GB2433407A

GB2433407A - Chemical delivery system

Info

Publication number: GB2433407A
Application number: GB0525872A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nicholas Hugh Worboys
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-12-20
Filing date: 2005-12-20
Publication date: 2007-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2025-12-20
Also published as: GB2433407B; GB0525872D0

Abstract

A vehicle mounted chemical delivery system which includes a first spraying arrangement connected to a first liquid reservoir 30 and a second spraying arrangement connected to a second liquid reservoir 32. The first spraying arrangement is provided with a first spray outlet 26, and said second spraying arrangement is provided with a second spray outlet 28, said spray outlets 26,28 being mounted in spaced relation to one another and the first and second spraying arrangements are operable simultaneously.

Description

Improved Agricultural Chemical Delivery System The present invention

relates to an improved agricultural chemical delivery system and more particularly to a vehicle mounted or towed chemical delivery system.

When cultivating crops and plants on a commercial basis it is often necessary during the growing cycle to expose the crops or plants to one or more chemicals. The chemicals may be applied for various reasons including, but not limited to, providing the crops or plants with nutrients and pest control. The chemicals are typically delivered to the crops or plants in spray form from a spraying arrangement mounted on a vehicle such as a tractor.

A problem with such a system is that generally only one chemical or mix of chemicals can be applied to the crop at one time Also, it is often necessary to blanket spray and entire field so as to ensure that a sufficient dose of the chemical is applied to each plant or crop. It will be appreciated that in such blanket spraying operations a significant proportion of the chemical is wasted as it is applied to the ground between the crops or plants rather than to the crops or plants. There is also the problem of spray drift whereupon the chemical spray is blown by the wind out of the filed in which it is intended to be applied and into hedgerows and/or neighbouring fields.

According to the present invention there is provided a vehicle mounted chemical delivery system, the system including a first spraying arrangement connected to a first liquid reservoir and a second spraying arrangement connected to a second liquid reservoir, wherein said first spraying arrangement is provided with a first spray outlet, and said second spraying arrangement is provided with a second spray outlet, said spray outlets being mounted in spaced relation to one another and the first and second spraying arrangements are operable simultaneously.

The present invention thus permits the simultaneous spraying of product from each reservoir. The system may be fully provided on a vehicle either integrally or by virtue of a demountable assembly. In an alternative embodiment the system may be provided on an assembly which is towable by a vehicle. In such an embodiment parts of the system may split between being mounted to, or carried by, the vehicle and being mounted to, or carried by, the towable assembly.

Each spray arrangement may include a nozzle connected to a reservoir and means to convey liquid from the reservoir to the nozzle. The conveying means may include a pump. In such an embodiment the pump may provide sufficient pressure to convey liquid through the nozzle and create a desired spray pattern. In such an instance, the nozzle may define the spray outlet of the spraying arrangement. In an alternative embodiment the nozzle may be connected to a spray delivery means, the outlet of which defines the spray outlet of the spraying arrangement. The spray delivery means may include a spray tube and an air blower. The spray tube has an inlet which is connected to the air blower and an outlet, the outlet defining the spray outlet of the spraying arrangement. Liquid supplied to the nozzle is entrained with air caused to flow through the tube by the air blower.

In a preferred embodiment the first and second spray outlets are mounted so as to be movable along an axis substantially perpendicular to a straight-line direction of travel of the vehicle. The first and second spray outlets may be mounted so as to be movable laterally with respect to the vehicle. In such an embodiment, the first and second spray outlets may be connected to an optical alignment system of the vehicle. The alignment system includes an optical sensor aligned with the direction of travel of the vehicle, which sensor is arranged to recognise ground features present in the direction of travel of the vehicle. The sensor may, for example, recognise aligned ground features such as rows of plants. The sensor is connected to a controller which is arranged to move the mounting having the spray outlets such that one of the outlets is kept in alignment with the aligned ground features.

The first and second spray outlets are preferably also movable along a substantially vertical axis which is mutually perpendicular to the aforementioned lateral movement axis and the aforementioned straight line direction of travel of the vehicle. By being movable in said substantially vertical axis, the spray outlets may be maintained at a predetermined height above the surface over which the vehicle is intended to travel.

