DE102021112691A1 - AGRICULTURAL SPRAYER AND SPRAYER FOR AN AGRICULTURAL SPRAYER - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a spray device for an agricultural field sprayer and an agricultural field sprayer with such a spray device. The spray device (1) comprises a spray boom (2) having a plurality of two-component nozzles (10) for spraying and/or finely distributing the spray liquid (4) with the aid of a compressed gas (5), the two-component nozzles (10) being spaced at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction ( B) of the spray boom (29) are arranged at a distance from one another and each have at least one liquid inlet (11) for supplying the spray liquid, at least one gas inlet (12) for supplying the compressed gas and a nozzle outlet (13) for an exiting spray jet (20). The spraying device (1) also includes a dosing and supply system (30) comprising a number of individually controllable dosing devices (31), with at least one of the dosing devices (31) being assigned to the two-component nozzles, by means of which the application quantity of spray liquid (4) of the respective The spray device (1) also includes a control device g (40), which is designed to control the dosing and supply system (30), in particular the dosing devices (31), for spraying and/or finely distributing the spray liquid.

Description

The invention relates to a spray device for an agricultural field sprayer and an agricultural field sprayer with such a spray device.

Agricultural field sprayers are used to spread or apply liquid active ingredients, e.g. As crop protection and / or fertilizers used. Such field sprayers with a spray boom oriented transversely to the direction of travel and moved over a stand of plants are known in different design variants.

With such field sprayers, the goal is to be pursued, a defined liquid volume of spray liquid, z. B. pesticides and / or fertilizers, evenly and with definable intensity on a crop. In order to spread the spray liquid over a large area on the usable areas to be processed, spray booms of such field sprayers have laterally foldable booms with a large working width, sometimes more than twenty meters. Such wide sprayer booms are folded and folded in for transport. When unfolded, the outriggers are arranged transversely to the direction of travel. Dispensing elements, e.g. B. spray nozzles available. The application elements generate a spray jet directed towards the ground or towards the vegetation, e.g. B. a spray cone for the desired distribution of the spray liquid.

When applying spray liquid to an agricultural area, it is advantageous, depending on the spraying process, if the spray liquid is released into the immediate vicinity of the respective plants on the agricultural area, in order to distribute the spray liquid with as little drift as possible.

One approach to this that is known from practice is the use of special spray nozzles, for example the use of so-called two-component nozzles, in which the spray liquid is mixed with compressed air, which can result in less drift.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an improved technique for applying spray liquid by means of a spray boom, by means of which the disadvantages of conventional techniques can be avoided. The object of the invention is in particular to provide a technique for applying spray liquid by means of a spray boom, by means of which an improved application of spray liquid by means of two-component nozzles is made possible.

The object is solved by the features of the independent claim. Advantageous developments are specified in the dependent claims and the description.

A first general aspect of the invention relates to a spray device for an agricultural field sprayer for the metered application of spray liquid to agricultural areas.

The spray device comprises a spray boom, having a plurality of two-component nozzles for spraying and/or finely distributing the spray liquid with the aid of a compressed gas. The two-component nozzles are arranged at a predetermined distance from one another in the longitudinal direction (B) of the spray boom. The two-component nozzles each have at least one liquid inlet for supplying the spray liquid, at least one gas inlet for supplying the compressed gas and a nozzle outlet for an exiting spray jet.

The spray device also includes a dosing and supply system for supplying the two-component nozzles with spray liquid and compressed gas. The dosing and supply system comprises a plurality of individually controllable dosing devices, with at least one of the dosing devices being assigned to the two-component nozzles, preferably spatially assigned, and the dispensing quantity of spray liquid from the respective two-substance nozzle being controllable by means of the dosing devices. The dosing and supply system can also include a pump, e.g. B. a centrifugal pump, for promoting the spray liquid from a reservoir for spray liquid.

The spray device also includes a control device that is designed to control the dosing and supply system for spraying and/or finely distributing the spray liquid. The control device is designed in particular to control the dosing devices. The control device can be a control device. The functionality of the control device can also be implemented distributed over a number of control devices.

Instead of a purely central control of the spray liquid supply to the two-component nozzles, the dosing devices offer the special advantage that the spray liquid supply can be specifically adapted for the two-substance nozzle(s) assigned to a dosing device.

This can e.g. B. the set droplet size of the spray liquid can be adjusted more precisely and quickly. Furthermore, there is the possibility of reducing the droplet size in the longitudinal direction of the Spray boom, ie set differently on the working width of the spray boom, what z. B. for a row-related application of spray liquid along rows of plants (band application) is particularly advantageous if other droplet sizes are to be set in intermediate areas (between the rows of plants). This is also particularly advantageous when cornering, so that a different droplet size can optionally be set for sections of the spray boom that are located radially on the outside in relation to the curve radius and the two-component nozzles arranged there, which move faster when cornering than for boom sections that are radially further inside and the two-substance nozzles arranged there.

