AU2021210581A1 - Sprayer for spreading product(s) - Google Patents

Abstract

The sprayer for spreading product(s) comprises a chassis (1), a tank (3) containing a carrier product, a spray bar (4), a link mechanism (5) comprising a central carrier (5a) located behind the tank (3) and an adjustment mechanism (5b) for vertically moving the central carrier (5a), a spray circuit for conveying the pressurised carrier product from the tank (3) to the spray bar (4) and a direct injection system (6). It also comprises a movable receptacle (7) housing at least one portion of the direct injection system (6) and a receptacle carrier (8) rigidly connected to the central carrier (5a) and/or to the adjustment mechanism (5b) and a lifting system (9) operatively interconnecting the receptacle carrier (8) and the movable receptacle (7) so as to suspend the latter beneath the receptacle carrier (7) and to allow the movable receptacle (7) to be moved vertically up or down relative to the receptacle carrier (8).

Description

Description Title of the invention: Sprayer for spreading product(s)

[0001][The present invention relates, within the agricultural field, to spraying equipment, and its subject is a sprayer for spreading product(s).

[0002] Spraying is that operation whereby a certain quantity of liquid is spread as droplets and distributed evenly over the target.

[0003] Preparing a mix, frequently referred to as mixture, of active products and a carrier liquid, such as water, which is conveyed in a tank to the field comprising the targets to be sprayed, is known in the agricultural field. The mixture is then sprayed over the targets. The water may also be another liquid or another liquid solution able to contain other substances.

[0004] The sprayer is fitted with a tank, which can be mounted on the rear or the front of a vehicle such as a tractor or a self-propelled sprayer. The sprayer comprises the said tank for the carrier liquid, a spray boom fitted with spray nozzles allowing to spray the mixture onto the surface to be treated or sprayed and being in general made up of one or more articulated arms, one or more pipes to convey the mixture from the tank to the spray boom and a pump allowing the said pressurized conveying of the mixture.

[0005] The spray boom is mounted on a chassis by being articulated thereon by means of a link mechanism so it can be deployed from a folded position for transport to an unfolded position for work. The link mechanism comprises a support frame, generally made of two portions articulated to each other (parallelogram, or sliding mast thanks to a cylinder or other type of activating device), carrying the spray boom. Thanks to this link mechanism, the height of the spray boom can be adjusted according to the level of the target to be treated, the type of nozzle, and the distance between the nozzles. The link mechanism makes it possible to move the support frame vertically to adapt the height position of the boom to the height of the plants to be treated. The height adjustment range is defined as being between a low position and a high position when the boom is unfolded and therefore working. To switch to the transport position, the support frame together with the boom are moved to the high position and the spray boom is then folded.

[0006] When some mixture remains in the tank at the end of the spraying operation, the sprayer, and more specifically the tank that contains the mixture residues, must be cleaned in order to prevent contaminating the environment due to the presence of active products in the mixture, and to comply with in-force standards. The tank is cleaned with clean water stored in a rinsing tank, using an appropriate system. The mixture residues present in the tank are diluted with water from the rinsing tank and sprayed in the field or evacuated into approved systems. This operation is restrictive for the user, given that it may have to be performed several times. All the cleaning devices are adapted to the size of the tanks and therefore increase the cost of the sprayer.

[0007] Another problem lies in the incorporation of active products in the carrier liquid tank, which requires the user to follow procedures imposed by regulations, specifically that of wearing suitable protective clothing to prevent coming into contact with the active product when it is being incorporated.

[0008] To remedy these drawbacks of cleaning the tank and filling same with active product(s), a direct-injection method was perfected, consisting of storing the water and the active product(s) in separate containers and injecting in quasi-real time, i.e. while the sprayer is moving over the surface to be treated, the active products into the pipe downstream from the tank.

[0009] In this direct-injection method, two ways of proceeding are particularly known:

[0010] - one consisting of injecting the active products directly;

[0011]- the other consisting of making a mix, commonly known as a premix or premixture, of water and active product(s) in an additional tank with dimensions much smaller than those of the main tank containing the carrier liquid.

