WO2003073834A1

WO2003073834A1 - Assembly and method of distributing a liquid such as liquid manure over land

Info

Publication number: WO2003073834A1
Application number: PCT/NL2003/000156
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gerrit Schouten; Marius Hendrikus Van Voorden; Johannes Martien Kaper
Original assignee: Gerrit Schouten; Marius Hendrikus Van Voorden; Johannes Martien Kaper
Priority date: 2002-03-01
Filing date: 2003-02-28
Publication date: 2003-09-12
Also published as: NL1020096C2; AU2003215966A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly and a method of distributing liquid manure over land. The assembly (5), provided on a towing vehicle (1), comprises a distribution unit (9) for distributing liquid which is pumped through a flexible, unreeled pipe which is drawn behind the vehicle (1), the liquid being fed through the assembly to a number of openings during irrigation. The drag exerted by the pipe on the vehicle (1) is reduced when driving through a curve or over rough terrain by regulating the velocity of the pipe relative to that of the vehicle by using moveable length-adjusting means (29) which are provided between the pipe and the rest of the assembly. The relative velocity of the pipe (9) is lowered at the beginning of the curve by paying out length and increased at about halfway through the curve by taking in length.

Description

Assembly and method of distributing a liquid such as liquid manure over land

The invention relates to an assembly for use for distributing a liquid such as liquid manure over land whereby the assembly is provided on a tow vehicle, which tow vehicle is for towing a liquid supply means such as a wind-able hose behind t ie tow vehicle across the land when distiibuting the liquid over the land, whereby the assembly is provided with connecting means to which the liquid supply means can be release-ably connected to (form) a connection, and with a manure distribution unit, which is to be fed with manure supplied through the liquid supply means which are to be connected and through the connection, and a number of nozzles or fertilization units connected to the manure distribution unit, whereby the nozzles are provided on a number of arms of the assembly which can be folded in or out behind the tow vehicle. The invention also relates to a method of distributing a liquid such as liquid manure over land or a surface making use of such an assembly.

A device and a method as described are known in practice. When distributing ma- nure over, in particular, wet and/ or soft soil or soggy ground a wind-able hose is first rolled out along a side of the land which is to be fertilized or irrigated. The tow vehicle is brought into a starting position, such that the rolled-out hose can be connected to the assembly. After connecting the hose to the assembly, the rolled-out hose is filled with manure, such as by pumping manure fro a tank or tanker which lies at some distance from the tow vehicle. Distribution of manure over the land takes place by pumping the supplied manure through to the fertilization nozzles of the assembly while the tow vehicle follows a desirable trajectory. A desirable trajectory can be one in which the tow vehicle follows a first, mainly rectilinear trajectory over the land and thereby tows the connected hose behind it across the land. At the end of this first, mainly rectilinear trajectory, a second, mainly curvilinear tra- jectory (a turn) is followed, in turn followed by a third trajectory which lies mainly parallel with respect to the first trajectory. The tow vehicle follows as it were parallel lanes in alternating directions across the land which is to be fertilized or irrigated.

A disadvantage of the known device and method is that the wetter and/ or softer the soil is which is to be fertilized or irrigated, the greater the resistance which the hose exerts on the tow vehicle and the greater the pulling force is which the tow vehicle must provide in order to draw the hose forward. This disadvantage occurs in particular when driving through a corner, such as when turning around at an edge of the land with the aim of following a further trajectory which is parallel and in the opposite direction with respect to a first trajectory. In addition, the greater the pulling force which a tow vehicle has to provide for towing the hose, the greater the damage which is caused to the (soggy) soil.

