AU2021106508A4 - An improved sprayer - Google Patents

Abstract

A sprayer comprising a plurality of at least two spray modules, wherein each spray module comprises an axial fan which generates an airflow, and a plurality of spray nozzles connected to a source of chemical sought to be applied, the plurality of nozzles being placed in the airflow generated by each axial fan, and wherein each of the two spray modules are mounted vertically in a stack wherein one of the axial fans is rotated upon a drive shaft and wherein the drive shaft is rotated by the power take off shaft of a tractor via a gearbox or step up box and wherein the second axial fan is rotated on a second shaft wherein the second shaft is rotated by a belt which is connected to the first shaft. The invention also includes sprayers with three spray modules mounted in a stack including an embodiment which connected the second and third shafts through a magnetic coupling connected to the second shaft. 23/08/21 1/12 10 12 11 40 p40 14 40 40 FigI

Description

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AUSTRALIA Patents Act, 1990 ORIGINAL INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION

APPLICANT/S: PASTRO-CUSTOM AG Pty Ltd (ACN 134 240 832)

INVENTOR: PASTRO, John Emilio

ADDRESS FOR SERVICE: Maxwells Patent & Trade Mark Attorneys Pty Ltd PO Box R1466 Royal Exchange Sydney, NSW, 1225

INVENTION TITLE: AN IMPROVED SPRAYER

PRIORITY: AU 2021 901 122 - 16 April 2021 AU 2021 902 334 - 29 July 2021

The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to the applicant:

23/08/21

AN IMPROVED SPRAYER FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Agricultural spraying apparatus are used in orchards and vineyards to

apply chemicals to crops and plants.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Agricultural air assist sprayers are used to spray orchards and vineyards are often towed behind a tractor and are comprised of a tank, one or more fans or turbines which cause the movement of a vast amount of air and atomisers and sprayers which deposit the liquid to be applied to the plants into the stream of air created by the turbines or fans. Fig. 14 depicts a prior art spray unit having an axial fan for generating airflow and atomisers or sprayers arranged around the fan. These are not particularly useful for spraying tall trees such as nuts and avocadoes. Fig. 15 also depicts a prior art sprayer. This type of sprayer employs a turbine instead of a fan and communicates the airflow generated by the turbine via ducts and outlets. However both these sprayers suffer the problem of uneven application including striping where certain areas receive more chemical than other areas due to the ducts. Uneven application of chemicals can result in crop losses. A further problem with these prior art agricultural sprayers is the issue of efficiency and the inability to effectively spray at height which requires

considerable power. Directly driven fans are the most efficient as there is little loss of energy or power from the tractor's power take off (PTO). Further when a fan is driven by a hydraulic motor, which is often the case for fans not located in a position that can be directly driven, these come with additional risk of contamination as a result of failures in the hydraulic system that drive them which expose the plants to the hydraulic fluid. In addition, if hydraulicly powering a fan motor, it becomes inefficient to also power a direct drive fan off the PTO in combination with a hydraulicly driven fan. These problems are particularly pronounced when attempting to drive two fans mounted on top of each other in order to evenly distribute chemicals at height.

23/08/21

It is an object of the present invention to make a sprayer that ameliorates at least some of the deficiencies of the prior art, including the elimination of hydraulic motors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect of the invention there is provided an sprayer comprising a plurality of at least two spray modules, wherein each spray module comprises

an axial fan which generates an airflow, and a plurality of spray nozzles

connected to a source of chemical sought to be applied, the plurality of nozzles

being placed in the airflow generated by each axial fan, and wherein each of the two spray modules are mounted vertically wherein one of the axial fans is

rotated upon a drive shaft and wherein the drive shaft is rotated by the power

take off shaft of a tractor via a gearbox or step up box and wherein the second

axial fan is rotated on a second shaft wherein the second shaft is rotated by a

belt which is connected to the first shaft.

Preferably the sprayer includes a third spray module mounted on top of the other two spray modules, and wherein the third axial fan rotates on a third

shaft which is rotated by a belt connected to the second shaft. Preferably the third spray module is configured to disconnect from the

first and second spray modules.

More preferably the sprayer further comprises a frame and the third

spray module is pivotally mounted on the frame and is adapted to be pivoted

into a horizontal position for transport and pivoted to a vertical position when in

use. Still more preferably the third shaft is connected to the second shaft

through an intermediary coupling shaft which rotates with the second shaft by

way of a magnetic coupling, a clutch or 2 piece coupling connecting the second

shaft with the coupling shaft.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig 1 is rear view of a sprayer according to a first embodiment of the invention where there are two spray modules;

Fig 2 is a front view of a sprayer of Fig 1;

Fig 3 depicts a front perspective view of the sprayer of Fig 1 wherein the sprayer is shown on a mounting frame for mounting to spray tank trailer and

wherein the figure further depicts the gearbox;

Fig 4 a further front perspective view of the sprayer of Fig 3;

Fig 5 shows a cross sectional side view the sprayer of Fig. 1;

Fig 6 shows a rear view of the a sprayer according to a second

embodiment of the invention where there is an additional spray module

mounted on top of the two modules shown in in the embodiment of Fig 1;

Fig 7 is a schematic side view of the second embodiment of Fig 6 shown

in an erected configuration;

Fig 8 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of Fig 6 shown in a half-erected configuration;

Fig 9 is a schematic view of the second embodiment of Fig 6 shown in a

transportable or horizontal configuration;

Fig 10 is a cross section view of a magnetic coupling;

Fig 11 is a plan view of one part of a magnetic coupling;

Fig 12 is a perspective partial cutaway view of a magnetic coupling

showing the embedded magnets;

Fig 13 depicts in (a) the vertical shift misalignment (b) axial misalignment

and (c) vertical and axial misalignment tolerated and still operate;

Fig 14 is a rear view of a prior art agricultural sprayer;

Fig 15 is a rear view of a second prior art agricultural sprayer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig 1 depicts sprayer 10 consisting of two spray modules 11 and 12.

