EP2908628A1 - Agricultural spray apparatus - Google Patents

Agricultural spray apparatus

Info

Publication number
EP2908628A1
EP2908628A1 EP13780374.8A EP13780374A EP2908628A1 EP 2908628 A1 EP2908628 A1 EP 2908628A1 EP 13780374 A EP13780374 A EP 13780374A EP 2908628 A1 EP2908628 A1 EP 2908628A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
work
pipe
spray
bladder
spray apparatus
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP13780374.8A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Brian George Knight
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP2908628A1 publication Critical patent/EP2908628A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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
    • A01M7/0025—Mechanical sprayers
    • A01M7/0032—Pressure sprayers
    • A01M7/0042—Field sprayers, e.g. self-propelled, drawn or tractor-mounted
    • 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
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B08—CLEANING
    • B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
    • B08B9/00—Cleaning hollow articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto 
    • B08B9/02—Cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes
    • B08B9/027—Cleaning the internal surfaces; Removal of blockages

Definitions

  • Such apparatus is usually arranged to be mounted on an agricultural tractor or to form part of such a vehicle, and normally comprises an opposed pair of spray booms that can be extended laterally from the tractor, the booms being formed with spray nozzles at intervals along their lengths. It will be appreciated that such spray apparatus may find uses outside of agriculture, e.g. in clearing industrial land and in the application of de-icing fluids to hard surfaces such as roads and runways.
  • the booms are usually many meters in length so that the sprayer can cover a wide area in each pass of the vehicle over a field to be treated, and in consequence considerable lengths of spray lines or pipe-work in the form of hoses are required to connect the spray nozzles with a central pump and tank containing the spray chemical.
  • spray lines or pipe-work in the form of hoses are required to connect the spray nozzles with a central pump and tank containing the spray chemical.
  • At the end of each spraying operation it is usually necessary to purge the pipe-work of any spray chemical remaining in the pipe-work, e.g. using clean water, and this in turn gives rise to a possible contamination issue involving the disposal of the purge water.
  • spray apparatus comprising spray nozzles connected to a source of spray liquid via a pump and pipe-work, wherein at least a portion of the pipe-work is provided with an internal inflatable bladder that is arranged to be deflated during spraying and to be inflated substantially to fill the pipe-work and thus to purge the pipe-work after spraying is finished or to purge pipe-work not required during spraying.
  • the invention is spray apparatus comprising spray nozzles connected to a source of spray liquid via a pump and pipe-work, wherein at least a portion of the pipe-work is provided with an internal bladder which is arranged to line the pipe-work during spraying and to be deflated to purge the pipe-work after spraying is finished or to purge pipe-work not required during spraying.
  • the spray apparatus may be agricultural spray apparatus. It will however be appreciated that the invention might be applicable to pipe-work other than used in such spray apparatus in circumstances where the pipe-work needs to be purged.
  • the inflatable or deflatable bladder may be moved between its inflated and deflated conditions by a fluid under pressure, e.g. compressed air.
  • the bladder may be made from an elastomeric material and where the pipe-work is of a plastics material the inflatable/deflatable bladder may be made as a co-extrusion with the pipe-work. Alternatively the bladder may be loosely contained within the pipe-work.
  • the invention is pipe-work provided with a flexible bladder and a fluid inlet arrange to move the flexible bladder between a position where it substantially lines the interior of the pipe-work and a position where the bladder occupies a small volume in the interior of the pipe-work.
  • Figures 1 a and 1 b are longitudinal and transverse cross-sections respectively of a first embodiment of pipe-work
  • Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the pipe-work of Figure 1a in an alternative condition
  • Figures 3a and 3b are longitudinal and transverse cross-sections respectively of a second embodiment of pipe-work
  • Figure 4 shows the embodiment of Figure 3a in its alternative condition
  • Figure 5 is a cut-away perspective view of the end of pipe-work of the kind shown in Figures 3 and 4;
  • Figures 6a and 6b show in longitudinal and transverse cross-section a third embodiment of pipe-work
  • FIG. 7 shows the embodiment of Figure 6a in its alternative condition
  • Figure 8 is illustrative of an agricultural crop sprayer which may include the pipework of the previous embodiments
  • Figures 1a and 1 b show in longitudinal and transverse cross-section a first embodiment of pipe-work 110, e.g. for agricultural spray apparatus.
  • the pipework 1 10 is connected to a fluid inlet 116.
  • the pipework is provided internally with an inflatable bladder 1 12 in relatively small diameter hose form so as not to obstruct the pipe-work in its condition as seen in Figure 1.
  • the bladder is connected to an air inlet 114.
  • Figures 2a and 2b show in longitudinal and transverse cross-section the pipe-work of Figure 1a with the bladder 112 inflated by means of compressed air so that the bladder 1 12 substantially fills the pipe-work 1 10.
  • the expansion of the bladder expels material in the pipe-work and purges the pipe-work without the need to introduce a purge liquid.
  • Figures 3a and 3b show in longitudinal and transverse cross-section a second embodiment of pipe-work 120 connected to a fluid inlet 126, e.g. for agricultural spray apparatus.
  • the pipework is provided internally with an integrally formed flexible membrane or bladder 122 connected to an air inlet 124. It is shown in its deflated condition in Figure 3 so that the pipe-work is substantially unobstructed and can be used to circulate spray liquid to spray nozzles, not shown.
  • Figure 4 shows the embodiment of Figure 3 in its alternative condition in which the flexible membrane or bladder is inflated using compressed air or the like substantially to fill the interior of the pipe-work to purge the pipe-work of spray chemical.
  • Figure 5 is a cut-away perspective view of the end of pipe-work of the kind shown in Figures 3 and 4.
  • Figure 5 shows how the flexible membrane or bladder can be connected to the air inlet.
  • Figures 6a and 6b show in longitudinal and transverse cross-section a third embodiment of pipe-work 130 connected to a fluid inlet 136, e.g. for agricultural spray apparatus.
  • the pipe-work is provided internally with a flexible membrane or bladder 132 arranged substantially to line the interior of the pipe-work. In this condition the pipe-work may be used to circulate spray chemical from the fluid inlet.
  • An air inlet 134 is also provided between the exterior of the flexible membrane or bladder and the interior of the pipe-work.
  • Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-section of the embodiment of Figure 6a showing the flexible membrane or bladder after compressed air has been applied to flatten or collapse the membrane or bladder to purge the pipe-work of remaining spray chemical after spraying has been completed.
  • Figure 8 is illustrative of an agricultural crop sprayer which may include the pipework of the previous embodiments.
  • Figure 8 is taken from WO2008/149054 to the present applicant.
  • Such sprayers generally comprise a source of spray liquid, generally in a tank 30 which is connected by pipe-work 12 to a pump 32 and to spray nozzles 10.
  • a control valve 34 is operated to direct spray liquid back to the tank.
  • a filling hopper 36 is also provided by which chemical to be sprayed can be introduced into the apparatus.
  • Each spray nozzle 24 also has a restrictor 26 as shown in Figure 8 but this is an optional feature.
  • the invention thus provides a way of purging pipe-work, more particularly, but not exclusively, the spray lines of agricultural spray apparatus, with a fluid that is kept entirely separate from the normal contents of the pipe-work, thereby reducing residual volumes of the normal spray liquid, by providing the pipe-work with a flexible bladder and a fluid inlet arrange to move the flexible bladder between a position where it substantially lines the interior of the pipe-work and a position where the bladder occupies a small volume in the interior of the pipe-work.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
  • Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)