[0012]The direct-injection system comprises an injection circuit allowing to automatically inject (i.e. with no user intervention) the active product(s) into the pipe, downstream from the carrier liquid tank, a control circuit allowing to manage the doses of active product(s) to be injected into the water circuit, a receipt area for the active product(s) each contained in its own container, such as a canister and connection means allowing to functionally connect the said active product containers to the injection circuit.

[0013] Thus, the user, whose sole operations consist of bringing the active product containers into the receipt area and connecting them functionally to the injection circuit of the direct-injection system, no longer performs any operation for incorporating the active product from its container into the carrier liquid tank, as this operation is managed automatically by the direct-injection system.

[0014] In the present application, the terms or concepts of "front", "rear", "in front of', "behind" are defined relative to the direction of advance of the sprayer or of the vehicle towing or carrying it, and the terms or concepts of "right" and "left" are defined looking at the sprayer or towing vehicle from the rear and in the said direction of advance.

[0015] Generally, the direct-injection system is mounted at the front of the vehicle towing the sprayer, or directly at the front of the sprayer, or on the right-hand or left-hand side of the sprayer.

[0016] The document US 5004155 concerns such a direct injection system for supplying measured quantities of fluid additive to a flow of carrier liquid in an agricultural sprayer of the type comprising a water tank (carrier liquid) and a tank of additive arranged in front of the said water tank, a spray boom to spray a mix of water and additive respectively coming from the said tanks onto a field, a supply pipe going from the carrier liquid tank to the boom and a pump for being able to move the carrier liquid inside the supply pipe. The system also comprises an injection circuit for injecting the additive into the supply pipe, and a metering pump which speed may be adjusted to control the amount of additive injected into the carrier liquid.

[0017] However, positioning the direct-injection system, especially at the front of the sprayer or of the towing vehicle, causes a problem of distance relative to the spray boom and in particular its spray points (nozzles). This distance causes long priming times, poor responsiveness when changing products, and numerous dead volumes present on the sprayer, i.e. a significant length of ducts or pipes conveying the mix to the spray nozzles.

[0018] The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a sprayer device for spreading product(s) that makes it possible to shorten the priming time and minimize the dead volumes.

[0019] To this end, the sprayer for spreading product(s) according to the present invention, which comprises a chassis extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis, a tank containing a carrier product, such as water, a spray boom comprising at least one spray arm, a link mechanism comprising a central support located behind the tank and an adjustment mechanism for moving the said central support vertically, a spray circuit allowing to convey the carrier product under pressure from the tank to the spray boom and a direct-injection system allowing to inject in a controlled manner one or more active products into the spray circuit to mix it/them with the carrier product, is essentially characterized in that it also comprises a movable container housing at least a portion of the direct-injection system and a container support rigidly fastened to the central support and/or to the adjustment mechanism and a lift system functionally linking the container support and the movable container to each other so as to suspend the latter to the said container support and to allow the movable container to move vertically upward or downward relative to the said container support, all so to be able to lower the movable container from an inaccessible raised level, resulting from a raised position of the central support, to an accessible lowered level.

[0020] The invention will be better understood from the following description, which refers to a preferred embodiment given as a non-limiting example and explained with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

[0021] [Fig. 1] is a perspective view of a sprayer according to the present invention, with the spray boom folded into the transport position in which the central support is in a raised position in a first embodiment of the lift system, and in the lowered position of the movable container relative to the central support and showing a particular form of embodiment in which the movable container comprises a cover and the container support is fitted with a shutter element forming the said movable container's cover;

[0022] [Fig. 2] is a perspective view of the lift system shown in figure 1 in the unfolded state of the folding assembly and lowered to the lowered level of the movable container, in a form of embodiment with two scissor folding lift assemblies and with one shared activating device for activating them;

[0023] [Fig. 3] is a transverse cross-section view of the lift system shown in figure 1 with the container support and the movable container;

[0024] [Fig. 4] is a side view of the sprayer shown in figure 1 showing, on one hand, in dashed lines, the lowered position of the movable container at the accessible lowered level and, in continuous lines, the raised position of the movable container and its closing in the said position by the cover;

[0025] [Fig. 5] is a perspective view of the lift system shown in figure 1 in the folded state of each scissor folding lift assembly and of the closing of the movable container by the cover of the container support;

