AU2014101395A4 - Multi Row, Foliar and Weedicide Combined, Independent Vineyard Sprayer - Google Patents

Abstract

Application of weedicide (using multi-row weedicide sprayer) and foliar chemicals (using multi-row foliar chemical sprayer) separately in vineyard operation is commonly used. Although it is not an efficient option in terms of fixed, operational & maintenance cost, time spend for spraying and space required to park in idle time. Due to PTO and hydraulic connections, the tractor attached to weedicide or foliar chemical sprayers can't directly use for any other farm activates. Multi-row, foliar and weedicide combined, independent vineyard sprayer will provide the answer for these issues. The sprayer is built as one hitch wheeled trailer that can easily mounted (hooked) with drawbar of most of farm machineries. The sprayer comprises of 230V petrol operated electricity generator, 12V Pb-acid battery, 3000L - 5000L water storage, 200L weedicide and foliar chemical storage tanks (separate), 12V pressure pumps, flow control valves, two mechanically expandable arms, weedicide dispensing nozzle units, foliar chemical dispensing nozzle units fitted to high velocity electric fans and monitoring and controlling devices such as night vision cameras and three monitoring screens and controlling panel. With this sprayer, there is no need to mix weedicide or foliar chemicals with water. Both of them can be used as it is in 20L to 200L containers or they can be filled to 200L movable storage tanks; simply want to insert & secure liquid sucking tubes in to separate tanks. Flow control system will dispense at pre-set mixing ratio (water and chemicals) and volume through both weedicide and foliar application nozzles. Control panel is semi-wired device which is starting from the front of the sprayer and going to operating area. Both arms of the spryer are connected to mechanical (Figure 6) device that can control the arms and arm rest locking and unlocking mechanism. There are multiple adjustments to adjust arm lengths, nozzle heights and raw spacing to give wide range of flexibility. Weedicide and foliar chemical sprays can be carryout simultaneously (during both day and night) at pre-set rate and the sprayer-operator can monitor spraying progress with live monitors and flow meters in the control panel. The sprayer can be used as solo sprayer of weedicide or foliar chemical sprayer. When it uses for only foliar chemical application, weedicide dispensing nozzle units can be bend and store (Figure 5) in secure position. Cleaning of sprayer after use is safer and easy: need to remove & store remaining chemicals with 200L tanks in safe place or need to wash & clean 200L movable tanks. So there is minimum chance to contamination with previously used chemicals.

Description

MULTI ROW, FOLIAR AND WEEDICIDE COMBINED, INDEPENDENT VINEYARD SPRAYER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] Current practice of weedicide spray and foliar chemicals (such as fungicide, insecticide, growth regulators and foliar fertilizer) application in vineyards (both wine grapes and table grapes) is doing as separate applications. [0002] For the purpose of weedicide application single row or multi-row weedicide sprayers are commonly used. Basically these weedicide sprayers' arms operate from tractor hydraulics and the pressure pump system operates from Power Take Off (PTO) outlet from the attached tractor. For foliar application of chemicals, air-blast single-row or multi-row sprayers are commonly used. Basically these sprayers' arms & air blast fans operate from tractor hydraulics and pump system operates from PTO power outlet from the tractor as similar to weedicide sprayers. Some of sprayers come with electric fans and there is dedicated diesel or petrol power generator for electricity supply. TECHNICAL PROBLEM [0003]Because of hydraulic operations and power mechanism from tractor PTO shaft, both weedicide sprayers and foliar chemical sprayers are expensive and highly tractor dependant. There should be dedicated tractors for both operations due to hydraulic and PTO connections. [0004]This make very expensive initial infra-structure investment for small scale framers who enter into viticulture. In maintenance side, the farmer has to maintain 2 separate sprayers and 2 separate tractors. This is not an efficient option to keep one in idle while other one in operation. In terms of running cost, the farmer has to burn fuel for 2 times to weedicide and foliar chemical spray for the same farm. Apart from all other factors the farmer has to spend lot of time in the vineyard for application of weedicide and foliar chemical separately. During the winter and idle times, again need to find shelters and rooms for two separate sprayers and the attached tractors. SOLUTION TO PROBLEM [0005]Solution to the above mentioned problem is innovated combined sprayer which is capable of applying weedicide and foliar chemicals together (as well as separately). And independent from hydraulic and mechanical power (PTO) of the attached tractor or any other dragging machine. To minimise the maintenance and operation cost, the innovated combined sprayer is using low cost technology which is simple to understand in farm level.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION [0006]The innovation of Multi row, foliar and weedicide combined, independent vineyard sprayer will provide reliable answer to number of practical problems in vineyard operations. [0007]The sprayer comprise with 3000L to 5000L water storage, separate 200L weedicide and foliar chemical storage tanks, flow controllers and flow meters, electricity generator, 12V standard Pb-acid rechargeable battery, mechanically operated 2 arms with weedicide and foliar chemical dispensers, work lights, night vision video cameras, monitoring and control panel. And the combined spray unit has only one universal hitch which can be easily attached to most of farm machineries. [0008]There are many advantage of innovation of 'multi row, foliar and weedicide combined, independent vineyard sprayer' compared to the currant two separate sprayers. It will save technically 50% of time, fuel, space and running cost straightaway. And there is no need to have dedicated tractor for this combined sprayer. It is only one hook to any farm machinery which has enough dragging power to drag the sprayer unit. Since this combined sprayer has no compulsory hydraulic attachments or compulsory mechanical power from PTO shaft, initial and maintenance costs are remarkably lower than two traditional sprayers.

Claims (3)

1. Multi-row, foliar and weedicide combined, independent vineyard sprayer which can spray weedicide and foliar chemicals simultaneously or as solo at predetermined rate, comprising: water storage tank, weedicide dispensing system, foliar chemical dispensing system, mechanically operated two sprayer arms wherein both weedicide and foliar dispensing nozzles fitted, independent from electric, hydraulic or Power Take Off (PTO) shaft from tractor or any other dragging machine.

2. Mechanical system of spryer arms operating according to claim 1 wherein said comprising: 12V DC motor occupied with remote control and manual operation system, gear system, winding drum, tension adaptor system for sprayer arms release and lock, supporting bearings for moving cable, cable connections to spryer arms, spring loaded to keep sprayer arms in expanded position, high tension cable connection from drum to sprayer arms, tension cable & metal rod connection to arm rest locking mechanism and 12V DC Pb-acid battery.

3. Dispensing units of weedicide dispensing system according to claim 1 wherein said comprising: metal frame which holds pressurized weedicide and water flow connection tubes, weedicide dispensing nozzles, nozzle guards, hinge, metal ring and metal hook and weedicide dispensing units (comprise with two nozzle sets) which can be stored in secure positon when not in use by bending from hinge and hooking metal ring and metal hook together.