In one embodiment, the dosing devices that are assigned to the two-component nozzles can be designed to control and/or regulate a volume flow of the spray liquid. The dosing devices can thus each be designed as a volume flow controller. For example, the metering device can be designed as a metering valve, preferably as a pulse width modulated (PWM) metering valve, also referred to as a PWM valve. A particularly fast and precise dosing or setting of the volume flow can be achieved in this way. Alternatively, the dosing device can also be designed as a controllable orifice, preferably as an orifice with a variable cross section, or as a needle valve or roller valve.

In one embodiment, the dosing device assigned to the respective two-component nozzle is arranged in the area of the two-component nozzle and/or spatially assigned to the two-component nozzle. For example, the dosing device assigned to the respective two-substance nozzle can be arranged downstream of a supply line, preferably downstream of a ring line, via which the several two-substance nozzles are supplied with spray liquid, and upstream of the nozzle outlet of the two-substance nozzle. The dosing device can be arranged, for example, on or downstream of a branch which fluidly connects the two-component nozzle to the supply line. In one embodiment variant, the dosing device can be structurally integrated into the two-component nozzle, for example, it can be arranged inside a housing of the two-component nozzle.

The dosing devices can each be functionally assigned to precisely one two-component nozzle. Alternatively, the dosing devices can each be functionally assigned to a group of two-component nozzles that are held or can be held in a multi-nozzle assembly. The metering devices can be in a nozzle grid distance, z. B. at a distance of 25 cm or 50 cm, spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of the spray boom.

According to a further aspect, the two-component nozzles can be arranged at a distance (nozzle grid spacing) of 25 cm or 50 cm from one another in the longitudinal direction of the spray boom. Furthermore, multiple nozzle assemblies can be arranged on the spray boom at a distance of 25 cm or 50 cm in the longitudinal direction of the spray boom, in each of which at least one two-component nozzle is held.

In a further embodiment, the spray boom in the longitudinal direction (B) of the spray boom in several sections, z. B. partial widths, be subdivided, with a plurality of two-component nozzles being arranged on each partial section and each two-component nozzle being assigned to exactly one partial section. According to this embodiment, the spray device can comprise a plurality of pressure regulators for the compressed gas, with each section being assigned a pressure regulator which is designed to regulate a pressure of the compressed gas in the associated section.

This offers the advantage that the compressed air supply for the individual sections and thus for two-component nozzles of different sections can be adjusted differently, which is particularly useful in combination with the spray agent supply, which can be adjusted differently by means of the metering devices, e.g. B. the adjustable spray agent volume flows, a particularly advantageous precise and variable adjustment of the droplet size allows, in particular to adjust the droplet size along the working width of the spray boom differently. This embodiment also represents a particularly advantageous compromise between the most variable adjustability of the compressed air supply on the one hand and the installation space requirement and the costs on the other. A purely central pressure control for all two-substance nozzles would be less precise in comparison, and pressure control by means of a separate pressure regulator for each two-substance nozzle would, however, require a large amount of additional installation space and costs, without being able to achieve significantly improved application results during the application process in practice.

The subdivision into partial sections takes place in the longitudinal direction of the sprayer boom or the middle part and the two booms and can optionally correspond to a subdivision of the sprayer boom into partial widths. The booms themselves can be divided into a plurality of sections in the longitudinal direction of the booms, with the sections being arranged next to one another in the longitudinal direction of the spray boom. Correspondingly, a group of two-substance nozzles, which are assigned to a section, is longitudinal direction arranged adjacent to a further group of Ausbringelemente, which are assigned to an adjacent section.

A subsection according to the embodiment described above can correspond to such a boom section or to a partial width of the boom or sprayer boom. The subdivision of the sprayer boom into partial widths offers the advantage that it is not always necessary to work with the full working width and that a part-area-specific application of active substances is advantageously made possible. However, the above-mentioned boom sections or partial widths of the spray boom can also each have several of the above-mentioned partial sections with associated two-component nozzles.

The control device can be designed to control the dosing devices of the two-component nozzles either individually, in subgroups or as a whole.

• - einen Druck der Spritzflüssigkeit in einer Zufuhrleitung, über welche die mehreren Zweistoffdüsen mit Spritzflüssigkeit versorgt werden, oder eine hiervon abhängige Größe (erste Stellgröße). Diese erste Stellgröße kann z. B. mittels einer Pumpe und/oder einem zentralen Druckregler zur Förderung der Spritzflüssigkeit eingestellt werden.
• - einen Volumenstrom der Spritzflüssigkeit für jede der mehreren Zweistoffdüsen (zweite Stellgröße). Der Volumenstrom einer Zweistoffdüse kann mittels der einer Zweistoffdüse zugeordneten Dosiereinrichtung eingestellt werden.
• - einen Druck des Druckgases (dritte Stellgröße, erste Variante). Der Druck kann z. B. mittels eines Kompressors und/oder einem zentralen Druckregler zur Förderung der Spritzflüssigkeit eingestellt werden. Alternativ oder zusätzlich kann ein Druck des Druckgases in einem Teilabschnitt, z. B. einer Teilbreite, des Spritzgestänges individuell eingestellt werden, z. B. mittels Druckreglern, die jeweils einem der Teilabschnitte zugeordnet sind (dritte Stellgröße, zweite Variante).

