WO2007054998A1

WO2007054998A1 - Herbicide ecologic pluriuse machine functioning through a laser

Info

Publication number: WO2007054998A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000787
Authority: WO
Inventors: Corrado Nuti
Original assignee: Corrado Nuti
Priority date: 2005-11-14
Filing date: 2006-11-13
Publication date: 2007-05-18
Also published as: ITPI20050122A1

Abstract

This is a completely new machine that utilizes lasers for the devitalization of infestant weeds. A laser unit (1) which emits a ray is installed onto the supporting structure. This horizontal ray which is exiting the laser is aimed towards the soil by a mirror which is mounted within a rotating head (2) and inclined at 45°. The rotation of the head allows you to widen the laser's radius of action. During the rotation the ray is furthermore reflected towards the ground by a system of composite mirrors (3) which are positioned around the rotating head, which allows for an additional devitalization of the inf estants . The machine also includes a center for the command and control of the functions as well as a system of safety devices that instantly deactivate the laser in the event that the machine is raised to a height of 5 cm above the ground. They also deactivate the laser if the access hatches for the maintenance of the machine itself open.

Description

DESCRIPTION

Herbicide ecologic pluriuse machine functioning through a laser.

TECHNICAL FIELD This invention refers to a weed-killing machine to be used in agriculture for the physical control of infestants on ground crop, arboreals, and vines; in urban green; in environmental health; civil use, and the maintenance of structures of historical interest.

BACKGROUND ART

Presently there are various types of weed-killing machines on the market:

1) Rod spraying machines utilize mixtures with water.

2) Flame- weeding machines make use of liquid-propane gas burners or infrared lamps. 3) Ice- weeding machine utilizes liquid nitrogen.

4) Electric discharge machines utilize electrodes crossed with high voltage.

5) Low frequency electromagnetic wave machines utilize the emission of microwaves. 6) Brush spraying machines utilize pure weed killer or mixtures with water.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The primary aim of the invention is the reduction of pollution by weed killers in soil and groundwater and, as a complementary effect, the destruction of insects, fungi, infestant seeds, and whatever else is found in the first 5 - 10 millimeters of soil, without moreover damaging the organic substance, microflora, and microfauna, given the limited temperature transmitted to the underlying soil. The machine was above all created to be used by biological cultivation companies, who still today, are not equipped with an efficient weed-killer which does not negatively impact the soil; as well as for work in confined and restricted areas.

The advantages it offers compared to the techniques which are now being employed are:

TECHNICAL:

1) It does not require water and relative supply points, nor does it need time for the preparation of the mixture, the disposal of the water used to wash equipment, (which is often disposed on the premises along with the pollution it gives off), nor G.P.L. or other energy sources.

2) Lots of versatility; it can be constructed in a single module of variable size (up to several meters) for processing over the entire field or in reduced-size module as well as matching, so as to cany out a pre or post weed-killing operation, in field cultures planted in rows like corn, soy, sunflowers, nettle, or in specialized cultures like vineyards, olive-tree groves, orchards, gardens, and for civil use as well such as weed- killing on marginal strips of roadways and railways, sloped terrains like embankments, dikes, banks, and in urban areas. 3) It can be mounted both from the front as well as the back onto the motor unit so as to allow for matching with other public works vehicles to perform works simultaneously, in particular direct planting on land that has not been worked (solid). 4) It can be matched with small-power motor units (tractor) and reduced weight units without them having to be equipped with a pressurized cabin to protect the operator. It lends itself particularly to being matched with small self-propelling units (minitransporter) to be used in specialized cultures, narrow areas, or in hard soils in the hills. These small self- propelling units are equipped with rubber caterpillars that allow for good buoyancy even on loose terrains, as well as endothermic or electrical motors. The electrical motors are especially useful for work in tight, narrow areas (greenhouses and tunnels), or in urban areas, without any contaminating emission. In addition, you can equip them with radio control for movement at greater distances. They can also be mounted onto All Terrain Vehicles (ATV o QUAD), particularly for work in the civil field, as well as onto flexible shafts for the cleaning of structures like surrounding walls, and for inhered sloped terrain like embankments, dikes, and banks.

