Abstract:
Spray hood assemblies may be adapted to be moved over undesired foliage so as to temporarily enclose them when liquids (e.g., agricultural chemicals such as herbicide) are sprayed. The spray hood assemblies may assist in ensuring that a high percentage of the sprayed liquids are deposited where they are intended to be sprayed rather than being blown away or onto adjacent desired plants.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/503,748, filed Jul. 1, 2011, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to spray hood assemblies adapted to be moved over undesired foliage so as to temporarily enclose them when liquids (e.g., agricultural chemicals such as herbicide) are sprayed. The spray hood assemblies may assist in ensuring that a high percentage of the sprayed liquids are deposited where they are intended to be sprayed rather than being blown away or onto adjacent desired plants. 
     Known are several spray hood, or shield, assemblies adapted to be moved over plants being grown in rows in a field so as to temporarily enclose them when liquids or agricultural chemicals are sprayed thereby helping to ensure that a high percentage of the sprayed liquids are deposited on or around undesired foliage intended to be sprayed rather than being blown away or onto adjacent plants. Such spray hoods have been sold by Ryan Manufacturing, Box 239, Newark, Ill. 60551 and Hiniker Company, P.O. Box 3407, Mankato, Minn. 56001, and are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,947,581 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,933. Further, additional spray hoods, or shields, have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,155,933, U.S. Pat. No. 5,371,969, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,526,605. 
     SUMMARY 
     The exemplary spray hood, or shield, assemblies described herein may be adapted to be connected to a support frame moved over desired foliage, or plants, being grown in spaced rows from a ground surface (e.g., earthen surface) and to be moved along the ground surface between the rows of desired foliage while liquids such as herbicides (e.g., the herbicide commercially available as “Roundup” from Monsanto) not intended for contact with desired foliage in the rows may be sprayed between the rows onto undesired foliage (e.g., weeds) located between the rows of desired foliage over which the spray hood assembly passes. 
     One exemplary spray hood assembly may be operable to spray liquid onto undesired foliage between rows of desired foliage using at least one spray nozzle. The at least one spray nozzle may extend along an axis and may include an upper flange and a lower flange. Each flange may extend perpendicularly from the axis around the at least one spray nozzle. The exemplary spray hood assembly may include a spray hood and at least one spray nozzle assembly. 
     The spray hood may extend from a front end to a rear end and may define an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface may define a channel from the front end to the rear end. The spray hood may further define at least one spray nozzle aperture configured to receive the at least one spray nozzle. In at least one embodiment, the least one spray nozzle aperture defines an opening larger than each of the upper and lower flanges of the at least one spray nozzle. 
     The at least one spray nozzle assembly may be configured to retain the at least one spray nozzle within the at least one spray nozzle aperture of the spray hood. The at least one spray nozzle assembly may include a first retention plate and a second retention plate. The first retention plate may be coupled to the spray hood and may define a receiving opening configured to receive a spray nozzle therein (e.g., a slot extending from an edge surface into an interior portion). The first retention plate may further define a top side and a bottom side. The second retention plate may be coupled to the spray hood and may define a receiving opening configured to receive a spray nozzle therein (e.g., a slot extending from an edge surface into an interior portion). The second retention plate may further define a top side and a bottom side. 
     The at least one spray nozzle may be retained within the receiving opening of each of the first retention plate and the second retention plate such the top side of the first retention plate is adjacent the upper flange of the at least one spray nozzle and the bottom side of the first retention plate is adjacent the top side of the second retention plate and such that the bottom side of the second retention plate is adjacent the lower flange of the at least one spray nozzle. In at least one embodiment, the receiving opening of the first retention plate and the receiving opening of the second retention plate may be located opposite one another when the at least one spray nozzle is retained within the receiving opening of each of the first retention plate and the second retention plate. 
