FR2837667A1 - Row crop sprayer has nozzles mounted on vertical telescopic supporting structure for remote-controlled height adjustment - Google Patents

Abstract

The crop sprayer, comprising a chassis (1) with a tank (3), a pumping unit (4) and spray nozzles (5), has the nozzles mounted on a vertical telescopic supporting structure (6) to permit remote-controlled height adjustment. The supporting structure has cross-members (8a, 8b, 8c) with nozzles on their ends, sliding vertically on uprights (7) and driven by actuators (16a, 16b, 16c) in the form of hydraulic power cylinders.

Description

a fishing rod.

  The present invention relates to a sprayer of plant protection products for row crops, in particular planted trees or shrubs.

  in line and forming, for example, trellised fruit hedges.

  To give such a user as much convenience as possible, the crop operator must be able to adapt his machine to a certain number of parameters specific to the various plots of his farm, this adaptation having to be possible in the shortest possible time. and this preferably without the user needing to leave the cockpit of his machine. These parameters are in particular the spacing of the rows of the different plots, the height of the hedges of plants, the shape and size of the trees or shrubs, the height of passage under the hail nets, possibly protecting the crop, etc. FR 2 808 708 in the name of the Applicant describes a puceriser for the kind of crops as mentioned above, capable of simultaneously spraying on several parallel rows of plants of an online culture, the puveriser being able to adapt very conveniently to the spacing between the rows, while ensuring that the nozzle spray distance from the

  is always respected regardless of the distance between the rows.

  However, the mechanism in question cannot conveniently adapt to other

  crop parameters, such as height or shape of plants.

  The object of the invention is to provide a sprayer allowing adaptation

immediate to such parameters.

  It therefore relates to a sprayer of phytosanitary products for row crops, in particular trees or shrubs planted in row and forming trellised hedges' comprising a frame, as well as a tank and a device for pumping and regulating puiserisation. , placed on this chassis, and a plurality of nozzles connected via flexible sheaths to said pumping device and regulating the puivisation to allow the distribution of the product on two parallel lines of the vegetation while the puiviser progresses in the span between these lines, characterized in that it comprises a supporting structure on which are mounted said nozzles, which is erected vertically on said chassis, and which is designed telescopic in vertical direction to allow remote-controlled adjustment

in height of said nozzles.

  Thanks to these features, the nozzle height adjustment is convenient and can be done during work and / or moving the sprayer to

  from the operator's station.

  According to other advantageous features of the invention; - Said supporting structure comprises a plurality of mounts slidingly mounted vertically with respect to each other, on vertical uprights integral with said chassis, these mounts each carrying at least two nozzles respectively on each side of the sprayer, and each being driven by an actuator arranged to allow its height adjustment relative to said 1 0 chassis; - Said actuators are respectively coupled to each other and to said mounts so that when adjusting the height of said nozzles, the height variations accumulate from the lower mount to the mount located at the top of said structure; said actuators are hydraulic cylinders; - Said cylinders are double acting and cascaded between a pressure source and a cover; - Said nozzles are mounted on said support structure so as to be manually adjustable in the lateral direction; - said nozzles are also mounted on said support structure

  so as to be adjustable in orientation by remote control.

  - Said supporting structure is also designed to be telescopic in the lateral direction to allow a remote-controlled adjustment of the lateral position of the nozzles located on each side of the puériser and thus an adaptation of the latter to the width of said span; - Each frame is equipped with two telescopic rods which are aligned horizontally which extend transversely on the sprayer and whose inner ends are fixed to said frame at a central point and whose outer ends carry said nozzles, these outer ends being connected to telescopic poles arranged vertically and extending respectively on each side of the sprayer between the outer ends of telescopic rods of two adjacent mounts, while an actuator is connected between one of said central fixed points and at least one of the poles located respectively on each side of the operator; - The rods of at least one of the pairs of horizontal telescopic rods are formed by hydraulic cylinders constituting said actuators; - the remote controlled adjustment of the lateral spacing of nozzles located at the same height on said support structure is differentiated as a function of the height of said support structure; the outer ends of the horizontal telescopic rods belonging to the lower mount of said support structure can be connected respectively to points of articulation provided on either side of the sprayer and integral with said chassis; - Each alignment of vertical telescopic poles located respectively on each side of the puériser can be articulated around a point of articulation provided at a predetermined location of its length and integral with one

  said mounts, an actuator being associated with each of these alignments.

