EP3740066A1

EP3740066A1 - Recovery system for a spraying device, comprising an extractor

Info

Publication number: EP3740066A1
Application number: EP19742417.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Raphaël MONCHANIN; Anthony DARRIEUTORT
Original assignee: Exel Industries SA
Current assignee: Exel Industries SA
Priority date: 2018-03-16
Filing date: 2019-03-15
Publication date: 2020-11-25
Also published as: WO2019186023A1; FR3078862A1; FR3078862B1; CN111867370A

Abstract

Disclosed is a recovery system (1) for a device for spraying a product such as a pesticide onto a target such as a plant, the recovery system comprising a substantially vertical panel (2) for forming a screen around the target, and a substantially horizontal recovery tank (3), disposed at the base of the panel (2) and intended to receive excess product, characterized in that the recovery system further comprises an extractor (4) designed to extract any solid particles, such as plant residues, that present at the entrance of the recovery tank (3).

Description

Spray device recuperator comprising an extractor

The present invention relates to the field of agricultural spraying and more particularly to a surplus spray product collector.

In the field of agricultural spraying it is known to use spray devices capable of spraying a product, such as a phytosanitary product, towards a target, such as a plant: tree, shrub, vine, etc., advantageously planted in rows. A spraying device is typically mounted on a vehicle in order to traverse said ranks of plants. Such a device comprises at least one recuperator capable of recovering at least a portion of the pulverized product not deposited on the plants. For this purpose, a recuperator comprises a tank terminated by a filter and a pump in order to filter and return the excess product to a storage tank of the spraying device. This surplus of product is thus recycled to be pulverized again in order to reduce both the quantity of product used and the ecological footprint.

A problem that may arise is that the recuperator in addition to receiving said surplus, still receives undesirable elements, in the form of plant residues, most often solid, such as floral caps, detaching from the target, spontaneously or under the mechanical effect of the spray. The cumulative presence, at the inlet of the recuperator, of these solid residues is source of filter jams, preventing the recovery of the liquid product and requiring a stop of the spray and an intervention, usually manual, to remove said residues.

The present invention overcomes these various drawbacks by providing a recuperator with an extractor, advantageously making it possible to extract the solid particles as it is, thus avoiding any risk of jamming.

The subject of the invention is a recuperator for a device for spraying a product, such as a phytosanitary liquid, towards a target, such as a plant, comprising a substantially vertical panel to form a screen around the target and a substantially horizontal recovery tank, disposed at the base of the panel, to receive the surplus product, wherein the recuperator further comprises an extractor capable of extracting solid particles, such as plant residues, occurring at the entrance of the recovery tank.

Such extractor advantageously allows to remove the solid particles regularly, thus avoiding any risk of jamming. It is no longer necessary to stop spraying to clean the recuperator. The spray efficiency is increased accordingly.

According to another characteristic, the extractor comprises a perforated separator means so as to selectively let the liquids pass by retaining the solid particles and arranged to close the inlet of the recovery tank, and a cleaning means capable of removing the solid particles retained by the separating means.

According to another characteristic, the separating means is movable, and the cleaning means comprises an actuator adapted to mobilize the separating means, this mobility performing the cleaning.

According to another feature, the separating means comprises a flexible belt forming a loop stretched between two parallel and rotating rollers, and the actuator of the cleaning means is adapted to drive at least one of the rollers in rotation.

According to another characteristic, the separating means is rigid and movable between a closed position where the separating means closes the inlet of the recovery tank and an open position where the solid particles are ejected by gravity out of the recovery tank and the actuator of the cleaning means is able to mobilize the separating means between its two positions.

According to another characteristic, the separating means is fixed and the cleaning means is able to scan the surface of the separating means, this sweep performing the cleaning.

According to another characteristic, the cleaning means sweeps in a rotational movement axis perpendicular to the surface of the separating means or in a translation movement parallel to the surface of the separator means.

According to another characteristic, the separating means comprises a substantially cylindrical chute, and the cleaning means comprises a worm driven with a rotational movement, and arranged coaxially in said chute.

