AU597122B2 - Means and method for applying agricultural chemicals to grain - Google Patents

Description

B yri-tw- (jA/ITForm 1LL\\A COMMONWEALTH F AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT 1952 62 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION

(ORIGINAL)

FE STAMP TO VALUE OF .i '"ATTACHESD MAlLo F I KC FOR OFFICE USE: Application Number: Lodged: C9qrplete Specification Lodged: Accepted: Published: Prio:ity: Class Int. Class This document conuidns the amendments adke un4ft Section 49.

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Related Art: I w uV y8 Adeaide f _r n n Nqmer. o Applicant: 0 C 4 0 8 Address of Applicant: o o 0 Actual Inventor: Address for Service: TO BE COMPLETED BY APPLICANT BARRY EDWIN LYONS and VICTOR JOHN MARKS respectively of Jury Road, Native Valley and P.O. Box 28, Sedan, both in the State of South Australia, Commonwealth of Australia Barry Edwin LYONS and Victor John MARKS care of R.K. MADDERN ASSOCIATES, 345 King William Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000 Complete Specification for the invention entitled: "MEANS AND METHOD FOR APPLYING AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS TO GRAIN" The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to mie us 1 This invention relates to a means for the application of agricultural chemicals, for example, insecticides, nutrients or fungicides, to grain, for example wheat or barley grains for planting.

Various proposals have been made heretofore for the application of chemicals to grain, and the closest art which is known is the now lapsed Australian Application 71104/81 in the name of F.G. Gardiner. In that application, pest control chemicals were injected into a grain auger through a hole in the casing of the grain auger, as the grain travelled up the auger. Other relevant prior art is disclosed in the Australian Patent 512431 (30531/77) Thiele, and this relates to a grain eoe pickling attachment for an auger for metering particulate material into the base hopper of the auger.

Unfortunately, in neither instance is there sufficient control of the chemical to ensure a uniform covering of grain, this being particularly difficult to achieve because in some instances less than five litres will treat 20 tons of grain, and in some instances, particularly with fungicide, the chemical is a viscous liquid. If the liquid is injected for example by a small piston pump through a hole in the wall of an auger, the '25 grain traversing the auger will be unevienly subjected to the chemical, then grain which is subjected to overdose will have its germination retarded, in some instances completely prevented, while there will be insufficient effect on the area which does not have sufficient dosage.

It is therefore regarded as essential that an effective means and method be provided for more evenly distributing the fungicide or insecticide than has been achieved heretofore, and in an embodiment of the invention, the method comprises pumping the chemicals from a reservoir with a positive displacement pump 2 t- through a pressure line, subjecting the pressure fluid in the line to the effects of a pulse eliminator to reduce the amplitude of pulses, delivering the fluid from the pressure line to a manifold, and delivering the fluid into an auger housing at localities spaced from one another through distribution tubes extending from the manifold, while operating an auger within the housing and progressing the grain therethrough.

If the grain is in a state of agitation due to the rotation of the auger flight, the incidence is reduced of some grains receiving excessive amounts of chemicals and others receiving insufficient. This is assisted by some of the chemical attaching itself to the auger 9999 "99" L5 flights and which wipe a large number of the grains 9999 during their passage. Surprisingly it has been found that with the invention, even minute quantities of chemical are substantially evenly spread throughout the mass of grain after it has passed through the auger.

V .i The reason it is desirable that the pump used be a positive displacement pump is to enable accurate metering of the amount of chemical being transported to the grain, and this is further assisted by reducing pulsations of pressure as much as possible. In an oawe embodiment of the invention, the means for applying fluid agricultural chemicals to grain comprise a positive t displacement pump, a motor, and drive means coupling the motor to the pump, a reservoir for containing the chemicals, and a suction line between the pump and the reservoir, a manifold, a pressure line between the pump and the manifold, and a pulse eliminator in fluid flow relationship with the pressure line, and a plurality of distribution tubes extending from the manifold.

An embodiment of the invention is described hereunder in some detail with reference to, and is illustrated in, the accompanying drawings, in which: 3

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FIG. 1 is an illustrative perspective view of a pump assembly and auger, FIG. 2 is a plan view of the assembly, FIG. 3 is a first side elevation of FIG. 2, FIG. 4 is a second side elevation of FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic representation of the means of the invention.