Abstract

Spray apparatus comprising spray nozzles connected to a source of spray liquid via a pump and pipe-work (110), wherein at least a portion of the pipe-work is provided with an internal inflatable bladder (112) that is arranged to be deflated during spraying and to be inflated substantially to fill the pipe-work and thus to purge the pipe-work after spraying is finished or to purge pipe-work not required during spraying.

Description

Agricultural Spray Apparatus
Field of the invention The invention relates to agricultural spray apparatus. Background
Such apparatus is usually arranged to be mounted on an agricultural tractor or to form part of such a vehicle, and normally comprises an opposed pair of spray booms that can be extended laterally from the tractor, the booms being formed with spray nozzles at intervals along their lengths. It will be appreciated that such spray apparatus may find uses outside of agriculture, e.g. in clearing industrial land and in the application of de-icing fluids to hard surfaces such as roads and runways.
The booms are usually many meters in length so that the sprayer can cover a wide area in each pass of the vehicle over a field to be treated, and in consequence considerable lengths of spray lines or pipe-work in the form of hoses are required to connect the spray nozzles with a central pump and tank containing the spray chemical. At the end of each spraying operation it is usually necessary to purge the pipe-work of any spray chemical remaining in the pipe-work, e.g. using clean water, and this in turn gives rise to a possible contamination issue involving the disposal of the purge water.
It is an object of the invention to mitigate this problem.
Summary of the invention
According to the invention there is provided spray apparatus comprising spray nozzles connected to a source of spray liquid via a pump and pipe-work, wherein at least a portion of the pipe-work is provided with an internal inflatable bladder that is arranged to be deflated during spraying and to be inflated substantially to fill the pipe-work and thus to purge the pipe-work after spraying is finished or to purge pipe-work not required during spraying. From another aspect the invention is spray apparatus comprising spray nozzles connected to a source of spray liquid via a pump and pipe-work, wherein at least a portion of the pipe-work is provided with an internal bladder which is arranged to line the pipe-work during spraying and to be deflated to purge the pipe-work after spraying is finished or to purge pipe-work not required during spraying.
It will be understood that there are usually redundant areas of pipe-work when spraying, e.g. the pipe-work used in filling the sprayer, and the present invention also contemplates emptying such pipe-work to reduce the volume of waste.
The spray apparatus may be agricultural spray apparatus. It will however be appreciated that the invention might be applicable to pipe-work other than used in such spray apparatus in circumstances where the pipe-work needs to be purged. The inflatable or deflatable bladder may be moved between its inflated and deflated conditions by a fluid under pressure, e.g. compressed air. The bladder may be made from an elastomeric material and where the pipe-work is of a plastics material the inflatable/deflatable bladder may be made as a co-extrusion with the pipe-work. Alternatively the bladder may be loosely contained within the pipe-work.
From another aspect the invention is pipe-work provided with a flexible bladder and a fluid inlet arrange to move the flexible bladder between a position where it substantially lines the interior of the pipe-work and a position where the bladder occupies a small volume in the interior of the pipe-work.
Brief description of the drawings
Figures 1 a and 1 b are longitudinal and transverse cross-sections respectively of a first embodiment of pipe-work;
Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross-section of the pipe-work of Figure 1a in an alternative condition;
Figures 3a and 3b are longitudinal and transverse cross-sections respectively of a second embodiment of pipe-work;
Figure 4 shows the embodiment of Figure 3a in its alternative condition; Figure 5 is a cut-away perspective view of the end of pipe-work of the kind shown in Figures 3 and 4;
Figures 6a and 6b show in longitudinal and transverse cross-section a third embodiment of pipe-work;
Figure 7 shows the embodiment of Figure 6a in its alternative condition;
Figure 8 is illustrative of an agricultural crop sprayer which may include the pipework of the previous embodiments
Detailed description of the drawings
Figures 1a and 1 b show in longitudinal and transverse cross-section a first embodiment of pipe-work 110, e.g. for agricultural spray apparatus. The pipework 1 10 is connected to a fluid inlet 116. The pipework is provided internally with an inflatable bladder 1 12 in relatively small diameter hose form so as not to obstruct the pipe-work in its condition as seen in Figure 1. The bladder is connected to an air inlet 114.
