WO2020095224A1

WO2020095224A1 - An apparatus and a method for converting an agricultural liquid sprayer machine

Info

Publication number: WO2020095224A1
Application number: PCT/IB2019/059531
Authority: WO
Inventors: Andrea MONTANINI; Rino MONTANINI
Original assignee: M.M. S.R.L.
Priority date: 2018-11-07
Filing date: 2019-11-06
Publication date: 2020-05-14
Also published as: IT201800010113A1

Abstract

An apparatus, intended for converting an agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1) suitable for spraying a liquid, into a dispensing machine (3) capable of dispensing ozonised water, comprises: an inlet line (15) connectable to the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1) for receiving water sent by a pump (9) of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1); an outlet line (16); an ozone generator (14) for generating ozone; an introduction device (17) connected to the ozone generator (14) for introducing ozone in the water in a position interposed between the inlet line (15) and the outlet line (16), so as to obtain the ozonised water. The outlet line (16) is connectable to a spraying device (6) of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1), so that the ozonised water is directly dispensed on a plant. The ozone generator (14) is configured to receive electric power from an electric power supply device, the electric power supply device being external to the apparatus (2) and being associated with the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1).

Description

AN APPARATUS AND A METHOD FOR CONVERTING AN AGRICULTURAL LIQUID SPRAYER MACHINE.

The invention relates to an apparatus and a method for converting an agricultural liquid sprayer machine for spraying a liquid into an agricultural dispensing machine for dispensing ozonised water, the agricultural dispensing machine being suitable for spraying ozonised water onto plants in order to free the plants from parasites, in particular viruses, bacteria, fungi and insects.

The invention further relates to a machine for dispensing ozonised water on plants.

The agricultural dispensing machine for dispensing ozonised water which can be obtained by means of the invention is particularly suitable for dispensing ozonised water on plantations positioned in rows, such as vines or fruit trees. In this case, the ozonised water is sprayed onto the plants sideways, for example by means of spraying arms extending vertically or by means of a combination of fans and spraying arms.

However, the agricultural dispensing machine for dispensing ozonised water which can be obtained by means of the invention can theoretically further be used for open-field ground crops, such as vegetables or low fruit plants, in which case the ozonised water is sprayed onto the plants from the top downwards, for example by means of spraying arms extending horizontally.

The agricultural liquid sprayer machine that the invention allowsto transform into an agricultural dispensing machine for dispensing ozonised water may be an agricultural air-blast sprayer, a sprayer, a weeder.

The sterilising power of ozone has been known for a long time. Ozone has recently started being used also in the agricultural field in order to free the plants from harmful insects, viruses, bacteria, yeasts and other pathogens without using chemical substances, which in addition to being costly, may leave toxic residues on the agricultural products collected from the treated plants, on the plants themselves and on the ground. In agriculture, the ozone treatment is carried out by spraying ozonised water over the plants to be treated, i.e. water inside of which there is ozone in gaseous form.

Machines for spraying ozonised water over ground crops are known, which generally comprise a tank which can be filled with water, an ozone generator and an electricity generator for powering the ozone generator. The known machines further comprise a first pump for circulating the water drawn from the tank along a circuit, in which the ozone produced by the ozone generator is added to the water. Thus, ozonised water is obtained, which is sent to the tank.

A second pump is further provided which, after the whole water mass in the tank is ozonised, draws ozonised water from the tank to spray it over the plants to be treated.

In the known machines, the ozone generator needs to be able to produce significant quantities of ozone in the unit of time. Indeed, such a generator has to allow to ozonize the whole mass of water contained in the tank - which may be significant, for example 1000 or more litres - within a reasonable time. Moreover, since ozone is a highly unstable gas which is transformed into oxygen in a few minutes, the ozone generator has to operate in a continuous manner so as to ensure that a sufficient quantity of ozone is dispersed into the water in the tank.