  - Said articulation point is situated approximately halfway along the alignment of the telescopic poles; - Each alignment of telescopic poles located respectively on each side of the sprayer forms two sections whose contiguous ends can be articulated on the same articulation point secured to one of said

  mounts and an actuator is associated with each of these two sections.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear

  during the description which follows, given solely by way of example and

  made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: - Figure 1 is a perspective view of a sprayer according to the invention provided with means for adjusting the height of the spraying head, the adjustment being made at the lowest height; - Figure 2 shows the hydraulic control diagram of the height adjustment means of the well for the well of the figure 1; - Figure 3 is a view similar to that of Figure 1, the adjustment of the height of the well being being made for the maximum height; - Figure 4 is a rear view of a sprayer according to Figures 1 to 3 further provided with means for adjusting the horizontal distance of the spraying with respect to a row of plants, the height of the spraying being set to a minimum; - Figure 5 shows the sprayer of Figure 4, the height of the spraying being adjusted to the maximum; FIG. 6 is a rear view of a sprayer conforming to that of FIGS. 1 to 3, but also provided with an adjustment of the distance of spraying with respect to the plants, differentiated according to the height, this height being adjusted to the minimum ; - Figure 7 is a view similar to that of Figure 6, the height of the spraying here being set to the maximum; and - Figures 8 and 9 very schematically show two variants

  possible from the puérérisseur shown in Figures 6 and 7.

  We will first refer to Figures 1 to 3 which show a first embodiment of the invention. In this case, it is a towed puérisateu intended to be coupled to a tractor; however, it is obvious that the invention can be applied

  also to a mounted or self-propelled sprayer.

  This sprayer comprises a chassis 1 mounted on load-bearing axles 2 and intended to be coupled to a tractor, this chassis being equipped with a tank 3 and with a device 4 for pumping and regulating puiserization. This device is known

  in itself and is not part of the invention so it will not be described in detail here.

  It suffices to note that it is designed to transport a mixture of puivérisation towards nozzles 5 to which it is connected by connection sheaths still to be described. A structure 6 carrying the nozzles 5 is erected vertically on the chassis 1 above the device 4 for pumping and regulating the spraying, that is to say in the example, at the rear of the machine. This supporting structure 6 comprises two uprights 7 arranged in the same vertical plane transversai with respect to the chassis 1 and carrying nozzle mounts which in the example described are three in number indicated by the generic references 8a, 8b and 8c. According to an important characteristic of the invention, these frames are arranged so

  telescopic, respectively with respect to each other.

  The uprights 7 are supported with respect to the frame 1 by means of a support frame 9 which extends transversely on either side of the sprayer beyond the uprights 7 ′, the ends of this frame being connected to tie rods d shoring 10 extending obliquely downwards and fixed

  on the lower part of the chassis 1.

  The lower mount 8a has the general shape of a frame whose sides are formed by U-shaped profiles 11a adapted to slide on the vertical uprights 7. These profiles are braced by several horizontal bars including the bars 12a and 13a (see in especially Figure 3). The bar 13a is extended transversely relative to the carrying structure 6 and the chassis 1 on either side of the machine by horizontal extenders 14a on each of which is mounted at least one nozzle 5, a single nozzle being shown in the present

example.

  Preferably, the extenders 14a are provided with holes 15a to allow side mounting manually adjustable at the discretion of the operator. It will be noted that in the example shown 'the nozzles 5 located to the left of the well are placed closer to the support structure 6 than are the nozzles placed to the right. An actuator such as a lifting cylinder 16a is connected between the chassis 1 and the bar 13a for controlling the vertical movements of

the mount 8a.

  The second mount 8b is constructed in the same way as the mount 8a.

