CA1258835A - Agricultural field sprayer - Google Patents
Agricultural field sprayerInfo
- Publication number
- CA1258835A CA1258835A CA000497648A CA497648A CA1258835A CA 1258835 A CA1258835 A CA 1258835A CA 000497648 A CA000497648 A CA 000497648A CA 497648 A CA497648 A CA 497648A CA 1258835 A CA1258835 A CA 1258835A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- boom
- spray
- transport
- center section
- sections
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
- A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
- A01M7/00—Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
- A01M7/005—Special arrangements or adaptations of the spraying or distributing parts, e.g. adaptations or mounting of the spray booms, mounting of the nozzles, protection shields
- A01M7/0071—Construction of the spray booms
- A01M7/0075—Construction of the spray booms including folding means
Landscapes
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
- Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
- Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
- Zoology (AREA)
- Environmental Sciences (AREA)
- Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
- Special Spraying Apparatus (AREA)
Abstract
Abstract An agricultural field sprayer is described, having a main boom center section rotatable about its longitudinal axis, mounted on a wheeled motive power source; wing sections of main boom hinged on either side of the center section are each supported alternately on working wheels and transport wheels -corresponding sections of spray boom and spray tubes with spray nozzles are mounted on the main boom sections to be rotated by rotation of the main boom, which also alternates wing section support between working and transport wheels. Power from the motive source is used to rotate the boom. When supported on transport wheels, the hinged wing sections can move between an aligned working position along the axis of the center section and a transport position, trailing at right angles behind the center section for transport. In the working position, the power also is used to adjust the spray tube height, to accommodate variable spraying requirements. The wing sections of the boom are partly drawn, in working position, by rigid boom draws which are latched and unlatched from the motive power source by appropriate movement of the boom.
Description
:iL25~835 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to field sprayers and more particularly to an automatically extendable and foldable sprayer that provides for both broad swath application of liquid chemical solutions in an extended or working position or condition and for narrow width in a transport position or condition, including ; means to vary the sprayers from one such position or condition to the other, from the operator's normal working position at motive power controls, simply by advancing or reversing the sprayer along its normal line of travel.
Field sprayers re~uire field wheels to ensure proper support of the spray boom away from the ground surface as well as provision for variation in the height of the sprayer when in operation.
Essential elements of a field sprayer generally are:
1. Spray nozzles which eject liquid spray a~ spaced points along the length of a spray tube.
This invention relates to field sprayers and more particularly to an automatically extendable and foldable sprayer that provides for both broad swath application of liquid chemical solutions in an extended or working position or condition and for narrow width in a transport position or condition, including ; means to vary the sprayers from one such position or condition to the other, from the operator's normal working position at motive power controls, simply by advancing or reversing the sprayer along its normal line of travel.
Field sprayers re~uire field wheels to ensure proper support of the spray boom away from the ground surface as well as provision for variation in the height of the sprayer when in operation.
Essential elements of a field sprayer generally are:
1. Spray nozzles which eject liquid spray a~ spaced points along the length of a spray tube.
2. Spray tubes, which carry liquid to be sprayed, f rom a manifold or pump to all points along the length of a spray boom ~0 which extends across the width of an area to be sprayed.
3. A spray boom which supports the spray tubes and can be mo~ed to adjust the height of the spray tubes and their spray nozzles . ~
~L~S~3~3S
relative to the ground, so that spray can be ejected at a heiyht appropriate to the area or material being sprayed.
~L~S~3~3S
relative to the ground, so that spray can be ejected at a heiyht appropriate to the area or material being sprayed.
4. A main boom or support boom which carries the weight of the foregoing elements and supports it on wheels which are propelled across the ground by a suitable motive power source, e.g. tractor or truck, with the boom in either working position or in transport position. Because working width of the sprayer may be up to 30 meters or more, provision must be made for transportation of the boom in the direction of its longitudinal axis.
The prior art provides for height of spray variation by rotation of the spray boom about its longitudinal axis. Spray nozzles offset from this axis are raised or lowered accordingly.
To obtain maximum stability of the main boom in transportation, ; 15 the wheels must be fixed (non-castoring) wheels.
Such prior field sprayers were not automatically or readily foldable to achieve the narrow transport width necessary to transport the device through gates or along roadways and simultaneously retain the necessary rigidity in the boom structure. The operator was re~uired to stop the tractor, dismount and remove a fastener in order to fold the implement into the transport position. Furthermore, the height of the working parts of the implement generally was not adjustable from the tractor while underway although some are now hydraulically adjustable.
The present invention provides a field aprayer with a 125~35 multiple section boom that can be extended to cover a wide swath in working position and can be folded to achieve narrow width in a transport position, the extension and folding operations being entixely operable from the operator's control position at the motive power controls of the equipment. Furthermore, the invention provides for powered adjustment of the spray height while in use without loss of overall rigidity or uniformity or increase in the number of wheels required to support the sprayer.
Powered rotation of the main boom engages transport wheels with the surface, clears the sprayer nozzles and associated parts from interference on folding, and releases the boom draws or boom pull braces for folding of the main and spray booms.
