AU2011204988B2 - Agricultural sprayer - Google Patents

Abstract

- 10 A sprayer for the nebulisation and the spraying of phytosanitary products in aqueous solution on agricultural products arranged in rows (13) is formed by a plurality of vertical tubular structures with inverted truncated cone shape (1), attached to 5 transversal frames and positioned either side of the rows themselves. Each tubular structure (1) includes an upper fan (2) that delivers air at low velocity and at a high volumetric airflow rate which, from inside the structure itself, is discharged uniformly towards the crops to be treated through the vertical slots (5) where there are arranged some injection nozzles (7) of phytosanitary products. The phytosanitary 10 products in aqueous solution are mixed and nebulised with air and deposited on the foliage of plants in full vegetation, enabling said products to remain on, and penetrate, the foliage of the plants without causing any damage to the plants themselves and the surrounding terrain. 26/07 1.19357 speci doc. 10 M r-

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 ORIGINAL COMPLETE SPECIFICATION INVENTION TITLE: AGRICULTURAL SPRAYER The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: 26/07/11,19357 covvag speci.doc. I -2 "AGRICULTURAL SPRAYER" DESCRIPTION The invention refers to an agricultural sprayer, particularly suitable for the 5 nebulisation and the spraying of phytosanitary products in aqueous solution on agricultural products arranged in rows, such as vines, rows of fruit plants and similar. It is known that, in the current and most widely utilised spraying equipment, the phytosanitary products in aqueous solutions are nebulised utilising airflows generated by fans and are sprayed through nozzles distributed along the flexible 10 tubing arranged either side of the espaliers which form the rows. It is also known that such equipment is supported by lateral arm tubular structures, which extend rightwards and leftwards of the rows both from their inner and outer parts, engaged and towed by tractors moving between the rows themselves. Other different types of spraying equipment are formed by groups of individual fans 15 included in conveyers with peripheral nozzles, arranged at the top and bottom of structures which are adjustable towards the espaliers to be treated. Other different spraying equipment utilises vertical conveyors of basically parallelepiped shape with hydraulic fans and nozzles positioned in vertical slots. Each type of said spraying equipment, however, has shown some particular and 20 undesired drawbacks which are summarised as follows: e excessive consumption of phytosanitary products resulting from the wasteful dispersal of the same regarding the crops to be treated and from the resulting pollution which the same dispersion produces on the underlying terrain; 26/07/11,19357 speci doc.2 -3 * the air suction devices are positioned on the sides or directed downwards, with the result that the leaves of the rows undergoing treatment may be detached from the plants or may be sucked off the ground, together with soil, thus clogging the air vents and altering the necessary nebulisation airflow rate; 5 e the spray arm equipment with flexible tubing, which utilises centrifugal fans, uses a lot of power with limited capacity, and the reduced diameter of the conveyor tubes causes the too rapid emission of air, which results in the detachment of leaves, flowers and similar; e such equipment is generally expensive, bulky and unwieldy, in terms of 10 efficiency as well as ease of transportation. Other drawbacks derive from the fact that, in the spraying equipment which utilises low-volume sprayers, the dispensed product, although being deposited on the leaf apparatus, is subject to rapid vaporisation of the water with a consequent strong limitation of the absorption action of the active ingredient of the phytosanitary 15 products, thus limiting its efficacy. These drawbacks are overcome with the present invention, consisting of spraying equipment of liquids and phytosanitary products for the treatment of woody and herbaceous crops, particularly suitable for espalier systems and rows for vines, fruit and herbaceous plants in general. 20 In accordance with the present invention, therefore, there is provided a spray apparatus for the nebulisation and the spraying of phytosanitary products in aqueous solutions on agricultural products arranged in rows, including a movable trailer, an airflow generating fan, and at least one independent vertical tubular structure with an 22 /05/15,ag19357 amended speci pages.3 - 3a inverted truncated cone shape, at least one bearing structure to which said at least one vertical tubular structure is attached, each of said at least one structures including spraying injection nozzles arranged in said tubular structure, and at least one duct for carrying a pumped aqueous mixture of a phytosanitary product to said nozzles to be 5 uniformly discharged towards the agricultural products to be treated, wherein said apparatus provides for at least a pair of said tubular structures arranged side by side, wherein vertical slots are provided with said injection nozzles and are associated with and interposed by adjustable winged section guide pins, said structure further including a lower tray for the retrieval of residual liquids, and wherein said at least 10 one bearing structure carries said at least one pair of tubular structures spaced-apart so as to lay astray of said rows of agricultural crop products to be treated. The advantages achieved with the present invention derive from the fact that the spraying equipment of liquids and phytosanitary products is endowed with sprayers specifically designed to produce optimum processes, with contained velocity 22/05/15,ag19357 amended speci pages,3 -4 airflows (approx. 