FR2718922A1 - Agricultural weed flame destroyer - Google Patents

Abstract

The weed destroyer consists of a frame which travels horizontally over the ground and has a series of burners (91) which are fed with a combustible fluid and are mounted in a horizontal row on the frame. Each of the burners is attached adjustably to a bar (55) set at right angles to the direction of travel and can be pivoted about an axis (A). The pivot axes of all the burners are parallel to one another and perpendicular to the direction of travel.The bar (55) is made from two components and carries the burner supports, which comprise two jaws (64,65) and a nut and bolt (67,70) to fix the jaws against the bar components. Each of the bar components has a core (56,62) and at least one rib (58,63) to engage with the jaws.

Description

TEE GUILBERT - Aff. 13 Agricultural thermal weeder The invention relates to

  a flame treatment device

  agricultural soil, especially for weeding.

  The drawbacks of chemical weeding, in particular with regard to pollution both of the environment and of the crops to be protected themselves, have led to the development, still limited in particular for cost reasons, of thermal weeding. There are in particular devices for this purpose, comprising a frame suitable for being moved above the ground

  in a horizontal direction of movement and a multi-

  plicity of burners associated with fuel fluid supply means, aligned on the chassis in one direction

horizontal spreading.

  The object of the invention is to improve the known devices, in particular on one or more of the following points: - reduction in the manufacturing cost and the cost of using the device; - obtaining a wide range of devices suitable for different cultures from very small areas to

  very large areas and using functional principles-

  nement and common building blocks; - great flexibility of use for a given device; - robustness of the material; providing the user with indications to help him select the parameters for adjusting the device according to the characteristics of the treatment to be carried out and

external conditions.

  The invention relates in particular to a device of the kind defined in the introduction, and provides that each burner is part of a flame production unit comprising a burner support capable of being detachably fixed and in a position that can be adjusted continuously along a bar extending

in said spreading direction.

  Other characteristics, complementary or alternative, of the device according to the invention are set out below: - The spreading direction is substantially perpendicular

  to said direction of movement.

  - Each burner is capable of emitting a flame directed along an axis and is mounted on its support with the possibility of orientation of said axis around a pivot axis and perpendicular thereto, the pivot axes of

  all the burners being parallel to each other and perpendicular to

  at the said spreading direction.

  - Said bar comprises a first profile and at least a second profile, extending side by side in said spreading direction, the first profile and / or at least one burner support being permanently fixed to the chassis, each support

  of burner is suitable for mounting and immobilizing indifferently

  ment on the first and second juxtaposed profiles or on one of them in the absence of the other, without modifying its position in the plane of the cross section of the profiles, and all of the flame producing units comprises a first sub-assembly of at least two units, the supports of which are mounted on the two profiles and ensure that the latter are joined together and to the chassis, via the first profile, the position of the second

  profile at least being adjustable in the direction of spreading

is lying.

  - Said assembly comprises a second sub-assembly of at least one unit, the support of which is mounted on a single section, in a region thereof extending beyond the length of

the other profile.

  - Each burner support includes two jaws and clamping means capable of urging the two jaws towards each other by pinching each of them

  profiles, each jaw having cooperative surfaces

tion with each profile.

  - The respective cooperation surfaces of the two jaws, as well as the corresponding regions of each profile, are substantially symmetrical to each other with respect to a first plane of symmetry parallel to the spreading direction and the cooperation surfaces of the jaws with the of them

  profiles respectively, as well as the corresponding regions

  your respective profiles are symmetrical to each other with respect to a second plane of symmetry parallel to the spreading direction and perpendicular to the first plane of symmetry, the two profiles being arranged respectively on either side of the second plane of symmetry and being offset from each other in a direction

  contained in the first plane of symmetry.

  - Each profile has a wing projecting towards a jaw and said jaw has two notches for receiving the respective wings of the two profiles, the wing of a profile cooperating with the corresponding notch, in the absence of the another profile, for locking the jaw, under the action of the clamping means, in a position relative to the other jaw of the same support practically identical to the position taken during clamping

on both profiles.

  - Each profile includes a core extending along the first plane of symmetry and at least one wing of approximately thickness

  uniform extending perpendicular to the core, symmetrical-

  lying on either side of said plane from the edge of the web

facing the other profile.

  - The clamping means comprise a clamping rod, for example threaded, along which the two jaws can slide towards one another, the wings of the profiles advantageously being practically in contact with said rod. - The axis of the clamping rod extends in the second plane of

  symmetry perpendicular to the first plane of symmetry.

  - Each burner is removably attached to its support.

  - It includes a set of burners of different powers capable of being mounted as desired and in variable number on supports. -Each burner is secured to a burner rod which is fixed to the support by pinching between two flanges using

  clamping means, the through clamping rod succeeds

  the two jaws and the two flanges.

  - The two flanges have respective lips inclined towards one another and coming into contact with the burner rod, beyond the axis thereof relative to the clamping rod, so as to urge the burner rod in

  direction of the clamping rod, against a stop.

  - Said stopper is a roller surrounding the clamping rod and having an annular groove open radially towards

  the outside to receive the burner rod.

  - The axis of the burner rod constitutes the axis of the flame and the flanges can be placed relative to the jaws in an adjustable angular position around the axis of the

  clamping rod, which constitutes said pivot axis.

  - The jaws and flanges have means of indexing

  mutual control allowing each burner to be oriented in

predefined directions.

  - The mutual indexing means include at least one

  protrusion provided on a jaw and a multiplicity of hollow

  elements provided in at least one flange of each burner support, said jaw being able to be mounted on the bar, by rotation of a half-turn about the pivot axis, or in a position where the projection can cooperate with the recesses , either in a position where the projection remains out

  of contact with the flange to make an orientation adjustment

continuous tion.

  - The supply means include a distribution block

  suitable for being connected to a fluid reserve, a fluid inlet block associated with each burner and having a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet to said burner and a fluid outlet to the outside, at least one pipe fluid inlet hose connecting the distribution block to the inlet of an inlet block and a series of flexible fluid transmission lines each connecting the external outlet and the inlet of two neighboring inlet blocks respectively so that each burner is connected to an inlet line via its own inlet block and, where appropriate, other inlet blocks and

  corresponding transmission lines.

  - The supply means include a fuel gas regulator having several working positions corresponding to preset pressures and for which the same burner operates at different thermal powers. - The chassis defines a housing for at least one tank

  cylindrical propane liquefied under pressure.

  - Said tank is housed upright with the outlet opening

to the top.

  - The chassis includes means for fixing it to a

  agricultural tractor, especially at the back of it.

  - It includes remote control means allowing the inter-

  immediate failure of the fluid supply to the burners at

  from the tractor driving position.

  - The chassis comprises a fixed front part carried at a distance from the ground, supporting combustible gas tanks and, where appropriate, said distribution block and / or said regulator, and a movable rear part articulated on the fixed part around a parallel axis. to said spreading direction, carrying said bar and the flame producing units, the rear part being able to assume a lowered working position in which the burners are close to the ground and

a raised rest position.

  - The rear part is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder carried by the chassis and suitable for being connected to the circuit

tractor hydraulics.

  - The supply means include control means coupled to said hydraulic cylinder so as to put the burners on hold when the rear part is raised. - The chassis defines housings which can each receive, as desired, cylindrical tanks of the same diameter and two different heights, for example propane tanks of 13 kg and 35 kg, and has upper retaining elements suitable for cooperate only with larger tanks and lower retaining elements suitable for cooperating with tanks of both types. - The chassis comprises at least two uprights offset from each other in the direction of movement, two neighboring uprights defining between them a housing for a row of fuel gas tanks aligned laterally, each upright extending laterally over a distance

  roughly the length of a row.

  - At least the front end upright comprises two lower legs deviating from one another laterally and downward from a junction zone, said junction zone and the lower ends of the two legs being provided gripping elements for fixing in

  three points of the chassis on the tractor.

  - Each upright comprising two lower legs also includes two upper legs deviating from each other

  laterally and upwards from said point of rush

  tion. - Each upright is formed by assembling two substantially identical pieces, each constituting the legs

  lower and upper located on the same side.

  - A lower retaining element and an upper retaining element for the same row of tanks are mounted respectively on the lower legs and on the

  upper legs of the same amount.

  - The chassis comprises a median elongated structural element extending obliquely downwards and backwards from the junction zone of the front end upright and two lower elongated structural elements approaching one of the another towards the rear, respectively from the lower ends of the two lower legs of this same amount, the rear ends of these three elongated elements being joined together in a junction zone

back.

  - Each row of tanks is composed of two sub-

  assemblies which can be introduced laterally and disposed respectively on either side of the median elongate element, the stroke for introducing a first reservoir of

  each subset being limited by this element.

  - Each row of tanks is associated with at least one retaining element mounted to pivot about a horizontal axis extending in the direction of alignment of the row and having two arms, and if necessary spacers, extending substantially radially with respect to this axis, the arms projecting at the two ends of the row respectively, and each insert fitting between two adjacent tanks of the same sub-assembly, in a retaining position, and the arms and the inserts s erasing to let the tanks pass in a

  loading / unloading position.

  - It includes at least two amounts, and / or two elements of

  retained at least, substantially identical to each other.

  - It includes a gas distribution block comprising

  collecting elements each associated with a row of reservoirs

  windows and each having two mutually parallel opposite front faces and an internal cavity opening into the two front faces and communicating with lateral inlet orifices which can each be connected to one of the tanks in the row, and assembly means of these elements in the form of a stack in which they are in mutual contact by their front faces, the cavities of the various collecting elements being connected to one another in leaktight manner, through the front faces in mutual contact, to form a communicating collecting pipe with all the inlet openings and opening downstream

  by one of the front faces at one end of the stack-

  is lying. - The supply means include a safety valve allowing the immediate interruption of the supply of fluid to the burners and which can be easily identified and manually operated both from the lateral sides

  than from the back of the device.

  - The supply means include a safety valve fitted with a direct manual actuator and a remote actuation cable connected to the tractor operator's station, the actuator and the cable acting coaxially on the same part that slides in a body

for closing the tap.

  - The pusher projects upwards and the cable runs downwards from the body. - The supply means comprise a pilot light adjustment valve provided with a rotary operating member disposed next to the pusher and whose axis of rotation is parallel to

the axis of the pusher.

  - It includes a gas distribution unit bringing together in a compact and rigid form all of the fuel gas burner supply control functions, connected by

  pipes upstream to the tanks and downstream to the burners.

  - The distribution block includes a body in one

  part crossed by the gas supplying the burners and defined

  sant for this one a path on which are interposed means for the realization of one or more of the following functions: interruption of the supply, putting on standby, setting of pilot, said stack of collecting elements being able to be mounted upstream and said regulator downstream on the body. - It comprises at least one rear extension accessory comprising a connection profile of the same section as the first profile and that can be fixed in alignment with the latter, by means of the second profile, by means of a connection support analogous to burner supports, a connecting bar extending rearwards from the connecting profile and carrying at least one additional profile

  parallel to the connecting profile and whose cross-section

  dirty is deduced from that of the latter by a rearward translation, the connection profile and the additional profile or profiles having a small length compared to that of the first and second profiles and capable of receiving respective flame-producing units. aligned for soil treatment along a line extending in

  the direction of travel on one side of the chassis.

  - It includes two rear extension accessories intended to be fixed respectively to the left and right of the chassis,

  and if necessary at least one complementary profile extends

  laterally from one to the other while being fixed to respective additional profiles thereof by supports, the complementary profile being able to receive flame producing units and / or tools for treatment

soil mechanics.

  - It further comprises at least one protective accessory comprising a support capable of being fixed in an adjustable position along the complementary profile and a plate mounted on this support so as to extend substantially along a plane parallel to the plane of the axes of the burners mounted on said bar, behind this latter plane and preferably in a variable position from top to bottom, so as to protect from the wind the flame of one or more burners, or in a plane perpendicular to the previous plane, in a

  lateral position in relation to said burners and preferably

  Rence adjustable in inclination around an axis parallel to the spreading direction, so as to limit lateral spreading

of the flame curtain.

