NZ195413A - Spraying hay entering baler:spray metered according to feed rate - Google Patents

Description

195413 PATENTS FORM NO. 5 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION NO. 195413 Date: 30 October 1980 Complete After Provisional A SPRAY SYSTEM I, HART UDY of Mangamaire, R.D. 7, Pahiatua, New Zealand, a British subject and New Zealand citizen, hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a Patent may be granted to me and the method, by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: Followed by 1A - 1A - 195413 This invention relates to spraying systems and more particularly to a spraying system for spraying a desired fluid, generally a chemical or mixture of chemicals, onto hay, particularly hay prior to being formed into a bale.

To the present time some balers for baling hay have had a spray system, including a carbon dioxide pressure cylinder, pressure control valve, taps and suitable gauges, whereby a drum containing a chemical is pressurized and the chemical is applied through a hose to the spray nozzle mounted so as to spray the hay prior to its being baled.

A major disadvantage with such systems is that the quantity of the chemical being sprayed remains constant despite any changes occurring in the speed of the baling operation and spraying will indeed continue even though the baling operation may have momentarily stopped.

It is an object of the present invention to thereby provide a spraying system which overcomes the above disadvantage of present systems.

Further objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is thus provided a method of controlling the spraying of a fluid for a hay baling system comprising: (a) providing a rotatable toothed wheel which contacts the hay to detect the rate of flow of hay into the baling system; (b) connecting fluid pumping means *■" '-^Qel and with a supply of said fluid; 195413 (c) connecting an outlet of said pumping means with a spraying means whereby said wheel operates said means at a rate consistent with said flow and said fluid is sprayed from said spraying means commensurate with said flow.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a spraying apparatus comprising: (a) a rotatable toothed wheel which contacts hay to detect the rate of flow of said hay into a baler system; (b) pumping means operable by said wheel; (c) an inlet of said pumping means being adapted to be connectable with a supply of fluid to be sprayed; (d) an outlet of said pumping means being adapted to be connected with a spraying means positionable adjacent the entry of hay into the baler; and whereby the rate of operation of said pumping means and the flow of fluid to said spraying means will be dependent on the rate of flow of said hay into the baler as detected by said wheel.

The present invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein; FIGURE 1 : shows, diagrammatically, a spray control apparatus according to one embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 2 : shows, diagrammatically, a spray nozzle 195415 of the apparatus of Figure 1 or Figures 3 and 4 mounted adjacent a hay inlet into a baler; FIGURE 3 : shows, diagrammatically, an end view 5 of a spray control apparatus accord- to another embodiment of the invention; FIGURE 4 : shows, diagrammatically, a side view of the spray control apparatus of 10 Figure 3.

The present invention can be broadly said to comprise the detection of the rate of flow of hay into a hay baler such that the spraying of the hay with a suitable chemical « can be commensurate with the hay flow. Thus, for example, 15 where the hay baling operation is slowed down the volume of spray will correspondingly decrease whereas in the event that the hay baling operation ceased the spraying would also correspondingly cease.

While the present invention is herein described and 20 claimed with particular reference to the use of the spraying apparatus in conjunction with a hay baler it is to be appreciated that this is by way of example only and the method and apparatus of the present invention as claimed could find numerous other applications wherever the volume 25 of a fluid to be dispensed is to be commensurate with a detected flow rate of a particular substance or material, whether or not it is that substance or material to which the spray is to be applied and the claims are to be con-.strued accordingly. 19541 Referring now to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings a spraying apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention is shown very diagrammatically and is referenced generally by arrow 1.

The hay 2 is shown passing through a hay inlet or channel 3 in a direction indicated by arrow A. The rate of flow of the hay 2 is detected by a flow rate detecting or measuring means referenced generally by arrow 4.

In the embodiment shown the detector 4 comprises a metering wheel 5 having a plurality of peripheral teeth 6. The wheel or disc 5 is rotatably mounted on a framework 25 so as to be able to rotate' in a direction indicated by the arrow B. In its rotation the teeth 6 at the bottom of the wheel 5 can depend into the inlet passage 3 such that the hay 2 as it moves in the direction of arrow A will cause a corresponding and proportionate rotation of the wheel 5 about or with a central support or axle 30. Other alternative flow metering means will be readily apparent to those skilled in the engineering arts.

