ES2611208B1 - MACHINE FOR APPLICATION OF PHYTOSANITARY TREATMENTS ON CULTURE SURFACES - Google Patents

Abstract

Machine for the application of phytosanitary treatments on arable land, comprising a central frame (1) on which a device (3) that supplies the product to be sprayed is mounted and a herbicidal bar (2) that is transversely divided into at least three sections , one central (5) and two ends (7), each carrier of spray nozzles (12) and optical detectors (13). The extreme sections are articulated to the central section along a first transverse axis of rotation (8), which allows work on slopes or on allied plantations. The extreme sections are carriers of a rotating head (14).

Description

MACHINE FOR APPLICATION OF PHYTOSANITARY TREATMENTS ON CULTURE SURFACES

FIELD OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention relates to a machine for the application of phytosanitary treatments on crop surfaces, especially applicable in herbicide treatment, for the suppression of weeds and weeds competing in nutrient and / or water consumption with the crop.

More specifically, the machine of the invention is of the type comprising a central frame connectable to a tractor vehicle, on whose frame a supplying equipment of the product to be applied is mounted and a herbicidal rod, composed of an elongated structure, of transverse position with respect to the direction of travel of the towing vehicle, which is a carrier of spray nozzles and optical weed and weed detectors, a real-time active material mixing system and adaptation for work on slopes or on allomated plantations by folding and independent sidebars with respect to to the central body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

Machines of the indicated type are already known in which the herbicide bar is divided into sections, each of which is a carrier of a series of spray nozzles and of equal number of optical herb detectors, each and evenly spaced along each section This solution is expensive, since the number of detectors used is very high.

On the other hand, traditional herbicide bars work at a height of 30 to 50cm from the ground, normally fixed, without the possibility of adapting to variations in height and / or terrain inclinations.

Machines that include long-range nozzles are also known, which allows reducing the number of nozzles, but the effectiveness or performance of the applied product is reduced, because the spray reaches areas or areas outside the target to be treated.

In any case, the treatment applied is continuous and on the entire surface being treated, which presents the following drawbacks:

Product cannot be saved, because the treatment covers all

the nler-row of the crop. For the same reason, this treatment is susceptible to environmental improvement, there being an excess of chemicals in the plot.

The crop surface is completely covered by herbicide, regardless of whether or not there are herbs. This means that the soil is exposed to the action of torrential rains, which drag the fertile soil, and along with the sediments the molecules of the applied active matter are transported, which becomes a serious pollutant of surface waters.

The remaining broth in the tank can be high, being necessary to manage the residue or pour it on the treated crop, with the consequent environmental damage.

Problems arising for the operator persist from working with hazardous chemicals.

The work in slope or in those alomadas plantations present a high difficulty with the traditional equipment, that present a rigid and continuous bar that cannot adapt independently to the existence of different slopes along the width of work.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention relates to a machine for the exposed purpose, constituted so as to allow a suitable selection of the spray nozzles in operation at any time, with a smaller number of optical detectors, and also maintain a practically constant distance between the nozzles sprayers and surfaces to be treated, all of which will allow the application of the most appropriate treatment, with the minimum consumption of the product to be applied, achieving maximum effectiveness or performance of the applied treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide the machine with equipment with which the mixture of the product to be applied, water with herbicide, is carried out in real time, according to demand.

The machine of the invention comprises a central frame provided with hooks for connection to the front or rear hitch points of a tractor vehicle. In this frame, a supplier of the product to be applied and a herbicide bar, composed of an elongated structure, which runs perpendicular to the movement of the tractor vehicle and is carrier of spray nozzles and optical weed detectors are mounted.

According to the invention, the herbicidal bar is divided transversely into at least three sections, a fixed center and two tilting ends, each section being carrier of a series of spray nozzles, arranged for example in alignment or rows along the section , and an optical weed detector, through which the operation of all nozzles of said section is controlled. Spraying will only take place through the nozzles of the section or sections whose optical detectors have detected the presence of weeds.

Optical detectors emit radiation and analyze the response. When the detector of a section of the herbicide bar detects the presence of chlorophyll, it emits a signal that opens an electro-valve that governs all the nozzles installed in that section. In this way herbicide is distributed only in areas where weeds are detected, that is, the machine sprays locally only if it finds weeds.

The fixed central section is mounted on the central frame and the end sections are articulated thereto, one by each, by means of horizontal transverse axes of rotation, which run in a direction parallel to that of the tractor vehicle. In addition, the extreme sections are related to the central section by means of drive cylinders, for example of hydraulic type.

By means of the aforementioned drive cylinders, the end sections can swing between an unfolded position, in which they are in alignment with the central section, and a folded position, in which they are elevated and partially attached on the central section, thus being able to have a long working herbicide bar, in the deployed position, which is considerably reduced in the folded position, for transport.