SUM~RY OF THE INVENTION
The invention thus comprises a field sprayer, extendable for broad swath application of lic~uicl in working position and foldable for narrow width transport in a transport position comprising:
(a) a wheeled motive power source for drawing the sprayer over the ground, (b) a main boom ~aving (i) a center section, longitudinally aligned transverse to the line of travel of the sprayer and hingedly attached behind said power source to hinge longitudinally between a working position and a transport position, and (ii) at least one wing section aligned at each end of the center section, hingedly attached thereto and adapted for additional wheel i~S~3~33~
support;
(c) a spray boom having a center section and wing sections corresponding to each of said main boom sections respectively and rotatably secured thereto in close parallel relation, said spray boom sections being linked in alignment by hinged links and rotatable about the a~is of said alignment, (d) sections of spray tube, each one rotatably attached to a corresponding spray boom section in spaced parallel relation to be rotated by rotation of the spray boom about the rotation axis of the spra~ boom, said spray tube sections being linked by flexible connections to a supply~ on said motive power source, of liquid to be sprayed, (e) a plurality of spray noz7.1es at spaced points along the length of the spray tubes to e~ect liquid spray, (f) wheel means alternately supporting each of said wing sections of said main boom substantially parallel to the ground, comprising a field wheel adapted to engage ;
the ground and support its respective wing section when the main boom center section is hinged in said working ; position and the wing sections are aligned therewith and an alternate non-castoring transport wheel adapted to engage the ground when the main boom center section is hinged in the transport position, (g~ power means on said motive power source to move the main boom center section between its working position ~2S8~3S
and its transport posltion, simultaneously moving the main boom wing sections between support by their fleld wheels and support by their transport wheels, (h) a rigid boom draw means for each wing section, each said draw means being pivotally connected at the back end thereof to the respective wing section and having a front end adapted to move between a transport position, in which said front end is carried by the motive power source with no load thereon, and a working position in ; 10 which the front end is releasably latched into a latched position on the motive power source to draw a : load, and (i) connecting means, responsive to movement of said main . boom center section from its working position to its : 15 transport position, to release the front ends of the rigid boom draws from their latched position.
:'~
In a preferred embodiment the invention comprises a field : sprayer, as aforesaid, and further including means responsive ` to movement of said power means beyond the position achieved whenthe main boom center section has been moved to its working position, to rotate said spray boom and spray tube sections between maximum and minimum spraying height, and biasing means resiliently biasing the main boom towards the working position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig l. is a plan view of the field sprayer of the present invention in extended or working position.
~25~3~35 Fig 2 is a side elevation of the field sprayer shown in Fig 1.
Fig 3. is a plan view of the ~ield sprayer in transport position.
Fig ~. is a side elevation of part of the structure of the spray boom and spray tube showing the maximum spraying height position of the spray nozzles and their height adjusting means.
Fig 5. is another elevation of the structure of Fig 4 showing the spray nozzles approaching their minimum spraying height position.
Fig 6. is another elevation of the structure of Fig 4 showing the spray boom in its position for transport.
~ 1~Z5~3~335 DESCRIPTION OF THE _EFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 refers to the wheeled tank conveyance or cart of the field sprayer shown as attached to a prime mover or tractor 4. The cart could optionally be self propelled, i.e. a truck, obviating need for a tractor 4.
Cart 1 is supported by a pair or two pairs of wheels 3 and carries a chemical tank 2 which acts as the source of fluid chemicals for the sprayer. Cart 1 also carries a pump 24 and suitable tubing and valves (not shown) to deliver the fluid chemicals under pressure to spray nozzles in a conventional manner. The frame of cart 1 may be of any suitable configuration.
A three section boom structure comprising a center section 36 and two wing sections 37, each containing a main boom section 6 or 7, a spray boom section 39, and a spray tub~ section 18, is pivotally attached to cart 1 by hinges 5 for rotation about a transverse axis. Wing sections 37 are pivotally attached by hinges 8 to opposite ends of center section 36 for rotation about axes which are parallel to the direction of travel o~ the field sprayer when the boom structure is in the extended working position shown in Figs 1 and 2. Hinges 8 are preferably universal joints. Pivoting of the wing sections about an axis generally longitudinal to the cart when the wing sections are in the working position provides flexibility to the boom structure ~lZS~3~135 so as to more evenly cover uneven ground.
Ro~ation of main boom center section 6 about the transverse axis of hinges 5 causes axes of hinges 8 to assume a generally vertical orientation and spray boom sections 39, attached to section 6 and main boom wing sections 7, to assume a position generally vertlcally above center section 6 and wing sections 7, thereby permitting the wing sections 37 to fold rearwardly, so as to be parallel to the direction of travel as shown in Fig 3, in a conventional manner.
Each wing section 37 is releasably secured to the cart 1 by means of a boom draw 11 and a releasable latch 15 which retain wing sections 37 perpendieular to the direetion of travel in the working or extended position without significant motion in the horizontal plane such as is eaused by uneven ground or downward grades.