The publication US-4,266,724 discloses an apparatus for use in spraying manure over land. This known device relates to a vehicle which is provided with a spraying nozzle which is connected to a hollow shaft of a reel provided on the vehicle. The reel rotates around a horizontal axis, the horizontal axis extending parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The hollow shaft is connected to a wind-able pipe, which pipe can be wound onto the reel. The solution in regard of the stated problem is directed to the provision of an improved method of winding on or winding off of the pipe with respect to the reel itself, such that the winding-on or winding-off takes place whereby the pipe is x der a constant tension and is wound onto or wound off the reel in regular layers, and in particular (directed to) the aspect of guiding the pipe which is positioned mainly perpendicular with respect to the reel axis during the winding-on or winding-off and which must follow a curved path in a direction which mainly parallel to the direction of movement of the vehi- cle. This document does not relate to the afore-mentioned disadvantage of the device known in practice.

The publication DE-U-9204853 discloses a device for distributing manure over land. This known device comprises a vehicle having a pipe reel, in a orientation similar to the one according to the publication US-4,226,724, which pipe reel comprises means for laying out the pipe, whereby the laying-out means are connected to the vehicle laterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and in a horizontal plane. The laying-out means are pivot-able in a vertical plane around a horizontal axis which is provided on the outer perimeter of the reel and is parallel with respect to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The solution in regard of the stated problem relates to actually letting the pipe rest in place when using the device to traverse a path with a turnaround in the direction such as with a U-turn. The related problem is thus just the opposite to the one the present invention relates to.

The publication NL-9301247 discloses a self-propelled mobile device for distributing liquid manure over a surface. This document describes a device which is provided with spraying arms extending sideways with respect to the device and which are fed with liquid manure from a central point, to which arms dose nozzles are connected with which a downwardly directed curtain of liquid manure can be formed making use of a spraying plate which is provided behind a nozzle piece which is directed to the rear with respect to the direction of travel. This document describes the general state of the art. It is an objective of the invention to provide an improved device, the use of which causes less damage to the land which is to be fertilized or irrigated.

It is another objective of the invention to provide an improved method of distributing a liquid such as liquid manure over land whereby as much of the land as possible is fer- tilized or irrigated.

According to an aspect of the invention, one or both stated objectives are achieved by further providing an assembly according to the preamble with means which are connected to the connecting means, which (former) means serve for displacing the connection of the liquid supply means with respect to the assembly. The advantage hereof is that the friction force exerted by the hose on the tow vehicle in the longitudinal direction of the hose is decreased. A change in the direction of travel of the tow vehicle, in particular when driving through a curve as when turning at the end of a trajectory, is utilized as an addition of an extra movement. By adding an extra movement the resulting direction of movement, and with that also the direction of the friction force, is turned. During this turning the friction force remains just as great. Seen in the initial direction of travel of the tow vehicle the component of the friction force in this direction is therefore smaller. By this, the tow vehicle can travel faster through the corner it is driven through. It hereby holds that the greater the ratio of the lateral velocity of the tow vehicle with respect to the velocity in the initial direction of travel, the lower the perturbing friction force which is exerted by the hose in the initial direction of travel.

A further advantage is that because the tow vehicle drives faster through a curve, the hose does not also come to a standstill. This leads to efficiency because a greater friction force occurs at standstill than during movement. During movement the friction force can be considerably lower than at standstill. Because the friction force occurring during movement is barely dependent on the velocity, it is advantageous to keep the hose moving when turning into a curve.

In a preferred embodiment, the (connection-) displacing means are provided between the connecting means and the liquid supply means. This offers the most space for assembling and disassembling the displacing means to and from, respectively, the assembly. In a further preferred embodiment the connecting means are pivot-able around a vertical axis provided between the elevation mast and the tow vehicle. This offers the advantage that the resistance exerted by the liquid supply means on the tow vehicle is reduced to an important extent. The disadvantage inherent to this, that when traversing through a curve the liquid supply means remains under the tow vehicle till a long rectilinear trajectory is followed after the curve, is eliminated by the provision of a degree of freedom of rotation in the horizontal plane in addition to the degree of freedom of translation in regard of the connection of the liquid supply means with respect to the assembly.