     In one or more exemplary spray hood assemblies described herein, the spray hood may define a first fastener aperture and a second fastener aperture. Each of the first and the second fastener aperture may be located proximate the at least one spray nozzle aperture, and the at least one spray nozzle assembly may further include a first fastener configured to couple the first retention plate to the spray hood using the first fastener aperture, and second fastener configured to couple the second retention plate to the spray hood using the second fastener aperture. Further, the spray hood may further include a threaded nut molded into the spray hood for each of the first and the second fastener apertures—the threaded nut being configured to receive a threaded fastener. 
     In one or more exemplary spray hood assemblies described herein, the spray hood may further include a raised area proximate the at least one spray nozzle aperture configured to contact the bottom side of the first retention plate. Further, the second retention plate may define an edge perpendicular to each of the top and the bottom sides and proximate the receiving opening, and the edge of the second retention plate may contact a side surface of the raised area of the spray hood. 
     In one or more exemplary spray hood assemblies described herein, the receiving opening of each of the first and the second retention plates may define a first retaining surface, a second retaining surface, and a third retaining surface. The first, second, and third retaining surfaces may be configured to receive three of four sides of a square portion of the at least one spray nozzle located between the first flange and the second flange to restrict rotational movement of the at least one spray nozzle about the axis. 
     Another exemplary spray hood assembly may be operable to traverse a ground surface and to spray liquid using spray nozzles onto undesired foliage between rows of desired foliage located on the ground surface. The spray hood assembly may include a spray hood and a closure sheet. 
     The spray hood of the exemplary spray hood assembly may extend from a front end to a rear end along an axis and may define an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface may define a channel extending from the front end to the rear end. The channel may define an open end located at the front end of the spray hood. 
     The spray hood may include a tapered front portion and a rear portion. The tapered front portion may extend from the front end to a transition region (e.g., the transition region may be a transition plane perpendicular to the axis) and may define a tapered front portion length parallel to the axis. In at least one embodiment, the spray hood may converge from the transition region to the front end such that the channel proximate the front end is smaller than the channel proximate the transition region. The rear portion may extend from the rear end to the transition region and may define a rear portion length parallel to the axis. In at least one embodiment, the tapered front portion length may be greater than 30% of the rear portion length. In at least one embodiment, the tapered front portion length may be greater than 40% of the rear portion length. 
     The closure sheet may be coupled to the spray hood proximate the open end of the channel. The closure sheet may be configured to retain liquid when sprayed by spray nozzles within the channel and to allow the passage of undesired foliage into the channel of the spray hood when operating. Further, the channel of the spray hood may further define a rear open end located at the rear end of the spray hood. The spray hood assembly may further include a rear closure sheet coupled to the spray hood proximate the rear open end of the channel, and the rear closure sheet may be configured to retain liquid sprayed by spray nozzles within the channel and to allow the passage of undesired foliage out of the channel of the spray hood. 
     In one or more exemplary spray hood assemblies described herein, the spray hood assembly may further include at least one gathering rod extending from the spray hood proximate the transition region to the front end. The at least one gathering rod may be configured to direct undesired foliage into the channel. Further, the at least one gathering rod may define a proximal portion and a distal portion. The proximal portion may be coupled to the spray hood proximate the transition region and may extend beyond the front end parallel to the axis. The distal portion may be coupled to the spray hood proximate the front end and coupled to the proximal portion. 
     In one or more exemplary spray hood assemblies described herein, the spray hood assembly may further include at least one knock-down bar located within the channel extending perpendicular to the axis. The at least one knock-down bar may be configured to deflect undesired foliage located within the channel downwardly towards the ground surface. 
     The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. A more complete understanding will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an exemplary spray hood assembly. 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the spray hood assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a rear view of the spray hood assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a left side view of the spray hood assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a right side view of the spray hood assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  is a top view of the spray hood assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 7  is a bottom view of the spray hood assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an exemplary spray nozzle assembly of the spray hood assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 9  is an exploded perspective view of the spray nozzle assembly of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 10  is a cross-sectional view of the spray nozzle assembly of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIG. 11  is another cross-sectional view of the spray nozzle assembly of  FIG. 8 . 