Rigid fold arm 12 is attaehed to eart 1 for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis at hinge 13 and pivotally connected to boom draw 11 at joint 14 which is preferrably, for examplel a sliding collar pivot. The pivot axis at hinge 13 2n provides that boom draw 11 is guided by fold arm 12 into lateh 15 and maintained in wor~ing position therein, out of contaet with the ground, while clearing cart wheel 3.
Wing seetions 37 are eaeh provided with one or more field ; wheels 16 and a transport wheel 17 whieh alternately support the wlng seetions 37 out of eontaet with the ground in the field and -`` 12~33s transport positions respectively. Alternate support by wheels 16 and 17 is obtained by rotation of center section 36 about the transverse axis of hinges S, placing wheels 16 in contact wi.th ; the ground when center section 36 is rotated to lower spray boom 39 to field working position, and placing wheels 17 in contact with the ground when section 36 is rotated to raise spray boom 39 vertically above main boom sections 6 and 7 for transport.
Optionally, and preferrably, field wheels 16 are fitted with castor mountings, allowing castor action during turns in working position or condition; however transport wheels must be fixed, i.e. non-castoring in transport position. This is essential to permit safe transport in two way traffic.
Rotation of the boom structure 36 and 37 about the axis of hinges 5 causes transport wheels 17 to contact the ground and field wheels 16 to be lifted, as noted above. Rotation as aforesaid to the transport position also pulls a release cable (not shown) to release latches 15, thus releasing boom draw 11 and permitting fold arms 12 and wing sections 37 to fold rearwardly, as the tractor 4 is moved ahead, into the transport configuration shown in Fig. 3, and thereafter transportation can proceed at transport speeds.
Figs. 4 - 6 show a more detailed view of the boom positioning and adjustment means. Referring also to Fig. 1, as well as Figs. 4 - 6, boom structure 36 and 37 consists o~ hinged main boom sections 6 and 7 and a parallel spray boom 39. Spray boom 39 is rotatably secured close and parallel to main boom center section 6 and wing sections 7 by u-bolts or other ~2~3S
suitable means.
Spray tube 18 is rotatably secured by struts 19 extending from spray boom 39 and includes a plural.ity of spray nozzles (not shown) of conventional design. Liquid chemicals under pressure are delivered to the spray tube and the spray nozzles from the tank 2 by means of pump 24 by tubing (not shown) in a conventional manner. Spray tube 18 includes flexible portions 44 (Fig. 1) adjacent hinge 8.
A hydraulic cylinder 20 shown in Figs. 4-6 is secured to cart 1 at pivotal connection 21 and to pivot link 22. Pivot link ; 22 is also pivotally secured to cart 1 at hinge 5. Main boom center section 6 also is pivotally secured to cart 1 at hinge so as to rotate about a common a~is 10 with pivot link 22.
Cylinder 20 causes pivot link 22 to rotate about hinge 5 between the position shown in Fig 5 and the position shown in Fig 6.
Between the position shown in Fig 5 and that shown in Fig 4, pivot link 22 is free to rotate without contacting main boom center section 6. The motion of pivot link 22 is transmitted to spray boom 39 by means of interconnecting link 25 and lever 26 rigidly mounted to strut 19 thereby raising or lowering spray tube 18, i.e. varying the spraying height, without any variation in height of the main boom. The orientation of spray tube 18 preferrably is maintained constant by means of parallelogram linkage 41, 42 pivotally mounted on extension 43 of main boom 6.
Further extension of the cylinder 20 beyond the position of ~ZS8~335 Fig 4 to that of Fig 6 causes pivot link 22, whlch is in contact with main boom center section 6, to rotate main boom center section 6 about hinge 5, preferably without relative movement between main boom center section 6 and spray tube 18. When not moved into transport position, main boom 6 preferrably is resiliently biased towards working position (Figs. 4 and 5) e.g., by an anti-rotation spring and cable (not shown) pivotally attached to an anti-rotating lever (not shown) secured to main boom centre section 6.
n Spray tube height variation in the working position thus is substantially isolated from alternation of support of the main boom sections 7 by their support wheels 16 and 17.
Although more than one power source may be used, preferably one power source or hydraulic cylinder is used to rotate main boom section 6 and adjust spray height.
As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig 3, boom draw 11 is secured at the back end to wing section 37, preferrably by a free pivotal connection, and at its front end is secured to fold arm 12, preferrably by a pivotal collar so as to be rotationally free about its own axis and slidably retained within the collar. This end of the boom draw is preferably disc-shaped and adapted to form the male por~ion of releasable latch 15. Releasable latch 15 also comprises a retractable female latch portion pivotally attached to be retractable below the disc shaped end of the boom draw. Retraction of the female latch portion releases the disc shaped end and thus releases boom draw 11 for rotation of fold `-`lZ58~33S
arm 12 about axis 13.
Although boom draw 11 is preferably slidably received in joint 1~ by a collar, it may also simply be fixed to rotatable member 12 for pivotal movement.
The female latch portion retaining the end of the boom draw is connected to main boom center section 6 by a cable (not shown). Rotation from working position to transport position of ; main boom center section 6 about axis of hinges 5 tightens the cable and retracts the female latch portion below the male latch portion. Wing sections 37 then are free to move into the transport position (Fig. 3) as forward movement of cart 1 and resistance of transport wheels 17, now engaging the ground, cause draw boom 11 to pull away from the latching position.
