NZ272444A - Irrigator or spreader, wheeled frame to which spray boom is attached, movement of spray boom transmitted to a winch or frame wheels, details relating to adjustment of propulsion device - Google Patents

Description

27244A PATENTS FORM NO. 5 Fee No. 4: $260.00 PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION After Provisional No: 272444 Dated: 26 June 1995 Jam pr & Wells Ref: 10918/16 FLUID DISTRIBUTION DEVICE I Grant Brian Titchiner, a New Zealand Citizen of 2 Alanbrooke Place, Hamilton, New Zealand 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: -ON •7 ^ \*25JUNJ996 V,. 272444 FLUID DISTRIBUTION DEVICE technical field This invention relates to a fluid distribution device.

In particular, this invention relates to a travelling irrigator or effluent 5 spreader, although it should be appreciated that the principles of the present invention can be applied to other devices.

Background Art Travelling irrigators are well known. Many irrigators comprise of a wheeled frame attached to which is a spray boom. The irrigators are 10 usually connected to a fluid supply. The delivery of fluid to the irrigator and out of the spray boom causes the spray boom to turn. The motion of the spray boom is transmitted to a winch or to the wheels of the frame causing the irrigator to move.

Many of the known irrigators use a ratchet mechanism as in New 15 Zealand Patent Nos. 210739/210791 and 74114 to transmit the boom rotation to driving the wheels or winch.

Some irrigators incorporate a hose carrying reel such as that described in New Zealand Patent No. 188386. The irrigator follows along the hose which is wound back on to the reel.

Many irrigators have open frames with exposed wheels such as in New Zealand Patent No. 75493 and New Zealand Design Registration No. 14754.

Many irrigators also have exposed drive mechanisms.

Unfortunately, these irrigators all have problems associated with them. 2 2 72 The use of a ratchet mechanism to transfer the rotational energy of the boom to the wheels or winch is an inefficient means of energy conversion. Further, the ratchet mechanism operates with a stop/start motion, whereas a continuous motion is preferred.

Irrigators which carry a hose reel are bulky, expensive and do not easily travel over ground.

Irrigators which have their wheels outside of the main frame tend to become tangled with obstacles and debris on the ground when traversing paddocks or being towed between paddocks.

A problem with exposed drive mechanisms is that often irrigators are used to distribute effluent. Effluent entering the drive mechanism can cause considerable problems with its operation.

A problem common to all previous irrigators is that varying the travel speed of the irrigator can be difficult to readily effect. Some irrigators rely on the pressure of the pump or the outlet size of the nozzle to determine the travel speed of the irrigator. Varying either the pump pressure or outlet size varies the travel speed of the irrigator. However, varying the pump pressure or the outlet size can be time consuming and difficult to effect.

Other irrigators that utilise a ratchet mechanism to pull the irrigator across a paddock use an adjustable rod to vary the throw of the ratchet and hence the travel speed of the irrigator. The problem with this type of speed adjustment mechanism is that the adjustment rod can seize due to effluent or the like entering or adhering to its workings.

Still further irrigators require the dismantling of the drive mechanism to 3 2724 replace the ratchet wheel with a ratchet wheel of a different diameter to vary the speed. Again this can be a time consuming exercise.

Another problem with irrigators is that the hose attached to the irrigator is usually made up of a number of hose lengths. When a farmer moves 5 the irrigator from paddock to paddock, it is impractical to drag a single long length of hose (possibly one hundred to two hundred metres long). Instead, farmers make multiple trips to retrieve individual hose lengths. Alternatively, farmers sometimes attempt to tie lengths of hose to the irrigator, but these attempts are generally unsuccessful.

Yet another problem with irrigators is to stop them moving at a particular point. Typically, an irrigator pulls itself to an anchor point (for example a fence post) via a line attached to the irrigator winch wherein the winch is driven as a consequence of the fluid passing through the irrigator. However, in some situations it is preferable that the irrigator 15 stops moving before it reaches the anchor point to which the winch line is attached. Unfortunately, this is not possible with a number of currently known irrigators.

It is an object of the present invention to address the foregoing problems or at least to provide the public with a useful choice.