  - It comprises at least one lateral extension accessory comprising an extension profile, in particular of a length of several meters, suitable for being fixed at one end to one side of the chassis so as to extend outwards according to the spreading direction, and provided at its opposite end with a wheel suitable for rolling on the ground, the extension profile being able to receive flame producing units and being articulated on the chassis so as to pivot up and down to follow the unevenness of the ground and / or to be folded upwards by limiting the overall dimensions in width of the

  device outside its periods of use.

  - It includes an electronic calculator programmed so as to indicate to the user, as a function of input data constituted by the characteristics of a treatment to be carried out and external conditions, output data constituted by adjustment values making it possible to perform this treatment optimally, in particular by avoiding excessive gas flows leading to a drop in

  tank pressure, as well as milking time

correspondingly.

  - The program takes into account at least one of the following data:

  - for the characteristics of the treatment: superficial

  cie of the soil to be treated, width of the band - or width of each elementary band and the interval between bands and number of elementary bands - to be treated at each pass, number of burners used, nature and degree of development of the grasses to be destroyed ,; - for outdoor conditions: number and capacity of available gas tanks, atmospheric temperature, wind speed, precipitation level; - for the setting values: number and type of burners, working position of the regulator, distance of the burners to the ground and their inclination, speed of movement

  of the tractor, duration of treatment, amount of gas consumed.

  - The programmed calculator displays successive messages on a screen asking the user to enter the input data using a keyboard, then displays the

output data.

  - When it is not possible to satisfy the conditions defined by the input data, or when the calculated processing time does not suit the user, the program offers the user the possibility of triggering the display a new series of messages each asking for confirmation or replacement of one of the input data, then the display of output data taking into account

  input data thus modified.

  - It includes storage means for storing in writing the input and output data relating to a treatment, as well as, where appropriate, the remarks of

the user on it.

  - The storage means include a form block

  preprinted res with locations to write data to.

  - The calculator and if necessary the means of memorization

  tion are housed in a box mounted on the chassis and containing a set of burners in which can be chosen

  the burners to be used for each treatment.

  - The calculator and if necessary the means of memorization

  tion are fixed on the internal face of a wall portion of the box which can be folded down with said face turned towards

  the top for using the calculator.

  - The chassis defines a housing for at least one combustible fluid tank and is provided with at least one axle and a transverse rear handle, thus forming a carriage

suitable for being pushed by hand.

  - It comprises a main carriage and an auxiliary carriage each defining a housing for a fluid tank, for example a propane tank of 13 kg, the main carriage having an axle, said handle and a bar

  transverse to receive the burners, in front of the es

  and capable of being used alone, and the auxiliary carriage having at least one axle, the main carriage and the auxiliary carriage having means of mutual assembly to form a compound carriage in which the housing and the axle of the auxiliary carriage are located behind those

  of the main carriage and in front of the handle.

  - The auxiliary carriage has two axles, the wheels of which have a smaller diameter than those of the main carriage, the distance between the wheels of each of the three axles being

preferably adjustable.

  - It includes a user guide offering the user

  tor for each treatment, depending on external conditions, one of the following configurations: - main trolley fitted with a tank; - compound cart with a single tank housed on the auxiliary cart; - compound cart with two tanks; - compound trolley fitted with two reservoirs, and additional reservoirs provided for the replacement thereof during treatment; - main trolley without tank, connected by a flexible pipe to at least one fixed tank; compound trolley without tank, connected by a

  flexible pipe to at least one fixed tank.

  - The guide takes into account at least one of the following parameters: surface to be treated, atmospheric temperature,

soil moisture, wind and hardness.

  The characteristics and advantages of the invention will be

  described in more detail in the description below, in

  referring to the appended drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a simplified perspective view of a first embodiment of a device according to the invention mounted at the rear of an agricultural tractor; - Figure 2 is a perspective view on a larger scale, showing the same device without gas tanks and without burners; - Figure 3 is a sectional view of a flame producing unit mounted on two sections, in section along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the two sections and passing through the clamping axis of the burner support;

  - Figure 4 is a top view of a lower jaw-

  re, or from below an upper jaw, of a burner support; - Figure 5 is a sectional view of the flame producing unit, along the line V-V of Figure 3; - Figure 6 is a top view showing three neighboring burners mounted on the two sections, and their gas supply lines; - Figure 7 shows schematically a gas distribution block for a variant of the device of Figures 1 and 2; Figures 8 and 10 are views in longitudinal section showing elements of the distribution block of Figure 7; - Figure 9 is a cross-sectional view of one of the manifold elements illustrated in Figure 8; - Figure 11 is a partial sectional view along the line XI-XI of Figure 10; - Figure 12 is a side view showing means for lifting and adjusting the movable part of the chassis illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

  - Figure 13 is a top view of an extension accessory -

  rear sion can be mounted on the same chassis; - Figure 14 is a side sectional view showing the accessory of Figure 13 on which are mounted burners; - Figure 15 is a view similar to Figure 14, showing a windscreen accessory mounted on the rear extension accessory; - Figure 16 is a perspective view showing a lateral extension accessory mounted on the base of the chassis; - Figure 17 is a side sectional view of a box intended to contain an assortment of burners supplied with the device; - Figure 18 is a top view of this cabinet; - Figure 19 is a side view of a second embodiment of a device according to the invention; - Figure 20 is a top view of this device; - Figure 22 is a perspective view of the same device; - Figure 21 is a partial top view showing the front axle of the device in the extended position; - Figure 23 is a view similar to Figure 5, showing a flame producing unit of the device of Figures

19 to 22;

  - Figure 24 represents a logic diagram usable for

  programming a calculator supplied with the device

  tif of Figures 1 and 2; and - Figure 25 shows a grid intended to facilitate

  the use of the device of FIGS. 19 to 22.

  The attached drawings are essentially of a certain character. They are therefore to be considered as incorporated into the

  description, and can therefore not only serve to complete

  ter this, but also contribute to the definition of

the invention, if applicable.

  The weeder illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a chassis based on steel profiles essentially composed of two rigid parts 1 and 2 articulated one on the other, the part 1 being directly fixed to the rear of an agricultural tractor. 3. Part 1 comprises a horizontal base 4 located at a distance above the ground and comprising two flat strips 5 and 9 whose width is oriented vertically. The strip 5 is folded to form a U whose bottom 6 extends

  in the direction perpendicular to the forward direction

  rear of the tractor, hereinafter called lateral direction, and whose branches 7 and 8 extend forward from the bottom 6, respectively on the left and right side of the chassis. The strip 9, arranged inside the U formed by the strip 5, is applied flat and welded, by its two end regions 10 and 11, respectively to the front end regions of the branches 7 and 8, and by an intermediate region 33 to an intermediate region of the bottom 6, the region 33 being connected to the regions 10 and 11 by oblique elongated regions 12 and 13 respectively. These welds, like all

  those mentioned in the present description, can be

  replaced by bolted connections.

  Three identical uprights 14, 15 and 16 rise from the base 4, in the vicinity of the front and rear ends thereof for the uprights 14 and 16 respectively, and midway between the previous ones for the upright 15. Each amount

  includes a left element 17 and a right element 18 identi-

  between them, each formed from a flat strip

  folded, the width of which is oriented in the front-

  back. Each of the elements 17 and 18 has a vertical lower end region 19 applied and welded to the internal face of one of the branches 7 and 8, which is followed by a lower leg 20 rising obliquely to a small distance. of the median vertical plane of the chassis. The lower leg is followed in turn by a short vertical intermediate region 21, then by an upper leg 22 deviating obliquely laterally and upwards. The vertical intermediate regions 21 of the elements 17 and 18 of the same upright are interconnected by two superimposed cylindrical transverse rods 23. Each upright thus has a general shape in X, and is further reinforced by a cross-member 35 in the form of a steel strip extending horizontally from one lower leg to the other and welded thereto by its obliquely folded end regions. A cylindrical rod 24 extending in the lateral direction passes through the front end region of the branch 7 and / or the end region 10 of the strip 9 and / or the lower region 19 of the element 17 of the amount 14 being linked by

  rigidly to these elements. This rod 24, a similar rod

  ble not visible in the drawings, fixed in the same way on the right side of the chassis, and one of the rods 23 of the upright 14 are supported respectively by three arms 25, 26 and 27 projecting from the rear of the tractor and belonging to a

  three-point fixing system fitted to it.

  The fixed part 1 of the chassis further comprises two bands

  plates 28 and 29 whose width is oriented in the direction

  side, arranged one above the other and

  elongated in a vertical plane parallel to the longitudinal plane

  median nal and shifted to the right with respect to it.

  The strip 28, straight and horizontal, is located at the junction between the regions 21 and 22 of the upright elements. It is rigidly connected to regions 21 of

  elements 18 via respective consoles 34.

  In a variant not shown, the strip 28, without changing its longitudinal direction, is arranged obliquely to be welded flat on the upper legs 22 of the uprights. The strip 29 extends obliquely, its upper front end being rigidly connected to the region 21 of the element 18 of the front upright 14, while its rear lower end is folded vertically and welded to the

  front face of the intermediate region 33 of the strip 9.

  Each of the two intervals delimited by the three uprights 14, 15 and 16 is associated with a front angle 31 and a rear angle 32. A wing of each of these angles

  rests horizontally, and is welded, on the upper edges

  laughing branches 7 and 8 of the band 5 and oblique regions 12 and 13 of the band 9, the other wing rising vertically and being attached and welded to the two lower legs 20 of the same amount. The three uprights and the four angles define two housings which can each receive a row of three pressurized liquefied propane tanks aligned in the lateral direction, each tank can be either a 13 kg tank or a 35 kg tank, these two types tanks with the same diameter and different heights. For example, Figure 1 shows, for each row, two 13 kg tanks 40 and a 35 kg tank 41, located at the right end

  of the row. The tanks rest on the horizon-

  angles. They are immobilized forwards and backwards by the vertical wings of the angles and by the uprights and in the lateral direction on the one hand by the bands 28 and 29, on the other hand by pivoting retaining elements 42, 43. Each row is associated with a lower retaining element 42 and an upper retaining element 43 mounted respectively on the lower legs 20 and on the upper legs 22 of one of the uprights, namely the

  front upright 14 for the front row and the intermediate upright

  diary 15 for the rear row. The lower elements 42 are intended to cooperate with 13 kg tanks as well as with 35 kg tanks, and the upper elements 43 only with 35 kg tanks. The four retaining elements are formed from a tube

  of steel and are identical to each other. The description below -

  close, with reference to FIG. 2, of the upper front retaining element, is therefore also valid for the other retaining elements. The element 43 has a median tubular region 44 extending horizontally in the lateral direction, passing through two jumpers 45 welded respectively on the two legs 22 (or 20) of the corresponding upright, which ensure its guiding in pivoting around its own axis. The left and right end regions 46 and 47 of the tube are bent backwards, in the retaining position shown in the figures, to form arms roughly following the outline of the tanks situated at the left and right ends of the row , so as to retain these tanks laterally outwards. The rearward orientation of the arms prevents them from clinging to the branches of cultivated plants. Two legs 48, 49 project radially rearward from region 44, respectively immediately to the right of the left rider and immediately to the left of the right rider, and immobilize the retainer in the lateral direction. The tab 48 further projects between the two tanks located to the left of the strips 28 and 29 in the row and keeps these two tanks away from each other. The tab 49 is located above the strip 28 (below for the lower retaining elements) and therefore between the tank placed to the right of the strips 28 and 29 and those placed to the left of them, and n ' therefore not interfere with the tanks. Another tab 50 extends radially upwards at mid-length of the tubular region 44. If the retaining element tends to tilt under the effect of the weight of the arms 46 and 47, the tab 50 comes to bear on the middle tank of the row to prevent this tilting. The arms 46 and 47 and the legs 48 and 49 can be raised by a quarter-turn pivoting of the retaining element to allow the positioning or unloading of the tanks. During installation, the path of introduction of the right reservoir and of the first reservoir introduced on the left is limited by the bands 28 and 29. The reservoirs being immobilized individually, in each row, by the bands 28 and 29, the arms 46 and 47 and

  leg 48, it is possible to make rows incom-

  full if you don't have six tanks. You can also form a single row if the number of tanks

  available is less than four.