Therefore, there is a need to use an ozone generator with large dimensions, which accordingly is cumbersome and costly. Due to the significant dimensions and the increased production capacity thereof, the ozone generator needs much electricity to operate, which makes it necessary to use an electricity generator to electrically power the ozone generator. However, the electricity generator is also a cumbersome device, in addition to having a cost which is not negligible.

Moreover, the known machines have the disadvantage of requiring two pumps, that is the first pump that circulates the water in the circuit with the ozone generator, and the second pump which sprays the ozonised water over the plants. This further increases the costs, dimensions and complication of the known machines.

Currently, a farmer who wishes to start treating his/her cultivations with ozonised water has no other choice but to purchase a machine of the type described above, which is specifically designed to produce ozonised water and dispense it on plants, which involves a significant initial investment.

A further disadvantage of known machines for spraying ozonized water over plants is that they do not allow the quantity of ozone in the ozonized water to be monitored rapidly and reliably.

It may therefore happen that, if non-perfectly clean water (i.e. water containing substances which may prematurely react with ozone) is used, or if the components of known machines are damaged, the machine dispenses water containing an insufficient quantity of ozone for a long time, before the operator realizes that something is not properly working. In this case, efficiency of the treatment with ozonized water carried out on plants is jeopardized.

Currently, the operator who wishes to control the quantity of ozone actually present in the ozonized water has to stop the machine, get out, pick up a small quantity of ozonized water at the outlet of the machine and carry out a colorimetric test in order to determine the quantity of ozone. Since this procedure requires rather long times, the colorimetric test is practically performed not much frequently.

Chinese patent application CN 108575974 discloses a spraying machine for spraying pesticides having an equipment for producing an ozonized liquid. The machine according to CN 108575974 may be self-propelled or may be conformed as a tractor provided with an equipment for producing the ozonized liquid.

The machine disclosed in CN 108575974 is manufactured as a complete machine, both in the case it is self-propelled, and in the case it is conformed as a tractor. The user who wishes to dispense an ozonized liquid over plants by means of a machine of the kind disclosed in CN 108575974 has therefore to purchase the complete machine, be it in the self-propelled version or in the tractor version, with consequent high costs. In particular, the machine disclosed in CN 108575974 needs a specific device for electrically powering the ozone generator, as it can be inferred from the abstract and from claim 1 of CN 108575974, in which it is stated that the equipment for producing the ozonized liquid is self-powered.

Furhtermore, the machine disclosed in CN 108575974 needs two pumps, namely a suction pump for sending water into a tank and a diaphragm pressurization pump for sending pressurized water towards a plurality of dispensing nozzles.

This makes the machine disclosed in CN 108575974 complicated from a constructional point of view and increases cost thereof.

Finally, even if CN 108575974 mentions that a liquid having a suitable ozone concentration is dispensed on plants, it is not indicated how the ozone concentration can be controlled and/or kept constant.

An object of this invention is to make dispensing ozonised water on plants simpler.

A further object is to allow farmers to treat the plants with ozonised water while having reduced investments with respect to the prior art.

Another object is to provide machines for dispensing ozonised water on plants which are constructively simpler and less cumbersome than the known machines, in addition to being less costly.

Another object is to provide a machine for dispensing ozonised water on plants, in which the quantity of ozone present in the water can be checked rapidly and reliably.

In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for converting an agricultural liquid sprayer machine suitable for spraying a liquid, into a dispensing machine capable of dispensing ozonised water, the apparatus comprising:

an inlet line connectable to the agricultural liquid sprayer machine for receiving water sent by a pump of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine;

an outlet line;

an ozone generator for generating ozone;

an introduction device connected to the ozone generator for introducing ozone in the water in a position interposed between the inlet line and the outlet line, so as to obtain the ozonised water;

wherein the outlet line is connectable to a spraying device of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine, so that the ozonised water is directly dispensed on a plant, and wherein the ozone generator is configured to receive electric power from an electric power supply device, the electric power supply device being external to the apparatus and being associated with the agricultural liquid sprayer machine.