AGRICULTURAL:

1) A reduction in the compaction of the land, given the lightness of the equipment and the motor unit that is utilized. 2) Speed during the cultivation procedures being independent from climate factors (temperature, wind, precipitation) which are limitating for certain techniques presently utilized .

3) No risk of drift for cultures which are sensitive to weed killer; no need to wait for the next working being that there is an immediate eradication of the weed, unlike the treatment with weed killer, where you have to wait a few days for their effect to take place.

ECOLOGICAL - ENVIRONMENTAL: 1) There is no principal contaminating substance.

2) There is no dispersion or leakage of pollutant substances into the environment due to drift; there are no leaks due to ground water flow (seepage) or leaks due to the water used to wash the equipment.

HUMAN ORDER:

1) Being that there is no manipulation or exposure to pesticides, there is an improvement in work conditions and no risk to the health of the operator.

ECONOMIC:

1) Pollutant pesticides are not used.

2) No cost for the disposal of pesticide containers.

3) A reduction in equipment costs.

4) A decrease in work time (no need to re-supply water, pesticide mixtures, or for calibration). 5) A reduction in manpower and energy (operator, fuel, lubrication, washing of equipment).

6) Being as that it does not possess complicated mechanical parts or parts in movement (pumps, burners, equipment for the regulation of fluids and gases), it's a low maintenance machine.

7) The cost of use will be a lot lower being that once the weed killer is detached the motor units can be employed for all the other types of work.

8) There is no consumption of G.P.L. gas or other energy sources.

9) There is no consumption of water. You can presuppose a reduction in operational costs for weed killer of around 50% with respect to treatments with conventional crop dusters.

FUNCTIONING

The weed-killing machine's functioning is based on the properties of laser rays to transform the photonic energy emitted into heat. This determines the photocoagulation phenomenon in the tissues. In fact, when the temperature reaches 85°C-95°C the infestant plants are devitalized by the action of the heat, and causing the breakage of the external membrane it interrupts the intracellular flow of nutrition (delayed bud burst); if you increase the temperature to above 100⁰C you can even arrive at the point of burning the tissues. In environmental health procedures done on cement pavements or stone setts with temperatures around 90C°, it allows for the efficient destruction of pathogenic agents (urban sidewalks, railways, and civil use areas). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Greater insight into what you'll find will be more evident following the description made with reference to the attached designs: Table 1 of 3 contains Figures 1, 2, 3, 4; Table 2 of 3 contains Figure 5;

Table 3 of 3 contains Figures 6, 7, 8; Fig. 1 shows the layout of the weed killer. Fig. 2 shows a lateral view of the weed killer. Fig. 3 shows a view of the rear part of the weed killer. Fig. 4 shows a view of the front part of the weed killer.

Fig. 5 shows a cross section of the weed killer which contains all the components and the relative reference numbers listed below:

1) Laser unit.

2) Rotating head. 3) Composite mirror.

4) Electric motor.

5) Firing circuit.

6) Tubes.

7) Tubes. 8) Electromechanical switch.

9) Sensor for the monitoring of ground height.

10) Electromechanical switch.

1 1) Fan.

12) Fan. 13) Air filter. 14) General command center.

15) Power supply connector 12/24 volt.

16) Lateral mobile protectors.

17) Shock-proof absorbers. 18) Rear support roller.

19) Locking apparatus.

20) Flashing signal.

21) Oscillating-plate protectors.

22) Supporting structure. 23) Body.

24) Tubes.

25) Stack.

26) Velocity sensor.

27) Electric motor. 28) Internal safety hatch.

29) Internal bulkhead.

30) A nti- vibration elements.

31 ) Emergency switch.

32) Secondaiy battery. 33) Console.

Fig. 6 shows a cross-section of the weed killer and two features can be seen.

