicle relative to said crop; 5 emitting a pressurised chemical formulation into or onto said crop from one or more spray jets attached to said first and said second air outlet of each pair of air outlets forming an acute angle thereinbetween; emitting pressurised air from one or more of said air outlets such that air is directed into or onto said crop and cooperates to create air turbulence so as to disperse 10 droplets of said chemical formulation throughout said crop.

10. A method according to claim 9, wherein said pressurised air is dispersed into or onto said crop at multiple angles.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein said pressurised air is dispersed into or onto said crop between two spray angles. 15

12. A method according to claim 10 or 11, wherein said spray jet or jets of one of said outlets directs a spray of said chemical formulation covering a section of said crop, whilst said spray jet or jets of the other of said outlets directs a spray over another section of said crop as said outlets are moved relative to said crop.

13. A spray delivery unit according to any one of claims 1 to 1, substantially as 20 hereinbefore described with reference to the figures.

14. A spray delivery and distribution system according to claim 8, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the figures. 25 302009 1