[0026] [Fig. 6] shows the sprayer in the working position with the central support in the lowered position;

[0027] [Fig. 7] is a perspective view of a sprayer according to the present invention with the spray boom folded in the transport position in which the central support is in the raised position in a second embodiment of the lift system, and in the lowered position of the movable container containing the portion of the direct-injection system designed to be made accessible, and showing a particular form of embodiment in which the movable container comprises a cover and the container support is fitted with a shutter element forming the said movable container's cover;

[0028] [Fig. 8] is a side view of the sprayer shown in figure 7 showing, on one hand, in dashed lines, the lowered position of the movable container at the accessible lowered level and, in dashed lines, the raised position of the latter closed by the container's support cover;

[0029] [Fig. 9] is a perspective view of the lift system shown in figure 7, with the tension cables in the wound state and the container support in the raised position, with the latter's cover closing the movable container;

[0030] [Fig. 10] is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the lift system, in the lowered position of the movable container containing the portion of the direct injection system designed to be made accessible, and showing a particular form of embodiment of the container support wherein it is fitted with a shutter element forming the cover comprised by the movable container;

[0031] [Fig. 11] is a plan view of the front side of the lift system shown in figure 10;

[0032] [Fig. 12] shows a side view of the sprayer according to a fourth embodiment of the lift system;

[0033] [Fig. 13] shows a side view of the sprayer according to a fifth embodiment of the lift system;

[0034] The figures show a sprayer 2 for spreading product(s) comprising a chassis 1 extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis 1a and comprising:

[0035] - a tank 3 containing a carrier product, such as water;

[0036] - a spray boom 4 comprising at least one spray arm 4a, 4b, 4c;

[0037] - a link mechanism 5 comprising a central support 5a located behind the tank 1 and an adjustment mechanism 5b allowing to move the said central support 5a vertically. This vertical movement makes it possible to adapt the height position of the boom 4 to the height of the plants to be treated. The height adjustment range is defined as being between a low position and a high position when the boom 4 is unfolded and therefore working. To switch to the transport position, the central support 5a, together with the boom, is placed in the high position and the spray boom 4 is then folded to stay within road transportation size limits;

[0038] - a spray circuit allowing to convey the carrier product under pressure from the tank 3 to the spray boom 4b; and

[0039] - a direct-injection system 6 allowing to inject in a controlled manner one or more active products into the spray circuit to mix it/them with the carrier product.

[0040] The chassis 1 can be mounted on wheels 1c for moving it on the ground and can be designed to be towed by a vehicle, not shown, by its front portion lb intended for this purpose. Referring more specifically to figure 1, a sprayer in its transport position is shown, with the spray boom 4 folded. The spray arms 4a and 4b are folded frontward along the tank 3. The spray boom 4 also comprises a central spray arm 4c, which extends between the arms 4a and 4b, which is fastened to the central support 5a. Folding the spray boom 4 to reduce its dimensions is achieved thanks to the spray arms 4a and 4b made up of one of more sections. The spray arm 4a may comprise, for example, as shown in figure 6, three sections.

[0041] In accordance with the present invention, such a sprayer also comprises:

[0042] - a movable container 7 housing at least a portion of the direct-injection system 6,

[0043] - a container support 8 rigidly fastened to the central support 5a and/or to the link mechanism 5; and

[0044] - a lift system 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 functionally linking the container support 8 and the movable container 7 to each other so as to suspend, preferably in a stable manner, the latter to the said container support 8 and to allow the movable container 7 to move vertically upward or downward relative to the said container support 8, all so to be able to lower the movable container 7 from an inaccessible raised level, resulting from the raised position of the central support 5a, to an accessible lowered level. The container support 8 for its part is fixed on the link mechanism 5.

[0045] One will understand that the inaccessible raised level corresponds to a level that a person standing on the ground cannot reach without being raised, to gain access to the movable container 7 and in particular to the portion of the direct injection system 6 contained therein and that must be made accessible. The accessible lowered level is, on the contrary, corresponds to a level that a person standing on the ground can reach to gain access to the said movable container and in particular to the portion of the direct-injection system 6 contained therein and that must be made accessible.