         FIGS. 12A-B  are right side views of prior art spray hoods. 
         FIG. 12C  is a right side view of an exemplary spray hood of the spray hood assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 13  is a perspective view of a plurality of spray hood assemblies attached to a frame mounted to a tractor. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     In the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, reference is made to the accompanying figures of the drawing which form a part hereof, and in which are shown, by way of illustration, specific embodiments which may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from (e.g., still falling within) the scope of the disclosure presented hereby. 
     Exemplary apparatus and systems shall be described with reference to  FIGS. 1-11  &amp;  12 C. It will be apparent to one skilled in the art that elements from one embodiment may be used in combination with elements of the other embodiments, and that the possible embodiments of such apparatus and systems using combinations of features set forth herein is not limited to the specific embodiments shown in the Figures and/or described herein. Further, it will be recognized that the embodiments described herein may include many elements that are not necessarily shown to scale. Still further, it will be recognized that the size and shape of various elements herein may be modified but still fall within the scope of the present disclosure, although certain one or more shapes and/or sizes, or types of elements, may be advantageous over others. 
     Multiple views of an exemplary spray hood assembly  10  are depicted in  FIGS. 1-11  &amp;  12 C. Generally, the exemplary spray hood assembly  10  is operable to traverse a ground surface and to spray liquid, such as herbicide, using spray nozzles onto undesired foliage (e.g., weeds) between rows of desired foliage (e.g., crops such as cotton) located on the ground surface. To traverse the ground surface, the spray hood assembly  10 , or multiple spray hood assemblies  10 , may be attached to a frame mounted on a tractor. 
     For example, a tractor  200  towing a frame  202  attached to a plurality of spray hood assemblies  204  is shown in  FIG. 13 . The spray hood assemblies  204  are positioned along the frame  202  in parallel positions such that the spray hood assemblies  204  may be moved by the tractor  200  between rows of desired foliage (e.g., crops such as cotton, plants, etc.) being raised in field to temporarily enclose weeds between the rows of desired foliage while liquids such as herbicides are sprayed onto the weeds through the spray hood assemblies  204  by a pumping system carried by the tractor  200 . 
     The exemplary spray hood assembly  10  includes a spray hood  12 . The spray hood  12  extends from a front end  14  to a rear end  16  along an axis  18 . Further, the spray hood  12  may further define an outer surface  20  and an inner surface  22  (see  FIG. 7 ) opposite the outer surface  20 . The spray hood  12  may have a generally U-shaped cross section (i.e., a cross section taken perpendicular to the axis  18 ) and may be made of uniformly thick, resiliently flexible polymeric material (e.g., made of about 0.21 inch thick polypropylene). The spray hood  12  may be made, or formed, by spin or rotary molding to form two of the spray hoods  10  together as a generally cylindrical part, and by then cutting the spray hoods  12  from each other, but could also be made by injection molding. 
     The inner surface  22  defines a channel  24  within which the undesired foliage (e.g., weeds) may be temporarily located as the spray hood assembly  10  is moved over a ground surface. The channel  24  defines at least a portion of a chamber that encloses the undesired foliage such that any liquid sprayed within the channel  24  only contacts the undesired foliage and not the desired foliage located outside of the channel  24 . The channel  24  extends from the front end  14  to the rear end  16 . The channel  24  may define an open front end  15  located at the front end  14  of the spray hood  12  and an open rear end  17  located at the rear end  16  of the spray hood  12 . As described previously, the spray hood defines an axis  18 . The channel  24  of the spray hood  12  may be described as extending along the axis  18 . 
