Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
  • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
  • B05B7/00—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas
  • B05B7/24—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with means, e.g. a container, for supplying liquid or other fluent material to a discharge device
  • B05B7/2486—Spraying apparatus for discharge of liquids or other fluent materials from two or more sources, e.g. of liquid and air, of powder and gas with means, e.g. a container, for supplying liquid or other fluent material to a discharge device with means for supplying liquid or other fluent material to several discharge devices
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01C—PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING
  • A01C23/00—Distributing devices specially adapted for liquid manure or other fertilising liquid, including ammonia, e.g. transport tanks or sprinkling wagons
  • A01C23/04—Distributing under pressure; Distributing mud; Adaptation of watering systems for fertilising-liquids
  • A01C23/042—Adding fertiliser to watering systems
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
  • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
  • A01M7/00—Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
  • A01M7/0089—Regulating or controlling systems
  • A01M7/0092—Adding active material

Definitions

• the present invention relates to apparatus for mixing and dispensing liquids, primarily liquid mixtures intended for agricultural cultivation purposes.
• Such apparatus are known in which mixing is effected in containers of mutually different sizes. With this kind of apparatus, it takes a relatively long time to produce a homogenous mixture from the various ingredients involved,particularly when the containers used are large, this prolonged mixing time becoming more apparent in the case of low additive concentrations in large quanties of base liquid, for instance when mixing liquid nitrogen fertilizers.
• a homogenous mixture can be produced quickly and a transition from one additive to a another can be achieved swiftly, owing to the provision of a circulation loop which comprises a number of pipes and which includes, in sequence, a junction or connection point for an outlet pipe intended for the delivery of base liquid, said junction point being located in one pipe section; a pipe section to which one or more connecting pipes extending from a respective additive containing vessel are connected sequentially; a suction pump line; a pump; a pressure line extending from the pump to a branch device which is provided with an outlet for leading liquid mixture to an outfeed pipe which is coonected to spray means effective in spaying the liquid mixture over the ground, and further includes an outlet for conducting liquid mixture through a return line and back to the outlet pipe connecting point, such as to form a closed loop, and in which apparatus the branch point can be adjusted, so as to enable the flow to the outfeed pipe to be varied between the whole of the liqid flow from the pump and zero flew, i.e
• the branch device has the form of a distributing valve which is effective in varying the flow to the outfeed pipe continuously between 0% and 100%.
• the branch device has the form of a 3-way valve which is effective in adjusting the flow to the outfeed pipe to either 0% or 100%.
• the tank outlet pipe incorporates a check valve which is effective in preventing liquid from flowing-through the outlet pipe and into the tank.
• the apparatus includes control means which is intended to receive signals from a volume sensor or indicator and, in response to said signals, to control valves for regulating the supply of additives.
• the apparatus includes control means which receives from a sensor signals which disclose the distance travelled in the working direction and which controls the quantity of liquid mixture sprayed per unit of surface area in response to said signals.
• a liquid volume meter is mounted on a mechanical axle whose angle of rotation is a function of the volume of liquid that has passed through, and at least one additive metering pump is connected to said axle.
• the cutlet pipe incorporates a 3-way valve which can be adjusted between two positions, of which one will permit the free passage of base liquid from the tank to the junction point, whereas the other connects the junction point to a delivery line which extends from a cleansing fluid tank, e.g. a water tank, such as to enable the pipe loop and the outfeed line with spray means and control valves to be cleaned.
• a cleansing fluid tank e.g. a water tank
• Figure 1 illustrates schematically the construction of the inventive apparatus and its various components, under operational conditions;
• Figure 2 illustrates a partially modified embodiment;
• Figure 3 illustrates a mechanised embodiment of the inventive apparatus.
• the reference 1 identifies a tank for base liquid 2
• the reference 3 identifies a base liquid outlet pipe.
• Incorporated in the outlet pipe 3 is a valve 4 and a sensor 5 which are intended, respectively, for shutting off the flew of liquid from the tank 1 and for measuring the volume of liquid leaving the tank.
• the reference 6 identifies a check valve which is effective in preventing the back-flow of liquid into the tank. This will ensure that the tank will only contain pure base liquid, i.e.the liquid will be free from additives.
• the base liquid 2 in the tank is led therefrom to a junction point 7 located in a pipe circuit which includes a pipe or line section 8 which is connected to a pipe or line section 9, to which all additive outlet pipes are connected.
• Base liquid and additive are passed together through a pipe 10, to a pump 12, the outlet pipe or pressure pipe 11 of which discharges into a branch device 13.
• the liquid mixture can be passed from the branch device 13 through a return pipe 14, back to the junction point 7, and to an outfeed pipe or line 16 which feeds a spraying device 17,18 via respective control valves 20,21 and 22.
• the branch device has mounted an its upper end a pivotal flap plate 13", the angular setting of which iscontrolled by control means 30.
• the flap is shown swung slightly to the right. The greater part of the liquid mixture will therefore be conducted to the outfeed line 16, while a smaller quantity will be passed back through the return pipe 14 to the junction point at which the base - liquid delivery pipe 3 is connected.