[0046] The movable container 7, for example a crate, a box, a tub, or a tank, may comprise an inner space 7a that receives the portion of the direct-injection system 6 that must be made accessible and an access opening 7b allowing access into the said inner space 7a to the said portion of the direct-injection system 6. Here, "injecting" means dosing the active product and mixing the active product with the carrier product for injecting into the spray circuit. Furthermore, the movable container 7 may possibly comprise a cover 8b allowing to close the said access opening 7b (see figures 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 in particular).

[0047] The inner space 7a may comprise, as part of the direct-injection system 6 that must be made accessible, one or more active products, each contained in its own container, such as a canister (figures 4 and 8, in dashed lines). The receipt area may also contain one or more tanks and/or one or more hoppers intended to receive powder. It may also comprise other portions of the injection system.

[0048] The movable container 7 can be made of a single part. The inner space 7a can define a single large space or be divided into several portions to create separate spaces.

[0049] Preferably, the shape of the movable container 7 can be a rectangular cuboid with an open upper side comprising the access opening 7b. The shape of the movable container 7 may be entirely different, provided that it has an inner space 7a able to receive at least a portion of the direct-injection system 6 and/or a volume able to contain the active products. According to an alternative not shown, the open side that provides access to the direct-injection system 6 can be on one of the other sides of the movable container 7, for example the rear side, the front side, or the lateral side.

[0050] Preferably, in a preferred form of embodiment, the container support 8 may comprise a fastening element 8a or any other fastening means, and a shutter element 8b on which the movable container 7 is suspended by means of the lift system 9 or 10 or 11. Such a shutter element 8b is designed to form the cover of the movable container 7 and is configured to be able to close the movable container 7 when the movable container 7 is not lowered. Furthermore, the shutter element 8b can be rigidly fastened to the central support 5a and/or to the link mechanism 5 by means of the said fastening element 8a.

[0051] In addition, the cover 8b is configured to adapt to the shape of the movable container 7 in order to be able to close the latter. Thus, the open movable container 7 can be closed by the said cover, on one hand at the inaccessible raised level (see figures 4, 5, 8, 11 and 12 in particular), and on the other hand in the lowered position of the central support 5a, which corresponds to the working position that does not allow the movable container 7 to be lowered because of its closeness to the ground (see figure 6 in particular).

[0052] The shape of the cover 7f or 8b of the movable container 7 shown in figures 1 to 13 may be a rectangular cuboid, possibly complementary to that of the movable container 7. According to an alternative, the cover 7f or 8b may be of a substantially flat shape intended to close the movable container 7, without edges, which adapts to the rectangular-cuboid shape of the movable container 7. According to another alternative, the flat-shaped cover 7f or 8b may have edges able to adopt the shape, especially the upper one, of the movable container 7.

[0053] The movable container 7, possibly fitted with the cover 8, can be configured to be able to form a watertight and/or secure assembly and may comprise a retention system. According to an alternative, only the movable container 7 is secured. A retention system may be provided at the bottom of the movable container 7. It is further possible to provide for locking the movable container 7, at least in its raised position. A lock may then be provided to block or lock the movable container 7 on the container support 8.

[0054] Furthermore, to comply with the road regulations in force, the width of the movable container 7, possibly fitted with the cover 8, measured in a direction transverse to the chassis 1, may be smaller than or equal to the width authorized by road transportation size limits. To provide the largest possible inner space 7a, the width of the movable container 7, consequently of the width of the container support 8, is close to the authorized limits for width dimensions.

[0055] The lift system 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 may be able and intended to move the movable container 7 vertically following, successively or not, at least one translation movement in a vertical direction and/or at least one translation movement in a horizontal direction and/or at least one rotation movement. Preferably, as can be seen on all the appended figures and as will be seen later, the lift system 9 or 10 or 11 may be able and intended to move the movable container 7 vertically following a translation movement in a vertical direction and, as can be seen in figures 12 and 13, the lift system 12 or 13 may be able and intended to move the movable container 7 vertically following a rotation movement.