  It therefore includes elements similar to those of the latter (indicated by the same reference numerals followed by the letter b), the lateral U-shaped profiles 11b being adapted to slide on the corresponding profiles 11a of the lower frame 8a. The actuator or lifting cylinder 16b is connected between the transverse bars 13a and 13b by means of fasteners which are not visible in the drawings. Unlike the frames 8a and 8b, the frame 8c does not have the shape of a frame, but it has two vertical rods 17 which slide respectively in collars 18 fixed on the outer flats of the lateral U-shaped profiles 11b of the frame 8b. These rods 17 are braced in particular by a crosspiece 19 to which are fixed laterally respective extensions 14c. An actuator such as a lifting cylinder 16c is attached to this crosspiece 19 and the bar 13b of the mount 8b. The nozzles 5 are arranged articulated on the extenders 14c by fixing lugs 20 which can be mounted at the operator's option in holes 15c in the proiongators 14c. Preferably, these tabs are connected by connecting rods 21 to a respective adjustment mechanism 22 known per se which provides a possibility of electrical control of the orientation of the corresponding nozzle 5. Of course, the nozzles 5 associated with the other mounts can also be made orientable and controlled by mechanisms such as

the mechanisms 22.

  As already indicated above, the nozzles 5 are supplied with a spraying mixture by means of a set of sheaths which is connected to the device 4 for pumping and regulating the spraying. This assembly comprises two risers 23 placed in front of the telescopic structure 6 and provided with connectors 24. These are intended to be connected by flexible pipes of large diameter to the nozzles 5, flexible pipes which for the sake of clarity are not shown. It will be noted that the sprayer also comprises a pair of lower nozzles 25 fixedly mounted on the cover of the device 4 to which they are

suitably connected.

  Instead of being formed by jacks, the actuators 16a, 16b and 16c can be constituted by any other known motor mechanism connecting the mounts 8a, 8b and 8c to each other and these to the chassis, such as for example pinion assemblies - rack, cable-pulley assemblies and others. In this regard, reference can be made to the aforementioned FR 2 808 708 which describes in detail such actuators within the framework of the possibility of lateral adjustment of hinged bars used in the puiviser described in this document. Those skilled in the art will therefore be able to draw inspiration therefrom to replace the jacks 16a, 16b and 16c described above with these other mechanisms with a function

  equivalent to the liking of the constructions envisaged for the childcare provider.

  Figure 2 is a reminder of a hydraulic diagram that can be used for controlling the cylinders 16a, 16b and 16c in accordance with the concept of the aforementioned patent. We see that these are double acting and connected in cascade between a hydraulic pressure source 26 and a cover 27 via a control distributor 28 which is preferably placed in the cockpit

  of the tractor to which the operator is attached.

  Thus, when the distributor 28 is actuated, the configuration of the telescopic structure 6 can change between that of FIG. 1 o the jacks 16a, 16b and 16c are retracted and the height of the nozzles 5 is minimal and that of FIG. 3 in the in which case the jacks are extended so that this height is maximum. It will be noted that, whatever the height for each chosen configuration of the telescopic structure 6 ′, the mutual vertical spacings of the nozzles 5 situated respectively on either side of the sprayer are equal, which guarantees a

  well distributed spread over the vegetation to which this height has been adapted.

  The adjustment can be done easily without the operator disturbing his position

driving.

  In the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, the sprayer comprises a structure 6A for supporting the nozzles 5 which is telescopic not only vertically, but also horizontally. It comprises numerous parts which have functions identical to those of equivalent parts used in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3. They will therefore not be described in detail,

  the same references being used in both cases.