  The U-shaped band 5, the uprights and the angles are arranged symmetrically with respect to the vertical vertical plane of the weeder. On the other hand, the fact that the tanks are odd in number in each row leads to an asymmetrical arrangement of the bands 28 and 29 and consequently of the v-band 9 which cooperates with the band 29 to form a rigid tetrahedral structure connected directly to the three fixing points on the tractor, ensuring high rigidity of the fixed part 1 of the chassis. This asymmetrical arrangement, which does not involve any drawback as to the robustness of the device, would be eliminated if each row had an even number of tanks, for example two or four. The choice of three tanks makes it possible to give the chassis a width of approximately 1.10 m, corresponding to the spacing the

  weaker between the rows of vines.

  Part 2 of the chassis, also symmetrical with respect to the median longitudinal plane, comprises two flat strips 51 and 52 situated in vertical planes parallel to this latter plane and the front ends of which cover the outer faces of the branches 7 and 8 respectively of the strip in U 5, with the possibility of pivoting around rods 53 integral with the latter and extending in the transverse direction. In the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2, the rods 53 are located approximately at the ends

  lower legs 20 of the median 15.

  Alternatively, they can be located at the rear of part 1 of the chassis. Each of the bands 51 and 52 is connected in its rear end region to a shoe 53 constituted by a flat metal band curved roughly in the shape of a J, the long branch of the J being welded by its internal face to the lower edge of the strip 51, 52. The two pads 53 are interconnected by a profile 55, which is a standard T-shaped profile of 50 x 50 mm. The core 56 of this profile is welded at its two ends to the free ends of the short branches 57 of the two pads 54 respectively, on the outer face of these branches. The wing 58 of the profile extends opposite the free end edge 59 (FIG. 3) of the branch 57. A third shoe 60 identical to the shoes 53 is welded in the same way as the previous ones to the core 56 of the streamlined, mid-length of it. Part 2 of the chassis can be moved relative to part 1, by means of a lifting system, omitted in Figures 1 and 2 for better readability, and shown in Figure 12, between a raised position in which the bands 51 and 52 extend approximately horizontally and the lowered position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The raised position is used for the storage of the device, its installation on the tractor and its disassembly, its transport to at the place of use and the maneuvers on the ground. The lowered position is used when applying the flame. The pads 53 and 60 are then close to the ground, and can slide thereon, with momentary raising of the part 2, to follow the irregularities. The lifting system comprises a support piece 200 suspended from the upper rod 23 of the rear upright 16 and bearing from rear to front on the lower rod 23 of this same amount. A stirrup 201 is pivotally mounted on the upper rod 23 and has a threaded socket 202 into which a threaded rod 203 is screwed, one end of which rests on the rear face of the part 200 and the other end of which is provided with a operating handle 204. The cylinder 205 of a hydraulic cylinder connected to the hydraulic circuit of the tractor 3 is articulated at 206 on the caliper 201, parallel, behind and below the axis of the upper rod 23. A connecting rod 207 is articulated at its upper end, at 208, to the rod 209 of the jack, and at its lower end, at 210, to a connecting piece 211 secured to the shoe 60. The actuation of the jack therefore makes it possible to lower the part 2 of the chassis when the rod 209 is out, and to raise it when the rod is retracted. In addition, the screwing of the rod 203 pivots the stirrup 201 backwards and upwards, thus pulling up the jack 205, 209, the connecting rod 207 and the part 2. Conversely, when the screw is unscrewed rod 203, part 2 descends under its own weight. It is thus possible to precisely adjust the height of the burners relative to the ground, in the position of

  job. Part 211 can be welded to a tube not shown

  felt with a diameter of 80 mm, the two ends of which are welded flat to the internal faces of the strips 51 and 52. Such a tube reinforces the rigidity of part 2, which is particularly useful when significant forces are

  exerted on the burner bar.

  The device is delivered with a second profile 61, shown in the

  Figure 3, identical to profile 55 and therefore presenting

  quent a core 62 and a wing 63. The two sections, as well as burner supports, one of which is shown in Figures 3 and 5, are assembled together so that the wings 58 and 63 are facing one on the other, the webs 56 and 62 being located in the same plane P1 and each extending from the corresponding wing, opposite the other profile. This plane P1 constitutes a plane of symmetry for each of the two sections, while these are symmetrical to each other with respect to a plane P2, perpendicular to P1 and parallel to the longitudinal direction of the sections, and passing between the two wings 58 and 63. Each burner support comprises a lower jaw 64, an upper jaw 65 and an adjustable part 66, threaded in this order on a cylindrical rod 67 whose axis A is contained in the plane P2 and perpendicular to the plan P1. The rod 67 has a head 68 which rests on the top of the orientable part 66, integral with an operating handle 69. A nut 70, welded on the underside of the lower jaw 64, cooperates with a thread provided in the end region

lower of rod 67.

  The jaws 64 and 65 are identical to each other and each formed from a sheet metal plate in the shape of a cross. The central region 71 of the cross, pierced with a central hole 72 for the passage of the rod 67, is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the sections, and the branches 73 of the cross extending in this same direction are narrower than the branches 74 which extend perpendicular to this direction. The four branches are curved outside the plane of the central region 71, upwards for the lower jaw 64 and downwards for the upper jaw 65, forming legs, the legs 75 formed by the branches 73 extending over an axial length greater than the legs 76 formed by the branches 74. The screwing of the rod 67 in the nut 70 causes the tightening, between the latter and the head 68, of the stack formed by the lower jaw 64, the wings 58 and 63 of the two sections, the upper jaw 65 and the orientable part 66. In the clamped position, the arms 73 and the legs 75 of the jaws are supported on the free edges and on the opposite faces one on the other of the wings of the two sections, while the faces facing one another of these same wings bear on the edges of the legs 75, the width of which is at least equal to the diameter of the rod 67. Thus, each leg 76 defines with the two legs s 75 of the same jaw, which are spaced a short distance from the legs 75 of the other jaw, a notch for receiving the upper half-wing or the lower half-wing of a profile. The two jaws can be clamped, thanks to their configuration, on only one of the two profiles, without this resulting in a significant change in the position of the burner support relative to this profile. It is therefore possible to vary the length of the bar formed by the profiles 55 and 61, and therefore of the burner bank achievable, the minimum length of the bar, equal to the length of each of the profiles, being obtained when those these are entirely opposite one another, and a greater length being obtained by an offset of the free profile 61 relative to the fixed profile 55 in their longitudinal direction. In the latter case, the immobilization of the profile 61 is ensured by

  the clamping of at least two burner supports on the assembly

  ble of the two sections, while other supports can each be mounted on only one of the two sections, to the left and / or to the right of their portion of common length. Of course, it is also possible to replace the section 61, identical to the section 55, with a section of greater length, projecting to the left and right of the part 2 of the chassis. This profile can have the same section as profiles 55 and 61 or, for better rigidity, depending on its length, be of another standardized type, namely the IPN type 100 x 50 mm, having two wings each of which has approximately the same section as that of the T-shaped section of 50 x 50, the wings 58 and 63 then no longer being rigorously symmetrical to each other with respect to the plane P2. A profile of the latter type is shown in thin lines, in Figure 14, under the reference 61a. For very long lengths, wheels can be mounted at the free ends of such a profile. It is also possible to replace the profile 61 by two profiles arranged in the extension of one another, projecting respectively to the left and to the right relative to the part

mobile chassis.

  The orientable part 66 of the burner support comprises a cylindrical roller 80 and a clamp 79 produced from a metal sheet bent in a U to form a bottom 102 and two branches or flanges 81 and 82. Each of these flanges comprises a flat region 83 of rectangular shape, pierced with a hole, and a lip 84 extending along a long side of the rectangle, perpendicular to the plane of the bottom 102, the lip being curved out of the plane of the plane region, upwards for the lower flange 81 and downwards for the upper flange 82. The roller 80 is crossed axially with little play by the rod 67 and has on its radially outer face, at axial mid-length, a groove 85 with an arc profile of circle. At the two axial ends of the roller, shoulders define zones 86 of outside diameter

  reduced which engage in the holes of the flanges. Rondel-

  the threaded on the rod 67 are interposed on the one hand between the head 68 and the upper flange 82, on the other hand between the

  lower flange 81 and upper jaw 65.

  The roller 80 and the clamp 79 serve to rigidly fix a cylindrical rod 90 belonging to a burner 91. This rod has an axial bore 92 whose downstream threaded end receives an injector 93. The downstream end of the rod, of reduced outer diameter, is also provided with an external thread with which cooperates a threaded sleeve 94 secured to a radial disc 95. The disc 95 carries a tubular nozzle 96 which extends downstream beyond the injector . The rod 90, the injector 93, the sleeve 94, the disc 95 and the nozzle 96 are substantially of revolution about an axis 97 which constitutes the axis of the burner. The disc is pierced with a central hole for the passage of the sleeve and, inside the latter, of the injector 93, and

  peripheral holes 98 for air entry into the nozzle.

  When the clamping rod 67 is screwed, the head 68 and the jaw 65 are supported respectively, by means of the washers, on the flanges 82 and 81 and bring the latter into abutment on the shoulders of the roller 80. The flanges and the

  roller are thus immobilized, at the same time as the jaws

  res, relative to the profiles 55 and 61. In addition, the flanges 81 and 82 are supported on the burner rod 90, according to generators thereof situated respectively lower and higher than the axis 97, and at beyond this relative to the axis A of the clamping rod 67. The rod is therefore urged towards this latter axis and bears against the roller 80 while being housed tangentially in the groove 85, the radius of which curvature is equal to the radius of the rod 90. The cooperation of the lips 84 and the roller 80 ensures a very stable fixing of the rod 90 and therefore of the burner 91. When the clamping rod 67 is slightly loosened, the burner rod 90 can be moved axially by being guided between the lips 84 and the roller. The rod 90 can thus be introduced axially into its housing and pushed until its upstream end comes into connection with the fuel gas supply circuit, as described below. The rod 90 can conversely be extracted for the elimination of the burner or its replacement by another burner of different power. In the same position of the clamping rod, the clamp 79, the roller 20 and the burner 91 can pivot around the axis A of the rod 67 so as to orient the axis of the burner at will. The jaw 65 and the flange 81 may be provided with indexing means, not shown, making it possible to orient the burner in several predefined directions. The axis 97 of the burner, perpendicular to the axis A of the clamping rod, remains parallel to the plane P1, which is advantageously inclined by about 30 relative to the vertical, this plane being substantially parallel to the plane of the arms 51 and 52 of part 2 of the chassis. In the working position of the latter, the axis of each burner can be oriented rearward and downward, and this is in a longitudinal vertical plane, either to the left or to the right. An orientation of about 45 relative to the direction of movement generally makes it possible, with an appropriate mutual spacing of the burners according to the intensity of the flame, to obtain

  a substantially continuous and homogeneous flame curtain.

* The upstream end of the burner rod 90 is provided with a male element 100 forming with a female element 101 a

  quick connector for gas supply to the burner.