Alternatively or additionally, the control device can be designed to set at least the following manipulated variables for controlling and/or regulating the spray liquid and the compressed gas that are supplied to the two-component nozzles:

• - A pressure of the spray liquid in a supply line, via which the several two-component nozzles are supplied with spray liquid, or a variable dependent thereon (first manipulated variable). This first manipulated variable can B. be adjusted by a pump and / or a central pressure regulator to promote the spray liquid.
• - A volume flow of the spray liquid for each of the multiple two-component nozzles (second control variable). The volume flow of a two-component nozzle can be adjusted by means of the dosing device assigned to a two-component nozzle.
• - A pressure of the compressed gas (third manipulated variable, first variant). The pressure can e.g. B. be adjusted by means of a compressor and / or a central pressure regulator to promote the spray liquid. Alternatively or additionally, a pressure of the compressed gas in a section, z. B. a section, the sprayer boom can be adjusted individually, z. B. by means of pressure regulators, which are each assigned to one of the sections (third manipulated variable, second variant).

These manipulated variables can be set in the form of open-loop or closed-loop control. In one embodiment, a value for the second manipulated variable (value of the volume flow) can be specified individually for each of the two-substance nozzles, for subgroups of two-substance nozzles or for all two-substance nozzles as a whole. Accordingly, the volume flow supplied to a two-substance nozzle can be flexibly adjusted depending on the type and purpose of the dispensing process.

Alternatively or additionally, the control device can be designed to define and/or adapt the quantity of spray liquid supplied to the two-substance nozzles as a function of at least one of the following parameters: a type of spray liquid, a driving speed, the presence of cornering and a height distance of the spray boom from a target area . The types of spray liquids may include, for example: a fungicide, a pesticide, an insecticide.

The control device can be designed to control the dosing devices to determine and/or adjust the quantity of spray liquid supplied to the two-component nozzles, in particular to control and/or regulate the volume flow supplied to a two-component nozzle. The control device can thus be designed to control and/or regulate the dosing devices as a function of at least one of the parameters mentioned above.

In a further embodiment, the control device can be designed to define and/or adapt the quantity of compressed air supplied to the two-component nozzles as a function of at least one of the following parameters: a type of spray liquid, a driving speed, the presence of cornering, a height distance of the spray boom from a target area and a maximum value for the air pressure of the compressed gas. The maximum value for the air pressure corresponds to an upper, predetermined threshold for the air pressure, which takes into account that the air pressure must not be too high, otherwise no more liquid can get into the nozzle or atomization cannot take place in the desired way. Depending on the design of the compressed air circuit, exemplary maximum values for the air pressure are in a range from 1 bar to 2 bar.

In one embodiment, the control device can be designed to adjust the droplet size of the exiting spray liquid generated by the two-component nozzles by adjusting the aforementioned first to third manipulated variables (pressure of the spray liquid, volume flow of the spray liquid, pressure of the compressed gas). In an embodiment variant of this, the control device can be designed to partially set the droplet size generated by the two-component nozzles differently for different two-component nozzles. In other words, the droplet size generated during a dispensing process in the longitudinal direction of the sprayer boom, ie adjusted differently over the working width of the sprayer boom, e.g. B. for a row-related application of spray liquid along rows of plants (band application) or when cornering. For the latter, the control device can be designed to set a different droplet size when cornering, for sections of the spray boom that are located radially on the outside in relation to the curve radius and the two-component nozzles arranged there, which move faster when cornering, than for boom sections that are radially further inside and the arranged there two-substance nozzles. For example, the control device can set the metering devices differently in the longitudinal direction of the spray boom by means of the second manipulated variable.

In a further embodiment, the spraying device can comprise an operating unit which has a screen. The control unit can be a control terminal of the spray device or a mobile device, such as. B. a tablet computer. The operating unit is designed to bring about the display of a user interface for configuring the spraying device on the screen. In this case, the user interface can be designed for entering input parameters. The user interface is preferably designed to set a droplet size of the spray liquid generated by the two-component nozzles. According to this embodiment, the control device is designed to control a quantity of spray liquid and/or compressed air supplied to the two-component nozzles as a function of the set droplet size. Advantageously, the droplet size can thus be easily changed by a user.

According to a further aspect, the spray device can comprise multiple nozzle assemblies in which at least two two-substance nozzles or at least one two-substance nozzle and one spray nozzle which is not designed as a two-substance nozzle are held. This offers the advantage that the spray nozzle configuration can be quickly adjusted by changing the active nozzle of a multiple nozzle stack.