Owing to the first aspect of the invention, a farmer may be able to treat the plants with ozonised water while incurring reduced investments with respect to the prior art. Indeed, the apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention allows an agricultural liquid sprayer machine (such as an agricultural air-blast sprayer, which the farmer normally has and uses for treating plants with antiparasitic chemical substances) to be transformed into a dispensing machine for dispensing ozonised water.

Moreover, owing to the first aspect of the invention, the agricultural liiquid spraying machine may be transformed into a dispensing machine for dispensing ozonised water with a few and simple operations, using a limited number of components.

More specifically, according to the invention, the ozone is introduced into the water in a position interposed between the pump of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine and the spraying device of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine. The pump of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine normally is provided for drawing water from a tank of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine and sending the water to the spraying device of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine, so that the water may be dispensed on the plants. By introducing the ozone into the water in a position interposed between the pump and the spraying device of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine, a flow of ozonised water is generated immediately upstream of the spraying device. This flow of ozonised water is intended to be directly dispensed on the plants, without being stored in a tank, as happened in the known machines. This results in several advantages in terms of simplifying the dispensing machine and of features of the ozonised water.

Owing to the invention, in particular, the quantity of water that is to be ozonised in the unit of time is less than in known machines. It is indeed sufficient to ozonise only the quantity of water that the spraying device is spraying over the plant at that time, without needing to ozonise the whole mass of water filling the tank. Accordingly, it is possible to use a smaller and less powerful and costly ozone generator than those installed on the known machines.

Owing to the reduced power thereof, the ozone generator also requires a reduced quantity of electrical current with respect to the ozone generators of the known machines. Therefore, the ozone generator may be powered by an electric power supply device already provided to supply electric power to the agricultural liquid sprayer machine, such as for example, a battery and an alternator of a tractor dragging the agricultural air-blast sprayer. Accordingly, a specific source of electricity does not need to be used for the ozone generator, such as the electricity generator that was present in the machines of the prior art.

The relatively low consumption of electricity is made possible by the invention also because the machine for dispensing ozonised water obtained by using the invention comprises a single pump, i.e. the pump which sends water from the tank to the spraying device in the agricultural liquid sprayer machines. There is no need to use an additional pump for sending the ozonised water from the ozone generator into the tank, as instead occurred in the known machines. This is because, according to the invention, only the water which has already been drawn from the tank and is about to be sent to the spraying device is ozonised. The water in the tank is not ozonised, unlike what happens in the known machines.

In an embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first pressure control valve arranged upstream of the introduction device for keeping at a desired value the water pressure upstream of the introduction device.

The first pressure control valve allows a desired pressure to be maintained upstream of the introduction device, whatever be the pump of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine which is employed as a starting point for obtaining a dispensing machine capable of dispensing ozonized water. In other words, whatever be the kind of pump of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine and whatever be the flow rate and pressure of the water exiting from the pump, the first pressure control valve ensures that the pressure of water flowing into the introduction device is substantially constant. Therefore, the introduction device may work properly, even if it is combined with pumps of different kinds or pumps having different working parameters.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a second pressure control valve arranged downstream of the introduction device for keeping at a desired value the water pressure downstream of the introduction device.

The second pressure control valve ensures that pressure downstream of the introduction device is substantially constant, whatever be the spraying device of the agricultural liquid spraying device which is converted into a dispensing machine capable of dispensing ozonized water. Consequently, the introduction device by means of which the ozone is introduced in the water may work properly, whatever be the configuration, number and kind of nozzles of the spraying device included in the starting machine.

The first pressure control valve and the second pressure control valve therefore allow water to be sent to the introduction device at a substantially constant pressure, and allow a substantially constant pressure to be maintained at an outlet of the introduction device. Thus, the introduction device may work in repetitive conditions, whatever be the features of the liquid sprayer machine in which it is introduced.