Each spray module has an axial fan 14 which generates an airflow. The airflow

from fan 14 is directed into in a manifold or space which has two lineal outlets 15 on either side of spray modules 11 and 12. The lineal outlets 15 have a

plurality of spray nozzles (not shown) which are mounted on adjustable vanes

38 which direct the airflow towards the plants to be sprayed. In addition to the

adjustable vanes 38 there are air deflectors 40 for further directing the airflow

towards the plants to be sprayed.

The axial fan 14 of the bottom spray module 11 is driven on first shaft 16

which is coupled to gearbox or step up box 18 which in turn is driven by the

power take off (PTO) of the tractor. The upper spray module 12 in the first

embodiment of the invention is driven on second shaft 20 which is rotated

through the action of a belt 26 which couples the first shaft 16 and second shaft 20. Preferably a timing belt is used as belt 26 but other belts may also be

employed such as V belts or even a chain system. Preferably the shafts are

connected by the belt 26 such that the shafts rotate on a one to one ratio. In

other embodiments, the diameter of the pulleys 28 that the belts 26 are

connected to can be varied to provide differential rpm requirements. Belt 26 is

maintained behind a belt guard 27. The first and second spray modules 11 and

12 are connected by bolting together their upper and lower surfaces

respectively via bolt holes 42 formed in the top and bottom of each spray

module. The sprayer 10 can be disassembled into a single spray module 11 if

desired.

Fig 6 depicts sprayer 20 according to a second aspect of the invention in

which a third spray module 13 is located on top of the second spray module. In this embodiment the third spray module is driven in essentially the same manner as the second spray module 12 off a belt driven by the second shaft.

However this embodiment is quite tall at 6 metres from ground level and difficult

and dangerous transport on public roads and on farm.

In a third embodiment of the invention there is provided a tri stack sprayer 50 in which the third top spray module 13 is mounted on frame 36

which pivots on frame 34 of sprayer 50. In this embodiment the fan 14 of the

top spray module 13 is rotated on a third shaft 24 as in the case of embodiment

20. However in this embodiment the third shaft is coupled to a coupling shaft 22 which is rotated by virtue of a magnetic coupling comprising magnetic couplers

30 and 32 which are better shown in 10 to 12. In these figures the magnets 44

are shown which generated the attractive forces that maintain the magnetic

coupling. Fig 13 shows the degree of misalignment that the couplings can

tolerate whilst continuing to operate efficiently.

The magnetic couplers 30 and 32 are shown in use in Fig 7 where the faces of the couples are brought together. When it is desired to pivot the third spray module into a stowed configuration for transport or lift it into active use,

hydraulic cylinders (not shown) are actuated to lower or raise the top spray

module 12 respectively. Magnetic couples of the sort described in Australian

Patent Application No 2011223986 and PCT/AU2010/001492 published as

W02011/054062 are incorporated herein by reference. Suitable fixed gap fixed

speed couplings are also also available commercially from Mangadrive

Corporation of Woodinville WA USA (www.magnadrive.com) and also Magnetic

Technologies Ltd of Oxford MA, USA (magnitech.com).

Each axial fan 14 produces an airflow of 14 m3/s, 24/82 m/s using 16kW

of power from the gearbox 18 (efficiency 63.5%). The fan utilised has an

impeller diameter of 850mm and bears 9 blades. It is designed to run at 2300

23/08/21 rpm. Gearbox 18 has a ratio of 1:4.5 and using an input of 54.4kW of power at

540 rpm from the PTO it is able to output 207 Nm of torque at 2340 rpm.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present inventions have use in the agricultural industry, in particular

the field of spray equipment.

Claims (5)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. A sprayer comprising a plurality of at least two spray modules, wherein

each spray module comprises an axial fan which generates an airflow, and a

plurality of spray nozzles connected to a source of chemical sought to be

applied, the plurality of nozzles being placed in the airflow generated by each

axial fan, and wherein each of the two spray modules are mounted vertically in

a stack wherein one of the axial fans is rotated upon a drive shaft and wherein

the drive shaft is rotated by the power take off shaft of a tractor via a gearbox or

step up box and wherein the second axial fan is rotated on a second shaft

wherein the second shaft is rotated by a belt which is connected to the first

shaft.

2. The sprayer of claim 1 wherein a third spray module is mounted on top

of the at least two spray modules in a stack, and wherein the third axial fan

rotates on a third shaft which is rotated by a belt connected to the second shaft.

3. The sprayer of claim 2 wherein the third spray module is configured to

be disconnected and reconnected from the first and second spray modules.

4. The sprayer of claim 3 wherein the sprayer further comprises a frame

and the third spray module is pivotally mounted on the frame and is adapted to

be pivoted into a horizontal position for transport and pivoted to a vertical

position when spraying.

5. The sprayer of claim 4 wherein the third shaft is connected to the second shaft through an intermediary coupling shaft which rotates with the

23/08/21 second shaft by way of a magnetic coupling connecting the second shaft with the coupling shaft.

Dated this 23rd day of August 2021

PASTRO-CUSTOM AG Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant MAXWELLS PATENT & TRADE MARK ATTORNEYS PTY LTD

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