In a further embodiment, the control device is designed to vary an amount of spray liquid supplied to the two-component nozzles as a function of a detected pest and/or weed infestation. In a possible embodiment variant, the control device can be designed to set the spraying agent supply differently for different two-component nozzles depending on the detected pest and/or weed infestation, e.g. B. if the detected pest and / or weed infestation varies in the longitudinal direction of the sprayer boom.

According to a further aspect, the control device for detecting the pest and/or weed infestation can have a signal connection with an online and/or offline detection system which is designed to transmit data on the detected pest and/or weed infestation to the control device. For example, the online detection system can be a camera-based system that uses a camera to detect the pest and/or weed infestation of an agricultural area. The camera can be a drone camera. Alternatively or additionally, the camera can be a camera that is mounted on the spray device or on an agricultural machine that includes the spray device.

According to a further aspect of the invention there is also provided an agricultural field sprayer comprising a spraying device as described in this document. The field sprayer can, for example, be a self-propelled field sprayer or a field sprayer that is towed by a towing vehicle or attached to a towing vehicle.

• Das Dosier- und Versorgungssystem kann mehrere Vorratsbehälter für Spritzflüssigkeit aufweisen. Die Spritzflüssigkeit kann auch in einem Vorratsbehälter als Trägerflüssigkeit, z. B. Wasser, und in einem anderen Vorratsbehälter als Wirkstoff vorliegen, die dann in mindestens einer Mischkammer vor Ausbringen gemischt werden. Das Dosier- und Versorgungssystem kann somit auch als Direkt-Einspeisesystem ausgebildet sein.

The following additional aspects are also disclosed:

• The dosing and supply system can have several reservoirs for spray liquid. The spray liquid can also be stored in a reservoir as a carrier liquid, e.g. B. water, and in another reservoir as an active substance, which are then mixed in at least one mixing chamber before application. The dosing and supply system can thus also be designed as a direct feed system.

The spray boom can be arranged directly or indirectly on a carrier vehicle such that it can be moved about a pivot axis (A) running in the direction of travel. The spray boom is preferably a pivotable spray boom which has two lateral arms. Each boom and the center section have two-component nozzles for spraying and/or finely distributing the spray liquid. The two side booms can each be rotatably connected to a central part of the sprayer boom via a vertical pivot axis.

Each boom can in turn have several linkage sections that can be folded in to each other in the transport position and folded out in the working position and are connected by joints, so that each of the two booms of a sprayer boom can be folded, preferably folded several times, by rotating the respective boom sections at the joint points for the transport position by 180° folded in or unfolded in a stretched position for the working position. In the unfolded state, the sprayer boom extends transversely to the direction of travel of the field sprayer.

The sprayer boom of the sprayer and/or field sprayer has a large working width, i. H. a working width that is significantly larger than a width of the carrier vehicle or field sprayer, e.g. B. a multiple of the width of the carrier vehicle. The field sprayer can, in a manner known per se, have an adjusting device, e.g. B. pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, by means of which a force can be generated to move the distributor linkage about the pivot axis. For movably mounting on the carrier vehicle, the spray boom can be mounted on a carrier, for example, which in turn is coupled, for example, to a body or frame section or a frame construction of the carrier vehicle and/or to a rigidly or movably mounted support section of the carrier vehicle.

At least one distance sensor for measuring a distance from the ground or vegetation can be arranged on the boom, e.g. B. in the form of an ultrasonic sensor. In a manner known per se, the field sprayer and/or the sprayer boom can also include at least one sensor device for detecting a rotational position and/or a rotational speed and/or an acceleration of the distributor boom, e.g. B. an acceleration sensor.

The longitudinal direction of the spray boom is understood here as meaning the direction in which the spray boom or the boom extends in the unfolded state and in which the two-component nozzles are arranged at a distance from one another along the spray boom. The working width of the sprayer boom results from the length of the sprayer boom along its longitudinal direction when folded out. The vertical direction of the boom or the sprayer boom is understood to mean the direction that is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the boom and perpendicular to a direction of travel of the field sprayer. In general, in this document, the term "control" should also include rules. Correspondingly, the term “control device” in this document should also include a regulating device.

• 1 eine Perspektivansicht einer landwirtschaftlichen Feldspritze mit einer Spritzvorrichtung;
• 2 eine schematische Illustration einer Zweistoffdüse gemäß einer Ausführungsform;
• 3 eine schematische Illustration einer Zweistoffdüse gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform;
• 4 ein Flüssigkeits- und Druckluftschema einer Spritzvorrichtung einer landwirtschaftlichen Feldspritze gemäß einer Ausführungsform; und
• 5 eine schematische Ansicht einer Bedieneinheit und Benutzerschnittstelle zur Einstellung der Tröpfchengröße gemäß einer Ausführungsform.

