WO1999013713A1

WO1999013713A1 - Liquid and or chemical application apparatus

Info

Publication number: WO1999013713A1
Application number: PCT/GB1998/002749
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert Muir
Original assignee: Land Restore Uk Limited
Priority date: 1997-09-16
Filing date: 1998-09-16
Publication date: 1999-03-25
Also published as: AU9085898A; GB9719562D0; GB2334687A; GB9911214D0

Abstract

Apparatus (1) suitable for applying liquids or chemicals to crops, objects and so on is described as having a means for applying the liquid or chemical, such as a spray applicator, receiving means (6) for collecting waste liquid or chemical not appropriately applied and a means for thereafter recycling the collected liquid or chemical in order to enable its reuse.

Description

LIQUID AND OR CHEMICAL APPLICATTON APPARATUS

This invention relates to apparatus and methodology used for spraying chemicals and or other liquids at targeted articles or phenomenon. A particular although not exclusive application of the invention is in the field of spraying chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides on vegetation or crops.

In the past there have been two commonly used methods of applying chemicals to a relatively large targeted area, namely contact application on the one hand and conventional spraying on the other hand.

Contact weed control systems generally employ some form of mechanical apparatus, such as a brush or pad, which physically contact the targeted weed and in so doing impart a chemical designed for attacking and ultimately killing the weed. A problem associated with such systems, however, is that the coating can be inconsistent in that it is very dependent upon the volume of the chemical on the brush or other mechanical applicator at the time of contact. Where the coating is too heavy or thick, the pesticide (for example) may drip on to other non targeted vegetation, harming valuable crops.

The mechanical application of chemicals, particularly where selectivity is required, is also resource demanding in terms of labour or equipment and time.

These two named disadvantages of mechanical applicators also hold for contact applicator systems in many other industries and situations, including for example the application of paints and other surface coatings.

A problem associated with the application of chemicals using spraying systems is the extent of wastage. Typically a "blanket spray" is used which covers all vegetation and also the surface of the soil, with an associated repercussion of causing harm to wildlife. With blanket spraying techniques, it is recognised that on average only twenty- five per cent of chemicals sprayed at vegetation using known spraying systems succeed in hitting the desired target, the remaining seventy- five per cent being wasted. This is particularly disadvantageous in the light of the cost of such chemicals. It is also undesirable for poisons and other toxic or potentially harmful substances to be misdirected and thereby washed into nearby waterways or absorbed into the ecological environment in high concentrations without having served a useful purpose.

A further disadvantage of using conventional spraying systems is the difficulties which are encountered in windy conditions. Wind drift of the chemicals can increase the percentage wastage of the chemical, while also increasing the likelihood of the chemical reaching and contaminating non targeted areas , including ponds and waterways . Similarly rare vegetation and plants can be damaged.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved system for applying chemicals and other liquids to targeted surfaces and vegetation which, while benefiting from the efficiency and other advantages of spray systems, is associated with lower wastage and loss than that known heretofore with conventional sprayers. A further object of the invention is to reduce or mitigate the adverse impact on the environment of agricultural and horticultural chemical applicators, particularly sprayers. A yet further object of the present invention is to incorporate a means for enabling the selective application of the chemical or liquid.

According to the present invention there is provided liquid and or chemical application apparatus comprising applicator means for applying the liquid or chemical to a targeted area or phenomenon, receiving means for receiving the liquid or chemical released by the applicator means which was not applied to the said target and recycling means for recycling the liquid and or chemical from the collecting means to the applicator means .

Preferably, the applicator means is a spray applicator. It may be, for example, a series of pencil jets or a controlled droplet applicator.

For some situations other application techniques may be used, such as brushing. The receiving means may be in the form of a sponge or other high absorbent material.

Preferably, the recycling means comprises of a storage facility and a conveying means for conveying the chemical or liquid received by the receiving means to the storage facilities and thereafter back to the applicator means.

The recycling means may include one or more pumps to encourage the flow of the chemical or liquid m the appropriate direction throughout the conveying means. Typically the conveying means comprises of a p pe or duct.

The liquid and or chemical application apparatus may be of modular construction allowing the design of apparatus incorporating between one and several units, each unit having a separate applicator means .

The liquid and or chemical application apparatus may be used in a manner which enables height selectivity of targeted areas.

