WO1991001634A1

WO1991001634A1 - Applicator for chemicals

Info

Publication number: WO1991001634A1
Application number: PCT/AU1990/000315
Authority: WO
Inventors: Reinder Frederick De Boer
Original assignee: Reinder Frederick De Boer
Priority date: 1989-08-01
Filing date: 1990-07-31
Publication date: 1991-02-21

Abstract

Applicator for chemicals to plants adapted to be towed behind a vehicle and having a support frame (10), wheels (12) either side of the support frame (10) and being adjustable in height relative thereto, a feed system (14) to supply the chemicals to a plurality of manifolds (16), the manifolds (16) being at an angle to the direction of travel; each manifold (16) having a number of outlets (50) for the chemicals, and a covering of a relatively porous material (52) over the outlets (50).

Description

APPLICATOR FOR CHEMICALS

This invention relates to an applicator for chemicals to plants and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to an application for applying weedicides to plants.

The most common method for applying weedicides on a large scale is by spraying. This has a number of inherent problems:

(a) the spray can kill plants other than those intended due to the inherent ^" nature of spraying;

(b) it cannot be used when there is a wind or breeze as the spray could travel with the wind or breeze and kill plants other than those intended; (c) the danger to all animals, including humans, due to the drift of the spray;

(d) the cost of the active ingredient due to the volume of liquid sprayed so as to ensure adequate cover of the weeds or plants to be killed; and

(e) the time taken due to relatively slow towing vehicle speed which results from the spray rates required.

It is therefore the principal object of the present invention to provide an application for chemicals for plants wherein the application is by means other than spraying.

With the above, and other objects in mind, the present invention provides an applicator for chemicals to plants comprising a support frame, travel means mounted to said support frame to allow said applicator to travel over the ground, at least one table for holding said chemicals, a feed system for supplying said chemicals to a plurality of manifolds, said manifolds being at an angle to the proposed direction of movement and each having a plurality of outlets; there being provided a covering of a relatively porous material over said plurality of outlets. In order that the invention may be readily understood and put into practical effect, there shall now be described a preferred construction of an applicator for chemicals incorporating the preferred features of the present invention. The description is with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the applicator;

Figure 2 is a side view of the applicator;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the lines of and in the direction of arrows 3-3 of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view along the lines of and in the direction of arrows 4-4 of Figure 1; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the height adjusting mechanism.

To refer to the drawings there is shown an applicator for chemicals which as an A-shaped support frame 10, a wheel 12 at each side of the support frame 10, and a feed system 14 for supplying chemicals to a number of manifolds 16.

The frame 10 has two beams 18 extending from the towing hitch 19 and terminating at brackets 21 which hold in place upright posts 20. The posts 20 are slidably mounted in the brackets 21.

A securing means 23 allows each post 20 to be held in a particular selected position relative to its bracket 21 due to holes 22 in the posts 20. At the bottom of each post 20 are the wheels 12 mounted for rotational movement about an axle 25 secured to the bottom of the posts 20. Mounted on the beams 18 is a sub-frame 26 for holding tanks or drums 28 of the chemical. This comprises to transverse beams 11, 13 and two axial beams 15. A frame 17 is used to hold the drums 28 in position.

Beneath the frame 10 is mounted a second sub-frame 30 which is secured to the beams 18 by transverse support beam 29 and a number of front and rear supports 32 and 34 respectively. The sub-frame 30 has a peripheral member 36 of L-shape in cross-section. Carried by the member 36 are a plurality of manifolds 16 which, when the frame 10 is in the low position as shown, are generally parallel to the ground. However, they are inclined to the direction of travel by an angle of, preferably, 30 " . This ensures that the leading portion 38 of one manifold overlaps the trailing portion of the adjacent manifold.