[0056] In a first embodiment, as can be seen in figures 1 to 6, the lift system 9 is able and intended to move the movable container 7 vertically following a translation movement in a vertical direction and may comprise:

[0057] - on one hand, at least one scissor folding lift assembly 9a, 9b comprising a foldable assembly 9a of arms 90a articulated as a pantograph and a link system 9b functionally linking the folding assembly 9a to the movable container 7 and to the container support 8, two arms 90a articulated to each other, substantially at their center around an intersection link point 91a forming a scissor,

[0058] and, on the other hand, an activating mechanism 9c allowing to activate the foldable assembly or assemblies 9a to move the movable container 7 vertically.

[0059] The activating mechanism 9c may comprise a shared activating device 90c and an activation link 91c allowing to link the said shared activating device 90c to each scissor folding lift assembly 9a, 9b to activate same.

[0060] Thus, the activating mechanism 9c may make it possible to activate the said foldable assembly or assemblies 9a to place them either in a folded state that maintains the movable container 7 substantially at the level of the container support 8 and possibly closing the movable container 7, or in an unfolded state leading to the lowering of the movable container 7 when the central support 5a is in the raised position (figures 1 to 3). Generally, access to the movable container 7 takes place in the transport position when the boom 4 is folded, as shown in figure 1. The activating mechanism 9c must also make it possible to activate the folding assembly 9a to access the movable container 7 when the central support 5a is in a position other than the raised position. Indeed, the user can or must be able to work on the direct-injection system 6 contained in the movable container 7 during the working phase, when the boom 4 is unfolded (see figure 6).

[0061] In a preferred form of embodiment of the first embodiment of the lift system 9, as shown in figures 1 to 6, in particular for improved stability of the suspended load represented by the movable container 7, it may comprise two scissor folding lift assemblies 9a, 9b. Furthermore, the movable container 7 and the container support 8 may each respectively have two opposed connecting sides 7c, 7d or 8c, 8d, i.e. a first connecting side 7c or 8c and a second connecting side 7d or 8d, preferably oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis la of the chassis 1. One of the scissor folding lift assemblies 9a, 9b may functionally connect the first side 7a of the movable container 7 to the first side 8a of the container support 8, and the other scissor folding lift assembly 9a, 9b may functionally connect the second side 7b of the movable container 7 to the second side 8b of the container support 8.

[0062] In the or each scissor folding lift assembly 9a, 9b, the folding assembly 9a may have an upper link end and a lower link end each ending in two free arm ends 90a of the or a scissor, and each comprising at least one end link point 91b formed by one of the said free ends and/or at least one intersection link point 91a formed by the central intersection of two articulated arms 90a. Furthermore, the link system 9b may consist of a slide assembly comprising an upper slide 90b, rigidly fastened to the container support 8, possibly to one of its connecting sides 8c, 8d, by functionally receiving the end link point(s) and/or the intersection link point(s) of the upper end and a lower slide 90b, rigidly fastened to the movable container 7, possibly to one of its connecting sides 7c, 7d, by functionally receiving the end link point(s) and/or the intersection link point(s) of the lower end. Looking specifically at figures 1 to 6, one can see more specifically that each upper or lower end comprises three link points with the corresponding upper or lower slide 90b, i.e. two end link points and one intersection link point.

[0063] One can also see that each upper or lower slide 90b can have a T-shape that can comprise a guide rail 900b or other runner that can form the vertical leg of the T and a guide rail 901b or other runner that can form the horizontal leg of the T. Each guide rail 900b or 901b can slidingly receive, for example in a straight groove that it comprises two end link points and/or one intersection link point of the corresponding upper or lower end. More specifically, the vertical guide rail 900b can receive an intersection link point and the horizontal guide rail 901b can receive two end link points that slide moving towards or away from each other when the folding assembly 9a is activated.

[0064] The or each assembly of articulated arms 90a may comprise one scissor or, as can be seen in figures 1 to 6, several scissors, for example two scissors, which can preferably be mounted in series, the number of scissors being in this case chosen with regard to the desired height, i.e. the desired length of movement of the movable container 7 relative to the container support 8, also taking the dimensions of the articulated arms 90a into account.

[0065] Where there is a plurality of scissors in series, for example two scissors as can be seen in figures 1 to 6, the upper link end of the or each folding assembly 9a can be formed by one of the two scissors and the lower link end of the said folding assembly 9a can be formed by the other scissor.