  The female element 101 comprises in known manner a valve which automatically closes the gas outlet when the male element is removed. The female element 101 passes through a circular hole formed in the dorsal region 102 of the clamp 79, and comprises a flange 103 which bears on the internal face of the region 102 under the action of a nut 104 screwed externally to the element 101 for fixing the latter to the burner support. The female element 101 is also integral with a gas inlet block 105, illustrated in FIG. 6 which shows three burners 91 mounted on the profiles 55 and 61. The block 105 is further provided with two male ends 106 and 107, the nozzle 106 being arranged along the axis 97 of the burner and

  the nozzle 107 being disposed radially relative to this axis.

  The tips 106 and 107 are intended respectively for

  the arrival of gas at block 105 and the departure of gas therefrom.

  The nozzle 106 of the first burner on the left in FIG. 6 receives the downstream end of a flexible inlet pipe 108, the upstream end of which is connected to a regulator. The nozzle 106 of each of the other burners receives the downstream end of a flexible gas transmission pipe 109, the upstream end of which is mounted on the outlet nozzle 107 of the burner immediately adjacent to the left. Each of the blocks is also in direct gas communication with the corresponding female element 101. Thus, each burner is supplied with gas via the line 108 and through the nozzle 105 and the element 101 associated with this burner, by means of transmission conduits 109 and other blocks 105 if necessary. The nozzles 106 and 107 are shown in FIG. 6, for clarity, as having all their axes in the same plane. Advantageously, however, the tips 107 extend perpendicular to the plane containing the tips 106, that is to say parallel to the axes of the clamping rods.

  67, and upwards, so that the transmission lines-

  sion 109 take a configuration similar to propeller portions, the curvature of which adapts to the distance between the burners. This distance, represented by the distance between the clamping rods, can vary between a minimum of the order of mm, corresponding to a contiguous arrangement of the flame producing units, and a maximum which depends on the length of the transmission pipes. and which can reach 750 mm. The end piece 107 of the flame-producing unit located at the far right of FIG. 6 can receive a transmission line 109 not shown, supplying other units also not shown. A starting nozzle 107 which is not connected to a pipe 109 receives, or is replaced by, a plug. Depending on the number of burners aligned on the same bar, there may be several inlet pipes such as 108 each supplying a subset of these burners, and associated with

as many regulators.

  Figures 7 to 11 show a compact gas distribution block for a weed killer similar to that illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, but having locations for three rows of three propane tanks, or nine tanks in total. This block, illustrated schematically in Figure 7, comprises an elongated body 110 in one piece at one end of which are stacked three collecting elements 111, 112 and 113 each connected to three flexible upstream pipes 133, and which carries at its other end two regulators 137 and 138 from which two flexible downstream pipes 139 depart respectively. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 10, the

  body 110 has a flat end face 114

  dicular to its longitudinal direction, into which open a gas inlet bore 115 and a threaded blind bore 116 whose axes are parallel to this longitudinal direction. The collecting elements 111-113, identical to each other, each have the shape of a right prism based on a regular hexagon, the height of the prism being approximately equal to the side of the hexagon. In the assembled state, these elements are stacked on the face 114 of the body with their lateral faces aligned to form a hexagonal prism with a height three times that of each element. For this purpose, each of these has an axial through bore 117 aligned with the bore 116 of the body, for the passage of the axial rod of a cap screw 118 which screws into the hole 116, the head 119 of this screw applying against the end face of the stack an end plate 120 also having the shape of a straight hexagonal prism. Each manifold element also has a second axial bore

  through 121, aligned with the inlet bore 115 of the body.

  The correct alignment of the bores 121 and of the bore 115 is ensured on the one hand by the rod of the screw 118, on the other hand by the fixing of one 122 of the lateral faces of each manifold element, and of a face 123 of the body located in the same plane as the faces 122, on a flat surface 124 belonging to the chassis of the apparatus, for example the upper face of a support plate 125 rigidly connected to the strip 28. The collecting elements and the body 110 each have a threaded hole 126 whose axis is perpendicular to its bearing face on the surface 124 and which opens into the latter and into the bore 116 or 117. This threaded hole receives a fixing screw 127 which passes through the support plate 125. The axes of the bores 126 lie in the plane P3 (cutting plane of FIGS. 8 and 10) defined by the axes of the bores 116-117 and 115-121, this plane constituting a plane of symmetry for each collector element. The first of these two axes is offset towards the face 122, and the second in the opposite direction,

  relative to the central axis of the hexagonal prisms.

  Each manifold element has a threaded bore 128, of the same axis as the hole 126, formed from the face 129 opposite the face 122, communicating with the axial bore 121

  and not reaching bore 117. Two bores 130 seemingly

  bores to the bore 128 are formed from the two lateral faces 131 adjacent to the face 129. The bores 130 communicate with the bore 128, at a distance from said faces, to form an internal cavity of each collecting element, constituting a local enlargement of the pipe formed by the alignment of the bores 121, this pipe being closed by the plate 120 opposite the body 110. In each of the bores 128, 130 is screwed a nozzle 132 on which is

  mounted the downstream end of one of the flexible pipes 133.

  The upstream ends of the three pipes 133 connected to the same collecting element 111, 112 or 113, are conventionally mounted at the outlet of the taps of the three tanks of the same row respectively. The pressure of the incoming gas

  by each line 133 pushes a piston 134 housed axially-

  ment in the bore of the endpiece 132, by compressing a helical spring 135 which rests on the bottom of the bore 128, 130. In the absence of pressure, the spring 135 pushes the piston 134 outwards compressing an O-ring

  seal 136 between a shoulder of the piston and a shoulder

  internal ment of the nozzle 132. This prevents the gas coming from the other pipes 133 from going up in that which is not under pressure, in particular when its upstream end is not connected to a tank. O-rings are also provided, in a conventional manner, in housings defined by shoulders of the bore 128-130 on the one hand and of the bores 115-121 on the other hand, the first housings being adjacent to the faces 129- 131 and the second to the end face 114 of the body 110 and to the faces of the elements

  111-113 tours opposite of it.

  We immediately see that we can make a distribution block.

  bution for a device & two rows or a row of tanks from the same components as the block of Figures 7 to 10, removing one or two of the collecting elements and replacing the screw 118 with a shorter screw. The inlet bore 116 of the body 110, with a horizontal axis,

  opens, opposite the face 114, into a transverse bore

  sant 140 of vertical axis, while another bore 141 of vertical axis opens at its lower end in the bore 116 and at its upper end in the upper face 142, flat and horizontal, of the body. The terms horizontal and vertical are valid in the orientation of the block as illustrated in the drawings, which can be modified if desired. The bore 140 receives an upper piston 143 and a lower piston 144, which can slide independently of one another and come into mutual contact through their end faces. The bore 140 has a short upper part of smaller diameter, in which the piston rod 143 slides, separated from the remaining part, in which a flange 145 of this piston slides, by a

  shoulder 146 upwardly limiting the stroke thereof.

  The piston 144 comprises, from top to bottom, a flange 147 followed by a cylindrical region 148 of reduced diameter which is connected, by a frustoconical region 149, to a cylindrical region 150 of larger diameter in which are formed two annular grooves 151 and 152 of rounded profile, the lower groove 152 being deeper than the upper groove 151. The flange 147 and the region 150 are guided in the region of larger diameter of the bore 140. The upper threaded end 153 of the upper piston 143, protruding above the face 142, is screwed into a tapped blind bore of a pusher 154 of generally cylindrical shape of revolution, having the same axis as the pistons and the bore 140. The pusher 154 is thus secured of the piston 143. The pistons 143 and 144 each have an axial bore, 155, 156, the bore 155 of the piston 143 being blind and opening downwards, while the bore 156 is through. These two bores receive, with a clearance just sufficient to allow its sliding, the end region 157 of a motion transmission cable connected

  to a control unit in the driver's cab

  tor. This cable is surrounded and guided, in a known manner, by a sheath 158 whose free end is immobilized in an enlarged lower region of the bore 156. The cable and the sheath thus leave the piston 144 vertically and downwards to join the driving position. A sleeve 159 provided with a collar 160 and axially traversed by the sheath 158 is screwed onto the threaded lower end of the

  piston 144, below the body 110.

  A piston 161 is guided in a gas-tight manner in the region of the bore 116 comprised between the bores 140 and 141, and extends with play in the region of this same bore comprised between the bore 141 and the face 114. A

  helical spring 162, bearing on the face of the element

  collector 113 applied against the face 114 of the body, urges the curved end of the piston 161 against the piston 144. In the upper limit position of the latter,

  shown in figure 10, in which he applies the glue-

  rette 145 of the piston 143 against the shoulder 146 of the bore, the convex end of the piston 161 is received in the groove 151, and an O-ring seal 163 disposed in a peripheral groove of the piston 161 is kept away from 'an inclined shoulder 164 of the bore 116, allowing the access of the gas coming from the collecting elements into the bore 141. When the piston 144 is lowered, the end of the piston 161 penetrates, under the action of the spring 162, in the annular space between the flange 147 and the frustoconical ramp 149, and the seal 163 comes to bear on the shoulder 164, interrupting the arrival of the gas. The downward movement of the piston 144 is limited by the abutment of

  the flange 147 on the piston 161.

  A bore 165 extends horizontally, and perpendicular-

  ment to the bore 116, between the bore 141 and a face 166 of the body 110, and receives in a tapped region a connector 167

  projecting from this face and connected to the hydraulic circuit

  as the tractor 3 so as to be supplied with pressurized oil at the same time as the jack 205. A piston 168 is guided in a through bore 169 of the connector 167, coaxial with the bore 165, so as to come into tight contact with an oblique shoulder 170 of the latter, via an O-ring, under the effect of the oil pressure, and on the contrary to move away from this shoulder, in the absence of oil pressure , under the effect of gas pressure. The bores 141 and 165 are interconnected by a bore 171 whose axis extends obliquely in the plane of the axes of the two previous ones. The frustoconical seat 170 is interposed between the areas of junction of bore 165 with bores 141 and

  171, and a frustoconical seat 172 is interposed, in the

  sage 141, between its junction zones with bores 165 and 171. The seat 172 belongs to a pilot light adjustment device known in itself comprising in particular a rotary operating button 173 and a sliding shutter 174 defining with the seat 172 a choked passage of variable section. The button 173 and the shutter 174 are coaxial with the bore 141, the button 173 being immediately adjacent to the pusher 154. A last bore not visible in the figures, parallel to the bore 116, extends between the junction zone of the bores 165 and 171 and the face 175 of the body 110 opposite the face 114, and communicates with a fitting 176 on which

  the two regulators 137 and 138 are mounted.

  The distribution block described operates as follows. As indicated above, when the piston 144 is lowered, the gas circuit coming from the tanks through the pipes 133 and the collecting elements 111-113 is

  interrupted by contact between seal 163 and seat 164.

  The piston 143 and the pusher 154, under the effect of their weight, are also in the low position. A pull on the pusher 154 drives the piston 153 upwards, but has no action on the piston 144. Similarly, the operation of the cable 157 can only lift the piston 143 and the pusher 154. To raise the piston 144 and open the gas circuit, it is necessary to push up the socket 159, which is less accessible than the pusher 154, which can only result from a voluntary gesture. To close the gas, it suffices to press down on the pusher 154, which is clearly visible and accessible both from the sides and from the rear of the chassis. Similarly, from the tractor operating position, a push on the cable to get it out of the sheath 158 brings it into abutment on the bottom of the bore 155, which tends to separate from one another pistons 143 and 144 and therefore to lower the latter. In its low position, the groove 152 is located immediately below the face 123 of the body. It is then possible to engage the handle of a padlock in this groove, the handle being trapped between the bottom of the groove and a not shown peg projecting from the face 123. The padlock then ensures locking of the tap in closed position. When the tap is open, the gas enters the bores 141 and 165. If the connector 167 does not receive hydraulic pressure, which corresponds to the lowered working position of the burners, the gas can pass between the seat 170 of the bore and piston 168 and thus arrive, at normal flow rate, at the outlet bore and at connector 176, and consequently at the burners via regulators 137 and 138 and lines 108. Otherwise, it that is to say if the burners are raised, the direct passage through bore 165 is interrupted and the gas must pass through the throttled passage between the seat 172 of bore 141 and the shutter 174 to reach the outlet bore through the oblique bore 171, the burners then being supplied at a reduced flow rate to produce a pilot flame, which reduces the gas consumption during maneuvers between two strips of

land to be treated.