E'or further flexibility or increased width, wing sections 37 may be provided with additional sections and hinges for rotation about axes parallel to the direction of travel in the working position.
To convert the implement from transport position to working position, the operator reverses tractor 4. Transport wheels 17 carrying wing sections 37 swing outwardly and, as tractor 4 backs up further, wing sections 37 assume an extended intermediate position. As wing sections 37 swing outward, rotatable fold arms 12 carry boom draws 11 to engage their respective latches lS.
When both boom draws are in an engaging position in latches lS, t~le operator lowers main boom center section 6, allowing the cable to release the female latch portion into latching .
S8~35 position over the boom draw, thus securing boom draws 11 and wing sections 37 in working position.
Alternatively to fold arms 12, the forward end of boom draw 11 can slide in a track longitudinally mounted on cart 1, enabling latch 15 to engage the boom draw when wing sections 37 are in the working position.
A major advantage of the invention, as can be seen from the foregoing description, is that the operator need not dismount from the tractor in order to convert the implement from working position into transport position and vice versa.
While the preferred structure has been shown and described above, the invention is not limited to the particular details shown.
The prior art provides for height of spray variation by rotation of the spray boom about its longitudinal axis. Spray nozzles offset from this axis are raised or lowered accordingly.
To obtain maximum stability of the main boom in transportation, ; 15 the wheels must be fixed (non-castoring) wheels.
Such prior field sprayers were not automatically or readily foldable to achieve the narrow transport width necessary to transport the device through gates or along roadways and simultaneously retain the necessary rigidity in the boom structure. The operator was re~uired to stop the tractor, dismount and remove a fastener in order to fold the implement into the transport position. Furthermore, the height of the working parts of the implement generally was not adjustable from the tractor while underway although some are now hydraulically adjustable.
The present invention provides a field aprayer with a 125~35 multiple section boom that can be extended to cover a wide swath in working position and can be folded to achieve narrow width in a transport position, the extension and folding operations being entixely operable from the operator's control position at the motive power controls of the equipment. Furthermore, the invention provides for powered adjustment of the spray height while in use without loss of overall rigidity or uniformity or increase in the number of wheels required to support the sprayer.
Powered rotation of the main boom engages transport wheels with the surface, clears the sprayer nozzles and associated parts from interference on folding, and releases the boom draws or boom pull braces for folding of the main and spray booms.
SUM~RY OF THE INVENTION
The invention thus comprises a field sprayer, extendable for broad swath application of lic~uicl in working position and foldable for narrow width transport in a transport position comprising:
(a) a wheeled motive power source for drawing the sprayer over the ground, (b) a main boom ~aving (i) a center section, longitudinally aligned transverse to the line of travel of the sprayer and hingedly attached behind said power source to hinge longitudinally between a working position and a transport position, and (ii) at least one wing section aligned at each end of the center section, hingedly attached thereto and adapted for additional wheel i~S~3~33~
support;
(c) a spray boom having a center section and wing sections corresponding to each of said main boom sections respectively and rotatably secured thereto in close parallel relation, said spray boom sections being linked in alignment by hinged links and rotatable about the a~is of said alignment, (d) sections of spray tube, each one rotatably attached to a corresponding spray boom section in spaced parallel relation to be rotated by rotation of the spray boom about the rotation axis of the spra~ boom, said spray tube sections being linked by flexible connections to a supply~ on said motive power source, of liquid to be sprayed, (e) a plurality of spray noz7.1es at spaced points along the length of the spray tubes to e~ect liquid spray, (f) wheel means alternately supporting each of said wing sections of said main boom substantially parallel to the ground, comprising a field wheel adapted to engage ;
the ground and support its respective wing section when the main boom center section is hinged in said working ; position and the wing sections are aligned therewith and an alternate non-castoring transport wheel adapted to engage the ground when the main boom center section is hinged in the transport position, (g~ power means on said motive power source to move the main boom center section between its working position ~2S8~3S
and its transport posltion, simultaneously moving the main boom wing sections between support by their fleld wheels and support by their transport wheels, (h) a rigid boom draw means for each wing section, each said draw means being pivotally connected at the back end thereof to the respective wing section and having a front end adapted to move between a transport position, in which said front end is carried by the motive power source with no load thereon, and a working position in ; 10 which the front end is releasably latched into a latched position on the motive power source to draw a : load, and (i) connecting means, responsive to movement of said main . boom center section from its working position to its : 15 transport position, to release the front ends of the rigid boom draws from their latched position.
:'~
In a preferred embodiment the invention comprises a field : sprayer, as aforesaid, and further including means responsive ` to movement of said power means beyond the position achieved whenthe main boom center section has been moved to its working position, to rotate said spray boom and spray tube sections between maximum and minimum spraying height, and biasing means resiliently biasing the main boom towards the working position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig l. is a plan view of the field sprayer of the present invention in extended or working position.