The spray outlets may be mounted on an assembly that is articulated to the vehicle. The assembly may be provided with one or more ground engaging wheels. The articulation of the assembly to the vehicle may be achieved by the provision of one or more pivotable links extending between the assembly and the vehicle.

In a preferred embodiment the system is provided with a plurality of first and second spray outlets. The system may be provided with a plurality of assemblies of the type described above.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a simplified plan view of a field having a plurality of plants arranged in rows; Figure 2 shows a simplified plan view of a chemical delivery apparatus according to

the present invention in the field of figure 1.

Figure 3 shows a side view of a towed sprayer apparatus according to the present invention; and Figure 4 shows an end view of the apparatus of figure 3.

Looking firstly at figure 1, there is shown a simplified plan view of a field, generally designated 10 having therein a plurality of plants 12. The plants 12 are provided in a uniform arrangement of rows with substantially equal spacing being provided between consecutive plants in a respective row. The broken lines 14 illustrate a plurality of notional channels or corridors 16, 18. The corridors 16 within which the plants 12 are located may be tenned growth corridors, while the remaining corridors 18 interspersed between the growth corridors 16 may be termed access corridors 18. The access corridors 18 are sized and spaced so as to be able to accommodate the wheels of vehicle such as a tractor. With the aforementioned spacing, a vehicle with a corresponding track is thus able to traverse the field 10 without driving over the plants.

It is highly desirable to keep the access corridors 18 clear of undesirable vegetation such as weeds and the like so that the plants 12 do not need to compete for sunlight, ground nutrients and space. The field 10 as a whole maybe sprayed with chemicals to inhibit weed growth, however any such chemical will also be applied to the plants 12.

Accordingly, care must be taken to select a chemical or mix of chemicals which has desired weed growth inhibition properties and at the same time does not affect the growth of the plants. Similarly, it also highly desirable to supply the plants 12 with nutrients or chemicals via a spray delivery system, however the nutrients or chemicals will, by and large, also be supplied to undesirable vegetation present in the access corridors 1 8.

Referring now to figure 2, there is shown a chemical delivery system generally designated 20. The system includes a vehicle 22 such as a tractor, and a spray bar 24 mounted to the vehicle 22 and movable along an axis 25 substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel D of the vehicle 22 as indicated by arrow 93. The spray bar 24 is provided with a plurality of spray delivery nozzles 26,28. The spray delivery nozzles comprise a first set 26 which are spaced along the spray bar 24 so as to substantially match the spacing of the access corridors 18, and a second set 28 which are spaced along the spray bar 24 so as to substantially match the spacing of the growth corridors 16. It will be appreciated that the nozzles 26,28 are thus provided alternately along the spray bar 24. The spacing of the nozzles 26,28 is dependent upon the spacing of the rows of plants 12 it is intended to spray. A typical spacing between rows may be in the region of 30 cm. in such an instance the spacing between nozzles 26,28 of both the first and second sets may be in the region of 30 cm with the result that the spray bar 24 is provided with a nozzle 26,28 of one type every 15 cm along its length.

The vehicle 22 is further provided with means to supply chemicals to the nozzles 26,28.

The means comprise first and second reservoirs 30,32 configured to store first and second chemicals or mixes of chemicals in liquid form (hereinafter referred to as product), conduits 34,36 extending between the reservoirs 30,32 and the nozzles 26,28, and means to move the product from the reservoirs 30,32, throughout the conduits 34,36 and to the nozzles 26,28. The means to move the product from a reservoir 30,32 to a nozzle 26,28 many comprise a pump. In such an embodiment the pump may be configured to impart sufficient pressure to the product so that it is able to pass the through a nozzle 26,28 in a desired spray pattern without any further assistance.

Alternatively, the nozzle 26, 28 may work in conjunction with an additional delivery mechanism such as an air blower, as will be described in greater detail below. Where an air blower is employed, the product may be conveyed from the or each reservoir 30,32 to a nozzle 26,28 by gravity feed.