  In this second embodiment7 each mount 8a, 8b and 8c, further comprises two telescopic rods which are aligned, arranged horizontally, and oriented transversely on the puériser and bear the references 29a, 29b, 29c and 30a, 30b, 30c respectively. The inner part of each rod is fixed to the corresponding mount 8a, 8b and 8c. The outer ends of the moving parts of these telescopic rods, located respectively on the same side of each frame are connected to each other by vertical telescopic poles 31b, 31c and 32b, 32c, while carrying the respective nozzles 5. Furthermore at the bottom of the telescopic structure 6A, the nozzles 25 are mounted on telescopic sheaths 33 and 34 capable of conveying the mixture to be sprayed and at the same time constituting support elements for respective telescopic poles 31a, 32a attached to the respective crossings rods 29b and 30b and poles 31b, 32b. It should be noted that the rods 29b and 30b are produced in the form of actuators such as hydraulic jacks to allow remote control of the lateral extension of this telescopic structure 6A. This allows, by a judicious order of the cylinders 16a, 16b, 16c, 29b and 30b, to adapt the configuration of the puiviser not only to the height of the vegetation, but also to the width of the spans between the rows of the online culture. It will be noted that in FIGS. 4 and 5, the operator presents

  maximum extension to the left and minimum extension to the right.

  The embodiment of Figures 6 and 7 is close to that of the embodiment of Figures 4 and 5 in that it also has a structure

  telescopic indicated by 6B which is extendable in height and in width.

  However, in this case, instead of being mounted on extended sheaths such as the sheaths 33 and 34 of FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower poles 31a, 32a are articulated by their lower end at a respective point 35, 36 of the chassis. 1 from the operator. Furthermore, the elements 29b and 30b are simple telescopic rods instead of being cylinders, while two actuators 37, 38 such as hydraulic cylinders are additionally provided on the mount 8b. These jacks are connected between the junctions of these telescopic rods 29b, 30b and the respective poles 31b, 31c or 32b, 32c on the one hand, and fixed points 39 and 40

  provided on the bar 12b of the mount 8b on the other hand.

  This embodiment makes it possible to adapt the sprayer to vegetation whose shape has that of a fir tree by causing, by the action on the jacks 37 and 38, a greater lateral extension at the top of the telescopic structure than at the bottom of it. Of course, these jacks can be controlled from the operator's driving position so that this adjustment can also be made at

  distance without the operator having to leave this station.

  FIGS. 8 and 9 show, by very simplified views, two interesting variants of the sprayer shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. While on the latter, the lower poles 31a, 32a are articulated on the chassis 1 at 35 and 36, in the variant of FIG. 8, provision is made for the carrying structure 6C of articulation points 41 and 42 which are situated on the respective ends of a transverse bar 43 secured to one of the mounts (here not shown) and on which an alignment 44 or 45 of telescopic poles can pivot respectively around a point situated along the length of this alignment, for example at a midpoint as shown. The inclination of these poles 44 and can be adjusted by means of associated actuators such as hydraulic cylinders 46 and 47 which can rest, for example, on the crossbar 43. In the support structure 6D of FIG. 9, I alignment of the telescopic poles located on each side of the vacuum cleaner has two separate sections 48a and 48b, respectively 49a and 49b which are each articulated around a respective pivot point 50, 51 also provided on the crossbar 43 so that the they can be placed in separate positions independently. In this case, each section of an alignment 48a, 48b, 49a, 49b of telescopic poles is provided with its own actuator, like the respective hydraulic cylinders 52a, 52b and 53a, 53b bearing on the mount.

  appropriate (here also not shown).

  In the cases of FIGS. 6 to 9, it is also conceivable to make sure that the points of articulation 35, 36, 41, 42 or 50, 51 can be moved horizontally to adjust the overall span of the vacuum cleaner using a horizontal rod structure similar to that described in connection with FIGS. 4

  and 5 and associated with the articulation points in question.

  It can therefore be seen that the invention provides a wide variety of possible adjustments of the positions of the nozzles 5 making it possible to adapt the sprayer to very diverse shapes of the trees or shrubs to be treated, while respecting a

  predetermined distance between nozzles and vegetation.