     The spray hood  12  includes a tapered front portion  30  and a rear portion  40 . The tapered front portion  30  extends from the front end  14  to a transition region  50 . As shown in  FIG. 12C , the tapered front portion  30  defines a tapered front portion length  32  that is parallel to the axis  18 . The rear portion  40  extends from the rear end  16  to the transition region  50  and, as also shown in  FIG. 12C  defines a rear portion length  42  that is parallel to the axis  18 . 
     The tapered front portion  30  may be described as the portion of the spray hood  12  where the spray hood  12  converges from the transition region  50  to the front end  14  such that the channel  24  proximate the front end  14  is smaller than the channel proximate the transition region  50 . Conversely, the tapered front portion  30  may be described as including divergent surfaces extending from the front end  14  toward the transition region  50  (e.g., at an angle α greater than or equal to about 10 degrees, about 15 degrees, about 20 degrees, about 25 degrees, about 30 degrees, 35 degrees, and/or less than or equal to about 25 degrees, about 30 degrees, 35 degrees, about 40 degrees, about 45 degrees with respect to the axis  18 ) so that its outer surface  20  may assist in lifting and directing portions of desired foliage along adjacent rows away from the channel  24  of the spray hood  12 . 
     The exemplary spray hood  12  is a substantial improvement over prior art spray hoods. Right side views of prior art spray hoods  300 ,  400  are depicted in  FIGS. 12A-B , respectively, and a right side view of the exemplary spray hood  12  is depicted in  FIG. 12C . The drawings shown in  FIGS. 12A-C  are shown to scale. Two measurements are shown for each of the spray hoods  300 ,  400 ,  12  depicted in  FIGS. 12A-C : a tapered front portion length  302 ,  402 ,  32 , respectively, extending from the front ends of the spray hoods  300 ,  400 ,  12  to a transition region and a rear portion length  304 ,  404 ,  42 , respectively, extending from the rear ends of the spray hoods  300 ,  400 ,  12  to the transition region. The transition region is the region of the spray hood where the shape of the spray hood changes either to or from a taper. More specifically, a transition plane may extend through the transition region perpendicular to an axis that extends through the channel of each spray hood. The transition plane  306 ,  406 ,  51  may be used for the end points within the transition region for the tapered front portion lengths  302 ,  402 ,  32  and for the rear portion lengths  304 ,  404 ,  42 . 
     The tapered front portion length  302  of the prior art spray hood  300  is about 5.5 inches and the rear portion length  304  of the prior art spray hood  300  is about 22.25 inches. In other words, the tapered front portion length  302  is about 25% of the rear portion length  304  in the prior art spray hood  300 . 
     The tapered front portion length  402  of the prior art spray hood  400  is about 17.75 inches and the rear portion length  404  of the prior art spray hood  400  is about 22 inches. In other words, the tapered front portion length  402  is about 80% of the rear portion length  404  in the prior art spray hood  400 . Further, this spray hood  400  does not include an opening located proximate the front end. 
     The tapered front portion length  32  of the exemplary spray hood  12  is about 12.75 inches and the rear portion length  42  of the exemplary spray hood  12  is about 26.25 inches. In other words, the tapered front portion length  32  is about 50% of the rear portion length  42  in the exemplary spray hood  12 . Such dimensions provided by the exemplary spray hood  12  provide improvements and advantages over the prior art spray hood  300 ,  400 . For example, the prior art spray hood  300  has been often used to spray between rows of young cotton but has been found to not be as effective between rows of more mature cotton (e.g., due to entanglement with the more mature cotton, etc.). To spray the more mature cotton, the prior art spray hood  400  has often been used. The dimensions of the exemplary spray hood  12  allow to be used with young and more mature cotton with greater success than the prior art spray hoods  300 ,  400 . 
     Although as depicted the tapered front portion length  32  is about 50% of the rear portion length  42 , the tapered front portion length  32  may be greater than or equal to about 30%, about 35%, about 40%, about 45%, about 50%, and about 60% of the rear portion length  42  in the exemplary spray hood  12 . Further, the tapered front portion length  32  may be less than or equal to about 80%, about 70%, about 60%, about 55%, about 50%, and about 45% of the rear portion length  42  in the exemplary spray hood  12 . 