3-4 m/s) and a higher volumetric airflow rate, which are able to nebulise the phytosanitary products in aqueous solution and to deposit them, enabling them to remain on, and penetrate, the foliage of plants in full vegetation, without causing any damage to the plants themselves and the surrounding terrain. 5 Other advantages consist of the fact that the optimum process, derived from a contained velocity airflow and a higher volumetric airflow rate, permits a substantial reduction in the environmental dispersion of the nebulised phytosanitary products, resulting in significant cost savings and the containment of polluting deposits on cultivated terrain. 10 An additional advantage consists of the fact that the fan elements are less powerful and therefore less expensive in terms of energy consumption, initial purchase costs and maintenance operations. The invention is described in detail below, according to one of its embodiments provided solely as an illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the 15 enclosed designs, in which: fig. I represents a lateral view of an assembly of one of the conveyor/sprayer casings according to the invention, fig. 2 represents the same conveyor/sprayer in vertical section, fig. 3 represents a cross-section of the same conveyor/sprayer, in an approximately 20 elliptically shaped configuration, and fig. 4 represents a schematic view of a group of conveyors/sprayers, according to the invention, supported and towed in an operating position between the rows of a vineyard. 26/07/11,19357 specidoc,4 -5 With reference to figures 1, 2, and 3, relating to a single conveyor/sprayer, its structure (1) extends vertically, preferably with an inverted truncated cone shape and elliptical or circular section. In its upper part, parallel with the ground level, is housed a fan (2) with a low 5 consumption hydraulic motor (e.g.: 3 KW at approx. 1600 rpm) and with variable inclination blades, able to generate a high volumetric airflow rate at an optimum contained velocity of approx. 3-4 m/sec. The air intake (3) of the fan (2) is uppermost and is protected by a grille (4) in order to prevent the suction of leaves and soil and to ensure the injection of a large quantity 10 of air with minimum consumption. The truncated cone shape of the structure (1) of the conveyor allows a uniform and constant distribution of volumetric airflow rate pressure all along its vertical extension and, therefore, permits the uniform spraying of the product on all of the treated foliage. 15 The airflow (2'), produced by the fan (2) and introduced from the top downwards within the structure (1), is proportionally discharged outwards, depending on the variation of the passage section, through a vertical slit (5) with lateral walls (6) jutting outwards, on which are fixed some spray nozzles (7) of phytosanitary products in aqueous solution, fed by at least one duct (7'). 20 Upon passing through the uniform airflow, the pumped aqueous mixture of the phytosanitary product is nebulised and propelled outwards, while a series of adjustable guide pins (8), with a winged section, arranged below the same nozzles (7), direct the nebulised treatment product, upwards and/or downwards depending on the type and height of the plants to be treated. 26107/I1,19357 speci.doc,5 -6 The orientation of these guide pins (8) may be performed manually or by means of total or section type metallic tension rods, depending on the height extension of the rows to be treated. One of the vertical lateral walls (6) of the slit (5) may extend inwards with a partially 5 indented form (6') of the structure (1) of the conveyor, thus creating a sort of wind barrier and able to produce a supplementary partial swirling effect of the reception and deflection of the airflow able to enhance the mixing and nebulisation of phytosanitary products in aqueous solution with air. In the lower and terminal part of the conveyor is affixed a shaped container (9) for 10 the collection and retrieval of any dripping liquid that may form inside the same structure (1), in order to prevent the pollution of the underlying terrain. In figure 4, a tractor (10) tows a trailer (11) on which are arranged at least one tank of aqueous solution of a phytosanitary product, together with relative pump and connections and accessory means, and a height adjustable load bearing structure (12), 15 to which are attached at least four conveyors/sprayers (1) arranged in twos either side of the rows of plants (13) to be treated. The fluid supply of the low consumption hydraulic motors of the fans (2) and the feed pumps of the phytosanitary products may derive directly from the tractor (10) or from a control unit on the same trailer (11). 20 Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. 26/07/11,19357 specidoc.6 -7 The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form or suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia. 26/07/11.19357 speci.doc,7