Figures 2a and 2b show in longitudinal and transverse cross-section the pipe-work of Figure 1a with the bladder 112 inflated by means of compressed air so that the bladder 1 12 substantially fills the pipe-work 1 10. The expansion of the bladder expels material in the pipe-work and purges the pipe-work without the need to introduce a purge liquid.
Figures 3a and 3b show in longitudinal and transverse cross-section a second embodiment of pipe-work 120 connected to a fluid inlet 126, e.g. for agricultural spray apparatus. The pipework is provided internally with an integrally formed flexible membrane or bladder 122 connected to an air inlet 124. It is shown in its deflated condition in Figure 3 so that the pipe-work is substantially unobstructed and can be used to circulate spray liquid to spray nozzles, not shown.
Figure 4 shows the embodiment of Figure 3 in its alternative condition in which the flexible membrane or bladder is inflated using compressed air or the like substantially to fill the interior of the pipe-work to purge the pipe-work of spray chemical.
Figure 5 is a cut-away perspective view of the end of pipe-work of the kind shown in Figures 3 and 4. Figure 5 shows how the flexible membrane or bladder can be connected to the air inlet. Figures 6a and 6b show in longitudinal and transverse cross-section a third embodiment of pipe-work 130 connected to a fluid inlet 136, e.g. for agricultural spray apparatus. The pipe-work is provided internally with a flexible membrane or bladder 132 arranged substantially to line the interior of the pipe-work. In this condition the pipe-work may be used to circulate spray chemical from the fluid inlet. An air inlet 134 is also provided between the exterior of the flexible membrane or bladder and the interior of the pipe-work. Figure 7 is a longitudinal cross-section of the embodiment of Figure 6a showing the flexible membrane or bladder after compressed air has been applied to flatten or collapse the membrane or bladder to purge the pipe-work of remaining spray chemical after spraying has been completed. Figure 8 is illustrative of an agricultural crop sprayer which may include the pipework of the previous embodiments. Figure 8 is taken from WO2008/149054 to the present applicant. Such sprayers generally comprise a source of spray liquid, generally in a tank 30 which is connected by pipe-work 12 to a pump 32 and to spray nozzles 10. A control valve 34 is operated to direct spray liquid back to the tank. A filling hopper 36 is also provided by which chemical to be sprayed can be introduced into the apparatus. Each spray nozzle 24 also has a restrictor 26 as shown in Figure 8 but this is an optional feature.
The invention thus provides a way of purging pipe-work, more particularly, but not exclusively, the spray lines of agricultural spray apparatus, with a fluid that is kept entirely separate from the normal contents of the pipe-work, thereby reducing residual volumes of the normal spray liquid, by providing the pipe-work with a flexible bladder and a fluid inlet arrange to move the flexible bladder between a position where it substantially lines the interior of the pipe-work and a position where the bladder occupies a small volume in the interior of the pipe-work.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. Spray apparatus comprising spray nozzles connected to a source of spray liquid via a pump and pipe-work, wherein at least a portion of the pipe-work is provided with an internal bladder arranged to line the pipe-work during spraying and to be deflated to purge the pipe-work after spraying is finished or to purge pipe-work not required during spraying.
2. Spray apparatus comprising spray nozzles connected to a source of spray liquid via a pump and pipe-work, wherein at least a portion of the pipe-work is provided with an internal inflatable bladder that is arranged to be deflated during spraying and to be inflated substantially to fill the pipe-work and thus to purge the pipe-work after spraying is finished or to purge pipe-work not required during spraying.
3. Spray apparatus according to claim 1 or claim 2, in the form of agricultural spray apparatus.
4. Spray apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the inflatable or deflatable bladder is moved between its inflated and deflated conditions by a fluid under pressure, e.g. compressed air.
5. Spray apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the bladder is made from an elastomeric material.
6. Spray apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the pipe-work is of a plastics material and wherein the inflatable/deflatable bladder is made as a co-extrusion with the pipe-work.
EP13780374.8A 2012-10-17 2013-10-14 Agricultural spray apparatus Withdrawn EP2908628A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB1218619.3A GB2507063A (en) 2012-10-17 2012-10-17 Spray Apparatus with Inflatable Bladder to Purge Pipe-work
PCT/GB2013/052674 WO2014060733A1 (en) 2012-10-17 2013-10-14 Agricultural spray apparatus