In a further preferred embodiment, the displacing means comprise a combination of two hollow tubes which can be slid into or out of one another. Such a combination can be implemented in a way which requires little maintenance, with the known economic advantages thereof. This combination can be operated in various ways, for example manually or hydraulically. Optionally, the combination can be provided at its underside with means by which it can roll or glide easily across the land. In another preferred embodiment, a covering which reduces the friction between the inner tube and the outer tube is provided on the inside of the outer hollow tube. This feature leads to inter alia less wear.

By implementing the displacing means in a form having hollow tubes with a non- circular cross-section which can be slid into or out of one another, it is achieved that these tubes are not able to undergo torsion with respect to each other by which the frictional resistance which these tubes exert on each other when being slid into or out of one another, can be limited.

In another preferred embodiment the displacing means are provided between the connecting means and the rest of the assembly. The advantage hereof in comparison to the previously mentioned embodiments is that the displacing means are not constantly towed across the land, which is economically advantageous because less dirtying and less wear occur.

In a further preferred embodiment the displacing means serve to move the connection of the liquid supply means with respect to the assembly in the direction of the end of the arm of the assembly which lies on the inside of a curvilinear trajectory which is to be traversed, in the "inside lane", so to speak. This offers the advantage that the tensile point of the liquid supply means with respect to the assembly can be displaced by which it is possible to, as it were, turn the tow vehicle as quickly as possible around the end of the elevation mast. In a further preferred embodiment, the displacing means comprise a moveable guide roll or reel with which a length of hose can be paid out or drawn in for displacing the connection of the liquid supply means with respect to the assembly. It shall be clear that in the case wherein the tensile point of the liquid supply means with respect to the assembly, i.e. the connection of the liquid supply means, can be moved right up to an end of the elevation mast, a reel which is pivot-able about a vertical axis can also be used for paying out and drawing in the liquid supply means.

It shall be clear that the passage for pumping the liquid such as liquid manure between the liquid supply means and the manure distribution unit is open. This offers the ad- vantage of an uninterrupted operation of distribution of the liquid or manure over the land, thus also when changing the direction of the tow vehicle.

According to another aspect, the invention relates to a method of distributing a liquid such as liquid manure over land whereby at the start of traversing a second, curvilinear trajectory, or when traversing an accidented section of a first trajectory, the relative velocity of the hose is decreased with respect to that of the tow vehicle by displacing the connection of the hose to the connecting means of the assembly or to the connecting means of the displacing means in the direction of the hose, such as by sliding the piston out of the cylinder or by paying out a length of hose which is buffered by the moveable guide roll or reel by means of the displacing means, respectively; and optionally by moving the connection in the direction of the end of the arm of the assembly which lies at the inside of the curvilinear trajectory (the "inside lane"); and at about halfway through the second, curvilinear trajectory which is to be traversed increasing the relative velocity of the hose with respect to that of the tow vehicle by displacing the connection of the hose to the connecting means of the assembly or to the connecting means of the displacing means in the direction of the tow vehi- cle, such as by sliding the piston into the cylinder or by drawing in a length of hose which is buffered by the moveable guide roll or reel by means of the displacing means and optionally by moving the connection back in the direction of the centre of the assembly. The advantage hereof is that in comparison to the known method the hose deviates less from the desired trajectory to be followed, by which so much more land is actually utilized for fertili- zation. Another advantage is that because the hose is drawn across the land to a lesser extent when turning a corner, there is proportionally less damage caused to the land.

The invention will now be further described and further embodiments will be elucidated with reference to an example of an embodiment and its corresponding drawings. In the drawings Figure 1 depicts a perspective plan view of an assembly known in practice;

Figure 2 depicts a perspective plan view of an assembly according to the invention, a hose being shown as coupled to the assembly; Figure 3 depicts a perspective plan view of an assembly according to the invention, positioned in a state just before the coupling of the manure supply hose to the assembly, or just after the uncoupling of the manure supply hose from the assembly, respectively;

Figure 4 depicts on a larger scale and in a different perspective a plan view of a sec- tion of the assembly according to Figure 2, whereby the hollow tubes have been slid into one another and the pistons have been completely slid into the cylinders;