Further aspects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the ensuing description which is given by way of example only. disclosure of invention According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided fluid 25 distribution device over an area including a movable chassis, a 4 272444 propulsion device which uses the fluid to be distributed to drive the movable chassis via a drive mechanism characterised in that the drive characteristics provided by the propulsion device can be adjusted independently of fluid properties to vary the speed of the movable chassis.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a fluid distribution device substantially as described above including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a connector between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet, characterised in that the movement of the fluid outlet is transmitted by the connector to the propulsion device.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a fluid distribution device substantially as described above wherein the fluid distribution device includes a motive means to move the fluid distribution device over an area.

The drive characteristics provided by the propulsion device shall in a preferred embodiment be proportional to the speed required of the movable chassis. In some embodiments for example the drive characteristics may consist of the rate of rotation of a driving belt transmission driving axle, or winch reel.

In a preferred embodiment the fluid properties of the fluid to be distributed over an area may include fluid flow rate or fluid pressure.

For ease of reference, the apparatus for distributing fluid should now be referred to as an irrigator. It should be appreciated however that this term is not intended to be limiting.

In preferred embodiments the fluid pumped to the irrigator to drive the 272444 irrigator boom provides the kinetic energy which is converted by the propulsion device to drive the device along the ground. Again, other embodiments are envisaged.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the fluid outlet of the 5 device shall consist of a standard irrigator spray boom orientated on a horizontal axis with respect to the ground. The boom rotates around its point of attachment to the irrigator and contains one or more apertures located at both ends of its length. Fluid may be pumped into the boom and distributed evenly by the rotating boom through the apertures located at 10 the ends of the boom.

In a preferred embodiment the ends of the rotating boom may be angled with respect to the remainder of the boom. For example the boom ends may be angled to spray fluid above and at a right angle to the length of the boom.

The connector which connects the fluid inlet and outlet in a preferred embodiment shall consist of a rotating upstand which transmits the fluid from the fluid inlet to the irrigator boom. The upstand is configured so the pressure of the fluid entering the upstand causes it to rotate, allowing the boom attached to it to rotate also.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the fluid inlet may consist of any device capable of connecting the irrigator upstand to a source of fluid, such as for example a hose or a pump outlet.

Propulsion devices can come in a variety of forms.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the propulsion device 25 consists of a chain link transmission connected at one end to a cog 6 272 attached to the irrigator upstand and connected at another end to a cog attached to the drive mechanism.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the drive mechanism shall consist of a worm drive. It should be appreciated however that in 5 other embodiments a worm drive may not be used as the drive mechanism, other embodiments may use for example, a rotating axle, or wheel.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention a gear box may be included with the drive mechanism to provide several set speeds to the 10 irrigator. This provides several different gear ratios between the propulsion device and the drive mechanism.

The use of a chain link transmission and a worm drive in combination has a number of advantages over prior art.

One advantage is that the travel speed of the irrigator can be readily 15 varied. This can be achieved by changing the upstand cog and/or the worm drive cog on the chain link transmission for a cog(s) of a different diameter. This varies the gear ratio between the rotation of the upstand and what is received by the worm drive that drives the winch. Thus, the travel speed of the irrigator is varied.

Using a gear box in combination with changing a propulsion cog provides the irrigator with an extremely wide range of speeds. A larger range of gearing ratios is provided, in contrast to existing ratchet system, which have a much smaller range of gearing ratios available. 7 27244 In preferred embodiments the drive cog is changed to vary the travel speed of the irrigator.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the drive cog is attached to the drive shaft of the worm drive with use of an attachment 5 plate, a retainer plate, and a wing nut attached to a threaded shaft.

The attachment plate includes two or more lugs which may fit into apertures provided in the cog to be attached. The cog may be fitted on top of the attachment plate, with the plate lugs fitting inside the cog apertures. The attachment plate is connected directly to the drive shaft, 10 so rotation of the cog forces the attachment plate and hence the drive shaft to rotate.

A wing nut including a threaded shaft may then be threaded into the top of the drive shaft above a cog attached to the attachment plate. Between the wing nut and the cog is provided a retainer plate, so that as the wing 15 nut and threaded shaft is screwed into the drive shaft, pressure is transferred through the retainer plate onto the cog forcing the cog hard into the attachment plate underneath the cog.