~25~3~35 Fig 2 is a side elevation of the field sprayer shown in Fig 1.
Fig 3. is a plan view of the ~ield sprayer in transport position.
Fig ~. is a side elevation of part of the structure of the spray boom and spray tube showing the maximum spraying height position of the spray nozzles and their height adjusting means.
Fig 5. is another elevation of the structure of Fig 4 showing the spray nozzles approaching their minimum spraying height position.
Fig 6. is another elevation of the structure of Fig 4 showing the spray boom in its position for transport.
~ 1~Z5~3~335 DESCRIPTION OF THE _EFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 refers to the wheeled tank conveyance or cart of the field sprayer shown as attached to a prime mover or tractor 4. The cart could optionally be self propelled, i.e. a truck, obviating need for a tractor 4.
Cart 1 is supported by a pair or two pairs of wheels 3 and carries a chemical tank 2 which acts as the source of fluid chemicals for the sprayer. Cart 1 also carries a pump 24 and suitable tubing and valves (not shown) to deliver the fluid chemicals under pressure to spray nozzles in a conventional manner. The frame of cart 1 may be of any suitable configuration.
A three section boom structure comprising a center section 36 and two wing sections 37, each containing a main boom section 6 or 7, a spray boom section 39, and a spray tub~ section 18, is pivotally attached to cart 1 by hinges 5 for rotation about a transverse axis. Wing sections 37 are pivotally attached by hinges 8 to opposite ends of center section 36 for rotation about axes which are parallel to the direction of travel o~ the field sprayer when the boom structure is in the extended working position shown in Figs 1 and 2. Hinges 8 are preferably universal joints. Pivoting of the wing sections about an axis generally longitudinal to the cart when the wing sections are in the working position provides flexibility to the boom structure ~lZS~3~135 so as to more evenly cover uneven ground.
Ro~ation of main boom center section 6 about the transverse axis of hinges 5 causes axes of hinges 8 to assume a generally vertical orientation and spray boom sections 39, attached to section 6 and main boom wing sections 7, to assume a position generally vertlcally above center section 6 and wing sections 7, thereby permitting the wing sections 37 to fold rearwardly, so as to be parallel to the direction of travel as shown in Fig 3, in a conventional manner.
Each wing section 37 is releasably secured to the cart 1 by means of a boom draw 11 and a releasable latch 15 which retain wing sections 37 perpendieular to the direetion of travel in the working or extended position without significant motion in the horizontal plane such as is eaused by uneven ground or downward grades.
Rigid fold arm 12 is attaehed to eart 1 for pivotal movement about a substantially vertical axis at hinge 13 and pivotally connected to boom draw 11 at joint 14 which is preferrably, for examplel a sliding collar pivot. The pivot axis at hinge 13 2n provides that boom draw 11 is guided by fold arm 12 into lateh 15 and maintained in wor~ing position therein, out of contaet with the ground, while clearing cart wheel 3.
Wing seetions 37 are eaeh provided with one or more field ; wheels 16 and a transport wheel 17 whieh alternately support the wlng seetions 37 out of eontaet with the ground in the field and -`` 12~33s transport positions respectively. Alternate support by wheels 16 and 17 is obtained by rotation of center section 36 about the transverse axis of hinges S, placing wheels 16 in contact wi.th ; the ground when center section 36 is rotated to lower spray boom 39 to field working position, and placing wheels 17 in contact with the ground when section 36 is rotated to raise spray boom 39 vertically above main boom sections 6 and 7 for transport.
Optionally, and preferrably, field wheels 16 are fitted with castor mountings, allowing castor action during turns in working position or condition; however transport wheels must be fixed, i.e. non-castoring in transport position. This is essential to permit safe transport in two way traffic.
Rotation of the boom structure 36 and 37 about the axis of hinges 5 causes transport wheels 17 to contact the ground and field wheels 16 to be lifted, as noted above. Rotation as aforesaid to the transport position also pulls a release cable (not shown) to release latches 15, thus releasing boom draw 11 and permitting fold arms 12 and wing sections 37 to fold rearwardly, as the tractor 4 is moved ahead, into the transport configuration shown in Fig. 3, and thereafter transportation can proceed at transport speeds.
Figs. 4 - 6 show a more detailed view of the boom positioning and adjustment means. Referring also to Fig. 1, as well as Figs. 4 - 6, boom structure 36 and 37 consists o~ hinged main boom sections 6 and 7 and a parallel spray boom 39. Spray boom 39 is rotatably secured close and parallel to main boom center section 6 and wing sections 7 by u-bolts or other ~2~3S
suitable means.
Spray tube 18 is rotatably secured by struts 19 extending from spray boom 39 and includes a plural.ity of spray nozzles (not shown) of conventional design. Liquid chemicals under pressure are delivered to the spray tube and the spray nozzles from the tank 2 by means of pump 24 by tubing (not shown) in a conventional manner. Spray tube 18 includes flexible portions 44 (Fig. 1) adjacent hinge 8.
