AU2021106509B4 - A lineal air duct sprayer - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention comprises a sprayer for spraying plants comprising an assembly of at least two lineal air ducts modules wherein each lineal air duct module comprises an axial fan mounted upon a single duct manifold wherein the air flow generated by the axial fan is directed into the single duct manifold which has a single lineal duct outlet which has mounted in the duct outlet plurality of vanes and spray nozzles for depositing liquid droplets into the air flow and directing the air flow containing the aerosolised particles towards the plants and wherein the duct manifold comprises a tapered duct in which the portion of the duct adjacent the axial fan has a wider cross section than the portion of the duct adjacent the bottom of the lineal duct outlet and wherein the vanes contained within the duct outlet are adjustable and the duct further comprises at least one air deflector for directing the airflow exiting the lineal air duct towards the subject plants. 23/08/21

Description

AUSTRALIA Patents Act, 1990 ORIGINAL INNOVATION PATENT SPECIFICATION

APPLICANT: 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: A LINEAL AIR DUCT SPRAYER

PRIORITY: AU 2021 901 122 - 16 April 2021

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

9qLAir,-91

A LINEAL AIR DUCT 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. 18 depicts a prior art spray unit having an axial fan for generating airflow and atomisers or sprayers arranged around the fan. These tend to apply more spray to the sides of the trees adjacent the sprayer. Fig. 19 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 which can be set at height. However 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. Further, both are bulky and not suited for narrow rows which are utilised in many horticultural crops such as table grapes. One distinct disadvantage of many prior art sprayers is the inability to widen or narrow the distance between the spray heads that spray the trees or crops on either side of the sprayer. In some cases the spray nozzles or outlets will be too far from the trees or crops to be sprayed in other cases too close. It is an object of the present invention provide an agricultural sprayer which at least ameliorates some of the deficiencies of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a sprayer

for spraying plants comprising an assembly of at least two lineal air ducts modules wherein each lineal air duct module comprises an axial fan mounted upon a single duct manifold wherein the air flow generated by the axial fan is directed into the single duct manifold which has a single lineal duct outlet which has mounted in the duct outlet plurality of vanes and spray nozzles for depositing liquid droplets into the air flow and directing the air flow containing the aerosolised particles towards the plants and wherein the duct manifold comprises a tapered duct in which the portion of the duct adjacent the axial fan has a wider cross section than the portion of the duct adjacent the bottom of the lineal duct outlet and wherein the vanes contained within the duct outlet are adjustable and the duct further comprises at least one air deflector for directing the airflow exiting the lineal air duct towards the subject plants.

Preferably the at least two lineal air duct modules are mounted on a

frame whereby the distance between each lineal air duct module can be

altered.

More preferably the distance can be varied by up to 900mm between the

modules.

More preferably the frame is adapted to have mounted upon it, multiple

pairs of lineal air duct modules which are configured to spray multiple row of

plants to be treated with chemicals.

Preferably each lineal air duct module further comprises, below the hub

of the axial fan, a central internal cone to streamline the airflow within the

manifold

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig 1 is perspective view of an assembly of lineal air ducts modules of

the lineal air duct sprayer that comprises a first embodiment of the invention

shown without the axial fans and mounted together;

Fig 2 is a rear view of a second embodiment of the lineal air duct sprayer

comprising two lineal air duct modules mounted on a frame which in turn is mounted on a spray tank in a narrow row of plants or trees with the lineal air duct sprayer modules mounted close together; Fig 3 depicts the lineal air duct sprayer of Fig 2 in a wider row with the lineal air duct sprayer modules mounted further apart so they are closer to the trees to be sprayed;

Fig 4 is rear view of the lineal air duct sprayer embodiment of fig 1 with

fans and fan mounting frame;

Fig 5 shows a side view of a lineal air duct of Fig 4;

Fig 6 shows a top view of the lineal air duct assembly of Fig 1;

Fig 7 is a rear view of a further embodiment comprising an assembly of

lineal air duct mounted on a boom frame in a narrow configuration;

Fig 8 is a rear view of a further assembly of lineal air ducts modules

mounted on a boom frame in a wider configuration;

Fig 9 is a front perspective view of a further embodiment of the lineal air

duct sprayer showing outline of the axial fans;

Fig 10 is a rear perspective view of the lineal air duct sprayer of Fig 5;

Fig 11 is a left side view of the lineal air duct sprayer of Fig 5;

Fig 12 is a rear view of the lineal air duct sprayer of Fig. 5;

Fig 13 is a bottom view of the lineal air duct sprayer of Fig. 5;

Fig 14 is a top view is of the lineal air duct sprayer of Fig. 5;

FIG 15 is a right side view of the lineal air duct sprayer of Fig.5;

Fig 16 is a front view of the lineal air duct sprayer of Fig 5;

Fig 17 is a cross sectional view of one of the lineal air ducts of Fig 5

without the outline of the fan depicted;

Fig 18 is a rear view of a prior art sprayer;

Fig 19 is a rear view of further prior art sprayer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

According to a first embodiment of the invention shown in Fig 1 there is a

sprayer 10 comprising two lineal air duct modules 12 mounted on a single post

16, shown without the axial fan. Lineal air duct modules 12 are best depicted in

Figs. 9 through to Fig 14 where the fan 24 is shown mounted in the top opening

15 of the lineal air duct shown in Fig 1. As shown in Figs 2, 3, 7 and 8, lineal air

duct modules 12 of sprayer 10 are mounted via their posts 16 to boom frame

14. The distance between the lineal air duct modules 12 can be adjusted in this

configuration. Lineal air duct modules 12 are attached to post 16 via module

mounting points 18.