The extreme sections are also equipped with lower wheels for support on the ground. The tilting system of the end sections, by communicating the chambers of the aforementioned drive cylinders, allows said end sections to have sufficient freedom of tilting to achieve

that the lower wheels of these sections rest constantly on the ground, during the movement of the machine, following the topography of the terrain, which keeps the reading distance of the optical readers constant. In this way the lower wheels fulfill a double function: they increase the stability of the machine on the slope and offer a "copy" mode of operation in which the optical detectors maintain a constant height to the target.

According to another feature of the invention, the end sections are carriers of an end head each, which is articulated to said end section along a longitudinal axis of rotation, aligned in both end sections. This extreme head is a carrier of spray nozzles and an optical detector, and may include an eccentric spray nozzle that makes it possible to apply the herbicide beyond the ends of the herbicide bar.

According to a preceded embodiment, the machine of the invention includes a herbicide supply equipment that incorporates a real-time mixing system (water and herbicide), which is made from two tanks, one herbicide container and another Water container, on demand, from solenoid valves that control the spray nozzles, activated by the corresponding optical sensors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The attached drawings show an exemplary embodiment, not limitation, being:

1 shows a front elevation of a machine constituted according to the invention, in an unfolded and retracted position.

Figure 2 a top perspective view of the machine of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a view similar to Figure 2, with the machine in the deployed and extended position.

Figure 4 a view similar to Figure 1, with the machine in the folded position.

Figure 5 a partial bottom perspective of the same machine.

Figure 6 shows a partial exploded perspective view of the herbicidal rod that includes the machine of the invention.

Figure 7 a schematic of the herbicide supply equipment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

A machine for the application of herbicidal treatment is shown in Figures 1 and 2, which is composed of a central frame (1) on which a herbicide bar (2) and an equipment (3) supplying the herbicide to be applied are mounted.

The central frame has hooks (4) through which the machine can be connected to the front or rear tripuntal of a tractor vehicle.

The herbicide bar (2) is constituted by an elongated structure, composed of metal profiles, which run in a direction perpendicular to that of the tractor vehicle. In the example depicted in the drawings, the herbicide bar is transversely divided into five sections, a fixed central section (5), two intermediate sections (6) tilting and two axially folding end sections (7).

The intermediate sections (6), located on each side of the central section (5), are articulated to said central section, according to axes of rotation (8), parallel to the direction of movement of the machine, and are also related to said section central through first drive cylinders (9), for example of hydraulic type. In addition, the intermediate sections (6) are carriers of lower wheels (10), adjustable height, support on the ground.

As the end sections (7) are mounted telescopically, one in each intermediate section (6), and related to the intermediate section (6) and adjacent through a second cylinder (11), for example of hydraulic type.

As best seen in Figure 5, each of the five sections mentioned is a carrier of spray nozzles (12) and an optical detector (13) per section. In each section the nozzles (12) can be arranged in alignments.

Each end section (7) is also a carrier of an extreme head (14) that is articulated to said end section (7) along a second axis of rotation (15), the two second axes of rotation (15) being on both sides aligned .

Through the first axes of rotation (8) and by means of the first cylinders (9), the set consisting of each intermediate section (6), end section (7) and end head (14) can swing around the first axis of rotation (8) between an extended or working position, figures 1 to 3, in which they are in alignment with the section

5 central (5), and a folded or transport position, shown in Figure 4, in which the sets of commented sections are raised and partially collapsed on the central section (5).

By means of the second cylinders (11) the end section (7) of each side can occupy a collected position, figures 1 and 2, or an extended position, figure 3, in which the herbicidal bar (2) reaches its maximum length.

The different sections of the herbicide bar are shown in figure (6): central section (5), intermediate section (6) on the left side and end sections (7) of the same ladder. The first axis of rotation (8) between the intermediate (6) and central sections (5), the telescopic assembly of the end section in the intermediate section (6) and the

15 second axis of rotation (15) through which the extreme head (14) is mounted on the end section (7), with supports (16). The nozzles (12) are arranged in lines (17, 18 and 19) that are mounted in the central (5), end (7) and extreme head (14) sections, respectively.

These lines can be activated independently, so that the working width 20 is flexible (only one section, only two sections, or all working sections).

The herbicide bar can work with all the nozzles permanently spraying, although it will be normal to activate the operation through the optical detectors and that these activate only the spraying of the alignments

25 mounted on the sections under which weeds or weeds are detected.

As can be seen in Figure 5, each end head (14) is a carrier of an eccentric nozzle (12 ') with which a longer reach (20) of the ends of the herbicide bar (2) is achieved.