Figure 5 depicts on an even larger scale the section of the assembly according to Figure 4, whereby the hollow tubes have been partly slid out of one another and the pistons have been partly slid out of the cylinders; Figures 6 A and 6B depict side views of the assembly according to the invention, in a form embodied with a vertically moveable guide roll, in two working positions;

Figures 7A and 7B depict side views of the assembly according to the invention, in a form embodied with a guide roll moveable along an incline, in two working positions;

Figure 8 depicts a number of stills in succession of trajectories followed by a hose coupled to an assembly, which is as known in practice, behind a tow vehicle;

Figure 9 depicts a number of stills in succession of trajectories followed by a hose coupled to an assembly, which is according to the invention, behind a tow vehicle;

Figure 10 depicts a plan view of a number of stills of combined translations and rotations, according to the invention, of the connection of the hose with respect to the tow vehi- cle when traversing a U-turn;

Figures 11 A and 11B depict a plan view and a side view, respectively, of a steering cylinder which is provided on the assembly for performing the rotation movement of the hose with respect to the assembly, with reference to Figure 10; and

Figure 12 depicts a plan view of a number of stills of the movement of the connection of the hose to the assembly in the direction of the end of the arm of the assembly extending at the inside of a U-turn, according to the invention, when traversing the U-turn.

The figures are schematic and are not drawn to scale. In the figures, corresponding numerals refer to corresponding parts of the embodiments of the device shown.

Figure 1 depicts a situation as known in practice of a tractor 1 which is provided with a hose tow installation 2. The hose tow installation 2 can be folded in or out, and it comprises an elevation mast 3, a tow coupling 4 attached to the elevation mast 3 and an assembly 5. The assembly 5 is provided with a valve 6 and connecting means 7 to which a hose 9, which has been rolled out over the land 8, is connected to form a connection 10, 10a. Manure is supplied through the hose 9 and is fed, through means not shown here, to a dis- tribution grinder 11. With use of the distribution grinder 11 the manure is distributed between outlet lines 12 and is led towards fertilization units 13. The fertilization units 13 are each provided with a foot 14 and a so-called outlet rubber 15. There are also pre-cutting blades and furrow implements (for forming neat furrows) provided on the elevation mast 3, these being depicted here schematically and in a rear plan view and being generally indicated with the reference numeral 16.

Figure 2 depicts the assembly 5 according to the invention in an embodiment which is provided with a double cylinder-piston combination 17, 18 which is provided on either side of two hollow tubes 19, 20 having a square cross-section, which tubes can be slid into and out of one another, respectively. The tubes are shown in the state in which the inner tube 20 is completely slid into the outer tube 19. The cylinder-piston combination 17, 18 and the hollow tubes 19, 20 together form the displacing means 21 which at their one end are connected to the connecting means 7 of the assembly 5 and which at their other end 23 are connected to the manure supply hose 9. Figure 3 depicts the assembly 5 according to Figure 2 in a working position in which a manure supply hose (not shown) is yet to be coupled, or in which a manure supply hose has just been uncoupled. The hollow tubes 19, 20 and the cylinder-piston combination 17, 18 can be folded up in regard of a compact transportation state. The folding-up or folding-out of this embodiment can be done both manually (e.g. by means of a winch, not shown) as well as hydraulically (e.g. operated from within the tractor cabin).

Figure 4 depicts a section of the assembly according to Figure 2, on a larger scale. It can be clearly seen how the connecting means 24 of the hose 9 and the connecting means 25 at the one end 23 of the two hollow tubes 19, 20 -which are completely slid into one another — are connected to each other for forming the connection 10a. It can be also seen in the figure how the two hollow tubes 19,20 at their other end 22 are connected to the connecting means 7 of the assembly 5.

Figure 5 depicts the section of the assembly according to Figure 4, in the same perspective plan view, whereby the hollow tubes 19, 20 are partly slid out of one another and the piston rod 26 is partly slid out of the cylinder 27. The cables 28 represent power lines of the cylinder-piston combination 26, 27.