A hydraulic cylinder 20 shown in Figs. 4-6 is secured to cart 1 at pivotal connection 21 and to pivot link 22. Pivot link ; 22 is also pivotally secured to cart 1 at hinge 5. Main boom center section 6 also is pivotally secured to cart 1 at hinge so as to rotate about a common a~is 10 with pivot link 22.
Cylinder 20 causes pivot link 22 to rotate about hinge 5 between the position shown in Fig 5 and the position shown in Fig 6.
Between the position shown in Fig 5 and that shown in Fig 4, pivot link 22 is free to rotate without contacting main boom center section 6. The motion of pivot link 22 is transmitted to spray boom 39 by means of interconnecting link 25 and lever 26 rigidly mounted to strut 19 thereby raising or lowering spray tube 18, i.e. varying the spraying height, without any variation in height of the main boom. The orientation of spray tube 18 preferrably is maintained constant by means of parallelogram linkage 41, 42 pivotally mounted on extension 43 of main boom 6.
Further extension of the cylinder 20 beyond the position of ~ZS8~335 Fig 4 to that of Fig 6 causes pivot link 22, whlch is in contact with main boom center section 6, to rotate main boom center section 6 about hinge 5, preferably without relative movement between main boom center section 6 and spray tube 18. When not moved into transport position, main boom 6 preferrably is resiliently biased towards working position (Figs. 4 and 5) e.g., by an anti-rotation spring and cable (not shown) pivotally attached to an anti-rotating lever (not shown) secured to main boom centre section 6.
n Spray tube height variation in the working position thus is substantially isolated from alternation of support of the main boom sections 7 by their support wheels 16 and 17.
Although more than one power source may be used, preferably one power source or hydraulic cylinder is used to rotate main boom section 6 and adjust spray height.
As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig 3, boom draw 11 is secured at the back end to wing section 37, preferrably by a free pivotal connection, and at its front end is secured to fold arm 12, preferrably by a pivotal collar so as to be rotationally free about its own axis and slidably retained within the collar. This end of the boom draw is preferably disc-shaped and adapted to form the male por~ion of releasable latch 15. Releasable latch 15 also comprises a retractable female latch portion pivotally attached to be retractable below the disc shaped end of the boom draw. Retraction of the female latch portion releases the disc shaped end and thus releases boom draw 11 for rotation of fold `-`lZ58~33S
arm 12 about axis 13.
Although boom draw 11 is preferably slidably received in joint 1~ by a collar, it may also simply be fixed to rotatable member 12 for pivotal movement.
The female latch portion retaining the end of the boom draw is connected to main boom center section 6 by a cable (not shown). Rotation from working position to transport position of ; main boom center section 6 about axis of hinges 5 tightens the cable and retracts the female latch portion below the male latch portion. Wing sections 37 then are free to move into the transport position (Fig. 3) as forward movement of cart 1 and resistance of transport wheels 17, now engaging the ground, cause draw boom 11 to pull away from the latching position.
E'or further flexibility or increased width, wing sections 37 may be provided with additional sections and hinges for rotation about axes parallel to the direction of travel in the working position.
To convert the implement from transport position to working position, the operator reverses tractor 4. Transport wheels 17 carrying wing sections 37 swing outwardly and, as tractor 4 backs up further, wing sections 37 assume an extended intermediate position. As wing sections 37 swing outward, rotatable fold arms 12 carry boom draws 11 to engage their respective latches lS.
When both boom draws are in an engaging position in latches lS, t~le operator lowers main boom center section 6, allowing the cable to release the female latch portion into latching .
S8~35 position over the boom draw, thus securing boom draws 11 and wing sections 37 in working position.
Alternatively to fold arms 12, the forward end of boom draw 11 can slide in a track longitudinally mounted on cart 1, enabling latch 15 to engage the boom draw when wing sections 37 are in the working position.
A major advantage of the invention, as can be seen from the foregoing description, is that the operator need not dismount from the tractor in order to convert the implement from working position into transport position and vice versa.
While the preferred structure has been shown and described above, the invention is not limited to the particular details shown.
Claims (8)
1. A field sprayer, extendable for broad swath application of liquid in working position and foldable for narrow width transport in a transport position comprising:
(a) a wheeled motive power source for drawing the sprayer over the ground, (b) a main boom having (i) a center section, longitudinally aligned transverse to the line of travel of the sprayer and hingedly attached behind said power source to hinge longitudinally between a working position and a transport position, and (ii) at least one wing section aligned at each end of the center section, hingedly attached thereto and adapted for additional wheel support;
(c) a spray boom having a center section and wing sections corresponding to each of said main boom sections respectively and rotatably secured thereto in close parallel relation, said spray boom sections being linked in alignment by hinged links and rotatable about the axis of said alignment, (d) sections of spray tube, each one rotatably attached to a corresponding spray boom section in spaced parallel relation to be rotated by rotation of the spray boom about the rotation axis of the spray boom, said spray tube sections being linked by flexible connections to a supply, on said motive power source, of liquid to be sprayed, (e) a plurality of spray nozzles at spaced points along the length of the spray tubes to eject liquid spray, (f) wheel means alternately supporting each of said wing sections of said main boom substantially parallel to the ground, comprising a field wheel adapted to engage the ground and support its respective wing section when the main boom center section is hinged in said working position and the wing sections are aligned therewith and an alternate non-castoring transport wheel adapted to engage the ground when the main boom center section is hinged in the transport position, (g) power means on said motive power source to move the main boom center section between its working position and its transport position, simultaneously moving the main boom wing sections between support by their field wheels and support by their transport wheels, (h) a rigid boom draw means for each wing section, each said draw means being pivotally connected at the back end thereof to the respective wing section and having a front end adapted to move between a transport position, in which said front end is carried by the motive power source with no load thereon, and a working position in which the front end is releasably latched into a latched position on the motive power source to draw a load, and (i) connecting means, responsive to movement of said main boom center section from its working position to its transport position, to release the front ends of the rigid boom draws from their latched position.