According to another characteristic, the thread of the worm comprises a brush.

According to another characteristic, the common axis of the chute and the worm is inclined relative to the horizontal, preferably a few degrees, and still preferably 2 °.

According to another characteristic, the worm is shaped and rotates in such a way that the extraction of solid particles takes place upwards.

According to another characteristic, the chute has an outlet at its high axial end.

According to another characteristic, the separating means and the cleaning means are removable without tools.

The invention also relates to a spraying device comprising such a recuperator.

Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the detailed description given below as an indication in relation to drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows an overview of a receiver, FIG. 2 shows in more detail a receiving tank,

FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a receiving vessel and an extractor according to one embodiment,

FIG. 4 shows in perspective view an extractor according to another embodiment,

FIG. 5 shows in perspective view an extractor according to a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 4, FIGS. 6 and 7 show in perspective view an extractor according to another embodiment. FIG. 8 shows in perspective view an extractor according to another embodiment,

FIG. 9 shows in perspective view an extractor according to a variant of the embodiment of FIG. 8.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, or in more detail in FIG. 2, a recuperator 1 for a spraying device, according to one embodiment, comprises a panel 2 and a recovery tank 3. The sprayed product is conventionally a liquid phytosanitary, propelled towards a target (not shown), such as a plant that it is desired to treat by means of said product.

A spraying device comprises a descent carrying at least one spraying means 9 such as a nozzle and a recuperator 1. In use, a descent is arranged on one side of the target and a recuperator 1 is disposed on the other side of the spool. target. Thus the spraying is carried out towards the target and towards the recuperator 1 located behind the target relative to the descent.

According to a preferred embodiment, more particularly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a descent and a recuperator 1 are combined. Also, two recuperators 1 are used to spray. They are associated vis-à-vis and arranged on both sides of the target.

The panel 2 is disposed substantially vertical in use. The recovery tank 3 is substantially horizontal and is disposed at the base of the panel 2. The target is disposed in front of the panel 2. One of the roles of the panel 2 may be to support the spraying means 9 and the associated piping. Another role of the panel 2 is to form a screen around the target and the spraying means 9, to confine the spray mist, to concentrate it towards the target and to facilitate the recovery of surplus product. A recuperator 1 recovers the surplus product from its own spraying means 9 and from the spraying means of the associated recuperator disposed vis-a-vis. The recovery tank 3 has the function of recovering the surplus product, which is not deposited on the target and which falls by gravity, directly or, as the case may be, flowing along the wall of the panel 2.

The inlet of the recovery tank 3 is below the target and can undesirably receive solid residues from the target plants of the spray. Also according to the invention, this inlet is closed by an extractor 4 capable of extracting any solid particles, such as plant residues, occurring at the inlet of the recovery tank 3.

Extractor 4 comprises separator means 5 and cleaning means 6.

The separating means 5 is perforated so as to selectively let the liquids, and especially here the phytosanitary liquid, by retaining the solid particles and particularly here the plant residues at the inlet of the recovery tank 3. In order to let flow the liquid, in this case the spray product that it is desired to recover, in the tank 3, the separating means 5 advantageously comprises at least one perforated portion so as to selectively let the liquids pass. This may take the form of one or more holes made by the separating means 5. The dimension of such a hole is advantageously much smaller than the minimum dimension of the solid particles that it is desired to extract. This may also take the form of a lattice occupying all or part of the surface of the separating means 5. The mesh of said lattice is advantageously substantially smaller than the minimum dimension of the solid particles that it is desired to extract. The separating means 5 is arranged to close the inlet of the recovery tank 3.

The cleaning means 6 is able to remove the solid particles retained by the separating means 5.

The extractor 4 can be made according to different principles, as shown in Figures 3 to 9.

According to a first principle, the separating means 5 is mobile, and the cleaning means 6 comprises an actuator 8 adapted to mobilize the separating means 5. This mobility carries out the cleaning of the separating means 5. According to a second principle, the separating means 5 is fixed and the cleaning means 6 is able to scan the surface of the separating means 5, this sweeping cleaning.