This attachment means for a cog to the drive shaft allows a user to attach and remove a cog from the drive shaft without requiring specific hand 20 tools. A user may unscrew the wing nut from the top of the drive shaft and remove the retainer plate from the cog. Once the wing nut and retainer plate are removed, the cog may be easily lifted from the attachment plate removing the attachment plate lugs from the apertures provided in the cog surface. 8 272 4 In another embodiment of the present invention the drive cog sits on a keyed drive shaft of the worm drive. The drive cog can be simply replaced by lifting the drive cog off the keyed drive shaft and replacing it with a drive cog of different diameter.

It should be appreciated that other flexible link transmissions may be used such as a belt and pulley system. The diameter of the pulleys may be changed in a similar manner as the cogs in a chain link transmission. However, it is found that a chain link transmission gives less slippage and hence more consistency.

A further advantage of having the aforementioned system is that it is far more efficient and smoother in operation than previous ratchet systems. This is because the chain has a continuous link between the boom and the winch and thus there is no intermittent motion as with a ratchet system.

In preferred embodiments the worm drive is a fully sealed unit which can keep effluent away from its internal workings. Although in other embodiments an exposed worm drive unit may be used.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a removable cover helps protect the propulsion device from effluent.

According to an alternate aspect of the present invention there is provided an irrigator chassis wherein the chassis includes an external frame which provides a perimeter around the portions of the motive means attached to the chassis. 9 272444 In preferred embodiments, the motive means of the irrigator is a winch which is driven by the propulsion device to reel in a line capable of attachment to an anchor point, such as a fence post. A wheeled frame may also be attached to the motive frame to allow the device to move easily 5 over an area of ground. Reeling in of the line by the winch causes the irrigator to move. It should be appreciated however that other embodiments of the present invention may have different methods for moving the irrigator chassis. This example is just a preferred embodiment.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the irrigator has three wheels, a single front wheel and two rear wheels. Part of the frame of the chassis will in preferred embodiments form a triangle which extends outside of the wheels. This acts as a barrier to obstacles and the like that the irrigator may encounter as it travels over a paddock or is 15 moved between paddocks. Thus, the inclusion of a frame as described will lessen chances of the irrigator wheels becoming entangled with obstructions which may have caused the irrigator to stop.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for distributing fluid over an area, the apparatus being 20 capable of connection to at least one hose for passage of fluid through the hose to the irrigator, characterised in that the irrigator has an alternate coupling device capable of receiving the end of at least one length of hose.

The hose that provides the passage for the fluid to the irrigator is made up of a n amber of lengths of hose coupled together. 272 4 Typically, the individual hose lengths which make up the total length of the hose have standard couplings. In preferred embodiments, the alternate coupling device is configured so as to receive the standard couplings.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention the alternate coupling device is in the form of a curved disk (hereinafter referred to as a mushroom) which the hose couplings can readily clip over.

The advantage of this feature of the present invention is that if there are a number of mushrooms attached to the irrigator the individual hose lengths which make up the total hose length can each be attached to the irrigator. This means that the farmer when moving the irrigator from paddock to paddock does not have to drag one long length of hose from paddock to paddock or does not have to make multiple trips to recover individual hose lengths.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided an apparatus for distributing fluid over an area, including a movable chassis, wherein the irrigator uses the fluid to be dispensed to drive the movable chassis, characterised in that the apparatus includes a mechanism that can stop the movement of the chassis independently of the flow of fluid through the irrigator.

This mechanism will now be referred to as a clutch mechanism.

The clutch mechanism may take a variety of forms. In one embodiment, the clutch mechanism may be a remote control device that disengages the worm drive from the winch.

In preferred embodiments, the clutch mechanism is activated by a 11 272444 stopper on the winch cable coming into contact with a slide through which the winch cable travels. The stopper may then move the slide out of contact with a lever mounted on the irrigator, activating the lever's movement.

In another embodiment the clutch mechanism is activated by a stopper on the winch cable coming into contact with the lever mounted on the irrigator. The stopper contacting the lever moves the lever and then activates the clutch mechanism.