(a) a wheeled motive power source for drawing the sprayer over the ground, (b) a main boom having (i) a center section, longitudinally aligned transverse to the line of travel of the sprayer and hingedly attached behind said power source to hinge longitudinally between a working position and a transport position, and (ii) at least one wing section aligned at each end of the center section, hingedly attached thereto and adapted for additional wheel support;
(c) a spray boom having a center section and wing sections corresponding to each of said main boom sections respectively and rotatably secured thereto in close parallel relation, said spray boom sections being linked in alignment by hinged links and rotatable about the axis of said alignment, (d) sections of spray tube, each one rotatably attached to a corresponding spray boom section in spaced parallel relation to be rotated by rotation of the spray boom about the rotation axis of the spray boom, said spray tube sections being linked by flexible connections to a supply, on said motive power source, of liquid to be sprayed, (e) a plurality of spray nozzles at spaced points along the length of the spray tubes to eject liquid spray, (f) wheel means alternately supporting each of said wing sections of said main boom substantially parallel to the ground, comprising a field wheel adapted to engage the ground and support its respective wing section when the main boom center section is hinged in said working position and the wing sections are aligned therewith and an alternate non-castoring transport wheel adapted to engage the ground when the main boom center section is hinged in the transport position, (g) power means on said motive power source to move the main boom center section between its working position and its transport position, simultaneously moving the main boom wing sections between support by their field wheels and support by their transport wheels, (h) a rigid boom draw means for each wing section, each said draw means being pivotally connected at the back end thereof to the respective wing section and having a front end adapted to move between a transport position, in which said front end is carried by the motive power source with no load thereon, and a working position in which the front end is releasably latched into a latched position on the motive power source to draw a load, and (i) connecting means, responsive to movement of said main boom center section from its working position to its transport position, to release the front ends of the rigid boom draws from their latched position.
2. A field sprayer as claimed in claim 1 and further including means, responsive to movement of said power means beyond the position achieved when the main boom center section has been moved to its working position, to rotate said spray boom and spray tube sections between maximum and minimum spraying height, and biasing means resiliently biasing the main boom towards the working position.
3. A field sprayer as claimed in claim 2 in which the power means to move the main boom center section between its working and transport positions is an hydraulic cylinder attached to a pivoting link which pivots to rotate the main boom between its working and transport positions.
4. A field sprayer as claimed in claim 3 in which the means responsive to movement of said power means to rotate the spray boom and spray tube sections is an interconnecting link connecting said pivotting link to a lever, secured to said spray boom and adapted to rotate the spray boom upon movement of the power means beyond its position when it has moved the main boom center section to its working position.
5. A field sprayer as claimed in claim 2, 3, or 4, in which the front end of each boom draw is carried by a respective rigid fold arm that is pivotally mounted on the motive power source to pivot the front end of its draw boom from its transport position, in which it is supported solely by the fold arm, and its latched working position, in which it is latched onto the motive power source.
6. A field sprayer as claimed in claim 2, 3, or 4 in which the connecting means to release the boom draws from their latched position is a cable which is tightened by rotation of main boom center section from working position to transport position and thereby release the latch of the boom draw.
7. In a field sprayer, extendable for broad swath application of liquid in working position and foldable for narrow width transport in a transport position comprising:
(a) a wheeled motive power source for drawing the sprayer over the ground, (b) a main boom longitudinally aligned transverse to the line of travel of the sprayer having (i) a center section, and hingedly attached behind said power source to hinge longitudinally between a working position and a transport position, and (ii) at least one wing section aligned at each end of the center section, hingedly attached thereto, and adapted for additional wheel support;
(c) a spray boom having a center section and wing sections corresponding to each of said main boom sections respectively and rotatably secured thereto in close parallel relation, said spray boom sections being linked in alignment by hinged links and rotatable about the axis of said alignment, (d) sections of spray tube, each one rotatably attached to a corresponding spray boom section in spaced parallel relation to be rotated by rotation of the spray boom about the rotation axis of the spray boom, said spray tube sections being linked by flexible connections to a supply, on said motive power source, of liquid to be sprayed, (e) a plurality of spray nozzles at spaced points along the length of the spray tubes to eject liquid spray, the improvement comprising the combination of (1) wheel means alternately supporting each of said wing sections of said main boom substantially parallel to the ground, comprising a field wheel adapted to engage the ground and support its respective wing section when the main boom center section is hinged in said working position and the wing sections are aligned therewith and an alternate non-castoring transport wheel adapted to engage the ground when the main boom center section is hinged in the transport position, (2) power means on said motive power source to move the main boom center section between its working position and its transport position, simultaneously moving the main boom wing sections between support by their field wheels and support by their transport wheels, (3) means, responsive to movement of said power means beyond the position achieved when the main boom center section has been moved to its working position, to rotate said spray boom and spray tube sections between maximum and minimum spraying height, (4) a rigid boom draw means for each wing section, each said draw means being pivotally connected at the back end thereof to the respective wing section and having a front end adapted to move between a transport position, in which said front end is carried by the motive power source with no load thereon, and a working position in which the front end is releasably latched into a latched position on the motive power source to draw a load, and (5) connecting means, responsive to movement of said main boom center section from its working position to its transport position, to release the front ends of the rigid boom draws from their latched position.