Owing to the invention, it is possible to ensure that the ozone concentration in the ozonised water that is sprayed on the plants is substantially constant and equal to a desired value. This occurs because the desired quantity of ozone is added to a constant quantity of water immediately before dispensing water on the plant, and it substantially is impossible for the ozone concentration in the water to significantly decrease over the short period of time and in the short path between introducing the ozone into the water and dispensing the ozonised water on the plant, unless breakage occurs or the machine is incorrectly used, for example by feeding the machine wth non-clean water.

In an embodiment, the apparatus further comprises a probe, arranged downstream of the introduction device for measuring redox potential of the ozone present in the ozonised water, thereby thereby providing a measurement which is indicative of the ozone concentration in the ozonised water.

The probe allows to check, in a substantially continuous manner, whehter the ozone generator and the introduction device work properly. The operator can thus immediately detect a possible decrease of the ozone concentration in the ozonized water. The decrease of the ozone concentration might be due to using non-clean water, for example water containing substances which reacted with ozone, or due to a breakage.

In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for converting an agricultural liquid sprayer machine for spraying a liquid into a dispensing machine which is capable of dispensing ozonised water, the method comprising the following steps:

connecting an inlet line to the agricultural liquid sprayer machine for receiving water sent by a pump of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine;

providing an outlet line for a flow of ozonised water; providing an ozone generator for generating ozone;

connecting an introduction device to the ozone generator for introducing ozone in the water in a position interposed between the inlet line and the outlet line, so as to obtain the ozonised water;

wherein the outlet line is connected to a spraying device of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine, so that the ozonised water is directly dispensed on a plant, and wherein the ozone generator is connected to an electric power supply device associated with the agricultural liquid sprayer machine for receiving electric power from the electric power supply device without using an electric power source specifically provided for the ozone generator.

In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a machine for dispensing ozonised water on a plant, the machine being intended to be used in combination with an agricultural vehicle having a power take-off and a battery, wherein the machine comprises:

a tank for containing water;

a spraying device;

a pump for drawing water from the tank and sending water to the spraying device;

an ozone generator for generating ozone;

an introduction device connected to the ozone generator for introducing ozone in the water in a position interposed between the tank and the spraying device, so as to obtain the ozonised water;

wherein the pump is connectable to the power take-off to be driven by the power take-off and the ozone generator is connectable to the battery for being electrically powered by the battery.

The method according to the second aspect of the invention and the machine according to the third aspect of the invention allow obtaining the advantages listed above with reference to the first aspect of the invention. The invention can be better understood and implemented with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a non-limiting example embodiment of it and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram of a machine for dispensing ozonised water on a plant.

Figure 1 schematically shows a part of a dispensing machine for dispensing ozonised water - that is water inside of which there is ozone in gaseous form - on plantations or ground crops in an outdoor environment. In particular, the machine may be obtained starting from an agricultural air- blast sprayer 1 of known type, on which an apparatus 2 is installed which allows converting the agricultural air-blaster sprayer 1 into a machine 3 for dispensing ozonised water. For clarity of representation, the components of the apparatus 2 are shown in Figure 1 within a closed dotted line.

The agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 comprises a tank 4 suitable for containing water to be dispensed on the plants to be treated. Traditional agricultural air-blast sprayers 1 are used to dispense - on plants - water inside of which antiparasitic chemical substances were dissolved. Such substances normally are added to the water in the tank 4.

A conduit 5 comes out of the tank 4 to send the water coming from the tank 4 to a spraying device 6 of the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1. The spraying device 6 comprises a plurality of spraying elements which may be shaped like spraying nozzles. In the example depicted, the spraying elements are divided into a first group 6a and a second group 6b. The spraying elements of the first group 6a are controlled by a first valve 7a, while the spraying elements of the second group 6b are controlled by a second valve 7b. The first valve 7a and the second valve 7b may be opened or closed independently of each other. If the first valve 7a and the second valve 7b are both open, all the spraying elements are operating. If only one of the two valves 7a and 7b is open, only the corresponding spraying elements of the first group 6a or respectively of the second group 6b are operating. In this way, it is possible to select the configuration of the spraying elements most suitable to the type of plant to be treated.