Each manifold 16 has an inlet 46 and a hollow tube 48 closed at each end. A plurality of outlet holes 50 are provided along the lowest edge of the tube

48. Surrounding the tube 48 is a porous cloth 52 such as, for example, carpet which absorbs the chemical as it passes through the holes 50 and which can wipe over the plant to enable the chemical to be applied to the leaf surface thereof.

The manifolds 16 are connected to the drums 28 by the feed system 14. This comprises an outlet tube 54 from each drum 28 to a supply tube 56. A solenoid operated valve 58 is provided as an "ON", "OFF" valve. A pump 60 is used to maintain the supply of the chemical, and the pump 60 is controlled by a pump controller 62. By use of the controller 62 the speed of pump 60 and hence rate of supply of the chemical to the manifolds 16 can be varied. The supply tube 56 is operatively connected to a distribution tube 64 for supplying the chemical to the manifolds 16. The arrangement is such that once the drums 28 are filled with the required chemical, the height of frame 10 selected and adjusted by use of posts 20, bracket 21 and securing means 23, and the tow hitch 19 connected to the towing vehicle (e.g. a tractor) the solenoid valve 58 is turned ON and the controller 62 adjusted so that the pump 60 supplies the chemical to the manifolds 16 at the correct rate. The vehicle is then set in motion. The cloth 52 rubs over the leaves of the plants to be killed such that the chemical is absorbed and the plant killed. Chemicals such as "BRUSH OFF" by DuPont and/or "ROUNDUP" are excellent for this. By virtue of the overlapping arrangement of the manifolds 16, a complete coverage can be obtained.

The leading edge of sub-frame 30 forces the leaf matter of the plants under the sub-frame 30 and into contact with the cloth 52 of the manifolds 16. With bracken fern, the fronds are turned upside-down by this operation and thus the chemical is applied to the underside of the fronds - the underside having greater absorption than the top.

It has been found that the apparatus can be successfully used with bracken fern, reeds, tussocks, thistles, and even longer grass. Also, as only the chemical required is used due to the wiping action, considerably less chemical is used when compared to spraying. This causes a considerable saving in costs, and allows speedier application. Vehicle speeds of up to 11 k.p.h. have been successfully used.

Claims

The claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. An application for chemicals to plants comprising a support frame, travel means mounted to said support frame to allow said applicator to travel over the ground, at least one tank for holding said chemicals, a feed system for supplying said chemicals to a plurality of manifolds, said manifolds being at an angle to the proposed direction of movement and each having a plurality of outlets; there being provided a covering of a relatively porous material over said plurality of outlets.

2. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support frame comprises two beams forming a frame of approximate A shape, each beam having at its outer end a bracket into which is slidably located an upright post; each said post having a plurality of holes therein and said bracket having a securing means to enable said post to be releasably held in a selected position relative to said bracket.

3. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of said posts has a lower end, there being an axle extending outwardly from said lower end, and a wheel mounted on said axle; the wheels comprising said travel means.

4. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein each of said plurality of manifolds comprise a hollow tube closed at each end, and an inlet to said tube, said covering extending over substantially the entire length of said tube and completely around said tube.

5. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said plurality of manifolds are carried by a sub-frame, said sub-frame comprising a peripheral member being substantially L-shaped in cross-section, said sub-frame being secured beneath said frame by a plurality of front and rear supports - secured to a transverse beam carried by and attached to said frame. f>.

6. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein said angle is 30 ^* .

7. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein said covering is carpet.

8. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein said feed system comprises at least one tank or drum for holding said chemicals, an outlet tube from said tank, a supply tube operatively connected to said outlet tube and said plurality of manifolds; there being provided an ON/OFF valve in said supply tube, and a pump for said chemicals.

9. An applicator for chemicals as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein said at least one tank is held by a further sub-frame; said further sub- frame comprising two substantially parallel beams transverse to said frame, two axial beams joining said parallel beams to provide a support for said tank, and a frame to releasably hold said tank on said support. 10, An applicator for chemicals substantially hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.