• the flap 13" is in its extreme position to the right, the return line or pipe 14 is completely shut-off and 100% of the liquid flow will pass to the outfeed pipe 16 and to the spray devices 17-19.
• the flap is swung to its extreme position to the left, the connection with the outfeed pipe 16 is closed and all liquid mixture will circulate in the closed loop, wherewith 0% of the flow passes to the outfeed pipe 16.
• the outfeed pipe incorporates a sensor means 15 in the form of a volume meter which is intended to measure the flow of liquid through the pipe 16. Opening into the pipe 9 are outlet pipes 24 and 26 for additives taken from containers 23 and 25 respectively which contain said additives.When seen in the direction of flow, the containers illustrated represent the first and the last of the additive containers provided for the different additives used. Any desired number of additive outlet pipes 27 can be arranged between the pipes 24 and 26.
• control valves 28 and 29 Arranged at the cutlets of respective additive containers 23 and 25 are control valves 28 and 29 respectively which regulate or adjust the flow of additives from the containers and therewith also the additive concentration to the pump suction line 10.
• the valves 28 and 29 are also controlled by signals from a further control device 30, which also controls the valve 4 and the branch device 13.
• the control device 30 receives signals from the volume sensors 5 and 15 and from a sensor 32, this latter sensor producing signals indicative of the distance travelled during a spraying operation.
• the sensor 32 is connected to wheels which run on the ground and produces signals which are commensurate with movement in the working direction.
• the apparatus illustrated in Figure 1 has the following modus operandi.
• the pump 12 generates pressure in the pipes or lines 8, 9, and 10, the valve 15 being closed.
• the valve 4 determines the amount of base liquid which flows to the junction point 7 and the sensor 5 measures this amount and sends a corresponding signal to the control means 30.
• the concentration of the various additives is set by setting means 34 and 35 and the control means sends corresponding signals to the valves 28, 29, so that the correct amount of additive is passed to the pipe or line 9.
• the base liquid and additive(s) are here mixed together and the mixture will be highly homogenous at the time it reaches the pump 12.
• the liquid mixture is pumped to the branch device 13, wherewith some of the mixture is passed to the outfeed pipe 16, and sprayed, and the remainder is passed back to the junction point 7, through the return pipe 14.
• Spraying of the liquid mixture from the spray devices 17-19 can be controlled by appropriate adjustment to the settings of the valves 20-22, and one or more of the devices can be partially or fully closed if so desired.
• the setting of the setting means 34,35 are changed, which in turn changes the settings of the control valves 28,29. Since the volume of the pipe or line
• the apparatus can be cleaned very easily, as illustrated, interalia, in Figure 2.
• the apparatus is provided with a three-way valve 36 at a location between the valve 4 and the junction point 7.
• the valve 36 is connected to a pipe 37 for conducting cleaning fluid, e.g. water, from a tank 38.
• Figure 2 illustrates the apparatus in an apparatus cleaning mode, in which the apparatus is cleansed with a cleaning liquid.
• Cleaning liquid flews in the direction of the arrows, through the pipe or line section 9, the suction pipe 10, the pump 12, the outlet pipe 11 and to the outfeed pipe 16, via the 3-way valve 13'.As before mentioned, the volume of these pipes is very small and hence oily a small amount of rinsing fluid is needed to cleanse the apparatus effectively.
• the 3-way valve 13 is only capable of controlling or regulating the whole of the flew of liquid mixture, i.e. 100% of said flew, to the outfeed pipe 16, or of being fully closed, so as to pass no flow at all, i.e. 0%.
• Figure 3 shows an alternative embodiment, in which the valve 13', inter-alia, has been turned through 180 degrees in the direction of the arrow 33 in Fig.2.
• the liquid mixture present in the loop 7-14 will circulate around the loop.
• the mixture will thus be fully homogenecus.
• the procedure initially adopted may be that described in the aforegoing, wherewith after a suitable time lapse the valve can be rotated through 180 degrees in a direction opposite to that shown by the arrow 33, to the operational position shewn in Figure 2. There will then be obtained a fully hemogeneous liquid mixture from the very first moment of commencing to spray.
• the inventive apparatus can also be given a sir-pier, more mechanised construction, as illustrated in Figure 3, in which like reference signs are used to identify like elements.
• the apparatus of this embodiment includes a volume measuring device 40 having, e.g., a rubber impeller which is driven by the flew of liquid from the tank 1.
• the reference 41 identifies a mechanical axle which is driven by the impeller and which in turn drives two small settable pump devices 42 and 43. These pump devices may include excentrically displaceable rubber impellers, thereby to enable the volume of additive discharged with each revolution of the axle 41 to be varied as desired.
• the apparatus described with reference to Figure 3 affords, in principle, the same advantages as the apparatus described with reference to Figure 1, but is less expensive in manufacture.
• the apparatus may also be modified, by arranging for the axle 41 to be driven by the sensor or measuring device 15 in Figures 1 and 2, i.e. by the liquid mixture on the pressure side of the pump 12, instead of by the volume meter 40.

Landscapes

• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Environmental Sciences (AREA)
• Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
• Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
• Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
• Zoology (AREA)
• Water Supply & Treatment (AREA)
• Soil Sciences (AREA)
• Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
• Fertilizing (AREA)
• Accessories For Mixers (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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Cited By (13)

Families Citing this family (2)

Citations (6)

• 1988
  • 1988-04-18 SE SE8801429A patent/SE460395B/sv not_active IP Right Cessation
• 1989
  • 1989-04-05 AU AU34209/89A patent/AU3420989A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1989-04-05 WO PCT/SE1989/000174 patent/WO1989010050A1/en unknown

Patent Citations (6)

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