[0066] In this way, the folding assembly 9a can be activated by means of the activating mechanism 9c, according to known kinematics of scissor folding systems/structures/mechanisms, into a folded or unfolded form, by moving two end link or intersection points apart or together or, in a form not shown in the appended figures, by creating a rotation between two articulated arms 90a.

[0067] Each end link point may be formed by a slide or rolling element 91b, such as a skid or roller, and can be fastened onto one of the ends of the two articulated arms of the scissor in question. Each intersection link point 91a may be formed by a pivot joint, i.e. by an element or portion thereof, or by an element fastened to the said pivot joint.

[0068] The or each folding assembly 9a and/or the or each upper or lower slide(s) can extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis la of the chassis 1.

[0069] Now, referring to figures 7 to 9, one can see that, in a second embodiment of the lift system 10 able and intended to move the movable container 7 vertically according to a translation movement in a vertical direction, the movable container 7 may comprise at least one hitching point 7e and the lift system 10 may comprise a winch lifting mechanism 10a, 10b comprising at least one winch 10a, preferably a winch 10a fastened on the container support 8, and at least one tension cable 10b or other suitable line or chain or belt, linked to the said or to one of the said winch(es) 10a and to the or to one of the hitching point(s) 7e of the movable container 7.

[0070] The or each winch 1Oa can be configured to allow control and activation of the winding and unwinding of the or of one of the tension cable(s) 10b that drive the vertical movement of the movable container 7 upwards toward the container support 8 when winding the cable or cables 10b, and downwards toward the accessible lowered level by moving away from the container support 8 when unwinding.

[0071] Preferably, for improved stability, the winch lifting mechanism 10a, 10b may comprise several tension cables 10b, for example four tension cables 10b driven by several winches 1Oa, for example four winches 1Oa. The access opening 7b is particularly accessible in this second embodiment (see figure 7). The tension cables 1Ob provided in the corners free up the accesses to the movable container 7, and consequently to the direct-injection system 6, from the sides and the rear in the lowered position of the movable container 7.

[0072] More specifically, in this second embodiment, the container support 8 may have an upper side 8e forming a support face allowing to fasten the winch(es) 1Oa (see figures 7 to 9) thereon. The upper side 8e may have a rectangular shape and may comprise, preferably at each corner, a winch 10a or possibly one of the four winches 10a as can be seen in figures 7 and 9.

[0073] The or each winch 10a may comprise an activating device 100a such as a motor, for example an electric motor, and a pulley 101a on which the, or one of the tension cable(s) 10b is wound, the said pulley being activated in rotation by means of the said activating device. Preferably, the rotation axis of the pulley(s) 101a can be substantially horizontal and substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 1a of the chassis 1.

[0074] At least one opening 8f may be made in the container support 8 to allow the passage of the tension cable(s) 10b toward the movable container 7 thus suspended to the container support 8 by the said tension cables 1Ob.

[0075] Now referring to figures 10 and 11, one can see that, in a third embodiment of the lift system 11, where it is able and intended to move the movable container 7 vertically following a translation movement in a vertical direction, the lift system 11 may comprise, on one hand a telescopic lifting pole 11a rigidly fastened to the movable container 7 and to the container support 8 to functionally link them to each other and, on the other hand, an activating mechanism 11b allowing to activate the said telescopic lifting pole 11a. Advantageously, the telescopic lifting pole 11a is provided on the first connecting side 7c, 8c of the movable container 7, respectively of the container support 8. The position of the telescopic lifting pole 11a at the front enables the user to have obstacle-free access to the movable container 7 from the rear and on the sides in a lowered position of the movable container 7. The telescopic lifting pole 11a is linked at the central portion, in particular to the first connecting side 7c, 8c of the movable container 7, respectively of the container support 8. Such fastening also gives access to the movable container 7 from the first connecting side 7c.

[0076] The telescopic lifting pole 11a may comprise a fixed segment 110a rigidly fastened to the container support 8, and at least one movable segment 111a, 112a that can be deployed, functionally linked to the movable container 7 to obtain, on one hand a deployed or retracted state of the telescopic lifting pole 11a. In the deployed state of the telescopic lifting pole 11a, as can be seen in figure 9, the movable segment(s) 111a, 112a is/are deployed, causing the movable container 7 to be lowered to the lowered level (figure 10). In the retracted state of the telescopic lifting pole 11a, as can be seen in figure 11, the movable segment(s) 111a, 112a is/are retracted causing the movable container 7 to be positioned at the not lowered level and possibly to close the movable container 7 thanks to the cover 8b that may be fitted to the container support 8.