  Of course, depending on the case, the distribution block may include a number of regulators other than two, for example one or three. The device for actuating the shut-off valve, the elements of which move in translation from

  coaxially, is particularly robust.

  The rear extension accessory shown in FIGS. 13 and 14 is intended in particular for treating the soil along rows of plants separated by large intervals, in particular rows of vines or fruit trees. This accessory comprises a rigid structure composed of a steel tube 220 and three sections 221, 222 and 223 of the same section as the sections 55 and 61. The cores of these sections are engaged and immobilized by welding in slots 224 provided obliquely in the wall of the tube, the longitudinal direction of these sections extending perpendicular to the axis of the tube. Profile 221, of very short length, is fixed, by means of a burner support similar to that described above, to the second profile 61, which projects to the left of the chassis beyond profile 55, so as to be locate in the extension of the latter. The orientation of the slots 224 is such that, in the lowered working position of the movable part of the chassis, as shown in

  Figure 14, the tube 220 extends substantially horizontal-

  backwards. The sections 221, 222 and 223 project to the right from the tube 220, the section 222, located substantially in the middle of the latter, and the section 223 located at its rear end, which may have a length slightly greater than the profile 221. In FIG. 15, three burners 91-1, 91-2 and 91-3 are mounted respectively on the burner support used to assemble the profiles 61 and 221, and on similar supports fixed on the profiles 222 and 223 These three burners are oriented to the left in order to project their flame along a row of plants extending on the left side of the appliance. These three

  burners add their effects and allow work-

  ler three times faster than in the absence of the accessory. This accessory is shown in Figure 13 both in the retracted position and in the extended position. In the first position, the sections 55 and 221 are end to end and, thanks to the short length of the latter, the overall width of the chassis is practically not increased by the accessory. In the extension position, the profile 221 is distant from the profile 55. The position of the accessory can be adjusted by sliding the profile 61. Of course, it is possible to provide two rear extension accessories, respectively left and straight, symmetrical to one another with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the chassis of the device and capable of being fixed on two profiles such as profile 61, placed in line with one another and whose length total corresponds approximately to the length of profile 55, so that the two accessories can

  be placed simultaneously in the retracted position.

  A left accessory and a right accessory can be connected together by a complementary profile extending laterally from one to the other, connected to the profiles 222, or to the profiles 223, of the two accessories in the same way as

  the profile 61 is fixed to the profile 55. This profile completes

  can be used to improve the rigidity of the assembly, and / or to receive flame production units and / or tools for the mechanical treatment of the soil. The second row of flame producing units which can thus be produced

  helps speed up processing. These last two uses

  are independent of the wine application of the accessory. The same applies to the use illustrated in FIG. 15, which is a section, along a vertical plane oriented in the direction of movement of the tractor, of the bar carrying the flame production units and of a barrier accessory. wind mounted on it by means of rear extension accessories, left and right. The same reference signs as in FIGS. 13 and 14 are used to designate the elements of the right extension accessory visible on the

  figure 15. A profile 224 is secured at its two ends

  tees respectively to the intermediate sections 222 of the two left and right accessories, by means of supports comprising jaws 225, 226 similar to those of the burner supports, tightened in the same way by means of a threaded rod 227. Between the jaw 226 turned downwards and forwards and the nut 228 into which the rod 227 is screwed is interposed a wing 229, crossed by the rod, of a right angle bracket whose other wing 250 extends in a plane vertical parallel to the axis of the rod 227, downwards and forwards from the wing 229. The wing 250 is pierced with two circular holes 251 and 252, equidistant from the wing 229, which, in the position shown in the figure, coincide with two pairs of consecutive holes 253 of a square-section tube 254, a multiplicity of holes 253 passing through two opposite walls of the tube and being mutually aligned in the longitudinal direction thereof with an equal center distance l to that of holes 251 and 252, each hole in one of the walls being opposite a hole in the opposite wall to form a pair of holes. The tube 254 and the bracket 229, 250, itself fixed to the profiles 222 and 224 by means of the jaw 226, are mutually rigidly assembled by two bolts, not shown, passing through the holes 251, 252 and in the corresponding pairs of holes 253. A rectangular flat plate 255 is welded to the wall of the tube 255 perpendicular to those provided with the holes 253, facing forward and downward, and extends on the same side as the tube 254 relative to the plane of the wing 250. As can be seen in the figure, the plane of the windscreen 255 is parallel to the plane of the axes of the burners 91 mounted on the bar, one of which is shown in a thin line, the burner nozzles being low. distance in front of the plate plane. This can have a sufficient width to protect the flames of several burners from the wind. This width can be 350 mm, and the dimension of the plate in the axial direction of the tube 254 from 180 to 200 mm. By choosing the pairs of holes used for fixing the tube 254 to the wing 250, the position of the plate can be adjusted along the axis of the burners, as a function of the distance between them and the ground, this

  distance being itself adjustable as indicated above.

  The wing 250 of the square also has an opening 256 elongated in an arc having the center of the

  hole 251 and for radius the center distance between holes 251 and 252.

  The slot 256 and the hole 251 make it possible to fix the tube 254, by means of two pairs of holes provided in the wall of the latter carrying the plate 255 and the opposite wall, so that the plate extends in the same plane as the wing 250 of the bracket, and this in an adjustable position by pivoting around the axis of the hole 251. In this orientation, the plate 254 can be arranged between a row of cultivated plants and a burner which is located nearby in this row to protect the plants from the flame. Here again, the inclination adjustment makes it possible for the plate 255 to extend substantially to the ground, without penetrating into it, taking into account the height of the burners. It is also possible to provide an adaptable accessory on the profile 224 and / or the profile 222, and specially intended for the lateral protection function, the edge

  lower of the protective plate having a polygo-

  nal and / or rounded allowing it to extend very close to the

  floor over a certain length, in different slopes.

  The lateral extension accessory shown in FIG. 16 is intended to increase the width over which the burners can be distributed, for optimal use of these, when their mutual spacing must be large, in particular in large-scale weed cultivation and cereal culture. This accessory comprises a profile 260 with a length greater than 3 m, which for better rigidity is preferably of the aforementioned IPN type. This profile is fixed by respective connecting elements 261, 262 to the wings 263, 264 of two hinges 265, 266, the other wing of each hinge being fixed on the right branch 8 of the strip of the chassis of the device, the two hinges being offset relative to each other along this branch and having the same horizontal pivot axis. The two hinges allow the profile 260 to pivot around their axis so that its own axis remains in a plane perpendicular thereto. In the horizontal orientation of the profile 260, the planes of the core and of the wings of the latter are parallel to those of the webs and of the wings of the profiles 55 and 61, the lower wing of the profile 260 being substantially at the same height as the wing of the profile 61. In the vicinity of the free end of the profile 260, its core is pierced with holes 267 for the bolting of a yoke 268 in which pivots a wheel 269 intended to roll on the ground. Profile 260 receives, on its lower wing, burner supports similar to those mounted on profiles 55 and 61. In addition, an additional T-profile 270 is connected to the lower wing of profile 260 by burner supports of so as to extend the working width beyond the free end of the latter. The pivoting of the profile 260 around the axis of the hinges allows the wheel 269 to follow the surface of the ground, in particular when the tractor tilts laterally due to its irregularities, and also makes it possible to raise the profile substantially at the

  vertical to limit the overall dimensions of the device

  tif between two phases of use. Of course, one can also provide a left extension accessory fixed to the branch 7 of the chassis. For example, two extension accessories each comprising a profile 260 with a useful length of 3 m beyond which a profile 270 protrudes over a length of 1 m, mounted on either side of a chassis whose burner bar has a useful length of 2 m,

  provide a working width of 10 m.

  Figures 17 and 18 show a sheet metal box which can be placed on the chassis of the device, composed of a rectangular tank 230 and a cover 231 articulated by a

  hinge 232 on the upper edge of a wall 233 of the tank.

  A sheet metal partition 234 parallel to the wall 233 delimits in the tank 230, from the bottom 235 thereof, a relatively narrow compartment 236, adjacent to the wall 233 over the entire length thereof. The remaining space 237 is

  intended to receive the set of burners supplied with the appliance.

  Two superimposed horizontal sheets 238 extend over the whole

  the surface of space 237, and are pierced with circular holes

  laires not shown to each accommodate the nozzle 96 of a burner. The space 237 is subdivided, above the sheets 238, by two transverse partitions 239, each extending between the partition 234 and the wall 240 of the tank opposite the wall 233, thus delimiting three subspaces in which the burners are housed of different diameters and different powers. For example, it is planned to provide five low-power burners, five medium-power burners and three high-power burners, for each row of three tanks that can be mounted on the chassis, i.e. 10 + 10 + 6 burners for the two-row device illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. The cover 231 has a flat wall 241, horizontal both in the closed position and in the open position, by pivoting around the hinge 232. A calculator 242 is fixed on the internal face of the wall 241, turned upwards in the open position, and FIG. 18 shows a block 243 of preprinted sheets placed next to the calculator. The

  242 calculator is programmed to help the user

  in the choice of parameters for adjusting the apparatus for a given treatment, and each sheet of block 243 serves

  to write down the characteristics of a treatment.

  Block 243 can be placed, when not in use, in compartment 236, which can also receive

various tools.

  The chassis of the device according to the invention can be mounted not at the rear of the tractor as described above, but at the front thereof, in particular when the latter has at the front suitable fixing means, which allows the driver to more easily monitor operation. It is also possible to distribute the components of the device on two chassis mounted respectively.

  front and rear, thus achieving a balance

  brage of charges. In certain circumstances, it is

  interesting to have two respective burner burners

  front and rear. This is the case in particular for desiccation treatments, the water vapor extracted from the plants by the first ramp having time to dissipate in the atmosphere before the passage of the second ramp and therefore not detrimental to the efficiency flames produced by it. The weeder illustrated in FIGS. 19 to 22 comprises a main carriage 301 and an auxiliary carriage 302, which can be mutually assembled to form a compound carriage 300. Each of the carriages 301 and 302 comprises a frame based on steel tubes forming two longitudinal members s extending substantially horizontally in the same longitudinal direction, namely left and right beams 303 for the main carriage 301 and left and right beams 304 for the auxiliary carriage 302. The two beams 303 and the two beams 304 have the same mutual spacing , this spacing and the length of the two pairs of beams being sufficient to provide stable support for respective tanks of 13 kg of liquefied propane under pressure. The beams 303 are deflected locally towards the

  bottom in 307, appreciably mid-length, to accommodate, above

  beneath the tank 305, the cross section of a tube 308 extending horizontally and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The tube 308 is welded to the side members 303 and extends beyond the diameter of the reservoir 305 to the left and to the right. A left wheel 309 is mounted so as to rotate freely around the tube 308. Another tube 310 is guided in sliding inside the tube 308, and carries at its right end, projecting from the latter, a wheel 311. The walls of the tubes 308 and 310 are crossed, vertically from top to bottom, by several holes 312 aligned along their axis. A pin pin 313 engages in holes in each of the two tubes and allows the tube 310 to be fixed in an adjustable position, along its axis, relative to the tube 308, and to thus adjust

  the mutual spacing of the wheels so as to ensure stability

  maximum trolley capacity depending on the available width

  for its circulation. Figures 20 and 21 illustrate respec-

  minimum and maximum spacings, which are for example 50 and 75 cm. A front axle 314 and a rear axle 315 of the auxiliary carriage, similar in construction to the axle formed by the tubes 308 and 310 and the wheels 309 and 311, are mounted in the same way on the longitudinal members 304, except that the outer tubes of the axles are fixed to the lower generators of the longitudinal members, which remain rectilinear, and that the wheels 316 have a smaller diameter than that of the wheels 309 and 311. To each of the longitudinal members 303, 304 is connected an upright 317, 318

  rising vertically in the vertical plane of the spar.