A filter 8 may be provided along the conduit 5, the filter being suitable for filtering the water leaving the tank 4 so as to withhold any impurities or large particles.

The agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 further comprises a pump 9, suitable for pumping the water from the tank 4 to the spraying device 6. The pump 9 is positioned along the conduit 5, particularly downstream of the filter 8. The pump 9 may be of the membrane or piston type, or of another type.

The pump 9 is driven by driving means which are not part of the apparatus 2. For example, if the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 is of the type intended to be pulled by a tractor, the pump 9 is driven by connecting it to the power take-off of the tractor. If instead the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 is of the self-propelled type, the pump 9 may be driven by the motor which moves the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1.

A pressure regulating valve 10, which may be of the volumetric type, may be provided downstream of the pump 9. The pressure regulating valve 10 is included in the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1. The pressure regulating valve 10 allows controlling pressure of the water directed toward the spraying device 6. If pressure of the water reaching the pressure regulating valve 10 is excessive, the pressure regulating valve 10 sends back a given quantity of water into the tank 4, through a return conduit 1 1. A multiway valve 12 is also provided, which allows conveying the water pumped from the pump 9 to different destinations. The multiway valve 12 in particular is connected to the conduit 5, through which the water coming from the tank 4 reaches the multiway valve 12. A further conduit 13, which connects the multiway valve 12 to the spraying device 6, branches off from the multiway valve 12.

The components hereto described are part of the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1.

The apparatus 2 which allows converting the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 into a machine 3 for dispensing ozonised water on plants is now described.

The apparatus 2 comprises an ozone generator 14 for generating ozone in gaseous form, the ozone in gaseous form being intended to be added to the water coming from the tank 4 so as to obtain ozonised water. The ozone generator 14 may comprise an oxygen concentrator, which receives as input the atmospheric air and obtains a gas therefrom, the gas comprising an increased percentage of oxygen, equal for example to 98%. The ozone generator 14 further comprises an ozoniser device which transforms the oxygen of the gas obtained by the oxygen concentrator, into gaseous ozone.

The ozone obtained by the ozone generator 14 is intended to be introduced into the water coming from the tank 4 in a position interposed between an inlet line 15 and an outlet line 16. The inlet line 15 is connectable to the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 for receiving water coming from the tank 4 and caused to circulate by the pump 9. In particular, the inlet line 15 may be connected to the multiway valve 12.

The outlet line 16 instead is connectable to the spraying device 6 for sending the ozonised water to the later.

An introduction device 17 connected to the ozone generator 14, is interposed between the inlet line 15 and the outlet line 16, the introduction device 17 being arranged for introducing the gaseous ozone produced in the ozone generator 14 into the water coming from the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1. In this way, ozonised water is obtained.

In the example depicted, the introduction device 17 is conformed as a Venturi tube, i.e. as a tube the cross-section of which progressively decreases, reaches a minimum in a gulley or neck section and then increases again. The water coming from the inlet line 15 passes through the Venturi tube. The gaseous ozone in the gulley section coming from the ozone generator 14 is injected into the flow of water coming from the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1. Due to the particular conformation of the Venturi tube, when the flow of water passes in the gulley section, a suction is created which promotes the entry of the gaseous ozone and the dispersion thereof in the water. A mixer 18 is provided downstream of the introduction device 17, along the outlet line 16, the mixer being positioned for mixing the gaseous ozone with the water in order to ensure that the ozone particles are uniformly distributed in the flow of water. In particular, the mixer 18 may be shaped like tube inside of which a mixing screw is positioned.

The apparatus 2 further comprises a first pressure valve 19, in particular of the volumetric type. The first valve 19 is of the automatic type, i.e. it is motor-driven, as indicated by the letter M. The first valve 19 is positioned immediately upstream of the introduction device 17. A first pressure sensor 20 is associated with the first valve 19.