[0077] In this third embodiment, the activating mechanism 11b may comprise an activating device 110a, such as a motor, for example an electric motor, a pulley 11Ob activated by the said activating device, and a drive cable 11Oc wound on the said pulley. The drive cable 11c can be linked to the or to the at least one of the movable segments 111a, 112a that can be deployed. According to an example not shown, the activating device is a telescopic cylinder.

[0078] Preferably, the telescopic lifting pole 11a can extend in a plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 1a of the chassis 1.

[0079] In a fourth embodiment shown in figure 12, the lift system 12 is able and intended to move the movable container 7 vertically following a rotation movement and consists of a parallelogram lift system with several articulated arms 12a linking the movable container 7 to the container support 8. The container support 8 is made in the form of a U-shaped fastening element 8a. The transition from a raised level (shown in dashed lines) to a lowered level of the movable container 7 is performed with an activating device 12b of the hydraulic or electric cylinder type, for example. This activating device 12b is linked to the container support 8 and to one of the said articulated arms 12a. In this embodiment, the movable container 7 comprises a cover 7f, which is incorporated therein, or linked or articulated thereto. Preferably, as can be seen in figure 12, the cover 7f can be mounted such that it can pivot. The present invention may provide that it be required to unlock, then open the cover to access the inside of the movable container 7. The lift system is provided on the sides of the movable container 7, providing an access to the movable container 7 from the rear in its lowered position.

[0080] Similarly, the fifth embodiment shown in figure 13 provides that, in a variant of the fourth embodiment, the parallelogram lift system is replaced by a lift system with a single articulated arm 13a. The transition from a raised level (shown in dashed lines) to a lowered level of the movable container 7 can be performed, in a preferred form, using two activating devices 13b, 13c, for example of the hydraulic or electric cylinder type. One of the activating devices 13b is linked to the container support 8 and to the arm, and the other activating device 13c is linked to the arm and to the movable container 7. Using a single articulated arm 13a makes it possible to have a movement with greater amplitude, making it possible to bring the movable container 7 closer to the ground. In this fifth embodiment, the movable container 7 comprises, as in the fourth embodiment, a cover 7f, incorporated into the movable container 7, or linked or articulated thereto.

[0081] According to the present invention, the sprayer shown in figures 1, 4, 6, 8 is of the towed type, it is intended to be hitched to the rear of a vehicle such as a tractor. On such a sprayer, the volume of the tank is generally greater than on a mounted sprayer, where all the elements making up the sprayer are carried by the tractor. To increase the transported volume while distributing the loads, a tank is installed at the front of the tractor. The tank constitutes the sprayer's reserve of liquid. The invention also applies to a self-propelled sprayer.

[0082] In this way, such a sprayer according to the present invention, in which the movable container 7 containing the portion of the direct-injection system 6 that must be made accessible is located at the rear, i.e. behind the tank 3, and rigidly fastened to the central support 5a and/or the hang-up mechanism 5b of the spray boom 4, makes it possible to position at least part of the direct-injection system 6, in particular the active product container(s), close to the spray boom 4, making it possible in particular to cut the priming times and dead volumes to a minimum.

[0083] Of course, the invention is not limited to the example embodiment described and shown in the attached drawings. Modifications remain possible, in particular concerning the composition of the various elements or the substitution of technical equivalents without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (11)

