AU2021106513A4 - A shielded sprayer - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention provides a shielded boom spray unit comprising articulating side booms and a central spray boom, wherein the booms are comprised of a plurality of spray nozzles, wherein the plurality of nozzles are arranged in a plurality of spray booms, wherein each spray boom is supported by the sprayer at a height dynamically determined by the operator. In addition at least one boom is an articulating boom which maintains a set distance between the spray nozzles and the bank and top of an mounded plant bed, and where the articulating boom has an inner portion and an outer portion, and wherein the inner portion has a first end and a second end, and wherein the inner portion is adapted to pivot at its first end and raise its second end such that the inner portion matches the contour of the bank of the plant bed, and wherein the outer portion remains horizontal over the flat top of the plant bed. 23/08/21 3/9 - Cl (N 00 00 Lfn Ln *Lzj r4 Lf0 w 6N r-(N (N

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: A SHIELDED SPRAYER

PRIORITY: 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 applicants:

9qLAir,-91

A SHIELDED SPRAYER FIELD OF THE IVENTION

The field of the present invention is in agricultural machinery. Specifically

to field and orchard spraying equipment.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Sprayers are known in the art. They mechanically distribute liquids and

suspensions over plants and/or the ground they grow in. They are often

attached to a tractor or other vehicle and have an associated tank and pump to

supply the chemicals desired to be sprayed.

One of the problems with conventional spray units is that of uneven

spray application. Uneven spray application increases the costs of spraying

and also result in damaged plants, ineffective weedicide and pesticide

application, lost chemicals etc. To mitigate this problem, spray units have been

designed to have equal distance between the spray nozzles and the surface or

subject to be sprayed. One type of such a sprayer is a horizontal boom

sprayer. However when delivering herbicides amongst desired plants and

crops, the ability of spray to drift, potentially killing the desired plants and not

the weeds. To solve this issue shielded sprayer units have been developed that

keep the spray within an enclosed volume, often close to the ground.

The problem with such shielded boom sprayers relates to when they are

employed on farms with mounded rows. The mounds prevent a boom spray

unit from remaining equidistant from the ground. In many cases this results in

the shield not extending to the base of the mound, resulting in a gap and

resultant escape of chemicals.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome or at least

substantially ameliorate the shortcomings of the prior art.

9qLAir,-91

SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a shielded

boom spray unit comprising: - a plurality of shielded spray nozzles;

-wherein the plurality of nozzles are arranged in a plurality of spray

booms, wherein each spray boom is supported by the sprayer at a height

dynamically determined by the operator; and wherein at least one boom is an articulating boom which maintains a

set distance between the spray nozzles and the bank and top of an mounded

plant bed, and where the articulating boom has an inner portion and an outer

portion, and wherein the inner portion has a first end and a second end, and

wherein the inner portion is adapted to pivot at its first end and raise its second

end such that the inner portion matches the contour of the bank of the plant

bed, and wherein the outer portion remains horizontal over the flat top of the

plant bed.

Preferably there are three booms in three shielded booms and wherein

the central boom does not have any ability to bend or become angled and

which is designed to spray the area between two mounded rows, and wherein

the two outside booms are articulating booms which are adapted to spray the

mounded row.

Still more preferably the central boom and articulating booms can be

disengaged and mounted at either ends of the tractor or the front of the tractor

and rear of a spray tank towed by a tractor.

Even more preferably the height of the booms can be adjusted

dynamically by the operator whilst in motion.

Preferably the heights of the boom can be adjusted automatically to

adjust to contours in the ground levels through the use of sensors mounted on

the boom.

BRIEF DRESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sprayer according to a first aspect and embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top view of the sprayer of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the sprayer of Fig. 1 with the side booms in an

extended position;

Fig, 4 is a rear view of the sprayer of Fig. 3 in its angled configuration;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the sprayer of Fig 1;

Fig. 6 is a side view of the sprayer of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a partial cutaway view of a component of the sprayer of Fig 1;

Fig. 8 is a close up view of the articulation assembly of the sprayer of Fig

1;

Fig. 9 is a side view depicting the sprayer of Fig 1 mounted on the rear

of a spray tank towed by a tractor;

Fig. 10 is a side view of a tractor with the sprayer according to a second

embodiment where the side booms are mounted on the front of the tractor and

the central spray boom is mounted on the rear of the tank towed by the tractor;

Fig. 11 is a front view of a tractor with the sprayer of Fig 1 mounted on

the front of the tractor;

Fig. 12 is a rear view depicting the sprayer of Fig 1 mounted on the rear

of a spray tank towed by a tractor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Shown in Figs 1 to 6 are various view of a modular boom shielded weed

sprayer 10. Sprayer 10 is comprised of three spray booms, one central spray boom 14, and two side booms 15. Each side boom 15 comprises an outer side boom 16 and inner side boom 18. Sprayer 10 is comprised of a rear mount 12 which connects to the larger assembly of spray tank chassis as shown in Fig 9 and 12. When connected to the front of the tractor the sprayer 10 is connected via the front mount hitch points 13 as shown in Fig. 11. Side booms 15 and central spray boom 14 can be disconnected at connection plate 17 and mounted separately. In an alternate configuration the side booms 15 are mounted at the front of the tractor via hitch points 13 and the central spray boom 14 mounted at the rear of the spray tank via rear mount 12 as shown in

Fig 10. The following will be described with respect to the embodiment in

which side booms 15 and central spray boom 14 are assembled into a single

spray assembly.