Claims (15)

  1. Enhancer of phytosanitary products for row crops, in particular ardres or shrubs planted in row and forming trellised hedges, comprising a frame (1), as well as a tank (3) and a pumping device (4) and for regulating the spraying, placed on this chassis (1) and a plurality of nozzles (5) connected by means of flexible sheaths to said device (4) for pumping and regulating the spraying to allow the distribution of the product over two parallel lines of the vegetation while the operator progresses in the span between these lines, characterized in that it comprises a supporting structure (6; 6A to 6D) on which said nozzles (5) are mounted, which is erected vertically on said frame (1), and which is designed to be telescopic in a vertical direction to allow the   remote-controlled height adjustment of said nozzles (5).   2. A scaler according to claim 1, characterized in that said supporting structure (6; 6A to 6D) comprises a plurality of mounts (8a, 8b, 8c) mounted to slide vertically relative to each other on vertical uprights (7) integral with said chassis (1), these mounts each carrying at least two nozzles (5) respectively on each side of the sprayer, and each being driven by an actuator (16a, 16b, 16c) arranged to allow its   height adjustment with respect to said chassis (1).   3. A sprayer according to claim 2, characterized in that said actuators (16a, 16b, 16c) are respectively coupled to each other and to said mounts (8a, 8b, 8c) so that when adjusting the height of said nozzles (5), the variations in height accumulate from the lower frame   (8a) to the mount (8c) located at the top of said structure (6; 6A to 6D).   4. A sucker according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that   said actuators are hydraulic cylinders (1 6a, 1 6b, 1 6c).   5. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 4, characterized in that said jacks (16a, 16b, 16c) are double acting and mounted in cascade between a source   pressure (26) and a cover (27).   6. A sucker according to any one of claims 1 to 5,   characterized in that said nozzles (5) are mounted on said support structure   (6) so as to be manually adjustable in the lateral direction.   7. A sucker according to any one of claims 1 to 6,   characterized in that said nozzles (5) are also mounted on said structure   carrier (6) so as to be adjustable in orientation by remote control.   8. A sucker according to any one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized in that said supporting structure (6A to 6D) is also designed to be telescopic in the lateral direction to allow remote-controlled adjustment of the lateral position of the nozzles (5) located on each side of the sprayer and thus a   adaptation thereof to the width of said span.   9. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 8, characterized in that each frame (8a, 8b, 8c) is equipped with two telescopic rods (29a, 29b, 29c, 30a, b, 30c) which are aligned horizontally extend transversely on the puiper and whose inner ends are fixed to said mount at a central point and whose outer ends carry said nozzles (5), in that these outer ends are connected to telescopic poles (31b, 31c, 32b, 32c) arranged vertically and extending respectively on each side of the sprayer between the outer ends of telescopic rods (29a, 29b, 29c, a, 30b, 30c) of two adjacent mounts, and in that an actuator (29b, 30b) is connected between one of said central fixed points and at least one of the poles   (31b, 32b) located respectively on each side of the operator.   10. A sprayer according to claim 9, characterized in that the rods of at least one of the pairs of horizontal telescopic rods (29a, 29b, 29c, 30a, 30b,   c) are formed by hydraulic cylinders (29b, 30b) fomming said actuators.   11. A chaperone according to any one of claims 1 to 10,   characterized in that the remote-controlled adjustment of the lateral spacing of nozzles (5) situated at the same height on said support structure is differentiated according to   the height of said supporting structure (6B; 6C; 6D).   12. The sucker according to claims 11 taken in combination with   any one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that the ends   external horizontal telescopic rods (29a, 30a) belonging to the lower mount (8a) of said supporting structure (6B) are connected respectively to articulation points (35, 36) provided on either side of the   sprayer and integral with said chassis (1).   13. The sucker according to claim 11, taken in combination with   any one of claims 9 and 10, characterized in that each   alignment (44, 45) of vertical telescopic poles located respectively on each side of the sprayer is articulated around a point of articulation (41, 42) provided at a predetermined location of its length and integral with one of said mounts (8a , 8b, 8c), an actuator (46, 47) being associated with each of these alignments (44, 45). 14. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 13, characterized in that said articulation point (41, 42) is located approximately halfway along the alignment (44, ) of telescopic poles.   15. A vacuum cleaner according to claim 11, characterized in that each alignment of telescopic poles located respectively on each side of the sprayer forms two sections (48a, 48b, 49a, 49b) whose contiguous ends are articulated on the same point of articulation (50, 51) integral with one of said mounts (8a, 8b, 8c) and in that an actuator (52a, 52b, 53a,