The first valve 19 ensures that pressure upstream of the introduction device 17 is equal to a desired value p1.

The first valve 19 is positioned along the inlet line 15.

A first circuit branch 21 branches off from the first valve 19, the first circuit branch leading into a return line 22, which in turn leads into the tank 4. Should the first pressure sensor 20 detect that water pressure in the inlet line 15 is excessive, the first valve 19 opens the first circuit branch 21 to cause a given quantity of water to flow from the inlet line 15 into the return line 22, and from the latter into the tank 4. Thus, it is possible to decrease the water pressure immediately upstream of the introduction device 17 until such pressure reaches the desired value.

Similarly, a second pressure control valve 23, in particular of volumetric type, is provided along the outlet line 16, in a position interposed between the mixer 18 and the spraying device 6. Also the second valve 23 is automatic and is similar to the first valve 19. A second pressure sensor 24 is associated with the second valve 23.

The second valve 23 allows keeping the pressure of ozonised water downstream of the mixer 18 equal to a desired value p2. The return line 22 branches off from the second valve 23. If the second pressure sensor 24 measures an excessive pressure in the second valve 23, the latter sends a certain quantity of ozonised water into the return line 22. By doing this, the ozonised water pressure at the second valve 23 decreases until it reaches the desired value p2.

A certain quantity of ozonised water arrives in the tank 4, which does not affect the proper operation of the dispensing machine 3.

Owing to the first valve 19 and second valve 23, it is possible to have the proper pressure upstream and downstream of the introduction device 17 and also the proper pressure difference between the water entering the introduction device 17 and the ozonised water leaving the mixer 18. This ensures the Venturi tube included in the introduction device 17 operates under substantially constant conditions so as to create a predetermined suction in the gulley section. In this way, the quantity of ozone introduced into the water, that is the concentration of the ozone in the ozonised water, does not undergo substantial modifications.

In other words, the first valve 19 and second valve 23 allow producing ozonised water with the proper ozone concentration, whatever be the pressure upstream and downstream of the introduction device 17, that is whatever be the pressure of water entering into the apparatus 2 (provided this pressure is less than the limit value at which a pressure limiting valve 27 is calibrated. The pressure limiting valve 27 will be better described later) and whatever be the pressure generated downstream of the outlet line 16, depending on the configuration of the spraying device 6.

This makes the apparatus 2 suitable for operating with practically all the agricultural air-blast sprayers 1 normally available.

A probe 25 for measuring the redox potential of the ozone in the water is positioned along the return line 22, immediately downstream of the second valve 23. Since such redox potential is proportionate to the quantity of ozone in the water, the probe 25 provides a measurement indicative of the ozone concentration in the ozonised water.

The apparatus 2 may comprise indicator means, for example of the visual type, for indicating if the ozone concentration in the ozonised water as determined by the probe 25, is correct. The indicator means in particular may comprise a light that turns ON if the ozone concentration decreases below a predetermined limit value so as to allow an operator to take action.

The apparatus 2 may also comprise a pressure gauge 26 positioned along the inlet line 15, upstream of the first valve 19. The pressure gauge 26 allows measuring the water pressure upstream of the first valve 19. The value of the pressure measured by the pressure gauge 26 may be displayed to allow the operator to monitor the water pressure entering the apparatus 2.

The apparatus 2 may further comprise a pressure limiting valve 27 positioned along the inlet line 15, upstream of the first valve 19. The pressure limiting valve 27 may in particular be positioned upstream of the pressure gauge 26. The pressure limiting valve 27 may be of the manual type. The pressure limiting valve 27 opens if the water pressure entering the apparatus 2 is greater than a predetermined limit value. In this case, the pressure limiting valve 27 causes, through a further circuit branch 28 which connects the pressure limiting valve 27 to the return line 22, a given quantity of water to pass in the return line 22 so as to ensure the water pressure flowing toward the first valve 19 is not excessive.