Figure 4 illustrates an embodiment related to the first principle. In this embodiment, the separating means 5 comprises a flexible belt 15 forming a loop stretched between two parallel and rotating rollers 16. It is thus formed a treadmill permeable to liquids but capable of retaining solid residues. The rollers 16 are advantageously arranged substantially along the edges of the tank 3 and the belt 15 is dimensioned so as to cover the inlet of the tank 3. The belt 15 rolls under the action of an actuator 18 causing a rolling of the carpet 15, for example by driving at least one of the rollers 16 in rotation. Thus the carpet 15 drives in its movement the solid residues in translation out of the entrance of the tank 3. At the edge of the carpet 15, the solid residues fall out of the tank 3. A scraper (not shown) fixed relative to the The vessel 3 may advantageously be disposed above the belt 15, for example at its end, in order to assist the ejection of the solid residues.

FIG. 4 illustrates a belt 15 disposed in the length of the tank 3. FIG.

15 is arranged in the width of the vessel 3.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate two positions of an embodiment, again referring to the first principle. In this embodiment, the separating means 5 is rigid. It may comprise a grid 25 or a flexible mesh 25 stretched on a frame. The separating means 5 is movable between a substantially horizontal closed position, illustrated in FIG. 6, and an open position, at least vertical, illustrated in FIG. 7. In the closed position, the separating means 5 covers and closes the inlet of the collecting tank 3. It lets the liquids pass and retains the solid particles. In the open position, the separating means 5 gets rid of the solid particles previously retained in that they are ejected by gravity. For this, the open position is at least vertical. The change of 1 position is obtained by a rotational tilt axis, advantageously disposed at the edge or outside of the inlet of the vessel 3. Thus the ejection is effected outside the recovery tank 3. The cleaning means 6 ensures the flip-flop of the separator means 5 typically by means of an actuator (not shown). The actuator can be of any type: linear or rotary and use any energy. The actuator can provide the movements back and forth. It can still ensure one of the movements, against a means of return that ensures the other movement.

Preferably, the opening is sporadic, the closed position being most often used. Advantageously, the opening is controlled when the spraying, and therefore the recovery, are inactive. Also the opening, performing the cleaning, is preferably performed when the vehicle makes a change of rank.

Fig. 8 illustrates an embodiment relating to the second principle. In this embodiment, the separating means 5 comprises a fixed and substantially planar means. The cleaning means 6 is designed to scan the surface of the separating means 5. For this it comprises a mobile carriage 36. As illustrated in FIG. 8 or in FIG. 9, the carriage 36 is driven in a translation movement parallel to the surface of the separating means 5. According to a non-illustrated embodiment, the movement of the carriage 36 is circular , of axis perpendicular to the surface of the separating means 5, similarly to a wiper. The scanning by the carriage 36 is preferably performed over the entire surface of the means 35, to the edge of the means 35 or beyond, in order to push the solid residues out of the surface. The carriage 36 may comprise a rigid or flexible scraper, and / or advantageously a brush.

Figure 3 illustrates another embodiment still related to the second principle. In this embodiment, the separating means 5 comprises a chute 45 and the cleaning means 6 comprises a worm 46. The chute 45 is substantially hollow cylindrical and is arranged, substantially horizontal, so as to close the inlet of the recovery tank 3. The worm 46 has a substantially cylindrical outer shell full and complementary to the shape of the chute 45. The worm 46 is disposed in said chute 45 coaxially.

The worm 46 is driven in a rotational movement, preferably continuously, for example obtained by means of a geared motor 8 driving the worm 46. Thus any solid particle arriving in the inlet mouth of the tank recuperator 3 is driven in translation by the worm 46 to one end of said mouth.

As illustrated in Figure 3, and according to a preferred embodiment, the thread of the worm 46 comprises a brush. The flexibility of the brush allows a better dimensional adaptation of the worm 46 to the chute 45 to be more tight to the solid elements that it is desired to extract. On the contrary, the interstices between the bristles of the brush allow permeability to the liquid that is desired to pass.