The preferred embodiments and features of the invention described above can be combined with one another as desired. Further details and advantages of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1 a perspective view of an agricultural field sprayer with a spray device;
• 2 a schematic illustration of a two-fluid nozzle according to an embodiment;
• 3 a schematic illustration of a two-component nozzle according to a further embodiment;
• 4 a fluid and compressed air schematic of a spray device of an agricultural field sprayer according to an embodiment; and
• 5 12 is a schematic view of a control unit and user interface for adjusting the droplet size according to an embodiment.

Identical or functionally equivalent elements are partially denoted by the same reference symbols in the figures and partially not separately described.

1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment variant of an agricultural field sprayer 100. The field sprayer 100 is designed here as a towed field sprayer, for example. In the rear area, the field sprayer 100 includes a located in a working position and in a large working width, z. B. 24 meters or more, extending transversely to the direction of spray boom 2, which extends in the direction of travel pivot axis A by means of an adjusting device, z. B. by means of hydraulically actuated adjusting cylinder, is pivotable. The spray boom 2, also referred to as a spray bar arrangement, can be adjusted in height relative to the carrier vehicle 7 by means of a height-adjustable parallelogram linkage.

The spray boom 2 comprises a central part and two side arms 3, each of which has a plurality of two-component nozzles for spraying and/or finely distributing the spray liquid. The two-component nozzles are shown in the illustration 1 not shown. The longitudinal direction of the sprayer boom is in 1 marked with the arrow B. Furthermore, a control device 40 is provided, which is in signal connection with the individual components of the spray device, such as the two-component nozzles, pumps, valves, flow meters, in order to appropriately control them for the supply or application of spray liquid or supply of compressed air, which is based on 4 will be explained in more detail.

The two-component nozzles are designed for spraying and/or finely distributing the spray liquid with the aid of a compressed gas. The two-fluid nozzles are spaced at a predetermined distance, e.g. B. 25 cm or 50 cm, which corresponds to the nozzle grid spacing, in the longitudinal direction (B) of the Spray boom 2 spaced apart.

2 shows a schematic illustration of a two-component nozzle 10 according to a first embodiment of the two-component nozzle. The two-substance nozzle 10 comprises a liquid inlet 11 for supplying the spray liquid, a gas inlet 12 for supplying the compressed gas, here compressed air, and a nozzle outlet 13 for an exiting spray jet 20. Via a common supply line 33, which runs at least in sections in the longitudinal direction B of the spray boom 2 runs, the liquid inlets 11 of the two-component nozzles 10 are supplied with spray liquid. The supply line 33 can be designed in sections as a nozzle pipe. The supply line 33 can be designed as a ring line. The pressure present in the supply line 33 can be set by the control device 40 as a first manipulated variable.

The compressed air entering via the gas inlet 12 mixes with the spray liquid entering via the liquid inlet 11 in the area of a mixing zone 14 which is formed within a housing 15 of the two-component nozzle 10 . A volume flow controller 31 is arranged downstream of the liquid inlet 11 and upstream of the mixing zone 14 . The volume flow controller 31 can be designed, for example, as a pulse width modulated valve (PWM valve). In this way, the volume flow of the spray liquid supplied to the mixing zone 14 can be set separately for each two-component nozzle 10 . This volume flow per two-component nozzle 10 can be set by the control device 40 as a second manipulated variable. The pressure of the compressed air supply can be set by the control device 40 as a third manipulated variable. The supplied compressed air hits the supplied spray liquid perpendicularly in the mixing zone 14, which enables good mixing. The liquid flow is deflected through the mixing zone in a flow direction by 90° degrees.

Downstream of the mixing zone 14 the mixed spray liquid compressed air flow is directed against a jet shaper 16 arranged at the nozzle outlet 13 of the two-component nozzle 10 . The jet shaper 16 can be designed as a baffle plate, for example. The jet shaper 16 changes the jet direction and, together with the nozzle outlet 13, e.g. B. with the nozzle tip, the profile of the exiting spray jet 20.

The two-substance nozzle 10 thus mixes the supplied spray liquid with the supplied compressed air and thus causes the metered spray liquid to be atomized. Mixing the spray liquid and air creates a more uniform droplet size. This enables improved wetting and a reduction in drift.

A particular advantage is that the droplet size can be changed by changing the ratio of the compressed air supplied, the liquid pressure and the volume flow (first, second and third manipulated variables), which will be explained below.

3 shows a schematic illustration of a two-component nozzle 10 according to a further embodiment. Identical or functionally equivalent elements are in 3 with the same reference numbers as in 2 designated and not separately described. The special feature of this embodiment lies in the fact that the inlet 12 of the compressed air is only arranged in the area of the nozzle outlet, so that the mixing zone 14 is accordingly also located in the area of the nozzle outlet 13 . Correspondingly, a baffle plate is missing here at the nozzle outlet 13 and external mixing takes place, comparable to what is known in the case of a paint spray gun.

