GB2213031A

GB2213031A - Metering pesticides

Info

Publication number: GB2213031A
Application number: GB8828163A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Malcolm Campbell
Original assignee: J D Campbell & Sons Ltd
Current assignee: J D Campbell & Sons Ltd
Priority date: 1987-12-02
Filing date: 1988-12-05
Publication date: 1989-08-09
Also published as: GB8828163D0

Abstract

A mobile pesticide spraying apparatus comprises a water tank, spray means in communication with the tank via conduit, a pump for pumping water from the tank through the spray means, means for mounting at least one pesticide container on the apparatus for supplying pesticide to the conduit. Detection means are provided for automatically reading encoded information relating to the application of the pesticide. Computing means determine the rate of application of said pesticide in accordance with said encoded information. Metering means controlled by said computing means meter pesticide from the container into the conduit in accordance with said encoded information. <IMAGE>

Description

APPLICATION OF PESTICIDES The present invention relates to the application of pesticides, particularly but not exclusively herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.

There is growing concern about the possible adverse effects of various pesticides (even those which have already been used for some time) . on the health of people who apply these pesticides. A number of such pesticides are now banned to unskilled users (e.g. domestic gardeners) but may be allowed for use with more skilled commercial users (e.g.

agricultural users) provided that sufficient precautions can be taken to protect the operators.

In this respect, the main operator hazard is taken to be at the time of opening the containers, measuring, mixing and diluting the product.

Furthermore, the actual application of the pesticide may not be carried out in accordance with the manufacturers directions. This can lead to excessive application of the pesticide (which is environmentally undesirable and expensive) or insufficient appplication such that the pesticide is not fully effective for the purpose for which it is applied.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the abovementioned disadvantages.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided mobile pesticide spraying apparatus comprising a water tank, spray means in communication with the tank via conduit, a pump for pumping water from the tank through the spray means, means for mounting at least one pesticide container on the apparatus for supplying pesticide to the conduit, detection means for automatically reading encoded information relating to the application of the pesticide, computing means for determining the rate of application of said pesticide in accordance with said encoded information, and means controlled by said computing means for metering pesticide from the container into the conduit in accordance with said encoded information.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of spraying a pesticide comprising pumping water along a conduit from a tank to spray means, and metering pesticide from a container or containers thereof into said conduit for admixture with the water and spray, said metering of the pesticide being effected in accordance with encoded information (preferably provided on the pesticide container) relating to the application rate of the pesticide.

The means for metering the pesticide into the conduit may, for example, comprise a peristaltic pump.

The encoded information may, for example, be bar-code or magnetic and is preferably provided on the pesticide container. Most preferably, the apparatus is such that the pesticide container is mounted on the apparatus by means of a fitting which ensures that encoded information on the container is presented to the detection system for automatic reading. Thus, mounting of the pesticide container on the apparatus ensures that the information is read.

Since the pesticide is fed directly from the container into the conduit (where it is mixed with water), the risk to the operator normally involved in measuring, mixing and diluting the pesticide is avoided.

The invention further enables information relating to the application of the pesticide to be encoded (e.g. as bar-code) on the pesticide pack and for this information to be read by the detection system for controlling the rate of application of the pesticide. Thus the possibility of human error in diluting the pesticide or in the rate of application is avoided.

The invention will be further described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings.

The illustrated apparatus comprises a water tank 1 connected to a conventional spray boom 2 by conduit 3. A pump 4 serves to pump water from tank 1 along line 3 so as to spray out of booms 2. As this far described, the spray apparatus is conventional and may be constructed as a tractor mounted unit or as a trailer to be towed by a tractor.

Facility is provided for mounting a container 5 of an undiluted pesticide on the apparatus such that the pesticide concentrate may be fed into line 3 at an inlet 6 between tank 1 and spray boom 2.

Container 5 will be provided with encoded information (e.g. bar-code) which when the container is mounted on the apparatus may be read by a detector 100 associated with a computer 101.

A metering device 7 is provided in line 3 between tank 1 and spray booms 2 and serves to measure the rate of flow of water from pump 4 along line 3. This turbine meter 7 is associated with computer 101 which (from the encoded information relating to the pesticide application rate, and the water flow) directs a control unit 8 to operate a DC-servomotor operating a low volume, low flow rate peristaltic pump 9 which serves to meter the required amount of pesticide into line 3 to meet the application rate. Thorough mixing of the pesticide and water in line 3 is ensured by an in-line mixer 10 provided between inlet 6 and spray booms 2.