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2908628A1 true EP2908628A1 (en) 2015-08-26

Family

ID=47324903

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP13780374.8A Withdrawn EP2908628A1 (en) 2012-10-17 2013-10-14 Agricultural spray apparatus

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP2908628A1 (en)
GB (1) GB2507063A (en)
WO (1) WO2014060733A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102016115811A1 (en) 2016-08-25 2018-03-01 Schäfer E. Technik u. Sondermaschinen GmbH Conveyor
US11932231B2 (en) 2021-02-22 2024-03-19 Cnh Industrial America Llc System and method for purging agricultural sprayer nozzles based on air pressure
CN114783095B (en) * 2022-04-20 2023-11-21 湖南敏求电子科技有限公司 High security visitor system and visitor supervisory equipment thereof

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1848269A (en) * 1929-06-24 1932-03-08 Rosa E Petersen Sewer flusher
US1906151A (en) * 1930-02-25 1933-04-25 Francis Greer Goodman Inflatable conduit stopper
US3075535A (en) * 1961-05-29 1963-01-29 Lasting Walter Apparatus for flushing extraneous matter from clogged drain pipes
US4272021A (en) * 1977-11-14 1981-06-09 Standal Norman S Pipeline drain apparatus
FR2529807A1 (en) * 1982-07-06 1984-01-13 Cogepa Sa Spraying or sprinkling boom with incorporated automatic cleaning device.
GB9201069D0 (en) * 1992-01-17 1992-03-11 Raychem Sa Nv Environmental sealing
US5240031A (en) * 1992-11-09 1993-08-31 Vigil David J Inflatable bladder valve for irrigation pipe
DE10216581B4 (en) * 2002-04-14 2006-07-20 Asis Gmbh Supply line for coating plants, in particular painting plants
DE10313695B4 (en) * 2003-03-27 2005-03-03 LacTec Gesellschaft für moderne Lackiertechnik mbH paint line
US20100243763A1 (en) * 2007-06-08 2010-09-30 Brian George Knight Spray apparatus

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2014060733A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB201218619D0 (en) 2012-11-28
GB2507063A (en) 2014-04-23
WO2014060733A1 (en) 2014-04-24

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