4 FIG. 12 shows a fluid and compressed air schematic of a spray device of an agricultural field sprayer according to an embodiment.

First of all, it should be noted that the spray boom is divided into a plurality of partial widths 8a, 8b and 8c in the longitudinal direction B of the spray boom, with a plurality of two-component nozzles being arranged on each partial width. For reasons of clarity, only three two-component nozzles per part width are illustrated here by their spray jets 20 . In the actual embodiment, however, significantly more than three two-component nozzles are provided per boom section. The two-substance nozzles themselves are not shown, but the spray liquid supply line and the compressed air supply line, as well as the spray jet 20 of a two-substance nozzle, and the volume flow controller 31 integrated into the two-substance nozzle or at least functionally assigned to it.

The spray device 1 includes a dosing and supply system 30 in order to supply both the spray liquid and compressed air to the two-component nozzles 10 . The dosing and supply system 30 is greatly simplified here and is only shown as an example. To supply the two-component nozzles with spray liquid, the dosing and supply system 30 includes a reservoir 32, e.g. B. a tank in which premixed spray liquid 4 is stored. The premixed spray liquid 4 is conveyed from the reservoir 32 by means of a centrifugal pump 35 during the application process. The spray liquid is fed via a feed line 33 to the liquid inlets of the two-component nozzles. downstream of the roundabout pump 35 a flow meter 34 is arranged. A pressure of the spray liquid in the supply line 33 can be adjusted by means of the centrifugal pump 35 . The supply line 33 supplies each section 8a, 8b, 8c with spray liquid via its own branch.

The dosing and supply system 30 also includes the volume flow controller 31, which is functionally and spatially assigned to one of the two-component nozzles 10 and can optionally be structurally integrated into it.

The dosing and supply system 30 also includes a compressed air supply for supplying the two-component nozzles with compressed air. The compressed air supply includes the compressor 37, downstream of which is a compressed air reservoir 36 in which compressed air 5 is stored. The compressed air reservoir 36 is fluidically connected to gas inlets 12 of the two-component nozzles via a compressed air line 38 . The compressed air line supplies each section 8a, 8b, 8c with compressed air via its own branch, which 4 is recognizable. A pressure regulator 39 is arranged in each of these branches in order to be able to set the compressed air supply differently for each section.

The control device 40 is designed to control the dosing and supply system 30 for spraying and/or finely distributing the spray liquid. For this purpose, the control device 40 is inter alia in communication connection 41, z. B. via a data bus, with the centrifugal pump 35, the flow meter 34, the volume flow controller 31, the compressor 37, and the pressure controller 39 for the compressed air in the sections 8a, 8b, 8c, and various sensors 6 of the field sprayer 100. This communication link 41 is indicated by dashed lines in 4 shown.

• - einen Druck der Spritzflüssigkeit in einer Zufuhrleitung, über welche die mehreren Zweistoffdüsen mit Spritzflüssigkeit versorgt werden. Diese erste Stellgröße kann z. B. mittels der Kreiselpumpe 34 und dem Durchflussmesser 34 eingestellt werden.
• - einen Volumenstrom der Spritzflüssigkeit für jede der mehreren Zweistoffdüsen (zweite Stellgröße). Der Volumenstrom einer Zweistoffdüse kann mittels den Volumenstromreglern 31 eingestellt werden. Die Steuereinrichtung 40 kann die Volumenstromregler 31 einzeln, in Teilgruppen oder als Gesamtheit ansteuern.
• - einen Druck der Druckluft in jeder Teilbreite, mittels der Druckregler 39, die jeweils einer der Teilbreiten 8a, 8b, 8c zugeordnet sind (dritte Stellgröße).

Control device 40 is designed to set at least the following manipulated variables for controlling and/or regulating the spray liquid and the compressed gas that are supplied to the two-component nozzles:

• - A pressure of the spray liquid in a supply line, via which the several two-component nozzles are supplied with spray liquid. This first manipulated variable can B. by means of the centrifugal pump 34 and the flow meter 34 can be adjusted.
• - A volume flow of the spray liquid for each of the multiple two-component nozzles (second control variable). The volume flow of a two-substance nozzle can be adjusted using the volume flow controllers 31 . The control device 40 can control the volume flow controller 31 individually, in subgroups or as a whole.
• - A pressure of the compressed air in each section, by means of the pressure regulator 39, which are each assigned to one of the sections 8a, 8b, 8c (third manipulated variable).

These manipulated variables can be set in the form of open-loop or closed-loop control. In one embodiment, a value for the second manipulated variable (value of the volume flow) can be specified individually for each of the two-substance nozzles, for subgroups of two-substance nozzles or for all two-substance nozzles as a whole. i.e. the value for the second manipulated variable can be specified individually for each volume flow controller 31 or according to groups of volume flow controllers 31 (e.g. specifying different values for the second manipulated variable for volume flow controllers 31 of different sections). Alternatively, the control device 40 can specify the same value for the second manipulated variable for all volume flow controllers.