  To allow the reservoirs to be supported by their genera-

  trices on the uprights, the side members extend rearward somewhat beyond the plumb of the uprights and are

  connect to these by double elbows 319 comp-

  nant a lower elbow whose concavity is turned towards the front and an upper elbow whose concavity is turned towards the rear. Each upright, at its upper end, is connected, by means of a bend, to a bar 320, 321 rising obliquely towards the rear at a slight angle relative to the horizontal, this angle being the same for the bars 320 of the carriage 301 and for the bars 321 of the carriage 302. The two bars 320 are joined at their rear end by a transverse handle 322 in the shape of a U

  comprising a straight bar 323 parallel to the axles.

  The longitudinal members 303, the uprights 317, the bars 320 and the handle 322 of the carriage 301 are formed by a single tube

  elbow. The two end regions 324 of this tube, extending

  gant forward the beams 303, are slightly raised relative to the horizontal, and welded by their edges to the core of a T-shaped section 325 whose wing is turned downwards. This profile, another identical profile 326 and three flame production units 327 similar to those described above with the aid of FIGS. 3 to 6, aligned along these profiles, are interconnected in the same way as the profiles 55 and 61 and said units. Taking into account the inclination of the end regions 324 of the chassis, and consequently of the webs and the wings of the profiles, the axes of the burners 328 of the units 327 are slightly inclined

forward.

  The chassis of the carriage 302 comprises two bent tubes respectively

  tively left and right each forming a spar 304, an upright 318 and a bar 321. The spars 304 are longer than the spars 303 and the bars 321 much shorter than the bars 320. Each of the two carriages has a hoop 329 fixed from removably at both ends at

  legs 330 integral with the uprights 317, 318, which allows

  try to keep the tanks 305, 306 applied against the latter. The main carriage 301, equipped with its

  tank 305, constitutes a self-contained treatment device

  me. The flame production units 327 are connected together by flexible pipes such as the pipes 109 in FIG. 6, and connected by a pipe such as the pipe 108 to a regulator mounted on the outlet valve of the tank 305. The carriage 301 can also be coupled to

  carriage 302, the chassis of these two carriages being mutual-

  joined together, for example by bolts, in two lower front junction zones and two rear upper junction zones. In each of the front junction zones, the rear region of a spar 303 rests on the front region of a spar 304, projecting in front of the wheels 316. In each of the rear junction zones, the middle region of a bar 320 rests on the total length of a bar 321. The compound carriage thus produced can receive either one of the tanks 305 and 306, or these two tanks at the same time. In the latter case, the outputs of the two tanks are connected by a conventional coupler on which the regulator is mounted. The two tanks carried by the compound carriage allow a larger area to be treated without interruption than the single tank carried by the main carriage alone. The coupling of the two carriages can also be used, without transporting two tanks, to improve rolling on difficult terrain, thanks to the three axles. The relatively large diameter of the front wheels makes rolling in loose terrain easier. The other four wheels, which only have to follow the trail of the first two, can be of a smaller diameter, which reduces their

  cost and overall length.

  If the insufficient resistance of the ground and / or the unfavorable climatic conditions do not allow to work properly with one or two 13 kg tanks on board, it is possible to connect the burners carried by the main carriage or by the compound carriage to a fixed tank kg, or to two fixed coupled tanks of 13 or 35 kg, via a sufficiently long flexible pipe, for example 25 m. It is therefore advantageous to provide a standardized male / female connection at the outlet of the regulator, which can be separated to insert the long pipe.

  The six-wheel configuration of the compound cart is particularly

  particularly suitable for very uneven soils, especially after plowing. It is also possible to provide twin wheels, and / or tracks connecting the wheels of the

different axles.

  The flame production units 327 perform exactly the same functions as those described above, with the exception of the exchange of the burners, these being of one type for this appliance. Their structure is therefore somewhat

  little simplified, which reduces their manufacturing cost.

  Each of them comprises jaws 331 and 332, a threaded rod 333, a handle 334 and a nut 335 identical to the elements 64, 65, 67, 69 and 70. The clamp 79 is replaced by a clamp 336 of a general shape similar, but the back 337 of which is opposite the curved lips 338 and is not pierced. The roller 80 is removed and the rod 339 of the burner rests directly on the clamping rod 333 which engages in a groove similar to the groove 85, formed on

  the rod 339, immobilizing the latter in translation.

  FIG. 24 is now described, which shows an example of a logical diagram usable for programming the calculator 242. In this diagram, the literal symbols appearing in the rectangles representing the stages of the processing have the following meaning. ACQ designates a data acquisition step, in which the calculator displays a message asking the user to enter data, and saves the data entered in response to the

  message. MES indicates a calculation step followed by the affi-

  chage of an information message. CAL indicates a calculation step not followed by a message. The A / B symbol indicates that the messages are different depending on whether the treatment takes place in pre-emergence or in post-emergence, i.e. before or after the

  removal of soil from the crops to be protected, information collected

  binds during the first step of data acquisition. The letter B alone indicates a display step that takes place

  only in the case of post-emergence treatment.

  The program uses a number of constants

  naked in memory in the calculator and relating to the team-

  device. These constants can include: number of tanks that can be placed on the chassis; stabilized pressure values which can be supplied by the regulator (s); number of burners available of each type, with, for each type and each of the pressure values, the characteristics of use of the burners such as flow rate, width of

  flame and flame length. For example, detainees

  deurs have three working positions corresponding to pressures of 3, 2.2 and 1.5 bar respectively, and the equipment includes six large burners, ten medium burners and ten low burners, the combination of the three pressures and three types of burners providing a range of nine gas flows

stepped from 3.2 to 0.4 kg / h.

  In step ACQ 1, the user must enter three data relating to the nature of the herbs to be eliminated, and to the state of progress of the growth of these and the crops to be protected. The different herbs are classified into categories by increasing flame resistance. Each of these categories, as well as different stages of growth, can be associated with numeric keys to be pressed on the calculator keyboard. It should also be indicated whether the treatment takes place in pre-emergence or post-emergence. The ACQ 2 A / B stage corresponds to the introduction of

  specific data of the two types of treatment. In pre-

  we just indicate the working width, that is to say

  say the length of the bar on which the burners will be distributed, or the width of the strip of land that will be treated on each pass. In post-emergence, the width of each flame segment, that of each flameless segment and the number of flame segments are indicated. In both cases, the area to be treated is also indicated. In the case of post-emergence processing, the MES 1 B step corresponds to the display of calculated data to be transcribed on block 243, namely the working width and the percentage of this width occupied by the flame. In step ACQ 3 A / B, the program suggests a number of burners to use and invites the user to accept or modify it. In post-emergence, the suggested number corresponds to two burners for each flame segment if the number of available burners allows, or failing that one burner per segment. In pre-emergence, the suggested number is calculated according to the working width. In stage MES 2 is calculated and displayed the average difference between the burners on the bar, which defines the density of the flame. This density is qualified as low if the difference is greater than 20 cm and high if it is less than 6 cm. In step ACQ 4, the user is invited to indicate the number of 13 kg tanks and the number of 35 kg tanks he has. This invitation is repeated with a message

  error if the sum of the two numbers entered is greater than

  laughing at the capacity of the chassis. In step ACQ 5, the user

  he introduces three data relating to the climatic conditions, namely the atmospheric temperature in C, the wind speed in km / h and a mark indicating the degree of humidity, for example the number 1 if the grasses are dry, 2 in the event of dew and 3 in case of rain. These three data have an influence on the quantity of gas necessary to carry out the treatment. In addition, the temperature data has an influence on the drawing capacity of the tanks, to which we will return later. In step CAL 1, the program calculates, from the data acquired in step ACQ 2 A / B, the quantity of gas necessary for the treatment envisaged under optimal conditions as regards the climatic criteria and the characteristics of the herbs, by example on the basis of 25 kg of gas per hectare of soil actually affected by the flames, then corrects this optimal value by taking into account the data acquired in ACQ 1 and ACQ 5, then deduces it, taking into account the number of burners used and taking as the basis for calculation an arbitrary unit flow,

  a theoretical speed of the tractor (basic speed) allows

so much to carry out the treatment.

  The purpose of the step CAL 2 is to calculate, by successive iterations, the real working speed and consequently the duration of the treatment, taking into account the capacity for drawing off the tanks mentioned above. To this end, the program uses the relationships, known empirically in the art, between the flow of gas withdrawn from a tank and the time for which this tank can be used, i.e. the time during which the pressure gas inside it, which decreases as a result of the cooling caused by the vaporization of the liquefied gas, remains greater than the working pressure of the regulator. In particular, the program can use relationships, contained in memory, giving the maximum withdrawal rate as a function of the ambient temperature, for different periods of use, for example half an hour, two hours

  and six o'clock. Taking into account the assortment of reservations

  see available and the number of burners selected, the program first calculates the maximum available flow per burner at the temperature considered, for a period of half an hour. The duration of the treatment is then calculated from this result and from previously acquired or calculated data, namely working width, surface to be treated and basic speed. If this duration is compatible with the assumption of the duration of use of the tanks (half an hour) the program searches for the pressure-type combination of burners providing the maximum power compatible with the maximum calculated flow, and the corresponding flame characteristics are used in the following steps. If no pressure-burner pair is suitable,

  step CAL 2 is repeated by selecting a duration of use

  longer, two hours, then six hours later. If it is not possible to determine parameters allowing the desired treatment in less than six hours, a message is displayed (step MES 3) indicating to the user that he must increase the total capacity of the tanks, or decrease the number of burners or the surface to be treated, and the program is repeated from step ACQ 2 A / B, by proposing, for each of the data to be entered, the value selected during the previous execution of the

same step.

  When the pressure-type pair of burners has been selected in step CAL 2, the program deduces the effective forward speed of the tractor, starting from the basic speed, substituting if necessary the actual flow rate of each burner at the value taken into account for the calculation of the basic speed. The new speed thus calculated is if necessary corrected to take account of the characteristics of the herbs, if these have not been taken into account previously, then the duration of the treatment is deduced therefrom. In stage MES 4, the following information is displayed, to be transcribed on block 243: number and reference of the burners, distance between the lower end of the latter and the ground (calculated as a function of the flame length associated with the torque pressure-burners, and to be adjusted as described above in

  relation to figure 12), working position of detainees

  deurs, speed of advance, percentage of flame. The MES A / B stage corresponds to the display of messages specific to pre-emergence and post-emergence treatments. In pre-emergence, the message recommends a lateral inclination of the burners, that is to say an angle between their axis and the longitudinal direction of the bar, equal to 45, and indicates whether the percentage of flame calculated, that is to say the ratio between the width of the ground actually covered by the flames and the working width, whether or not 85%, a limit value allowing an optimal result to be obtained. In post-emergence, the message indicates whether the percentage of flame is lower or higher than the theoretical value displayed in step MES 1 B and recommends an inclination also of 45 in the first case and a different inclination, corresponding to a straightening of the axis of the burners and consequently a reduction in the lateral spread of the flames, in the second case. In step ACQ 6, the program displays the duration of the treatment as calculated, in hours and minutes, as well as the gas cost of this, calculated on the basis of a price per kg contained in memory, and requests to the user if the

  conditions thus defined suit him. In the affirma-

  ve, the program is over. If not, it resumes at step ACQ 2 A / B, under the same conditions as after step

MES 3.