The outlet line 16 is connected to an outlet conduit 29 of the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 downstream of the second valve 23. The outlet conduit 29 may split into two final conduits 30a, 30b by means of which conduits the ozonised water may be sent respectively to the spraying elements of the first group 6a and to the spraying elements of the second group 6b. During operation, the pump 9 draws water from the tank 4 with the desired flow rate and at the desired pressure. After flowing through the conduit 5, the water passes in the inlet line 15 until reaching the introduction device 17. Here, the gaseous ozone produced in the ozone generator 14 is added to the water, after which the ozonised water thus produced may be sprayed over the plants through the spraying device 6 of the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1. The apparatus 2 allows transforming the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 into a machine 3 for dispensing ozonised water in a simple and less costly manner with respect to the prior art. In particular, the apparatus 2 allows transforming the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 into a machine 3 for dispensing ozonised water without using additional pumps with respect to the one of the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1. Indeed the same pump 9 which sends the water containing antiparasitic chemical substances over the plants in the traditional agricultural air-blast sprayers 1 is used to dispense the ozonised water on the plants.

Moreover due to the apparatus 2, there is no need to use electricity sources in addition to those already provided for operating the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1. Indeed, the ozone generator 14 receives electricity from an electric power supply device extraneous to the apparatus and associated with the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1. If the agricultural air- blast sprayer 1 is dragged by a tractor, the ozone generator 14 is electrically powered by the battery and by the alternator of the tractor dragging the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1. If, on the other hand, the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 is of the self-propelled type, the ozone generator 14 may be powered by means of the battery installed on the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 to allow the operation thereof.

In any case, there is no need to use a specific electricity source for the ozone generator 14, such as an electricity generator or dedicated batteries.

A few, simple steps using the apparatus 2 are sufficient to convert the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 into a dispensing machine 3 designed to dispense ozonised water on the plants.

In greater detail, the inlet line 15 is connected to the conduit 12 of the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 so that the introduction device 17 may receive the water sent by the pump 9 of the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1. The outlet line 16 is connected to the outlet conduit 29 of the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 so that the ozonised water is directly dispensed (immediately after the production thereof and without passing through the tank 4) on the plants using the spraying device 6 of the agricultural air- blast sprayer 1.

The ozone generator, connected to the introduction device 17, is connected to an electric power supply device associated with the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 , for example to the battery and alternator of the tractor dragging the agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 , so as to receive electricity from the above-mentioned electric power supply device without using a source of electricity specifically provided for the ozone generator 14.

The farmer may thus obtain a machine which is able to dispense ozonised water on the plants cultivated on his/her land in a simple manner and with limited costs with respect to the prior art.

Although reference in the preceding description was always made to an agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 which is converted into a dispensing machine 3 of ozonised water due to the apparatus 2, it is understood that the apparatus 2 may be used to convert other types of agricultural machines for spraying a liquid into a dispensing machine 3 of ozonised water, that is machines positioned to spray a liquid on the plants, such as water containing chemical substances. In particular, the apparatus 2 may be connected to a weeder or an agricultural sprayer to transform them into a dispensing machine 3 for dispensing ozonised water.

A dispensing machine 3 operating according to the diagram in Figure 1 could also be built from scratch, that is without converting an existing agricultural air-blast sprayer 1 or other spraying machine.

Claims

1. An apparatus for converting an agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 ) suitable for spraying a liquid, into a dispensing machine (3) capable of dispensing ozonised water, the apparatus (2) comprising:

an inlet line (15) connectable to the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 ) for receiving water sent by a pump (9) of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 );

an outlet line (16);

an ozone generator (14) for generating ozone;

an introduction device (17) connected to the ozone generator (14) for introducing ozone in the water in a position interposed between the inlet line (15) and the outlet line (16), so as to obtain the ozonised water;