Claims (10)

1. A spray apparatus for the nebulisation and the spraying of phytosanitary products in aqueous solutions on agricultural products arranged in rows, including a movable trailer, an airflow generating fan, and at least one independent vertical 5 tubular structure with an inverted truncated cone shape, at least one bearing structure to which said at least one vertical tubular structure is attached, each of said at least one structures including spraying injection nozzles arranged in said tubular structure, and at least one duct for carrying a pumped aqueous mixture of a phytosanitary product to said nozzles to be uniformly discharged towards the agricultural products 10 to be treated, wherein said apparatus provides for at least a pair of said tubular structures arranged side by side, wherein vertical slots are provided with said injection nozzles and are associated with and interposed by adjustable winged section guide pins, said structure further including a lower tray for the retrieval of residual liquids, and wherein said at least one bearing structure carries said at least one pair of 15 tubular structures spaced-apart so as to lay astray of said rows of agricultural crop products to be treated.

2. The spray apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the inverted truncated cone shape of said tubular structures is proportionate to a uniform distribution of the volumetric airflow rate of the air delivered by said fan. 20

3. The spray apparatus according to claim I or claim 2, wherein each tubular structure extends vertically with an inverted truncated cone shape with an elliptical section. 22/05/15,ag19357 amended speci pages.8 -9

4. The spray apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each tubular structure extends vertically with an inverted truncated cone shape with a circular section.

5. The spray apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein 5 said fan is located in the upper part of each structure, said fan providing for a low consumption hydraulic motor and variable inclination blades, able to generate a high volumetric airflow rate at an optimum contained velocity limited to approx. 3-4 m/sec.

6. The spray apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein 10 the air intake of said upper fan is protected by a grille.

7. The spray apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the airflow produced by each fan, introduced from the top downwards in said structures, is proportionally discharged outwards, depending on the variation of the passage section, through said vertical slit with lateral walls on which are fixed said 15 sprayer nozzles of phytosanitary products in aqueous solution, interposed by guide pins.

8. The spray apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said at least one bearing structure is attached to transversal frames supported by towing means and positioned either side of the rows of agricultural crop products to 20 be treated with phytosanitary products in nebulised aqueous solutions.

9. The spray apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the guide pins may be manually adjusted or with total or section type mechanical tension rods, depending on the height extension of the agricultural crops in rows to 22/05/15.ag19357 amended speci pages.9 -10 be treated, and are alternately arranged between said sprayer nozzles of phytosanitary products in aqueous solution.

10. The spray apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein one of the vertical lateral walls of said slit is partially extendable inwards of said 5 structure as a supplementary partial deflection wind barrier of supplementary swirling effect of the reception and deflection airflow of the mixing and nebulisation of phytosanitary products in aqueous solution with air. 22/05/15,ag1 935 7 amended speci pages,10