The operation of the lever, which can be attached to various mechanisms, 10 activates the clutch mechanism which separates the rotation of the boom from the worm drive thus stopping the travel of the irrigator.

In a preferred embodiment, the lever may be mounted at the front of the irrigator and attached by a further cable to a second arm. The second arm (hereinafter referred to as the rear arm) may be mounted at the rear 15 of the irrigator alongside the worm drive. The rear arm may then be connected to a perpendicular shaft. The top of the perpendicular shaft may be connected to a shaft arm.

In operation, the turning action of the rear arm on the bottom of the perpendicular shaft causes the shaft arm to move in towards the 20 upstand. This action can cause the shaft arm to come into contact with an arm on the upstand. This arm on the upstand will now be referred to as the upstand arm for ease of reference.

The upstand arm can be connected via a pivot to a plate that may in turn be connected to the upstand cog. The action of the shaft arm coming in 12 272444 contact with the upstand arm causes a block on the upstand to disengage from a block on the upstand arm. This disconnects the rotational movement of the upstand arm from the irrigator propulsion means.

The clutch mechanism as described shall now be referred to as a horizontal block clutch.

Brief Description of Drawings Aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 Is a diagrammatic perspective view of an irrigator in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 Is a diagrammatic view of a propulsion device for the irrigator illustrated in Figure 1.

Best Modes for Carrying out the Invention With respect to Figure 1, there is illustrated an irrigator generally indicated by arrow 1.

The irrigator 1 has a triangular frame 2 vhich extends outside its wheels 3. The configuration of this frame 2 and its relationship to the wheels 3 is such that it reduces the chance of obstacles and the like becoming entangled with the irrigator 1.

At the rear of the frame 2 is an upstand 4 which is connected to a boom 5.

A chain link transmission generally indicated by arrow 6 connects the upstand 4 to a worm drive 7 which in turn is connected to a winch 8. A 13 272444 cable 9 runs from the winch 8 out to the front of the irrigator 1 and beyond to attach to an anchor point.

Rotation of the upstand 4 is caused by fluid flowing through the upstand 4 and out the boom 5. Fluid passes into the upstand 4 via a coupling 10 as 5 illustrated in Figure 2.

Rotation of the upstand 4 and the upstand cog 11 causes a chain 12 to be pulled around the tensioner cog 13, the idler cog 14 and a drive cog 15.

The drive cog 15 is connected directly to the worm drive 7 which in turn is connected to the winch 8.

Thus, rotation of the upstand 4 and the upstand cog 11 causes the worm drive 7 to be driven by the drive cog 15.

The worm drive 7 then drives the winch 8 which in turn draws in the cable 9 causing the irrigator 1 to move.

To change the speed of the irrigator, it is only necessary to exchange the 15 drive cog 15 for another drive cog of a different diameter. This is facilitated by moving the spring loaded tensioner cog 13 which allows the chain 12 to be removed from around the drive cog 15. The drive cog 15 can then be exchanged for a different diameter drive cog. The chain 12 and tensioner cog 13 are then put back in place.

It can be seen that the worm drive 7 is fully encased thus preventing entry of any effluent falling into same from the boom 5.

It should be appreciated that the continuous movement of the chain 12 ensures that there is an even and efficient transfer of energy from the 14 27244 upstand 4 to the winch 8, in direct contrast to the ratchet mechanisms in the prior art.

In some operations of the present invention it is in desirable to be able to stop the movement of the irrigator before it reaches the end of the winch 5 cable. To effect this, a stopper 16 on the winch cable 9 may come into contact with the lever 17 at the front of the irrigator. This lever 17 has a cable 18 attached to it which pulls an arm 19 mounted at the rear of the irrigator 1. The rear arm 19 is connected to a perpendicular shaft 20 which in turn is attached to a shaft arm 21.

A sprung upstand arm 22 is connected via a pivot 23 to a plate 24 on the rotating upstand 4. The plate 24 is joined to the upstand cog 11.

When the rear arm 19 turns, the shaft arm 21 moves in towards the rotating upstand 4. This action causes the shaft arm 21 to come into contact with the sprung upstand arm 22. This causes a block 25 on the 15 rotating upstand 4 to disengage from a block 26 on the sprung apstand arm 22 thus causing the irrigator to stop.