Accordingly, the volume flow supplied to a two-substance nozzle can be flexibly adjusted depending on the type and purpose of the dispensing process. As a result, not only can the application rate be changed flexibly and quickly, but also the droplet size.

The control device 40 can use these manipulated variables to vary the volumetric flow of spray liquid and compressed air, each of which is supplied to a two-component nozzle. The droplet size generated by the respective two-substance nozzle can be set and, if necessary, changed via the ratio of these sizes. The amount of spray liquid and compressed air supplied to the two-substance nozzles can be adjusted and varied as a function of at least one of the following parameters: a type of spray liquid, a driving speed, the presence of cornering and a height distance of the spray boom from a target area. The values for these parameters can be determined by corresponding sensors 6 of the field sprayer 100, such as e.g. B. a driving speed sensor, a steering angle sensor or acceleration sensor for detecting cornering, or ultrasonic sensors for detecting the distance of the spray boom from the ground or crops.

For example, when the driving speed changes, the values of the manipulated variable can be adjusted in such a way that the droplet size remains constant despite the changing driving speed.

The control device 40 can be designed to define and/or adjust the quantity of spray liquid supplied to the two-component nozzles ability to control the volume flow regulator 31 and the pressure regulator 39 of the dosing devices, in particular to control and/or regulate the volume flow of spray liquid supplied to a two-component nozzle and the amount of compressed air. The control device 40 can be designed to adjust the droplet size of the exiting spray liquid generated by the two-component nozzles by adjusting the aforementioned first to third manipulated variables (pressure of the spray liquid, volume flow of the spray liquid, pressure of the compressed gas), e.g. B. according to a user input, or to keep constant during the application process, z. B. when cornering or changing driving speed.

Also, a user is given the option to set the droplet size, which is shown in 5 is illustrated.

5 12 shows a schematic view of a control unit 42 and user interface 44 for adjusting the droplet size according to an embodiment. The operating unit 42 has a screen 43 and is designed to cause a user interface 44 to be displayed on the screen 43 for setting the droplet size. The operating unit 42 can be a mobile operating device, e.g. B. a tablet computer, which is in wireless communication with a communication system of the sprayer 100 is. The communication system of the field sprayer 100 can have a data bus in a manner known per se, e.g. B. a CAN data bus and/or a data bus designed as an ISOBUS. The control device 40 and an operating terminal (in 5 referred to as terminals) are in signal connection with the communication system.

The user interface 44 is designed in terms of programming to provide an input option by means of which a user can set the droplet size. In the 5 The visualization shown, in which a user can change the droplet size between small, medium and large using a setting mask 45, is only an example. In the event of changing application conditions, the user can thus adjust the droplet size himself without having to change the two-substance nozzles. For example, as the wind speed increases, a user could set a larger droplet size.

The control device 40 converts the set droplet size into corresponding values for the first, second and third manipulated variable by means of stored characteristic diagrams. Corresponding characteristics maps can be determined experimentally in advance using tests and/or test drives and can be stored in the field sprayer 100 .

The control device 40 can optionally also be designed to vary a quantity of spray liquid supplied to the two-component nozzles 10 as a function of a detected pest and/or weed infestation. To record the pest and/or weed infestation, the control device 40 has a signal connection to an online and/or offline detection system 50, which is designed to transmit data on the detected pest and/or weed infestation to the control device. For example, the data from a database can be transmitted to the control device. Alternatively, the online detection system can be a camera-based system that detects the pest and/or weed infestation of an agricultural area by means of a camera, the camera being a drone camera or a camera mounted on the spray device or on an agricultural machine comprising the spray device .

The invention is not limited to the preferred embodiments described above. Rather, a large number of variants and modifications are possible, which also make use of the idea of the invention and therefore fall within the scope of protection. In particular, the invention also claims protection for the subject matter and the features of the subclaims independently of the claims referred to.

Reference List

1

spray device

2

spray boom

3

Lateral outriggers

4

spray liquid

5

compressed gas (compressed air)

6

sensors

7

carrier vehicle

8a, 8b, 8c

sections

10

two-substance nozzle

11

liquid inlet

12

gas inlet

13

nozzle outlet

14

mixing zone

15

Housing

16

beam shaper, e.g. B. Flapper

17

Spray liquid compressed air jet

20

spray jet

30

Dosing and supply system

31

Dosing device (volume flow controller)

32

Reservoir for spray liquid

33

supply line

34

flow meter

35

centrifugal pump

36

compressed air tank

37

compressor

38

compressed air line

39

Section pressure regulator

40

control device

41

communication link

42

operating unit

43

Screen

44

user interface

45

Droplet size setting

50

Pest/weed infestation detection system

100

Agricultural sprayer

A

Swivel axis in the direction of travel

B

longitudinal direction of the boom

V

Vertical direction of the boom

Claims (16)