In order to provide a better understanding of the invention, embodiments will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following Figures, in which:

Fig . 1 illustrates a single unit chemical applicator in accordance with the invent ion ;

Fig . 2 illustrates a mul tiple uni t chemical applicator ; and Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the apparatus, including a recycling means.

Referring firstly to Fig. 1 , there is shown liquid and or chemical spraying apparatus generally described at 1. The apparatus 1 includes an applicator means, which in the illustrated embodiment, is a controlled droplet applicator (CDA) 2. The CDA is supplied with a liquid or chemical (not shown) depending on the particular nature of the task in hand. Such supply is provided by the feed pipe 3 which forms part of a larger conveying means. the conveying means also includes the return ducts 4.

A hood 5 provides a canopy type structure, which may be of any suitable shape such as hexagonal or circular. At the periphery edges or circumference of the hood 5 is provided a receiving means 6 comprising an annular sponge and a filter.

In use, the hood 5 and associated apparatus is passed over the targeted area, for example a plant or weed, and droplets of the used liquid or chemical are sprayed from the CDA 2. The droplets are sprayed in a substantially horizontal direction. Some of the sprayed liquid or chemical impacts the target, while some misses the target and is therefore received by the receiving means 6. This collected chemical or liquid is then passed through the filtration system in the receiving means 6 to the return ducts 4 at an outlet on the receiving means.

(it should be noted that it is not necessary to the invention that the filter be located within the receiving means 6; it being similarly suitable for the filter, if required at all, to be further downstream in the conveying means . )

As the hood 5 and associated apparatus pass over vegetation, individual plants, crops, weeds or the like enter the volume under the hood 5 and then fold out of the said volume as the apparatus continues its travel. Accordingly it is possible to employ the apparatus in a ma ner which allows for height selectivity. Where a particular targeted vegetation stands proud of surrounding vegetation for example, the hood 5 and applicator means 2 can be held at a height which ensures the application of the chemical only on the targeted vegetation. As the receiving means collects any misdirected chemical, the lower vegetation is guarded from contact of the sprayed droplets.

In Fig.2 there is illustrated apparatus of similar design to the embodiment shown in Fig.1, but which combines three such units, each having a respective hexagonal hood 5a, 5b and 5c, applicator means (not shown) and feed pipe 3a, 3b and 3c. The embodiment shows how the apparatus can be connected in modular construction, the number of units employed being a function of the size and type of task required to be performed, in addition to the means by which the apparatus is carried and transported. It is envisaged that the embodiment shown in Fig.2 could be mobilised by mounting it on a tractor or ATV and passed over a targeted area at a velocity of approximately 5 to 10 kilometres per hour.

In Fig.3 the recycling means of the apparatus is emphasised. Chemical released from the applicator means 2 is conveyed by the return duct 4 via a filter 10 to a storage facility 11. The storage facility is typically a tank or reservoir. From the storage facility 11 the chemical is then returned to the applicator means 2 by the feed pipe 3. Pumps 12 are used to circulate the chemical throughout the system.

The invention thus enables any misdirected chemical or liquid to be reused, thereby mitigating wastage and undesirable environmental impacts.

Further modifications and improvements may be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention herein intended.

Claims

1. Liquid and or chemical application apparatus comprising applicator means for applying the liquid or chemical to a targeted area or phenomenon, receiving means for receiving the liquid or chemical released by the applicator means which was not applied to the said target and recycling means for recycling the liquid and or chemical from the collecting means to the applicator means.

2. Apparatus as claimed n Claim 1 wherein the applicator means is a spray applicator.

3. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the applicator means comprises of a series of pencil ets.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the applicator means comprises of a controlled droplet applicator.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the receiving means is in the form of a sponge or other high absorbent material.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the recycling means comprises of a storage facility and a conveying means for conveying the chemical or liquid received by the receiving means to the storage facilities and thereafter back to the applicator means.

7. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the recycling means includes one or more pumps to encourage the flow of the chemical or liquid in the appropriate direction throughout the conveying means.

8. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 6 or 7 wherein the conveying means comprises of a pipe or duct.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims being of modular construction allowing the design of apparatus incorporating between one and several units, each unit having a separate applicator means .

10. Liquid and or chemical application apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims usable in a manner that enables height selectivity of targeted areas.