In this embodiment, a pump assembly 10 comprises a frame 11, the frame 11 carrying on it a reciprocating type pump 12, the stroke of which is adjusted by an adjustable eccentric 13 carried on the end of a driven shaft 14, the shaft being driven by means of a V-belt drive 15 from a 12 volt motor and gearbox sub-assembly a5 16 as shown. It is necessary to calculate the volume of insecticide which is drawn from the reservoir to be fed to the auger housing, and the stroke of the eccentric 13 is adjusted accordingly by adjustment bolt 17. If desired, the cam shaft speed can also or alternatively 20 be adjusted.

9 #9 099 U .9 0o 99# .9r t te '4 r te 4le The inlet or suction line 20 to the pump 12 incorporates a filter 21 (FIG. and the pressure line 22 extends to a two- way valve 23 which in one position returns the chemical to a reservoir 24, and in the other 0.o. position directs the chemical to a manifold 25. The pressure line between the valve 23 and the manifold and a pulse eliminator 27, the pulse eliminator 27 being effective in reducing the amplitude of pulse so that the 30 final flow of the chemical through the injectors is more even than can be achieved without such a device. (The word "eliminator" is obviously misdescriptive, but is the word used in the Trade). The pressure line 22 terminates in the manifold 25, and at least four distribution tubes 28 extend from the manifold 25 and through apertures in the casing wall 29 of an auger 30. For simplicity of drawing, only four tubes 28 are shown, but this may be regarded as a minimum number which could be used under 4 average conditions in order to ensure a smooth and even distribution of chemicals throughout the grain as it is progressed through the auger. In some instances the numbers may be increased. Obviously more distribution tubes 28 are required when the material is very viscous than when the material has a low viscosity, or when the auger speed is near maximum. Some of the chemicals are injected from near the top of the tube, and directed towards the auger flights which wipe the chemicals onto the grains which engage them, and this effect also improves the evenness of distribution of chemicals. For heavy conditions about eight distribution tubes can be used at any one time.

t tV 1' 15 In order to be able to ascertain which lines might contain air bubbles, some at least of the chemical is caused to pass through a transparent wall tubing. Air bubbles should be purged, and to this end the pump 12 can operate with the valve 23 set to return the chemicals to ,,20 the reservoir 24 through a dump line 32, and the 0't distribution tubes 28 can also be removed from the auger casing for this purpose.

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Claims (6)

1. A method of applying fluid agricultural chemicals to grain, comprising pumping the chemicals from a reservoir with a positive displacement pump through a pressure line, subjecting the chemicals at pressure in the line to the effects of a pulse eliminator to reduce the amplitude of pulses, delivering the chemicals from the pressure line to a manifold, and delivering the chemicals into an auger housing at localities spaced from one another through distribution tubes extending from the manifold, while operating an auger within the housing and progressing the grain therethrough.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising metering the rate of applying said agricultural chemicals by adjusting the displacement of said pump. gP° 3. A method according to claim 1 or claim 2 wherein said delivery of chemicals includes delivering at localities above flights of the auger.

4. Means for applying fluid agricultural chemicals to grain when being moved by an auger in an auger housing, comprising a positive displacement pump, a motor, drive means S. coupling the motor to the pump, a reservoir for containing the ~chemicals, a suction line between the pump and the reservoir, a *9 S" manifold, a pressure line between the pump and the manifold, a pulse eliminator in fluid flow relationship with the pressure line, and a plurality of distribution tubes extending from the manifold to the auger housing. b* 3Q ,3G Means according to claim 4 wherein said positive displacement pump is a piston pump, and wherein said drive means comprise a driven shaft, said means further comprising an adjustable eccentric on the driven shaft, 6 which, upon rotation of the driven shaft, causes reciprocation of a piston of the pump.

6. Means according to claim 4 or claim 5 further comprising a two-way valve in the pressure line, and a dump line between the two-way valve and the reservoir, the two-way valve having a position wherein fluid delivered by the pump is returned to the reservoir.

7. Means for applying fluid agricultural chemicals to grain substantially as hereinbefore described with r reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying r drawings.

8. A method of applying fluid agricultural chemicals to grain substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. t S r Dated this 10th day of November, 1987. BARRY EDWIN LYONS and VICTOR JOHN MARKS By their Patent Attorneys R.K. MADDERN ASSOCIATES 7