In order to promote the flow of the liquid along the worm 46 and along the chute 45 to reach the recovery tank 3, the common axis of the chute 45 and the worm 46 is advantageously inclined relative to the horizontal. An inclination of a few degrees is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. An inclination of 2 ° showed satisfactory results.

According to another characteristic, the worm 46 is shaped and rotates in such a way that the extraction of the solid particles takes place upwards, relative to the preceding inclination. Thus, if the worm 46 is shaped with a step to the left, as shown in Figure 3, the rotation makes it turn to the right and vice versa if the worm 46 is shaped with a step to the right, the rotation makes it turn to the left. The rotation is in the opposite direction of the step. In other words, in a synthetic manner, the rotation of the worm 46 is such that it tries to unscrew it.

Advantageously, in order to be able to eject the particles solid that it is desired to extract, the chute 45 has an outlet 7 at one axial end, the axial end towards which the worm 46 pushes the solid particles, or possibly the upper end.

According to another characteristic, the separating means 5 and the cleaning means 6 are advantageously removable without tools. It is advantageously the same for all their possible components. This is advantageous for any maintenance or cleaning operation, including in the field.

Claims

1. Recuperator (1) for a device for spraying a product, such as a phytosanitary liquid, towards a target, such as a plant, comprising a panel (2) substantially vertical to form a screen around the target and a recovery tank (3). ) substantially horizontal, arranged at the base of the panel (2), to receive the surplus product, characterized in that it further comprises an extractor (4) capable of extracting solid particles, such as plant residues, occurring at the inlet of the recovery tank (3), and in that the extractor (4) comprises a separating means (5) pierced so as to selectively allow the liquids to pass by retaining the solid particles and arranged so as to close off the inlet of the recovery tank (3), and a cleaning means (6) adapted to remove the solid particles retained by the separating means (5).

2. Recuperator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the separating means (5) is movable, and the cleaning means (6) comprises an actuator (8) adapted to mobilize the separating means (5), the mobility carrying out the cleaning.

3. Recuperator (1) according to claim 2, wherein the separating means (5) comprises a flexible belt (15) forming a loop stretched between two parallel and rotating rollers (16), and the actuator (18) of the cleaning means (6). is capable of driving at least one of the rollers (16) in rotation.

4. Recuperator (1) according to claim 2, wherein the separating means (5) is rigid and movable between a closed position where the separating means (5) closes the inlet of the recovery tank (3) and an open position where the solid particles are ejected by gravity out of the recovery tank (3) and the actuator (8) of the cleaning means (6) is able to mobilize the separating means (5) between its two positions.

5. Recuperator (1) according to claim 1, wherein the separating means (5) is fixed and the cleaning means (6) is able to scan the surface of the separator means (5), the sweep performing the cleaning.

6. recuperator (1) according to claim 5, wherein the cleaning means (6) scans in a rotational movement axis perpendicular to the surface of the separator means (5) or in a translation movement parallel to the surface of the separator means (5).

7. recuperator (1) according to claim 5, wherein the separating means (5) comprises a chute (45), substantially cylindrical, and the cleaning means (6) comprises a worm (46) driven by a rotational movement and disposed coaxially in said chute (45).

The recuperator (1) according to claim 7, wherein the thread of the worm (46) comprises a brush.

9. Recuperator (1) according to any one of claims 7 or 8, wherein the common axis of the chute (45) and the worm (46) is inclined relative to the horizontal, preferably a few degrees, and still more preferably 2 °.

10. Recuperator (1) according to claim 9, wherein the worm (46) is shaped and rotates so that the extraction of solid particles takes place upwards.

11. Recuperator (1) according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the chute (45) has an outlet (7) at one end, where appropriate its upper axial end.

12. Recuperator (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the separating means (5) and the means cleaner (6) can be removed without tools.

13. Spray device comprising at least one recuperator (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.