Figure 6A depicts the assembly 5 according to the invention, in a form embodied with a guide roll 29 which has been vertically slid out, in a working position in which a certain length of hose 30 has been buffered and the connecting means 25 which serve for cooperating with those of the manure supply hose (not shown) are placed as close as possible to the assembly 5. Figure 6B depicts this assembly 5 in another working position in which a certain length of hose 30 has been paid out and the connecting means 25 which serve for cooperating with those of the manure supply hose (not shown) are placed farther away from the assembly 5. Figures 7A and 7B depict situations which are analogous to those of Figures 6A and

6B, in which in the present embodiment the guide roll 29 can be moved at an incline with respect to the assembly 5. It will be clear that other displacing means such as a reel can be used instead of a guide roll.

Figure 8 depicts a number of stills in succession of trajectories followed by a hose 9 coupled to an assembly, which is as known in practice, behind a tractor 1. Since the resistance exerted by the manure supply hose 9 on the tractor 1 is large, the land 8 which the tractor 1 is driven across for making the U-turn is fertilized unevenly or not utilized.

Figure 9 depicts a number of stills in succession of trajectories followed by a hose 9 coupled to an assembly, which is according to the invention, behind a tractor 1. It can be seen clearly here how during the movement through the curve the inner tube 20 of the displacing means 21 is slid in or out, respectively, with respect to the outer tube 19 by which the lateral movement of the tractor 1 takes place more readily. The manure supply hose 9 is towed across the land 8 to a lesser extent in comparison to the situation depicted according to Figure 8 and more land is utilized effectively for uniform fertilization. Figure 10 depicts a number of stills in succession whereby translations and rotations of the connection of the hose with respect to the tow vehicle are made when traversing a U- turn. In the position A the displacing means 21 lie straight behind the tow vehicle 1 (which is not shown here). The inner tube 20 is hereby slid into the outer tube 19. The tow link 4 of the assembly 5 is provided with a vertical axis around which the assembly 5 can pivot, whereby the tow link lies between the tractor 1 and the elevation mast 3. The arms of the assembly are not shown here. When traversing a trajectory between position A and position B, preferably making use of control engineering knowledge available to the skilled person, the displacing means 21 pivot with respect to the assembly 5 and the inner tube 20 is slid out of the outer tube 19. Approximately between position B and position C the maximum length to which the inner tube 20 can be slid out of the outer tube 19 and the maximum angle across which the displacing means 21 can pivot with respect to the assembly 5, are reached. Between position C and position E the inner tube 20 is slid again into the outer tube 19 and the rotation of the displacing means 21 with respect to the assembly is reduced. Between position E and position F the displacing means are drawn into a position straight behind the as- sembly 5 and the tractor by means of a steering cylinder, after which the arms of the assembly can be folded out to continue with the distribution of manure.

Figure 11 A depicts a plan view of the steering cylinder 31 with a piston which is slid out when the displacing means 21 (which are shown in part) lie almost at a rectangle with respect to the assembly 5 and the tow vehicle 1, just about in position C according to Figure 10. Figure 11B depicts a side view of the steering cylinder 31 with a piston which is slid in when the displacing means 21 lie almost straight behind the assembly 5 and the tow vehicle 1, e.g. in position A or in position F according to Figure 10.

Figure 12 depicts a number of stills in succession, analogous to what is depicted in Figure 9, of how when traversing the curve making use of, e.g., displacing means 21 (not shown here) of which the inner tube 20 is slid out or in with respect to the outer tube 19 and in the direction of the end of the arm of the assembly extending at the inside of the curve, if necessary right up till the end thereof, by which the extra lateral movement of the tow vehicle can be utilized as soon as possible. With the creation of this extra possibility it is achieved that the tractor can turn, as it were, as quickly as possible around the factual rotation-axis at the end of the related arm of the assembly. It shall be clear that e.g. also a reel which is pivot-able around a vertical axis may also be used for the intended possibility of rotation instead of a combination of two hollow tubes which can be slid into or out of one another. The manner and control of the movement of the means towards the end of the arm and in the reverse direction can be effectuated on the basis of known mechanics and hydraulics technology.