The wheel 5 has a pin or projection 7 extending outwardly therefrom such that along part, for example l/7th, of the rotation of the wheel 5, the pin 7 is in an abutting relationship with an arm 8.

The arm 8 is pivoted at one end by a pivot pin 9 and at its other end is shown pivotally connected by means of pivot 10 with a cylinder 29. 195415 During the abuttment of the pin 7 with the arm 8 the cylinder 29 will be moved downwardly in a direction indicated by arrow C.

This downward movement of the cylinder 29 provides the induction stroke of a piston 11 mounted within the cylinder 29 with a piston seal ring 12. The piston 11 is mounted on a piston rod 13 at least part of which is shown threaded and engaged by a lock-nut arrangement 28. The open upper end of the cylinder 29 is shown closed off by a closure and dust cover 27 including an oil hole 26 whereby lubrication for the walls of the cylinder 29 can be maintained.

The upper end of the piston rod 13 is shown secured with an outwardly extending arm 44 of the framework 25.

The bottom end of the cylinder 29 is shown connected with a fluid inlet hose 16 through which fluid will be drawn into the cylinder 29 on the induction stroke.

At its other end the hose 16 is shown in this example extending into drum 14 of the chemical to be sprayed onto the hay 2 and at its free end provided with a non-return valve- 15. A drum support frame 2 3 is shown into which the drum 14 can fit to enable the drum 14 to be supported at a convenient place on the baler but below the cylinder 29.such that gravity feed to the cylinder 29 does not take place.

The cylinder 29 is also shown provided with a non-return valve 19 connecting it with an outlet hose 20.

It 195415 The hose 20 at its other end is shown connected with a spray nozzle 21 having a nozzle support bracket 24 whereby the nozzle 21 can be mounted appropriately on the baler relative to the hay pick-up as shown 5 diagrammatically in Figure 2.

The arm 8 is shown along its length connected with a spring 17 connected at its upper end with a spring tension bolt 18 adjustably secured through the framework 25.

It order to lock the arm 8 into an inoperative posi tion when spraying is not required a lever 22 can be hinged downwardly from the framework 25 to lock the arm 8 into a position out of the path of travel of the abuttment pin 7.

The frame 25 is mounted on the baler (not shown) so that the hay 2 passing through the chamber 3 will rotate the wheel 5.

After connecting up the hose 16 and valve 15 with the drum 40 the pump can be operated manually by downward move-20 ment of the arm 8 and the lock nut arrangement 28 adjusted for the quantity of chemical to be sprayed per pump stroke as required.

The spring 17 and the holding bolt can be adjusted so that the spring tension providesthe appropriate time for 25 the piston 11 to expel the chemical induced into the cylinder 29 during the induction stroke as the spring bias 195415 returns the cylinder 29 by means of the arm 8 into the position shown in Figure 1.

If the apparatus 1 is not used for some time the chemical remaining within the cylinder 29 may expand the seal ring 12 such as an 0—ring on the piston 11 and make it tight within the cylinder 29. One or two manual pumping operations will usually free the piston 11 but the provision of the oil hole 26 will enable oil to be fed therethrough to also assist this freeing action.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings numerals corresponding to those used in the preceding figures are used where appropriate.

In this embodiment of the invention the wheel 5 has teeth 6 which again at the lower part of the wheel's travel protrude within and are driven by hay 2 moving within channel 3 of hay baler framework 41.

The wheel 5 is shown mounted on a shaft 30 extending through a channel member 36 secured at its bottom end to the baler framework 41 by bolt 4 3 and at its upper end providing end pivot points by means of pivot pin 38 for convergent arms 37 having a handle 40 provided about their converged opposite ends.

The wheel 5 and the shaft 30 at its end distant from the wheel 5 are each shown provided with a crank arrangement 32 operating respective push rods 31 which extend 1954! upwardly into tubular transmission members 45.

As the wheel 5 is rotated the push rods 31 are therefore caused to rise and fall and when abuttment pins 33 are in^ position within the transmission members 45 the rising movement of the push rods 31 will cause a corresponding upward movement of the respective arms 37.