Each boom has a plurality of spray nozzles 26 arranged horizontally.

The nozzles 26 are bolted to shield subframe which are comprised of ribs 27.

Each boom has a spray skirt 20. The skirt is usually dense flexible filamentous

material or flexible polymeric sheeting which limits the ability of aerosolised

spray from escaping the volume created by the spray booms 14, 16 and 18 and

spray skirts 20.

Fig 4 show the invention in its altered configuration where side booms 15

are comprised of two sub-assemblies 16 and 18 that are mounted pivotally

such that they can be adjusted to match the contours of a row mound 22 as

shown in Fig. 4. Side boom 16 is adapted to spray the top of the mound 25 and

is articulated in position by arm and pivot 28 and where side boom 18 is

adapted to spray the bank 30 of the row mound 22 and where it is articulated

into position by arm and pivot 28.

The width between side booms 15 can be manipulated dynamically

through the operation of hydraulic cylinders 32 which are mounted on frame 34 which all the booms are mounted upon. Frame 34 is connected to mounting mechanism 12. Through the operation of hydraulic cylinders 32 the width between the side booms can be varied by up to 900mm. The outside ends of the hydraulic cylinders 32 are connected to boom frames 36 upon which each side boom 15 is mounted. At the end of each boom frame 36 there is a pivot arm attachment plate 38. Pivot arm attachment plate 38 is used to fold the side booms 15 up for transport via hydraulic cylinder 40. Pivot arm attachment plate

38 is also used o mount pivot arm assembly 28. Pivot arm assembly 28 is

comprised of trip back or breakaway plate 42 which is used to adapt the booms

15 to articulate backwards in the event the booms 15 encounter an object by

way of the provision bearings 44 upon which the breakaway plate 42 pivots.

Breakaway plate 42 also acts as a mounting point to frame 29 of the booms 15

to which the ribs 27 are welded. Frame 29 is mounted pivotally off breakaway

plate 42 at pivot point 46. At the end of frame 29 is further sub frame 48

mounted on pivot point 50. The articulation of frame 29 and sub frame 48

allows for the angled configuration of booms 18 and 16 to match the contours

of the mound 22 which are articulated in place by hydraulic cylinder 52 and

connector rod 54. When cylinder 52 is actuated the connector 54 keeps sub

frame 48 horizontal and parallel with the top of the mound 25.

When mounted at the rear of a sprayer via the rear mount 12, the booms

14 and/or 15 can have their height from the ground adjusted dynamically by the

operator via the operation of hydraulic cylinder 56 which articulate control arms

58. When connected to the front of the tractor via front mount hitch 13 the

height can be adjusted via manipulation of the front linkage 60 of the tractor.

These operations can be conducted in the cab by the operator using the

hydraulic system of the tractor. Alternatively the sprayer 10 can be adapted to

automatically alter the height of booms 16 and 18 through the use of boom sensors 62 which actuate the hydraulic cylinder 52 or cylinder 56 in response to sensed distance to ground. Boom sensors can be ultrasonic sensors or laser eyes for detecting the ground level. Sensors 62 communicate with a controller

(not shown) which in turn activates hydraulic solenoids valve (not shown).

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The field of industry for this invention involves agricultural machinery

which is an industrial application.

Claims (5)

THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS:

1. a shielded boom spray unit comprising:

- a plurality of spray nozzles; -wherein the plurality of nozzles are arranged in a plurality of shielded

spray booms, wherein each spray boom is supported by the sprayer at a height

dynamically determined by the operator;

and wherein at least one boom is an articulating boom which maintains a

set distance between the spray nozzles and the bank and top of an mounded

plant bed, and where the articulating boom has an inner portion and an outer

portion, and wherein the inner portion has a first end and a second end, and

wherein the inner portion is adapted to pivot at its first end and raise its second

end such that the inner portion matches the contour of the bank of the plant

bed, and wherein the outer portion remains horizontal over the flat top of the

plant bed.

2. The shielded boom spray of claim 1 wherein there are three shielded

booms and wherein the central boom does not have any ability articulate and

which is designed to spray the area between two mounded rows, and wherein

the two outside booms are articulating booms which are adapted to spray the

mounded row.

3. The shielded boom sprayer of claim 2 wherein the central boom and

articulating booms can be disengaged and mounted at either ends of the tractor

or the front of the tractor and rear of a spray tank towed by a tractor.

4. The shielded boom sprayer of any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the height of

the booms can be adjusted dynamically by the operator whilst in motion. 23/08/21

5. The shielded sprayer of any of claims 1 to 4 wherein at least one articulating

boom can be adjusted automatically to adjust to contours in the ground levels

through the use of sensors mounted on the articulating boom.

Dated this 2 3 rd 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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