In use of the apparatus the peristaltic pump 9 meters a predetermined quantity of pesticide into line 3 for a given rate of flow of water from pump 4. Turbine meter 7 measures this rate of flow and any change results in control unit 8 varying the rate at which the peristaltic pump 9 feeds pesticide concentrate into line 3.

To achieve the best and safest results, pesticides must be applied accurately. The accuracy of application depends on a number of calibrations on the spraying equipment and also on the measurement and dilution of the sprays. All these factors usually have to be taken into account by the operator who may not be the most skilled person in such matters.

However the abovedescribed apparatus avoids these problems. A small console (associated with the computer) with an LED display in the cab may be provided to indicate settings provided and indicate error conditions. The main error in spraying is the water pressure and flow rate in relation to tractor speed and spray nozzles fitted. If the nozzle size is entered onto the console then using the information encoded on the pack all other factors could be calculated and either displayed or used to alter the settings of the equipment. Furthermore, encoded information (on the pack) may be used to indicate on the LED display the speed at which the apparatus may be driven for correct application rate of the pesticide.

The pesticide container will have a closure which will locate on a suitable mount (which will hold the pack on the apparatus) designed to prevent exposure of the operative to the pesticide. In particular the closure will be constructed in such a manner that it will only be capable of being opened when correctly located in the mount, and will have to be closed before the container can be removed from the mount.

It will be appreciated that the apparatus as described obviates the need for the operative to pour the contents of the pesticide container into a tank for mixing, which procedure involves the risk of the operative being splashed with the concentrate or inhaling fumes.

A number of other benefits arise from the illustrated embodiment.

I. The spray tank 1 would only be used to carry water, so that when travelling to the field the pesticide would be carried iff a concentrated form in a safe place.

II. If for any reason the spraying operation is interrupted before completion, the operative does not have the disposal problem of a large quantity of diluted pesticide, he only has to remove the pesticide pack from the mount and empty the water from tank 1.

III. The area of crop required to be sprayed does not always conveniently match the area which can be covered by whole units of the pesticide pack. This results in one of two problems, either a small additional quantity of pesticide needs to be measured and diluted to finish the job, or a quantity of diluted pesticide remains at the end of the operation which needs to be disposed of. The new method allows small areas to be treated without calculation and measurement of small amounts of pesticide, and if a small amount of pesticide remains at the end of an operation this can be retained in its concentrated form for use next time.

IV. Very often the weed population or soil type can vary in a field. If more than one mount for a container 5 could be attached to the sprayer and each have a container with a different pesticide attached to it, and these be turned on and off from the cab, then the operator could apply differing combinations of spray to different areas of the field in one operation without stopping.

A further advantage of the illustrated embodiment is described below.

Although the invention has been described with specific reference to the use of one container of pesticide concentrate, it should be appreciated that the apparatus may be such that two or more such containers may be mounted thereon.

In use, each of the containers (which may be of different pesticide) may have its contents metered into the conduit 3 such that a diluted pesticide mixture is sprayed through boom 2.

Claims

1. Mobile pesticide spraying apparatus comprising a water tank, spray means in communication with the tank via conduit, a pump for pumping water from the tank through the spray means, means for mounting at least one pesticide container on the apparatus for supplying pesticide to the conduit, detection means for automatically reading encoded information relating to the application of the pesticide, computing means for determining the rate of application of said pesticide in accordance with said encoded information, and means controlled by said computing means for metering pesticide from the container into the conduit in accordance with said encoded information.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the detection means is capable of reading bar-code information.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the detection means is positioned such that it may read encoded information provided on a said container mounted on the apparatus.

4. A method of spraying a pesticide comprising pumping water along a conduit from a tank to spray means, and metering pesticide from a container or containers thereof into said conduit for admixture with the water and spray, reading encoded information relating to pesticide application rate by means of a device for reading such information, and effecting the spraying operation in accordance with the information thus

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the information is on the pesticide container.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the encoded information provided on the container of pesticide is read by automatic detector means when the pesticide container is mounted on a mobile pesticide applicator, and said applicator is then operated in accordance with the information.