wherein the outlet line (16) is connectable to a spraying device (6) of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 ), so that the ozonised water is directly dispensed on a plant, and wherein the ozone generator (14) is configured to receive electric power from an electric power supply device, the electric power supply device being external to the apparatus (2) and being associated with the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 ), the apparatus (2) further comprising a first pressure control valve (19) and a second pressure control valve (23), the first valve (19) being arranged upstream of the introduction device (17) and the second valve (23) being arranged downstream of the introduction device (17) for keeping at desired values the water pressure respectively upstream and downstream of the introduction device (17), the apparatus (2) further comprising a probe (25), arranged downstream of the introduction device (17) for measuring redox potential of the ozone present in the ozonised water.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , and further comprising a return line (22) connectable to a tank (4) of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 ), so as to allow the water circulating in the apparatus (2), upstream and/or downstream of the introduction device (17), to be at least partly returned into the tank (4).

3. An apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first valve (19) is connectable with the return line (22) for discharging part of the water passing through the first valve (19) into the return line (22), so as to reduce water pressure upstream of the introduction device (17), the second valve (23) being connectable with the return line (22) for discharging part of the water passing through the second valve (23) into the return line (22), so as to reduce water pressure downstream of the introduction device (17).

4. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the probe (25) is positioned downstream of the second valve (23).

5. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the introduction device (17) comprises a Venturi tube having a narrowing for sucking, into water coming from the inlet line (15), gaseous ozone produced by the ozone generator (14).

6. An apparatus according to any preceding claim, and further comprising a mixer (18) arranged downstream of the introduction device (17) for uniformly distributing ozone in the water.

7. A method for converting an agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 ) for spraying a liquid into a dispensing machine (3) which is capable of dispensing ozonised water, the method comprising the following steps: connecting an inlet line (15) to the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 ) for receiving water sent by a pump (9) of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 );

providing an outlet line (16) for a flow of ozonised water;

- providing an ozone generator (14) for generating ozone;

connecting an introduction device (17) to the ozone generator (14) for introducing ozone in the water in a position interposed between the inlet line (15) and the outlet line (16), so as to obtain the ozonised water;

- providing a first pressure control valve (19) and a second pressure control valve (23), the first valve (19) being arranged upstream of the introduction device (17) and the second valve (23) being arranged downstream of the introduction device (17) for keeping at desired values the water pressure respectively upstream and downstream of the introduction device (17),

arranging a probe (25) downstream of the introduction device (17) for measuring redox potential of the ozone present in the ozonised water, wherein the outlet line (16) is connected to a spraying device (6) of the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 ), so that the ozonised water is directly dispensed on a plant, and wherein the ozone generator (14) is connected to an electric power supply device associated with the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 ) for receiving electric power from the electric power supply device without using an electric power source specifically provided for the ozone generator (14).

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the electric power supply device associated with the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 ) comprises a battery of a vehicle which moves the agricultural machine (1 ).

9. A method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the agricultural liquid sprayer machine (1 ) is an agricultural air-blast sprayer.

10. A machine for dispensing ozonised water on a plant, the machine being intended to be used in combination with an agricultural vehicle having a power take-off and a battery, wherein the machine comprises: a tank (4) for containing water;

a spraying device (6);

a pump (9) for drawing water from the tank (4) and sending water to the spraying device (6);

an ozone generator (14) for generating ozone;

an introduction device (17) connected to the ozone generator (14) for introducing ozone in the water in a position interposed between the tank (4) and the spraying device (6), so as to obtain the ozonised water;

a first pressure control valve (19) and a second pressure control valve (23), the first valve (19) being arranged upstream of the introduction device (17) and the second valve (23) being arranged downstream of the introduction device (17) for keeping at desired values the water pressure respectively upstream and downstream of the introduction device (17),

a probe (25), arranged downstream of the introduction device (17) for measuring redox potential of the ozone present in the ozonised water, wherein the pump (9) is connectable to the power take-off to be driven by the power take-off and the ozone generator (14) is connectable to the battery for being electrically powered by the battery.