Each lineal air duct module 12 comprises a single manifold with a single

lineal outlet 13. The outlet 13 has mounted in it, a plurality of vanes 20 upon

which the nozzles 21 are mounted. The nozzles 21 are mounted such that they

do not protrude from outlet 13. This improves the directionality of the

aerosolised droplets produced by nozzles 21. Each vane 20 can be articulated

in the vertical plane by adjusting the angle that the vanes 20 are bolted in

position by bolts 25. In addition to the adjustable vanes there is provided at

least one outlet air deflector 22 which comprise a pivoting portion of the outlet

13 to further adjust the direction of the airflow towards the plants to be sprayed.

Preferably there are two outlet air deflectors 22. The bottom outlet air deflector

22 can be used to direct airflow in an upwards direction. The top outlet air

deflector 22 can be used to direct air in a downwards direction.

Axial fan 24 is mounted in a shroud 26 and driven by an axial fan

hydraulic motor 27 which is attached to fan mount 28. Below axial fan 24 is a

cone 30 which is attached to the lineal air duct manifold by way of mounts 31.

The cone 30 sits in the space below the fan where there is minimal airflow and

as a consequence, prevents the air flow from dispersing into this zone of the manifold. This improves the airflow in the manifold and keeps it directional towards the outlet 13. At its narrowest configuration as shown in Fig 1 and Fig

4, the sprayer 10 is approximately 1.1 metres wide. This makes it ideal for spraying crops grown in narrow rows or trellises.

The shape of the lineal air duct module 12 is important to its performance. The opening 13 is the widest part of the manifold and is where

the fan 24 is mounted. The manifold is tapered from the top to its narrowest

cross section adjacent the bottom.

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 spraying apparatus for mounting on a tractor or a towed spray tank

trailer for spraying rows of plants comprising an axial fan mounted upon a

tapered manifold having an opening, a top portion, middle portion and bottom portion and in which the top portion of the manifold adjacent the axial fan has a

bigger area in cross section than the middle portion of the tapered manifold

which in turn has a bigger area in cross section than the bottom portion of the

tapered manifold and wherein air flow generated by the axial fan is directed into

the tapered manifold which has at least one duct outlet which ejects the airflow used to spray at least one side of a row of plants, and wherein the spraying

apparatus has a plurality of spray nozzles for depositing liquid droplets into the

air flow and wherein the at least one duct outlet and at least a subset of the plurality of spray nozzles in the middle portion of the tapered manifold are

horizontally orientated so that air and liquid droplets exit horizontally from the

middle portion of the tapered manifold towards the at least one side of the row of plants, and wherein the at least one duct outlet and at least a subset of the

plurality of spray nozzles at the top portion of the tapered manifold are angled in

a downward configuration to direct the air and liquid droplets in a downward direction and wherein the at least one duct outlet and at least a subset of the

plurality of spray nozzles at the bottom portion of the tapered manifold are angled in an upwards configuration to direct the air and liquid droplets in an

upwards direction and wherein the at least one duct outlet also features one or

more vanes mounted in the at least one duct outlet for directing the flow of air and the liquid droplets carried in the air.

2. The spraying apparatus of claim 1 wherein the at least one duct outlet at the top and bottom portions of the tapered manifold comprise one or more adjustable

deflectors that extend out of the at least one duct outlet and which can adjust the orientation, and in particular the degree of angling of the at least one duct outlet at the top and bottom portions.

3. The spraying apparatus of claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the at least one duct outlet is a single duct extending linearly along the top middle and bottom portions of

the tapered manifold and in that single duct there are provided a plurality of vanes deflecting the airflow as it exits the single duct.

4. A spraying apparatus of claims 1 to 3 wherein the nozzles are mounted on

the vanes and wherein the angle of orientation of the nozzles and the vanes can be adjusted.

5. A spray apparatus according to claim 1 to claim 4 wherein the manifold has mounted at its opening, under the axial fan, a cone or other shaped volume which has a larger surface area proximate the axial fan and a smaller surface area at the

distal end of the volume, wherein the cone or other shaped volume is adapted to displace air from the volume of space directly below the central portion of the axial

fan and wherein the cone or other shaped volume is mounted to the manifold in a

way using mounts that do not prevent the passage of air from the axial fan into the manifold and wherein the top and bottom portions of the manifold are inclined off the

central axis of the axial fan and wherein the top portion of the manifold is inclined

towards the row of plants to be sprayed and the bottom portion is inclined towards the row of plants to be sprayed such that in cross section the shape of the spray

apparatus adopts a C like shape that focuses the ejected air and liquid droplets

towards the at least one row of plants to be sprayed.

Dated this 12 June 2024

PASTRO-CUSTOM AG Pty Ltd Patent Attorneys for the Applicant IP SOLVED (ANZ) PTY LTD