The vehicle 22 is further provided with a spray bar alignment system. The system includes an optical sensor 38 having a field of view 40 ahead of the vehicle 22. The sensor 38 is connected to a controller 42 which in turn is operable to move the spray bar 24 relative to the vehicle 22 along the axis 25. The sensor 38 is configured to recognise rows of plants 12 ahead of the vehicle 22 and, via the controller 42, move the spray bar 24 so that the nozzles 26,28 remain aligned with the access and growth corridors 16,18 respectively.

In use, the first and second reservoirs 30, 32 are filled with product in liquid form. The first reservoir 30 is connected to the nozzles 26 which are aligned with the access corridors 18 of the field 10. The first reservoir 30 may thus be filled with a product which inhibits the growth of vegetation. The second reservoir 32 is connected to the nozzles 28 which are aligned with the growth corridors 16 of the field 10. The second reservoir 32 may thus be filled with a product which promotes the growth of the plants 12 such as, for example, a nutrient mix. The vehicle 22 is driven over the field 10 and the respective products delivered to the nozzles 26,28. The optical sensor 38 monitors the alignment of the plant rows with respect to the vehicle 22 and the controller 42 moves the spray bar 24 as deemed appropriate to maintain the nozzles 26,28 in alignment with the corridors 16,18. The operator of the vehicle is provided with means to stop the supply of product to the nozzles 26, 28 in such instances as when the vehicle 22 has to make a turn at the end of a run across a field 10.

Looking now to figures 3 and 4 there is shown a more detailed representation of the spray bar 24. The spray bar 24 includes a mounting bar 44 which is attached to the vehicle 22 and a wheeled assembly 46 which is connected in an articulated manner to the mounting bar 44. In use, the spray bar 24 is provided with a plurality of wheeled assemblies 46 spaced along its length, however for the sake of simplicity and ease of

description only one wheeled assembly 46 is shown.

The wheeled assembly 46 is articulated to the mounting bar 44 by the provision of upper and lower pinned links 48,50. The links extend between a bracket 52 of the mounting bar 44 and spaced plates 54,56 of the assembly 46. An extensible ram 58 is further provided between the assembly 46 and the mounting bar 44, which ram 58 is pivotably mounted below the upper link 48 and above the lower link 50. The ram 58 is of the hydraulic type and is connected in series via hydraulic conduits with the rams 58 of the other wheeled assemblies 46 spaced along the mounting bar 44. Each plate 54,56 of the assembly 46 is provided at its lower end with a ground engaging wheel 60. It will be understood that the provision of the links 48,50 permits the wheeled assembly 46 to move vertically with respect to the mounting bar 44 as indicated by arrow 62.

The wheels 60 of the assembly 46 are thus able to remain in contact with the ground 64.

Upward movement of the assembly 46 by movement over a bump 66 causes compression of the ram 58 and hence pressurises the hydraulic fluid contained therein.

The increase in pressure is transmitted through the hydraulic conduits to the other rams of the assemblies mounted on the bar 44 and thus ensures that the wheels of said assemblies are urged into contact with the ground 64.

Each plate 54,56 is provided with a rearwardly extending portion 68. The term rearwardly" is construed with reference to the direction of travel of the vehicle 22.

The ends of the portions 68 are joined by a plate 70 from which extends a downwardly depending member 72. Upon the lower end member 72 there is provided a nozzle 26.

the nozzle 26 is connected via a conduit 74 to a pump 76, which in turn is connected to a reservoir 30.

Mounted to one of the plates 56 by a bracket 80 is a spray tube generally designated 78.