The product supplier equipment (3) comprises, as represented in the

30 scheme of figure (7), a first tank (21) water container, a second tank (22) pure herbicide container, with filters (23) at the outlet and shut-off valves (24). From these tanks and by means of fixed flow pumps (25) and variable flow pumps (26), driven by the corresponding motors (27), mixing is carried out

in a third tank (28) equipped with level sensors. From the third tank (28) and also by means of a fixed flow pump (25), they are fed through the line (30), with a safety valve (31). pressure gauge (32), pressure regulator (33) and solenoid valves (34), the different lines of nozzles (17, 18 and 19). The pump (26) could be replaced by a dispenser of another type, for example electric, volumetric, etc. In this case, the pump (25), which is a transfer pump, introduces the liquid into the dispenser, leaving a jet with the liquid already dosed which is the one that is introduced into the mixing tank.

This equipment, which can be activated from the optical detectors (13) of the machine, constitutes a real-time mixing system, cleaner than traditional systems, since the broth (mixture of water with herbicide) is made on demand.

The pump (25) absorbs water from the tank (21) and passes it through a dosing device connected to an auxiliary tank (22) that accumulates pure herbicide. The dispenser makes the mixture obtaining the broth in the exact proportions. The broth is taken to a third mixing tank (28). From this tank the other pump (25) sucks, already with the conventional circuit of the sprayers (12), pressure regulator (33), filter (23) and returns (35).

The control in the third tank (28) of mixtures is done with electrical or electromechanical probes (29) of minimum and maximum: when the volume in this tank reaches the minimum, the mixing pumps (25 and 26) are activated, which fill. When the volume reaches the maximum, these mixing pumps stop. Returns

(35) They go to this small mixing tank, which does not change the concentration of herbicides.

This makes it possible that in the first tank (21) there is only water, it is not necessary to prepare a mixture and thus avoiding the risks for the operator derived from the handling of dangerous chemical products. It also ensures that the leftover broth is always reduced.

In the machine of the invention:

The herbicide bar could be sold independently or in combination with the phytosanitary equipment described or with another conventional one. The equipment (3) supplier of the product to be applied may include the system of mixing described or it can be a conventional phytosanitary equipment.

The herbicide bar, whatever its breadth and number of sections, could Equipped with an optical deletor per nozzle. The total amplitude, number of sections and the one of the sections have deployment or extension, it can be optional.

5 The pumps can be moved with electric energy from the tractor vehicle, with oil-hydraulic energy or even by autonomous energy systems, with respect to the tractor vehicle. The arms can be deployed using hydraulic cylinders, electric motors or other energy sources.

10 The pressure regulator may be conventional or volumetric, with manual control or electrical control, even regulated by computer. The terrain copy system could be manufactured using ultrasonic sensors. On land without slope or with low slope can be deactivated

15 "copy", being able to use the bar in variable geometry (open hydraulic cylinders so that the arm is not parallel to the ground). The extreme head (14) incorporates an anti-collision system, spring-loaded (36), figure 5. When they find an obstacle, the tip turns and when it passes it recovers the original position due to the spring (36).

Claims (3)

 REIVIN DICATIONS 1.-Machine for the application of phytosanitary treatments in arable land, which includes a central frame (1) in which equipment (3) that supplies the product to be sprayed and a herbicidal bar (2) composed of an elongated carrier structure are mounted of spray nozzles (12) and optical detectors (13) of weeds, characterized in that: - The herbicidal bar (1) is transversely divided into at least three sections, one central (5) fixed and two extreme sections (7) tilting;

-

Each of the three sections mentioned is a carrier of spray nozzles (12) arranged in alignments (17, 18 and 19), and an optical weed detector (13), for the activation of the equipment (3) and the product supply in real time

-

The fixed central section (5) is mounted on the central frame (1);

-

The end sections (7) are articulated to the central section, one on each side thereof, according to first horizontal transverse rotation axes (8), they are also related to said central section through first actuating cylinders (9), and are lower wheel carriers (10) of adjustable height, for support on the ground.

2. Machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the herbicide bar is divided transversely into five sections, one central (5) fixed, two intermediate (6) tilting and two axially movable ends (7),

-

each of the five sections is a carrier of spray nozzles (12) and an optical weed detector (13), through which the activation of all sprayers of said section is controlled;

-

the fixed central section (5) is mounted on the central frame (1);

-

the intermediate sections (6) are articulated to the central section, one on each side thereof, according to first horizontal transverse axes of rotation, they are also related to said central section through first drive cylinders (9), and are wheel carriers (10) lower height adjustable, for support on the ground;

-

the end sections (7) are telescopically mounted in the intermediate sections (6), one in each intermediate section and related to said intermediate section through second drive cylinders (11).

3. Machine according to claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the end sections (7) are carriers of an extreme head (14) that is articulated to said end sections according to aligned longitudinal axis (15) of rotation, whose head is carrier of an alignment (19) of spray nozzles (12) and at least one eccentric spray nozzle (12 '), as well as an optical weed detector (13) for the activation of the equipment (3), for the purpose of preparation of the mixture in real time and its supply.