A method of use of the assembly according to the invention will now be further described. A length of wind-able hose is rolled out between a manure stock tank and the land 8 which is to be fertilized or irrigated, the land also being known as a manure course. The hose which can be wound up or wound out is wound on a reel which is provided on the tow vehicle 1. A certain length of hose 9 is also rolled out on the manure course itself. The tow vehicle 1 is brought into a starting position on the manure course 8, such that the rolled-out hose 9 can be connected to the assembly 5. Then the rolled-out hose 9 is connected to the connecting means 7 of the assembly 5 in the case wherein an assembly in an embodiment according to Figures 6A, 6B or 7A, 7B is used. If an assembly in an embodiment according to Figures 2-5 is used, then the rolled-out hose 9 is connected to the connecting means 25 of the displacing means 21.

Next, the rolled-out hose 9 is filled with manure or another liquid, for example by pumping manure or another liquid from the stock tank which lies at some distance from the tow vehicle 1. Over-pressure can thereby be created in the stock tank, so that the pump can also be filled when (the liquid is) under an over-pressure. A pre-cutter can be provided in the blade housing of the pump in order to chop up straw residues and other contaminants in the manure. A cyclone separator may be provided preceding the pump, which separator ensures that stones and rough grit is taken out of the stream of liquid which is to be pumped. The supplied liquid is thus pumped through to the nozzles or fertilization units 13 of the assembly 5.

According to the method of use the tow vehicle 1 is thereby driven mainly in a straight line across the manure course such that it thereby tows the connected hose 9 behind it across the land. At the end of this trajectory, without crossing movements of the tow vehicle 1 being required a U-turn is taken (or at least a second, curvilinear trajectory is followed) to subsequently traverse a third trajectory which lies mainly parallel with respect to the first trajectory. When starting in through the curve, the elevation mast 3 is raised so that the rubber outlets 15 cannot come into contact with the hose and/ or with the land, and the hose 9 can move to under the assembly 5. The relative velocity of the hose 9 is then lowered with respect to that of the tow vehicle 1 by displacing the connection 10a in the direction of the hose 9. This can be done by sliding the piston 26 out of the cylinder 27 (when using an embodiment according to Figures 2-5) or by paying out a length of hose 30 buffered by the moveable guide roll 29 (when using an embodiment according to Figures 6 A, 6B or 7 A, 7B). When the point of rotation of the connection displacing means 21 lies between the connecting means 7 of the assembly 5 and the rest of the assembly, then also a rotation of the means 21 with respect to the tow vehicle can be steer-controlled, preferably with the application of control engineering. About halfway through the turn or the second, curvilinear trajectory to be traversed, the relative velocity of the hose 9 is then increased with respect to that of the tow vehicle 1 by displacing the connection 10a in the direction of the tow vehicle 1, such as by sliding the piston 26 into the cylinder 27 or by drawing in the length of hose 30 buffered by the moveable guide roll 29. Depending on the embodiment of the connecting means 7, which is e.g. provided with a rotation link, the hose 9 can be pulled out from under the rubber outlets 15 onwards from the end of the turn which is to be followed. A change of direc- tion can thus hereby be achieved across a very short trajectory.

It will be clear that random trajectories can be traversed across the surface to be fertilized or irrigated when making use of the assembly or the method of use according to the invention, and that also liquids other than manure can be distributed.