Spraying device (1) for an agricultural field sprayer for the metered application of spray liquid on agricultural areas, comprising a spray boom (2) having a plurality of two-substance nozzles (10) for spraying and/or finely distributing the spray liquid (4) with the aid of a compressed gas (5), the two-substance nozzles (10) being spaced at a predetermined distance in the longitudinal direction (B) of the spray boom (29 are arranged at a distance from one another and each have at least one liquid inlet (11) for supplying the spray liquid, at least one gas inlet (12) for supplying the compressed gas and a nozzle outlet (13) for an exiting spray jet (20); a dosing and supply system (30) comprising a plurality of individually controllable dosing devices (31), at least one of the dosing devices (31) being assigned to each of the two-component nozzles, by means of which the application quantity of spray liquid (4) of the respective two-component nozzle (10) can be controlled; and a control device (40) which is designed to control the dosing and supply system (30) for spraying and/or finely distributing the spray liquid. Spray device (1) after claim 1 , wherein the metering device (31) is designed to control and / or regulate a volume flow. Spray device (1) after claim 1 or 2 , wherein the metering device (31) a) is designed as a metering valve (31), preferably as a pulse width modulated metering valve; or b) is designed as a controllable diaphragm, preferably as a diaphragm with a variable cross section, or is designed as a needle valve or roller valve. Spraying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the metering device (31) assigned to the respective two-component nozzle (10) a) is arranged in the region of the two-component nozzle (10) and/or is spatially assigned to the two-component nozzle (10); and or b) downstream of a supply line (33), preferably downstream of a ring line, via which the several two-substance nozzles (10) are supplied with spray liquid (4), and upstream of the nozzle outlet (13) of the two-substance nozzle (10). Spraying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the metering devices (31) a) are spatially assigned to exactly one two-substance nozzle or a group of two-substance nozzles that are held or can be held in a multiple nozzle assembly; and or b) are arranged at a distance from one another in the longitudinal direction of the spray boom at a nozzle grid distance, e.g. at a distance of 25 cm or 50 cm. Spraying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (40) is designed to control the metering devices (31) either individually, in subgroups or as a whole. Spraying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (40) is designed to define and/or adjust a quantity of spray liquid (4) supplied to the two-component nozzles (10) as a function of at least one of the following parameters: a type of spray liquid , a driving speed, the presence of cornering and a height distance of the spray boom from a target area. Spray device (1) after claim 7 , wherein the control device (40) is designed to control the dosing devices (31) to determine and/or adjust the supplied quantity of spray liquid (4). Spraying device (19 according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (40) is designed to define and/or adapt a quantity of compressed air (5) supplied to the two-component nozzles (10) as a function of at least one of the following parameters: a type of spray liquid, a driving speed, the presence of cornering, a height distance of the spray boom from a target area and a maximum value for the air pressure of the compressed gas. Spraying device according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising an operating unit (42), having a screen (43), which is designed to display a user interface (44) for configuring the spraying device (1) on the screen, the user interface ( 44) is designed to adjust (45) a droplet size of the spray liquid produced by the two-component nozzles; and wherein the control device (40) is designed to control a quantity of spray liquid and/or compressed air supplied to the two-component nozzles as a function of the set droplet size. Spraying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, a) the two-substance nozzles (10) being spaced from one another at a distance of 25 cm or 50 cm in the longitudinal direction of the spray boom; and or b) multiple nozzle assemblies being arranged on the spray boom (2) at a distance of 25 cm or 50 cm in the longitudinal direction of the spray boom, in each of which at least one two-substance nozzle is held. Spray device (1) after claim 11 , comprising multiple nozzle assemblies, in which at least two two-component nozzles or at least one two-component nozzle and one spray nozzle are held, which is not designed as a two-component nozzle. Spraying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the control device (40) is designed to vary an amount of spray liquid supplied to the two-component nozzles (10) as a function of a detected pest and/or weed infestation, the control device (40) for Detection of the pest and/or weed infestation is signal-connected to an online and/or offline detection system (50), which is designed to transmit data on the detected pest and/or weed infestation to the control device. spray device Claim 13 , wherein the online detection system is a camera-based system that detects the pest and/or weed infestation of an agricultural area by means of a camera, the camera being a drone camera or a camera mounted on the spray device or on an agricultural machine comprising the spray device . Spraying device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spray boom (2) a) is divided into a plurality of sections (8a, 8b, 8c) in the longitudinal direction (B) of the spray boom (2), a plurality of two-component nozzles (10) being arranged on each section (8a, 8b, 8c) and each two-component nozzle (10 ) is assigned to exactly one section, and b) has a plurality of pressure regulators (39) for the compressed gas (5), such that each section is assigned a pressure regulator (5) which is designed to regulate a pressure of the compressed gas in the associated section. Agricultural field sprayer (100) comprising a spraying device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the field sprayer is, for example, a self-propelled field sprayer or a field sprayer towed by a towing vehicle or mounted on a towing vehicle.

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