AU641928B2

AU641928B2 - Applicator for chemicals

Info

Publication number: AU641928B2
Application number: AU60598/90A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Reinder Frederick De Boer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-08-01
Filing date: 1990-07-31
Publication date: 1993-10-07
Anticipated expiration: 2010-07-31
Also published as: AU6059890A

Description

Juo -1- This invention relates to an applicator for chemicals to plants and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to an applicator for applying weedicides to plants.

The most common method for applying weedicides on a large scale is by spraying. This has a number of inherent problems: the spray can kill plants other than those intended due to the inherent nature of spraying; it cannot be used when there is a wind or breeze as the spray could travel with the wind or breeze and kill plants other than those intended; the danger to all animals, including humans, due to the drift of the spray; the'cost of the active ingredient due to the volume of liquid sprayed so as to ensure adequate cover of the weeds or plants to be killed; and the time taken due to relatively slow towing vehicle speed which results from the spray rates required.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide an applicator for chemicals for plants wherein the application is by means other than spraying.

With the above, and other objects in mind, the present invention provides an application for chemicals to plants comprising a support frame, travel means mounted to said support frame to allow said applicator to travel over the ground, said support frame being able sto be adjusted in height relative to said SL STITUTI S ,.y OT I: i susiiirir l H Jun l PcT/ A+ o/o0 515 -la travel means, at least one tank for holding said chemicals, a feed system for supplying- said chemicals to a plurality of manifolds, said manifolds being at an angle to the proposed direction of movement and each having a plurality of outlets; there being provided a covering of a relatively porous material over said plurality of outlets; said feed system including an outlet tube from said tank said outlet tube being operatively, and separately connected to a supply tube, said supply tube being operatively connected to each of said manifolds.

SUBSTITUTE

SHEET

WO 91/01634 PC/AU90/00315 -2- In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, there shall now be described a preferred construction of an applicator for chemicals incorporating the preferred features of the present invention. The description is with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the applicator; Figure 2 is a side view of the applicator; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the lines of and in the direction of arrows 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the lines of and in the direction of arrows 4-4 of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the height adjusting mechanism.

To refer to the drawings there is shown an applicator for chemicals which as an A-shaped support frame 10, a wheel 12 at each side of the support frame 10, and a feed system 14 for supplying chemicals to a number of manifolds 16.

The frame 10 has two beams 18 extending from the towing hitch 19 and terminating at brackets 21 which hold in place upright pcets The posts 20 are slidably mounted in the brackets 21.

A securing means 23 allows each post 20 to be held in a particular selected position relative to its bracket 21 due to holes 22 in the posts 20. At the bottom of each post 20 are the wheels 12 mounted for rotational movement about an axle 25 secured to the bottom of the posts WO 91/01634 PC/AU90/00315 -3 Mounted on the beams 18 is a sub-frame 26 for holding tanks or drums 28 of the chemical. This comprises to transverse beams 11, 13 and two axial beams A frame 17 is used to hold the drums 28 in position.

Beneath the frame 10 is mounted a second sub-frame 30 which is secured to the beams 18 by transverse support beam 29 and a number of front and rear supports 32 and 34 respectively. The sub-frame 30 has a peripheral member 36 of L-shape in cross-section. Carried by the member 36 are a plurality of manifolds 16 which, when the frame 10 is in the low position as shown, are generally parallel to the ground. However, they are inclined to the direction of travel by an angle of, preferably, 30'. This ensures that the leading portion 38 of one manifold overlaps the trailing portion of the adjacent manifold.

Each manifold 16 has an inlet 46 and a hollow tube 48 dosed at each end. A plurality of outlet holes 50 are provided along the lowest edge of the tube 48. Surrounding the tube 48 is a porous cloth 52 such as, for example, carpet which absorbs the chemical as it passes through the holes 50 and which can wipe over the plant to enable the chemical to be applied to the leaf surface thereof.

The manifolds 16 are connected to the drums 28 by the feed system 14.

This comprises an outlet tube 54 from each drum 28 to a supply tube 56. A solenoid operated valve 58 is provided as an "OFF" valve. A pump 60 is used to maintain the supply of the chemical, and the pump 60 is controlled by a pump controller 62. By use of the controller 62 the speed of pump 60 and hence rate of supply of the chemical to the manifolds 16 can be varied. The supply tube 56 is operatively connected to a distribution tube 64 for supplying the chemical to the manifolds 16.

The arrangement is such that once the diums 28 are filled with the required chemical, the height of frame 10 selected and adjusted by use of posts

Claims

1. An applicator for chemicals to plants comprising a support frame, travel means mounted to said support frame to allow said applicator to travel over the ground, said support frame being able to be adjusted in height relative to said travel means, at least one tank for holding said chemicals, a feed system for supplying said chemicals to a plurality of manifolds, said manifolds being at an angle to the proposed direction of movement and each having a plurality of outlets; there being provided a covering of a relatively porous material over said plurality of outlets; said feed system including an outlet tube from said tank, said outlet tube being operatively, and separately, connected to at least one supply tube, each said supply tube being operatively connected to each of said manifolds.

2. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support frame comprises two beams forming a frame of approximate A shape, each beam having at its outer end a bracket into which is slidably located an upright post; each said post having a plurality of holes therein and said bracket having a securing means to enable said post to be releaseably held in a selected position relative to said bracket.

3. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said posts has a lower end, there being an axle extending outwardly from said lower end, and a wheel mounted on said axle; the wheels comprising said travel means.

4. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of said plurality of manifolds comprise a hollow tube closed at each end, and an inlet to said tube, said covering extending over substantially the entire length -1- I of said tube and completely around said tube.

An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said plurality of manifolds are carried by a sub-frame, said sub-frame comprising a peripheral member being substantially L-shaped in cross-section, said sub-frame being secured beneath said frame by a plurality of front and rear supports secured to a transverse beam carried by and attached to said frame; said sub-frame having a leading edge to force the plants under said manifolds.

6. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said angle is

7. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said covering is carpet.

8. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein there is provided an ON/OFF valve in said supply tube, and a pump for said chemicals in said supply tube.

9. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said at least one tank is held by a further sub-frame; said further sub-frame comprising two substantially parallel beams transverse to said frame, two axial beams joining said parallel beams to provide a support for said tank, and a frame to releaseably hold said tank on said support. D A T E D this 7th day of July, 1993. REINDER FREDERICK DE BOER By his Patent Attorneys: CALLINAN LAWRIE -2-