  To make it more convenient to use the calculator, it can contain in memory default values data to be introduced during the ACQ steps, which are proposed during the first execution of these steps,

  the user can either validate or modify them.

  In addition, the calculator may contain other software.

  skies useful for thermal weed control treatments, for example a program making it possible to calculate the time of germination of cultivated plants as a function in particular of the temperature of the soil, and to determine accordingly the

  best time for pre-emergence weeding, immediate-

  before leaving the land, and / or a database containing a list of weeds likely to be encountered, with the identifying characteristics of each of them (appearance, nature of the soil, etc.), facilitating for user identification, by sorting or selection

  according to these characteristics, herbs actually present

  your. Each sheet of block 243 preferably comprises three areas intended to note respectively the data to be entered by the user during the steps ACQ, the data displayed by the program during the steps MES and the opinion of the user on the result of the processing, this advice being able to help him more easily choose the data of the first range, or lead him to adapt those of the second range, during a subsequent processing. The first range can contain a table with two columns, the first column containing the designation of the different parameters (working width, surface to be treated, atmospheric temperature, etc.), and the second column of locations for writing the

  value of these parameters as introduced into the calculation

  the table specifying which parameters are relevant only in pre-emergence or post-emergence. In or under the table can be given indications making it possible to evaluate the wind speed, for example by observing the behavior of the leaves of the trees, or of the fumes. With regard to the grasses to be destroyed, the first area can contain places to write down the names of the various grasses present, with a numerical marker corresponding to their respective degree of resistance, as well as a box to report the most

high of all herbs.

  FIG. 24 represents an example of a grid which can be supplied with the weeder composed of a main carriage and an auxiliary carriage, as described above in relation

  with Figures 19 to 23, to assist the user in determining

  ner the best conditions of use of the device, the latter being, in an exemplary embodiment, equipped with a regulator providing stabilized pressures of 3 bars,

  2.2 bars and 1.5 bars, and three non-interchangeable burners

  bles ensuring gas flows of 1.8, 1.4 and 1.1 kg / h respectively for these three pressures. The grid contains twelve images arranged in three columns and four rows, each representing a configuration of the appliance chosen from the following five configurations: main carriage alone, or compound carriage, without gas tank; main cart only with a tank; compound cart with a tank mounted on the auxiliary cart; cart composed with two tanks. The grid can be used for example

  to select the configuration to adopt for the

  ment of an area of 0.1 ha in a period of approximately 1 h, depending on the atmospheric temperature and the hardness of the soil, with the following constant parameters: working width 60 cm, pressure 1.5 bar, burner tilted at 45 per

  relative to the direction of the bar, flame curtain 89%.

  The four rows of the grid correspond respectively to hard, semi-hard, loose and very loose soils, and the three columns at temperatures of at least 15 C, 10 C and C. The boxes on the grid are designated by one of the letters A, B and c for the first, second and third columns respectively, followed by a number from 1 to 4 indicating the rank. Given the withdrawal capacities of the tanks mentioned above, a 13 kg tank is sufficient to carry out the treatment at a temperature at least equal to 15 C (column A), this treatment having a duration of lh 9 min, for a speed d advance of 1.4 km / h, at this last temperature. If the ground is hard, the single tank can in principle be carried by the only main carriage, as illustrated in box A1. However, the downward arrow drawn in this box indicates that in case of

  rolling difficulty it is necessary to pass to the configuration

  tion illustrated in box A2, intended for a semi-hard floor, in which the single tank is placed on the auxiliary carriage of the compound carriage, this configuration implying less maneuverability than the previous one, but lower ground pressure. This second configuration is also intended for loose or very loose soil (boxes A3 and A4). In the latter two cases, the horizontal arrow indicates that in the event of excessive effort, the tank must be removed from the carriage and connected to the burners by a flexible long pipe, for example 25 m. The authorized speed increases to 1.6 km / h, corresponding to a treatment time of 1 h, if the temperature is 20 C, and to 1.8 km / h, for a duration of 53 min, if the temperature is of C. The indication of the speed and the duration as a function of the temperature can appear below column A. If the temperature is 10 C (column B) the treatment can be carried out using two tanks, which can be loaded on the compound trolley (boxes B1 and B2) if the ground is hard or semi-hard. In the second case, if the effort is excessive, you can go to the configuration provided for a loose floor (box B3), in which the main carriage is used alone, without being loaded with a tank, and is connected by a long pipe to a 35 kg fixed tank or to two 13 kg fixed coupled tanks. Here again, in the event of effort, an arrow suggests adopting the configuration of box B4, provided for a single piece of furniture, which differs from the previous one by the addition of the auxiliary carriage. For this

  temperature, the forward speed is 1.2 km / h, corresponding to

  at a treatment time of lh 22 min. At a temperature of 5 C, the racking capacity does not allow the continuous treatment of an area of 0.1 ha using the two 13 kg tanks which can be loaded on the device. This area should therefore be subdivided into two 500 m2 fractions and a set of two tanks allocated to each fraction. The trolley configurations to be used are the same as at 10 C. For a soft or very soft floor, the two 13 kg tanks can be replaced by a 35 kg tank at 10 C, and at 5 C, they are preferably by two 35 kg tanks. At this latter temperature, the speed of advance is 0.9 km / h, corresponding to a duration of lh 41 min for the treatment of the total surface. The configurations of boxes C3 and C4,

  associated with two 35 kg tanks, allow work-

  Also at a temperature of 0 C, the speed then being 0.7 km / h and the treatment time of 1 hour 4 min for

each fraction of 500 m2.

  Other grids similar to that of FIG. 25 can be supplied with the apparatus, each grid corresponding to a surface to be treated and each column affecting the

  different configurations possible at different temperatures

  working res. It is also possible to provide similar grids in which the different columns correspond to different degrees of humidity and / or to different wind speeds, for the same temperature.

  atmospheric, these possibilities not being limiting.

  A more elaborate version of the device according to FIGS. 19 to 22, which may include, like that of FIGS. 1 to 12, interchangeable burners of different types and in variable number and whose distance from the ground is adjustable, can be supplied not with grids similar to those of figure 25, but with a calculator provided with a program

  simplified compared to that described above.

  The device according to the invention can be used in crops under tunnels or plastic greenhouses. The cart type device, which, although operated by hand, allows

  to treat relatively large surfaces without fatigue

  tes, is particularly suitable for this use. The tractor models, thanks to their optimized flame power, can also be used safely in this

type of application.

  As is already apparent from the above, the different features of the invention, which have been described in particular combinations, can be combined between

  they differently. The invention encompasses all the features

  described, individually and in all their combinations, as far as the combinations considered,

  or the dissociation of characteristics described in combination

  sound, are technically feasible.

Claims (62)