Claims

C L A I M S

An assembly for use for distributing a liquid such as liquid manure over land whereby the assembly (5) is provided on a tow vehicle (1), which tow vehicle is for towing a liquid supply means (9) such as a wind-able hose behind the tow vehicle

(1) across the land (8) when distributing the liquid over the land, whereby the assembly (5) is provided with connecting means (7) to which the liquid supply means (9)can be release-ably connected to (form) a connection (10, 10a), and with a manure distribution unit (11), which is to be fed with manure supplied through the liquid supply means (9) which are to be connected and through the connection (10, 10a), and a number of nozzles or fertilization units (13) connected to the manure distribution unit (11), whereby the nozzles (13) are provided on a number of arms of the assembly (5) which can be folded in or out behind the tow vehicle, characterized in that, the assembly (5) is further provided with means (21) which are connected to the connecting means (7), which means (21) serve for displacing the connection (10a) of the liquid supply means (9) with respect to the assembly (5).

An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, the displacing means (21) are provided between the connecting means (7) and the liquid supply means (9).

An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the displacing means (21) are provided between the connecting means (7) and the liquid supply means (9) and that the connecting means (7) are pivot-able around a vertical axis provided between the elevation mast (3) and the tow vehicle (1).

An assembly according to any of claims 1-3, characterized in that the displacing means (21) comprise a combination of two hollow tubes (19, 20) which can be slid into or out of one another.

An assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that, a covering which reduces the friction between the inner tube (20) and the outer tube (19) is provided on the inside of the outer hollow tube (19). An assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that, the displacing means (21) are provided between the connecting means (7) and the rest of the assembly (5).

An assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that, the displacing means (21) serve to move the connection (10a) of the liquid supply means (9) with respect to the assembly (5) in the direction of the end of the arm of the assembly which lies on the inside (the "inside lane") of a curvilinear trajectory which is to be traversed.

An assembly according to claim 1 or any of claims 6-7, characterized in that, the dis- placing means (21) comprise a moveable guide roll or reel (29) with which a length of hose (30) can be paid out or drawn in for displacing the connection (10a) of the liquid supply means (9) with respect to the assembly (5).

A method of distributing a hquid such as liquid manure over land or a surface using an assembly according to any of the preceding claims, whereby the method comprises the steps of:

—rolling out a length of liquid supply means (9) such as a wind-able hose over the land or surface (8) to be fertilized or irrigated; --bringing a tow vehicle (1) into a starting position, such that the rolled-out hose (9) can be connected to the assembly (5), and connecting the hose (9) to the connecting means (7) of the assembly (5) or to the connecting means (25) of the displacing means (21); —filling the rolled-out hose (9) with manure or another hquid, such as by pumping manure or another liquid from a tank or tanker which lies at some distance from the tow vehicle (1);

—distributing the liquid over the land or surface by pumping the supplied liquid through the nozzles or fertilization units (13) of the assembly (5), which nozzles (13) are provided on a number of arms of the assembly (5) which can be folded in or out behind the tow vehicle (1), whereby the tow vehicle (1) traverses a first, mainly rectilinear trajectory across the land and thereby draws the connected hose (9) behind it across the land; —at the end of the first, mainly rectilinear trajectory traversing a second, curvilinear trajectory and subsequently traversing a third trajectory which lies mainly parallel with respect to the first trajectory;

characterized in that, the method further comprises the steps of:

—at the start of the traversing of the second, curvilinear trajectory, or when traversing an accidented section of the first trajectory, decreasing the relative velocity of the hose (9) with respect to that of the tow vehicle (1) by displacing the connection (10a) in the direction of the hose (9), such as by sliding the piston (26) out of the cylinder

(27) or by paying out a length of hose (30) which is buffered by the moveable guide roll or reel (29) by means of the displacing means (21), respectively and optionally by moving the connection (10a) in the direction of the end of the arm of the assembly which lies at the inside of the curvilinear trajectory (the "inside lane"); and —at about halfway through the second, curvilinear trajectory which is to be followed increasing the relative velocity of the hose (9) with respect to that of the tow vehicle (1) by displacing the connection (10a) of the hose in the direction of the tow vehicle (1), such as by sliding the piston (26) into the cylinder (27) or by drawing in the length of hose (30) which is buffered by the moveable guide roll or reel (29) by means of the displacing means (21) and optionally by moving the connection (10a) back in the direction of the centre of the assembly (5).

0 - 0 - 0 -