Mounted at the rear of the frame 2 are a number of curved discs 27 or mushrooms. The mushrooms 27 are of a shape and size that individual hose lengths can be separately coupled to the mushrooms and dragged 20 along behind the irrigator 1.

Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.

Claims (26)

WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. A fluid distribution device for distributing fluid over an area 272444 including a moveable chassis, a propulsion device which uses the fluid to be distributed to drive the movable chassis via a drive mechanism, characterised in that the drive characteristics provided by the propulsion device can be adjusted independently of the fluid properties to vary the speed of the moveable chassis, wherein movement of the fluid outlet is transmitted by the connector to the propulsion device.

2. A fluid distribution device as claimed in claim 1 including a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a connector between the fluid inlet and fluid outlet, characterised in that the movement of the fluid outlet is transmitted by the connector to the propulsion device.

3. A fluid distribution device as claimed in either claim 1 or 2 which includes a motive means to move the fluid distribution device over an area.

4. A fluid distribution device as claimed in claim 3 whereby the motive means includes a wheeled frame.

5. A fluid distribution device as claimed in either claim 3 or claim 4 whereby the motive means includes a flexible line capable of attachment to a point distant from the fluid distribution device and a winch attached to the fluid distribution device capable of reeling in the flexible line. , received intellectual Property Office FEB 1998 16 of New Zealand 27244

6. A fluid distribution device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5 which includes a flexible link transmission and two or more propulsion components configured so that the flexible link transmission is capable of connecting two or more propulsion components.

7. A fluid distribution device as claimed in claim 6 which includes a chain link transmission.

8. A fluid distribution device as claimed in claim 1 or 2 whereby the drive mechanism includes a worm drive.

9. A fluid distribution device as claimed in either claim 5 or 6 whereby the propulsion device can be adjusted to vary the speed of the moveable chassis by substituting one or more propulsion components.

10. A fluid distribution device as claimed in claim 9 whereby a propulsion component may be substituted by a user without requiring hand tools.

11. A fluid distribution device as claimed in claim 10 where the substituted propulsion component is a cog.

12. A fluid distribution device as claimed in either claim 10 or 11 whereby one propulsion component is associated with the connector.

13. A fluid distribution device as claimed in either claim 10 or 11 whereby one propulsion component is associated with the drive mechanism.

14. A fluid distribution device as claimed in any one oif claims 1 to 13 whereby the drive mechanism is sealed to prevent the entry of fluid into the drive mechanism. RECEIVED Intellectual Property Office - 'i FEB :338 of New Zealand 272444

15. A fluid distribution device as claimed in claim 14 whereby the drive mechanism is sealed by a cover.

16. A fluid distribution device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 which includes a wheeled frame and a chassis configured so that the chassis provides a perimeter outside the wheeled frame.

17. A fluid distribution device as claimed in claim 16 configured substantially as a triangle to deflect the fluid distribution device away from obstacles.

18. A fluid distribution device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 17 which includes a means to attach one or more hoses.

19. A fluid distribution device as claimed in claimed 18 whereby the means to attach one or more hoses to the device consists of one or more curved disks attached to the fluid distribution device.

20. A fluid distribution as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19 which includes a clutch to disconnect power from the propulsion device.

21. A fluid distribution device as claimed in claim 20 which may be remotely triggered to disconnect power from the propulsion device.

22. A fluid distribution device as claimed in claim 20 which disconnects power from the propulsion device when the fluid distribution device has travelled a predetermined distance.

23. A fluid distribution device as claimed in any preceding claim which includes a clutch and a winch and flexible line characterised in that the clutch is activated by the fluid distribution device encountering a knot formed in the flexible line. received Intelleotual Property Office FEB 1998 18 of Now Zeaferrf 272444

24. A fluid distribution device as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23 whereby the clutch is a horizontal block clutch.

25. P fluid distribution device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.

26. A method of operating a fluid distribution device substantially as herein described with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. GRANT BRIAN TITCHINER by his Attorneys JAMES & WELLS END OF CLAIMS received Intelleotual Property Office " ^ FEB 1998 19 of N®* Zealand