Claims   1. A flame treatment device for agricultural soil, comprising a frame (1, 2) suitable for being moved above the ground in a horizontal direction of movement and a   multiplicity of burners (91) associated with supply means   tation in combustible fluid, aligned on the chassis in a horizontal spreading direction, characterized in that each burner is part of a flame production unit comprising a burner support (64-70) suitable for being   detachably attached and in a continuously adjustable position   lying along a bar (55, 61) extending in said spreading direction.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the spreading direction is substantially perpendicular   to said direction of movement.   3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2,   characterized in that each burner is capable of emitting a flame directed along an axis (97) and is mounted on its support with the possibility of orientation of said axis around a pivot axis (A) and perpendicular thereto, the pivot axes of all burners being parallel to each other and   perpendicular to said spreading direction.   4. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that said bar comprises a first profile (55) and at least a second profile (61), extending side by side in said spreading direction, the first profile and / or at least one burner support being fixed permanently on the chassis, in that each burner support is suitable for being mounted and immobilized either on the first and second juxtaposed profiles or on one of them in the absence of the other, without modifying its position in the plane of the cross section of the profiles, and in that the set of flame production units comprises a first sub-assembly of at least two units, the supports of which are mounted on the two profiles and ensure the joining thereof between them and to the chassis, via the first profile, the position of the second   profile at least being adjustable in the direction of spreading   is lying. 5. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that said assembly comprises a second sub-assembly of at least one unit, the support of which is mounted on a single profile, in a region thereof extending beyond the length of the other profile.   6. Device according to one of claims 4 and 5,   characterized in that each burner support comprises two jaws (64, 65) and clamping means (67, 70) capable of urging the two jaws towards one another by pinching each of the two profiles together, each jaw   having cooperation surfaces with each profile.   7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that   that the respective cooperation surfaces of the two jaws   res, as well as the corresponding regions of each profile, are substantially symmetrical to one another with respect to a first plane of symmetry (P1) parallel to the spreading direction and in that the surfaces of cooperation of the jaws with the two profiles respectively, as well as the corresponding regions of the respective sections, are symmetrical with respect to each other with respect to a second plane of symmetry (P2) parallel to the spreading direction and perpendicular to the first plane of symmetry, the two sections being disposed respectively of on either side of the second plane of symmetry and being offset with respect to each other in a direction contained in the first plane of symmetry.   8. Device according to one of claims 6 and 7,   characterized in that each profile has a wing (58, 63) projecting towards a jaw and that said jaw has two notches for receiving the respective wings of the two profiles, the wing of a profile cooperating with the notch corresponding, in the absence of the other profile, to lock the jaw, under the action of the clamping means, in a position relative to the other jaw of the same support practically identical to the position taken during clamping on the two profiles. 9. Device according to claim 8, attached to claim 7, characterized in that each profile comprises a core (56, 62) extending along the first plane of symmetry (P1) and at least one wing (58, 63) roughly uniform thickness extending perpendicular to the web, symmetrically on either side of said plane from the edge   of the core facing the other profile.   10. Device according to one of claims 6 to 9,   characterized in that the clamping means comprise a clamping rod (67), for example threaded, along which the two jaws can slide one towards   the other, the wings (58, 63) of the profiles being advantageous-   practically in contact with said rod.   11. Device according to claim 10, attached to claim 7, characterized in that the axis (A) of the clamping rod extends in the second plane of symmetry (P2)   perpendicular to the first plane of symmetry (P1).   12. Device according to one of claims 6 to 11,   characterized in that each burner is fixed so removable on its support.   13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that it comprises a set of burners of different powers capable of being mounted as desired and in variable number on supports.   14. Device according to one of claims 12 and 13,   characterized in that each burner is integral with a burner rod (90) which is fixed to the support by pinching between two flanges (81, 82) using the clamping means, the clamping rod successively passing through the two jaws and the two flanges.   15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that the two flanges have respective lips (84) inclined towards one another and coming into contact with the burner rod, beyond the axis (97) of the latter relative to the clamping rod, so as to urge the burner rod towards the clamping rod, against a stop (80).   16. Device according to claim 15, characterized in that said stop is a roller (80) surrounding the clamping rod and having an annular groove (85) open radially outward to receive the burner rod.   17. Device according to one of claims 14 to 16,   attached to claim 2, characterized in that the axis of the burner rod constitutes the axis of the flame (97) and that the flanges can be placed with respect to the jaws in an adjustable angular position around the axis of the   clamping rod, which constitutes said pivot axis (A).   18. Device according to claim 17, characterized in that the jaws and the flanges have mutual indexing means making it possible to orient each burner in predefined directions.   19. Device according to claim 18, characterized in that the mutual indexing means comprise at least one   protrusion provided on a jaw and a multiplicity of hollow   elements provided in at least one flange of each burner support, said jaw being able to be mounted on the bar, by rotation of a half-turn about the pivot axis, or in a position where the projection can cooperate with the recesses , either in a position where the projection remains out   of contact with the flange to make an orientation adjustment continuous tion.   20. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the supply means comprise a distribution block suitable for being connected to a fluid reserve (40, 41), a fluid inlet block (105) associated with each burner and having a fluid inlet ( 106), a fluid outlet to said burner and a fluid outlet (107) to the outside, at least one flexible fluid inlet pipe (108) connecting the distribution block to the inlet of a block d inlet and a series of flexible fluid transmission pipes (109) each connecting the external outlet and the inlet of two neighboring inlet blocks respectively so that each burner is connected to an inlet pipe via his own arrival block and if necessary other arrival blocks and   corresponding transmission lines.   21. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the supply means comprise a regulator (137, 138) of combustible gas comprising several working positions corresponding to preset pressures and for which the same burner operates at   different thermal powers.   22. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the chassis defines a housing for at least one cylindrical tank (40, 41) of liquefied propane under pressure.   23. Device according to claim 22, characterized in that said tank is housed upright with the opening of exit up.   24. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the chassis (1, 2) comprises means (23, 24) for its attachment to an agricultural tractor (3),   especially at the back of it.   25. Device according to claim 24, characterized in that   that it includes remote control means (157, 158) allowing   both the immediate interruption of the fluid supply to   burners from the tractor driving position.   26. Device according to one of claims 24 and 25,   characterized in that the chassis comprises a fixed front part (1) carried at a distance from the ground, supporting tanks   of combustible gas and if necessary said distribution block   tion and / or said regulator, and a movable rear part (2) articulated on the fixed part around an axis (53) parallel to said spreading direction, carrying said bar and the flame producing units, the rear part can take a lowered working position in which the burners are close to the ground and a raised resting position. 27. Device according to claim 26, characterized in that the rear part is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder (205, 209) carried by the chassis and suitable for being connected to the tractor hydraulic system.   28. Device according to claim 27, characterized in that the supply means comprise control means (167, 168) coupled to said hydraulic cylinder so as to put the burners on standby when the rear part is raised.   29. Device according to one of claims 24 to 28, characterized in that the chassis defines housings   can each receive, as desired, cylindrical tanks   ques of the same diameter and two different heights, for example propane tanks of 13 kg (40) and 35 kg (41), and has upper retaining elements (43) adapted to cooperate only with the tanks of greater height and lower retainers (42)   suitable for cooperating with tanks of both types.   30. Device according to one of claims 24 to 29,   characterized in that the chassis comprises at least two uprights (14, 15, 16) offset from each other in the direction of movement, two adjacent uprights defining between them a housing for a row of fuel gas tanks laterally aligned, each post extending laterally over a distance roughly corresponding to the length of a row. 31. Device according to claim 30, characterized in that at least the front end upright (14) comprises two   lower legs (20) deviating from one another lateral-   ment and down from a junction zone (21), said junction zone and the lower ends of the two legs being provided with gripping elements (23, 24) allowing the chassis to be fixed at three points on the tractor. 32. Device according to claim 31, characterized in that each upright comprising two lower legs also comprises two upper legs (22) deviating from one another laterally and upward from said junction point.   33. Device according to claim 32, characterized in that each upright is formed by assembling two substantially identical parts (17, 18) each constituting the   lower and upper legs located on the same side.   34. Device according to one of claims 32 and 33,   attached to claim 29, characterized in that a lower retaining element (42) and an upper retaining element (43) for the same row of tanks are mounted respectively on the lower legs (20) and on the   upper legs (22) of the same amount.   35. Device according to one of claims 31 to 34,   characterized in that the frame comprises an elongated middle structural element (29) extending obliquely downwards and rearwards from the junction zone (21) of the front end upright (14) and two elements of lower elongated structure (12, 13) approaching each other towards the rear, respectively from the lower ends of the two lower legs of this same amount, the rear ends of these three elongated elements being   joined together in a rear junction area (33).   36. Device according to claim 35, characterized in that   that each row of tanks is composed of two sub-   assemblies which can be introduced laterally and disposed respectively on either side of the median elongate element, the stroke for introducing a first reservoir of   each subset being limited by this element.   37. Device according to claim 36, characterized in that each row of tanks is associated with at least one retaining element (42, 43) pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis extending in the direction of alignment of the row and having two arms (46, 47), and if necessary spacers (48), extending substantially radially relative to this axis, the arms projecting at both   ends of the row respectively, and each interca-   the insert inserted between two adjacent tanks of the same sub-assembly, in a retaining position, and the arms and   the dividers are erased to allow the reservoirs to pass   see in a loading / unloading position.   38. Device according to one of claims 30 to 37,   characterized in that it comprises at least two uprights, and / or at least two retaining elements, substantially identical to each other.   39. Device according to one of claims 30 to 38,   characterized in that it comprises a gas distribution block comprising collecting elements (111-113) each associated with a row of tanks and each having two mutually parallel opposite front faces and an internal cavity (128, 130) opening into the two front faces and communicating with lateral inlet orifices which can each be connected to one of the tanks in the row, and means of assembly (118, 125, 127) of these elements in the form of a stack in which they are in mutual contact by their front faces, the cavities of the various collecting elements being connected to one another in leaktight manner, through the front faces in mutual contact, to form a collecting pipe (121) communicating with all of the inlet orifices and opening downstream via one of the front faces at one end of the stack.   40. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the supply means comprise a safety valve allowing the immediate interruption of the supply of fluid to the burners and which can be easily located and actuated manually both from the   lateral sides than from the rear of the device.   41. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the supply means comprise a safety valve provided with a direct manual actuation pusher (154) and a remote actuation cable (157) connected to the tractor driving position, the pusher and the cable acting coaxially on the same part (144) which   slides in a body (110) for closing the tap.   42. Device according to claim 41, characterized in that the pusher projects upwards and that the cable   goes down, from the body.   43. Device according to one of claims 41 and 42,   characterized in that the supply means comprise a pilot adjustment valve (173, 174) provided with a rotary operating member (173) disposed next to the pusher (154) and whose axis of rotation is parallel to the axis of the pusher.   44. Device according to one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that it comprises a gas distribution block bringing together in a compact and rigid form all the functions for controlling the supply of burners with combustible gas, connected by pipes upstream to the tanks and downstream to the burners.   45. Device according to one of claims 20, 39 and 44,   characterized in that the distribution block comprises a body (110) in one piece traversed by the gas supplying the burners and defining for the latter a path on which are interposed means for performing one or more of the following functions : interruption of the supply, putting on standby, setting of a pilot, said stack of collecting elements (111-113) being able to be mounted upstream and said regulator (137, 138) downstream on the body.   46. Device according to one of claims 24 to 45,   attached to claim 4, characterized in that it   includes at least one rear extension accessory   both a connecting profile (221) of the same section as the first profile (55) and capable of being fixed in alignment with the latter, by means of the second profile (61), by means of a connection support similar to supports of   burners, a connecting bar (220) extending towards the rear   from the connection profile and carrying at least one additional profile (222, 223) parallel to the connection profile and the cross section of which is deduced from that of the latter by a rearward translation, the connection profile and the or the additional profiles having a small length compared to that of the first and second profiles and   that can receive respective flame production units   mutually aligned for soil treatment along a line extending in the direction of travel on one side of the chassis.   47. Device according to claim 46, characterized in that it comprises two rear extension accessories intended to be fixed respectively to the left and to the right of the chassis,   and if necessary at least one complementary profile extends   laterally from one to the other while being fixed to respective additional profiles thereof by supports, the complementary profile being able to receive flame producing units and / or tools for treatment soil mechanics.   48. Device according to claim 47, characterized in that it further comprises at least one protective accessory comprising a support (225-228) suitable for being fixed in an adjustable position along the complementary profile (224) and a plate (255) mounted on this support so as to extend substantially along a plane parallel to the plane of the axes of the burners mounted on said bar (55, 61), behind this latter plane and preferably in a variable position from top to bottom, so as to protect from the wind the flame of one or more burners, or in a plane perpendicular to the previous plane, in a lateral position relative to said burners and preferably adjustable in inclination around an axis parallel to the direction d spreading, so as to limit   the lateral spread of the flame curtain.   49. Device according to one of claims 24 to 48,   characterized in that it comprises at least one lateral extension accessory comprising an extension profile (260), in particular of a length of several meters, suitable for being fixed at one end to one side (8) of the chassis so as to extend outwards in the spreading direction, and provided at its opposite end with a wheel (269) suitable for rolling on the ground, the extension profile being able to receive flame producing units and being articulated on the chassis so as to pivot from top to bottom to follow the unevenness of the ground and / or to be folded upwards by limiting the overall dimensions in width of the device outside periods of use.   50. Device according to one of claims 24 to 49,   characterized in that it includes an electronic calculator   that (242) programmed to indicate to the user, in   input data function consisting of the characteristics   ticks of a treatment to be carried out and external conditions   output data consisting of setting values enabling this treatment to be carried out optimally, in particular by avoiding excessive gas flows leading to a pressure drop in the tanks, as well   than the corresponding processing time.   51. Device according to claim 50, characterized in that the program takes into account at least one of the following data:   - for the characteristics of the treatment: superficial   cie of the soil to be treated, width of the band - or width of each elementary band and the interval between bands and number of elementary bands - to be treated at each pass, number of burners used, nature and degree of development of the grasses to be destroyed ,; - for outdoor conditions: number and capacity of available gas tanks, atmospheric temperature, wind speed, precipitation level; - for the setting values: number and type of burners, working position of the regulator, distance of the burners to the ground and their inclination, speed of movement   of the tractor, duration of treatment, amount of gas consumed.   52. Device according to one of claims 50 and 51,   characterized in that the programmed calculator displays on a screen successive messages asking the user to enter the input data by means of a keyboard, then displays the output data.   53. Device according to claim 52, characterized in that   that when it is not possible to satisfy the conditions   defined by the input data, or that the calculated processing time does not suit the user, the program offers the user the possibility of triggering the display of a new series of messages each asking for confirmation or replacing one of the input data, then displaying the output data taking into account   input data thus modified.   54. Device according to one of claims 50 to 53,   characterized in that it comprises storage means (243) for storing in written form the input and output data relating to a processing, as well as where appropriate the remarks of the user on the latter. 55. Device according to claim 54, characterized in that the storage means comprise a block of preprinted forms (243) comprising locations to write data to it.   56. Device according to one of claims 50 to 55,   characterized in that the calculator (242) and if necessary the storage means (243) are housed in a box (230, 231) mounted on the chassis and containing a set of burners from which the burners can be chosen use for each treatment.   57. Device according to claim 56, characterized in that   that the calculator and if necessary the means of memorization   tion are fixed on the internal face of a wall portion (241) of the box which can be folded down with said face   facing upwards when using the calculator.   58. Device according to one of claims 1 to 23,   characterized in that the chassis defines a housing for at least one fuel fluid reservoir and is provided with at least one axle and a transverse rear handle,   thus forming a clean cart to be pushed by hand.   59. Device according to claim 58, characterized in that it comprises a main carriage and an auxiliary carriage each defining a housing for a fluid tank, for example a 13 kg propane tank, the main carriage having an axle, said handle and bar   transverse to receive the burners, in front of the es   god, and suitable for being used alone, and the auxiliary carriage having at least one axle, the main carriage and the auxiliary carriage having means of mutual assembly to form a compound carriage in which the housing and the axle of the auxiliary carriage are located behind those   of the main carriage and in front of the handle.   60. Device according to claim 59, characterized in that the auxiliary carriage has two axles, the wheels of which have a smaller diameter than those of the main carriage, the distance between the wheels of each of the three axles being preferably adjustable.   61. Device according to one of claims 59 and 60,   characterized in that it comprises a user guide proposing to the user for each treatment, according to external conditions, one of the following configurations: - main carriage provided with a tank; - compound cart with a single tank housed on the auxiliary cart; - compound cart with two tanks; compound cart with two tanks, and additional tanks provided for replacement thereof during processing; - main trolley without tank, connected by a flexible pipe to at least one fixed tank; - compound trolley without tank, connected by a   flexible pipe to at least one fixed tank.   62. Device according to claim 61, characterized in that the guide takes into account at least one of the following parameters: surface to be treated, atmospheric temperature, soil moisture, wind and hardness.