The spray tube 78 extends laterally from the plate 56 such that is positioned outboard to the wheel 60 of the plate 56. It will thus be appreciated that the spray tube 78 is provided in a space defined between adjacent wheeled assemblies 46. The spray tube 78 comprises a tube body 82 having an inlet 84 and an outlet 86. The inlet 84 is connected via a conduit 88 to an air blower 90. Within the tube body 82 there is provided a nozzle 28 which is connected via a conduit 92 to a reservoir 32. Optionally, a pump may be provided in the conduit 92 between the nozzle 28 and reservoir 32. In use, the spray tube 78 and nozzle 26 are operable to deliver product from the reservoirs 30,32 to the access and growth corridors 16, 18. As described above, the mounting bar 44, and hence the wheeled assembly 46 is movable laterally as indicated by arrow 93 under the instruction of the vehicle optical alignment system to ensure that the spray tube 78 and nozzle 26 are correctly aligned with respect to the corridors 16,18.

Each plate 54,56 of the wheeled assembly 46 may be provided with a board 94 arranged to prevent overspray from one corridor reaching a neighbouring corridor. Each board 94 is provided on an arm 96 which extends downwardly from the rearwardly extending portion 86 of each plate 54,56. The boards 94 are optional as by careful management of the spray patterns 98, 100 from the nozzle 26 and spray tube 78 overspray is minimised.

Furthermore, the possibility of overspray is reduced due to the close proximity of the spray tube outlet 86 and nozzle 26 to the ground 64. It will be appreciated that the height of the spray tube outlet 86 above the ground 64 is dependent upon the height of the plants 12 being sprayed. The spray tube 78 is thus movable vertically with respect to the wheeled assembly 46 as indicated by arrow 102 by the provision of an appropriate fixing between the tube 78 and the bracket 80. The inclination of the spray tube 78 may also be variable. The height of the spray nozzle 26 above the ground 64 may also be adjustable as indicated by arrow 104. The nozzle 26 may be movably mounted on the downwardly depending member 72. Alternatively, the member 72 shown may be removed and replaced with a member which is either longer or shorter.

Claims

Claims 1. A vehicle mounted chemical delivery system, the system

including a first spraying arrangement connected to a first liquid reservoir and a second spraying arrangement connected to a second liquid reservoir, wherein said first spraying arrangement is provided with a first spray outlet, and said second spraying arrangement is provided with a second spray outlet, said spray outlets being mounted in spaced relation to one another and the first and second spraying arrangements are operable simultaneously.

2. A system as claimed in claim I wherein each spray arrangement includes a nozzle connected to a reservoir and means to convey liquid from the reservoir to the nozzle.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the conveying means includes a pump.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the pump provides sufficient pressure to convey liquid through the nozzle and create a desired spray pattern.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 wherein the nozzle defines the spray outlet of the spray arrangement.

6. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the nozzle is connected to a spray delivery means, the outlet of which defines the spray outlet of the spraying arrangement.

7. A system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the spray delivery means includes a spray tube and an air blower.

8. A system as claimed in claim 7 wherein the spray tube has an inlet which is connected to the air blower and an outlet, the outlet defining the spray outlet of the spraying arrangement.

9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first and second spray outlets are mounted so as to be movable along an axis substantially perpendicular to a straight-line direction of travel of the vehicle.

10. A system as claimed in claim 9 wherein the first and second spray outlets are mounted so as to be movable laterally with respect to the vehicle.

11. A system as claimed in claim 9 or claim 10 wherein the first and second spray outlets are connected to an optical alignment system of the vehicle.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11 wherein the alignment system includes an optical sensor aligned with the direction of travel of the vehicle, which sensor is arranged to recognise ground features present in the direction of travel of the vehicle, and a controller which is arranged to move the mounting having the spray outlets such that one of the outlets is kept in alignment with the aligned ground features.

13. A system as claimed in any of claims 9 to 12 wherein the first and second spray outlets are also movable along a substantially vertical axis which is mutually perpendicular to the lateral movement axis and the straight line direction of travel of the vehicle.

14. A system as claimed in any of claims 9 to 13 wherein the spray outlets are mounted on an assembly that is articulated to the vehicle.

15. A system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the assembly is provided with one or more ground engaging wheels.

16. A system as claimed in claim 14 or claim 15 wherein the articulation of the assembly to the vehicle is achieved by the provision of one or more pivotable links extending between the assembly and the vehicle.

17. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the system is provided with a plurality of first and second spray outlets.

18. A system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.