Fig. 7 shows a feature of the laser unit with a rotating head and examples of functioning. Fig. 8 shows the composite mirrors system and a functioning example. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The machine shown here offers a supporting structure 22 where all the machine's components are installed, and equipped with a locking apparatus 19 in the front, a power unit equipped with shock-proof absorber 17, and a rear support roller 18. on the ground. There is a laser unit 1 including the ray's emission laser (which can be of various types, diode, tube, or other of variable power) mounted onto anti-vibrating elements 30, and a firing circuit 5 for the turning on - turning off of the laser; a rotating head 2 inside which a mirror inclined at 45° is housed to deflect the rays towards the ground and which is activated by an electric motor 4. During the rotation the ray is also reflected by a composite mirror 3 which again directs the ray towards the ground for another devitalization of the infestants. A fan 12 equipped with an air filter 13 provides for the cooling of the laser unit 1. Through the tube 7, a fan 11 keeps the rotating head clean, the tube 24 keeps the composite mirror 3 clean, and the tube 6 provides for the ejection of any dust or water vapor that may be generated during the treatment on infestants through the stack 25. The two velocity sensors 26 located to the back of the machine have the function of detecting the traveling speed so as to modify the rotation speed of the rotating head 2 through the general command center 14. The general command center 14 and the control of the functions, which can be commanded by console 33 either via radio waves or cable, allows for the regulations necessary for the correct functioning of the machine and the safety devices. In particular it provides for the ignition of laser unit 1 and all the electric and electronic parts of the machine. Through console 33, which is situated on the motor unit, you can also set the regulations of the laser ray and velocity of the rotation according to the type of infestant you wish to eliminate. You can also manage all the safety devices, which in the case of anomalies, immediately shut off laser unit 1 and close the internal safety hatch 28. To function, the weed killer can be connected to the electrical system of the motor unit through the power supply connectors 12/24 volt 15 or independently with the secondary battery 32. The machine has an aluminum panel body 23 to hold the weight of what is found. To avoid exposure to the laser ray the machine is equipped with various safety devices:

There is a flashing signal 20 that indicates that the machine is functioning. All the inspection hatches are equipped with a double electromechanical switch 8 that deactivates the laser in the event of voluntary or accidental opening. The rear support roller 18 is also equipped with an electromechanical switch 10 which automatically intervenes when the machine is raised from the ground.

There are three sensors for the monitoring of ground height 9 whose purpose is to deactivate the laser anytime the machine is raised from the ground accidentally by more than 5 cm. Every time the safety devices go into use, the internal safety hatch 28, which is controlled by the electrical motor 27 closes and is fastened onto the internal bulkhead 29, which even in the event of lack of use remains closed to protect the equipment. It's also equipped with a emergency switch 31 which halts all the functions. It's equipped with lateral mobile protectors 16 so as to adjust to the terrain's layout thus avoiding the lateral outflow of the laser ray, and is also equipped with oscillating-plate protectors 21 to avoid any outflow of the ray from the front and the back.

Claims

1. An innovative ecological weed killer characterized by the use of laser rays for the devitalization of infestant plants; it's made up of a supporting structure upon which a laser unit which generates the rays, a rotating head which also consists of the directional mirror, as well as system of composite mirrors, are mounted. In addition, equipment for the cooling and cleaning of the above-listed components is mounted onto the structure. It's also equipped with a center for the command and control of the functions and safety devices.

2. The machine as claimed in claim 1. It's characterized by the fact that it uses a laser unit of variable power to emit a continuous ray of light aimed at the miiTor of the rotating head which is capable of devitalizing infestant weeds.

3. The machine as claimed in claim 2. It's characterized by the fact that it utilizes a rotating head with a mortised internal mirror to aim the laser towards the ground and towards the semi-circular composite mirror system.

4. The machine as claimed in claim 3. It's characterized by the fact that it utilizes a system of semi-circular mirrors to aim the laser ray towards the ground.

5. Aside from the preferred realizational form, the weed killer can employ different conformations: a) For entire-field work with a work area superior to 120 cm you can utilize more laser units/rotating heads/composite mirrors on each individual machine. b) To direct the ray towards the ground you can use prisms or fiber optics in place of the mirror. c) The machine can be realized in different sizes and combinations according to the work that has to be done (narrow rows, multiple rows, and full-field). d) The machine can use more types of laser units; diode, tube, or others of variable power. e) The machine can employ lasers of variable power.