1. Claims

   [Claim 1] Sprayer (2) for spreading product(s), comprising a chassis (1) extending longitudinally along a longitudinal axis (1a), a tank (3) containing a carrier product, such as water, a spray boom (4) comprising at least one spray arm (4a, 4b, 4c), a link mechanism (5) comprising a central support (5a) located behind the tank (3) and an adjustment mechanism (5b) making it possible to move the said central support vertically (5a), a spray circuit making it possible to convey the carrier product under pressure from the tank (3) to the spray boom (4), and a direct-injection system (6) making it possible to inject in a controlled manner one or more active products into the spray circuit to mix it/them with the carrier product, characterized that it also comprises a movable container (7) housing at least a portion of the direct-injection system (6), and a container support (8) rigidly fastened to the central support (5a) and/or to the adjustment mechanism (5b), and a lift system (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) functionally linking the container support (8) and the movable container (7) to each other so as to suspend the latter to the said container support (8) and allow the movable container (7) to move vertically upward or downward relative to the said container support (8), all so the movable container (7) can be lowered from an inaccessible raised level, resulting from the raised position of the central support (5a), to an accessible lowered level.
2. [Claim 2] Sprayer according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable container (7), such as a crate, box, tub, or tank, comprises an inner space (7a) that receives the portion of the direct-injection system (6) and an access opening (7b) allowing access into the said inner space (7a) to the said portion of the direct-injection system (6) and possibly a cover (7f, 8b) making it possible to close the access opening (7b).
3. [Claim 3] Sprayer according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the container support (8) comprises a fastening element (8a) and a shutter element on which the movable container (7) is suspended by means of the lift system (9, 10, 11) and in that the shutter element forms the cover (8b) and is rigidly fastened to the central support (5a) and/or the hang-up mechanism (5) thanks to the said fastening element (8a), the said shutter element being configured to be able to close the movable container (7) when the movable container (7) is not lowered.
4. [Claim 4] Sprayer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the movable container (7), possibly fitted with the cover (7f, 8b), forms a watertight and/or secure assembly and comprises a retention system.
5. [Claim 5] Sprayer according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the width of the movable container (7), possibly fitted with the cover (7f, 8b), measured in a direction transverse to the chassis 1, is smaller than or equal to the width authorized by road transportation size limits.
6. [Claim 6] Sprayer according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the lift system (9, 10, 11, 12, 13) that functionally links the movable container (7) to the container support (8) is able and intended to move the movable container (7) vertically following, successively or not, at least one translation movement in a vertical direction and/or at least one translation movement in a horizontal direction and/or at least one rotation movement.
7. [Claim 7] Sprayer according to claim 6, characterized in that the lift system (9) is able and intended to move the movable container (7) following a translation movement in a vertical direction and in that the lift system (9) comprises on one hand, at least one scissor folding lift assembly (9a, 9b) comprising a foldable assembly (9a) of arms (90a) articulated as a pantograph and a link mechanism (9b) functionally linking the folding assembly (9a) to the movable container (7) and to the container support (8), and on the other hand, an activating mechanism (9c) making it possible to activate the said foldable assembly (9a) to move the movable container (7) vertically, two arms (90a) articulated to each other, substantially at their center around a pivot joint (91a) forming a scissor.
8. [Claim 8] Sprayer according to claim 7, characterized in that the activating mechanism (9c) comprises a shared activating device (90c) and an activation link (91c) making it possible to link the said shared activating device (90c) to each scissor folding lift assembly (9a, 9b) to activate same.
9. [Claim 9] Sprayer according to claim 6, characterized in that the lift system (10) is able and intended to move the movable container (7) vertically following a translation movement in a vertical direction, in that the movable container (7) comprises at least one hitching point (7e) and in that the lift system (10) comprises a winch lifting mechanism (10a, 1Ob) comprising at least one winch (10a) fastened to the container support (8) and at least one tension cable (1Ob) connected to the said winch (10a) and to the one or at least one of the hitching points (7e) of the movable container (7).
10. [Claim10] Sprayer according to claim 9, characterized in that the or each winch (10a) comprises an activating device (100a) such as an electric motor, and a pulley (101a) on which the, or one of the tension cables (10b) is wound, the said pulley being activated in rotation by means of the said activating device.
11. [Claim11] Sprayer according to claim 6, characterized in that the lift system (10), is able and intended to vertically move the movable container (7) following a translation movement in a vertical direction and in that the lift system (11) comprises, on one hand a telescopic lifting pole (11a) rigidly fastened to the movable container (7) and to the container support (8) to functionally link them to each other to reach a deployed or retracted state of the telescopic lifting pole (11a) when it is activated and, on the other hand, an activating mechanism (11b) making it possible to activate the telescopic lifting pole (11a).