(a) a wheeled motive power source for drawing the sprayer over the ground, (b) a main boom longitudinally aligned transverse to the line of travel of the sprayer having (i) a center section, and hingedly attached behind said power source to hinge longitudinally between a working position and a transport position, and (ii) at least one wing section aligned at each end of the center section, hingedly attached thereto, and adapted for additional wheel support;
(c) a spray boom having a center section and wing sections corresponding to each of said main boom sections respectively and rotatably secured thereto in close parallel relation, said spray boom sections being linked in alignment by hinged links and rotatable about the axis of said alignment, (d) sections of spray tube, each one rotatably attached to a corresponding spray boom section in spaced parallel relation to be rotated by rotation of the spray boom about the rotation axis of the spray boom, said spray tube sections being linked by flexible connections to a supply, on said motive power source, of liquid to be sprayed, (e) a plurality of spray nozzles at spaced points along the length of the spray tubes to eject liquid spray, the improvement comprising the combination of (1) wheel means alternately supporting each of said wing sections of said main boom substantially parallel to the ground, comprising a field wheel adapted to engage the ground and support its respective wing section when the main boom center section is hinged in said working position and the wing sections are aligned therewith and an alternate non-castoring transport wheel adapted to engage the ground when the main boom center section is hinged in the transport position, (2) power means on said motive power source to move the main boom center section between its working position and its transport position, simultaneously moving the main boom wing sections between support by their field wheels and support by their transport wheels, (3) means, responsive to movement of said power means beyond the position achieved when the main boom center section has been moved to its working position, to rotate said spray boom and spray tube sections between maximum and minimum spraying height, (4) a rigid boom draw means for each wing section, each said draw means being pivotally connected at the back end thereof to the respective wing section and having a front end adapted to move between a transport position, in which said front end is carried by the motive power source with no load thereon, and a working position in which the front end is releasably latched into a latched position on the motive power source to draw a load, and (5) connecting means, responsive to movement of said main boom center section from its working position to its transport position, to release the front ends of the rigid boom draws from their latched position.
8. A field sprayer as claimed in either claim 1 or 7 in which the field wheels supporting the wing sections are castoring wheels.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000497648A CA1258835A (en) | 1985-12-13 | 1985-12-13 | Agricultural field sprayer |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000497648A CA1258835A (en) | 1985-12-13 | 1985-12-13 | Agricultural field sprayer |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1258835A true CA1258835A (en) | 1989-08-29 |
Family
ID=4132082
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000497648A Expired CA1258835A (en) | 1985-12-13 | 1985-12-13 | Agricultural field sprayer |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1258835A (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5029757A (en) * | 1989-09-29 | 1991-07-09 | F. P. Bourgault Industries Air Seeder Division Ltd. | Auto-fold sprayer |
| US5251704A (en) * | 1991-09-12 | 1993-10-12 | F.P. Bourgault Industries Air Seeder Division Ltd. | Detachable harrow sprayer |
| US6834223B2 (en) | 2003-02-10 | 2004-12-21 | Norac Systems International, Inc. | Roll control system and method for a suspended boom |
| US10701925B2 (en) | 2015-04-28 | 2020-07-07 | Cnh Industrial America Llc | Deflectable touchdown wheel system for sprayer boom |
-
1985
- 1985-12-13 CA CA000497648A patent/CA1258835A/en not_active Expired
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5029757A (en) * | 1989-09-29 | 1991-07-09 | F. P. Bourgault Industries Air Seeder Division Ltd. | Auto-fold sprayer |
| US5251704A (en) * | 1991-09-12 | 1993-10-12 | F.P. Bourgault Industries Air Seeder Division Ltd. | Detachable harrow sprayer |
| US6834223B2 (en) | 2003-02-10 | 2004-12-21 | Norac Systems International, Inc. | Roll control system and method for a suspended boom |
| US10701925B2 (en) | 2015-04-28 | 2020-07-07 | Cnh Industrial America Llc | Deflectable touchdown wheel system for sprayer boom |
| US11547107B2 (en) | 2015-04-28 | 2023-01-10 | Cnh Industrial America Llc | Self-propelled agricultural sprayer |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
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| MKEX | Expiry |