This upward movement of the arms 37 will be against the bias of a spring 17 connected between the baler framework 41 and a tension adjustment rod 42 threadedly engaged at its upper end by a spring tension control handle 39. The upward movement of the arms 37 will also cause a corresponding upward movement of the piston rod 30 and piston 11 with its sealing ring 12 within the cylinder 29 causing the chemical to be sprayed to be induced into the cylinder 29 through the inlet hose 16.

With the push rods 31 on their downward stroke the tensioned spring 17 will return the arms 37 and the piston 11 to expel the chemical from the cylinder 29 through the outlet valve 19 and outlet hose 20 to the spray head 21 (see figure 2).

If the spraying apparatus is to be rendered inoperative the abuttment pins can be removed from their positions shown in Figures 3 and 4 and conveniently reinserted into the tubular members 45 into the holding apertures 35.

Once again the adjustment of the dust cap 27, block nut arrangement 28 and shaft 13 will adjust the position of the piston 11 relative to the arms 37 to correspondingly adjust to the amount of chemical induced into the cylinder 29 on the induction stroke.

Although this invention has been described by way of example and with reference to possible embodiments thereof it is to be understood that modifications or improvements may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (13)

- 10 - 195413 WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A method of controlling the spraying of a fluid for a hay baling system comprising: (a) providing a rotatable toothed wheel which contacts the hay to detect the rate of flow of hay into the baling system; (b) connecting fluid pumping means with said wheel and with a supply of said fluid; (c) connecting an outlet of said pumping means with a spraying means whereby said wheel operates said pumping means at a rate consistent with said flow and said fluid is sprayed from said spraying means commensurate with said flow.

2. A method of controlling the spraying of a fluid for a hay baling system as claimed in Claim 1 and including providing an abuttment means on said wheel which during part of the rotation of said toothed wheel will engage an operating arm connected with, to operate, said pumping means.

3. A method of controlling the spraying of a fluid for a hay baling system as claimed in Claim 1 and including providing a crank means operating a push rod to cause a movement of an operating means connected with, to operate, said pumping means.

4. A spraying apparatus comprising: (a) a rotatable toothed wheel which contacts hay to 11 195413 detect the rate of flow of said hay into a baler system; (b) pumping means operable by said wheel; (c) an inlet of said pumping means being adapted to be connectable with a supply of fluid to be sprayed; (d) an outlet of said pumping means being adapted to be connected with a spraying means positionable adjacent the entry of hay into the baler; and whereby the rate of operation of said pumping means and the flow of fluid to said spraying means will be dependent on the rate of flow of said hay into the baler as detected by said wheel.

5. A spraying apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said toothed wheel includes an abuttment pin which during part of the rotation of the toothed wheel engages with an operating arm connected with said pumping means.

6. A spraying apparatus as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said toothed wheel operates a crank means which upon rotation of said toothed wheel causes the movement of a push rod arrangement to operate an operating arm connected with and operating said pumping means.

7. A spraying apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein said pumping means includes a fixed cylinder and a piston movable therein upon operation of said pumping means to induce said fluid into said cylinder and expel said fluid therefrom.

8. A spraying apparatus as claimed in any_ .one of Claims - 12 - 195413 4 to 6 wherein said pumping means includes a fixed piston said pumping means to induce said fluid into said cylinder and to expel said fluid therefrom.

9. A spraying apparatus as claimed in Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein said piston is mounted above said cylinder and a piston rod is adjustably secured relative to a closure means provided about an upper end of said cylinder so that the position of the piston at the upper part of its stroke relative to the cylinder can be adjusted to thereby adjust the amount of fluid induced into the cylinder and subsequently discharged therefrom.

10. A spraying apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 7 to 9 wherein a first biassing means biasses said piston towards the bottom part of its stroke and a further biassing means acts to return said piston to discharge the fluid from the cylinder.

11. A spraying apparatus as claimed in Claim 10 wherein said further biassing means comprises a spring and an adjustment means is provided whereby the tension on said spring can be adjusted to correspondingly adjust the time required for the piston to be moved by said spring within said cylinder and thus to expel the fluid therefrom.

12. A method of controlling the spraying of a fluid for a hay bale system substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying and a cylinder movable relative thereto upon operation of drawings. - 13 - 195413

13. A spraying apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 1 or Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings. HART UDY By his attorneys BALDWIN SON & CAREY