     The spray hood  12  may further include axially spaced circumferentially extending rib-like reinforcing portions  13  spaced along its length. The rib-like reinforcing portions  13  may have V-shaped cross sections, with their leading outer surfaces being inclined at an angle so that they may assist in the lifting and directing of portions of desired foliage along adjacent rows away from liquid distribution and spraying apparatus described herein. 
     A top portion  21  of the spray hood  12  may be adapted, e.g., by having two recessed areas between side bosses, to have lifting apparatus  60  attached thereto for suspending and raising/lowering the spray hood assembly  10  from a support frame. 
     As shown in  FIG. 7 , the spray hood  12  may further define one or more spray nozzle apertures  70  (e.g., at least one spray nozzle aperture, a plurality of spray nozzle apertures, etc.). Each spray nozzle aperture  70  may be configured to receive a spray nozzle  80 . The spray nozzle apertures  70  may be located about the spray hood  12  so as to allow spray nozzles  80  located therein to spray liquid within the channel  24  so as to contact any undesired foliage located in the channel  24 . In at least one embodiment, wherein the nozzle apertures  70  define an opening larger than the upper and lower flanges of the spray nozzles  80 , e.g., such that the nozzles  80  are not in direct contact with the spray hood  12 . 
     The exemplary spray hood assembly  10  may include a liquid distribution apparatus  90 . The liquid distribution apparatus  90  may include anything that may be used to distribute sprayable liquid to the spray nozzles  80 . As shown, the liquid distribution apparatus  90  includes three hoses  92  extending to spray nozzles  80 . 
     The spray nozzle  80  (e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 8-12 ) may extend along an axis  82  and may include an upper flange  84  and a lower flange  86 . Each of the upper flange  84  and the lower flange  86  may extend perpendicularly from the axis  82  around the spray nozzle  80 . An exemplary spray nozzle  80  may be a nozzle of the type provided under the trademark “TeeJet” by Spraying Systems Co., Wheaton, Ill. The spray nozzles  80  may direct spray at desired orientations and locations within the channel  24  of the spray hood  12 . The spray pattern from each nozzle  80  can further be adapted as desired to the type of plant or location on the plant at which the spray is to be directed by selecting nozzles that provide different spray angles or spray patterns such as a circular or fan like pattern, nozzles with such types of patterns being well known in the art and available from Spraying Systems Co., Wheaton, Ill. 
     The spray nozzles  80  may be located within the spray nozzle openings  70  and may be coupled to the spray hood  12  through the use of a spray nozzle assembly  100 . The spray nozzle assembly  100  may include a first retention plate  110  and a second retention plate  120 . 
     Each of the retention plates  110 ,  120  may be coupled to the spray hood and may define a receiving opening  112 ,  122 , respectively, as shown in  FIG. 9 . The receiving openings  112 ,  122  are configured to receive the spray nozzle  80  therein. Further, each of the retention plates  110 ,  120  further defines a top side  114 ,  124 , respectively, and a bottom side,  116 ,  126 , respectively (e.g., the bottom sides opposite from the top sides). 
     A spray nozzle  80  may be retained within the receiving openings  112 ,  122  of each of the retention plates  110 ,  120  such that the top side  114  of the first retention plate  110  is adjacent (e.g., in contact with) the upper flange  84  of the spray nozzle  80  and the bottom side  116  of the first retention plate  110  is adjacent (e.g., in contact with) the top side  124  of the second retention plate  120 , and further such that the bottom side  126  of the second retention plate  120  is adjacent (e.g., in contact with) the lower flange  86  of the spray nozzle  80 . In effect, it may be described that the flanges  84 ,  86  of the spray nozzle  80  “sandwich” both of the retention plates  110 ,  120 . 
     Further, an intermediate portion  88  of the spray nozzle  80 , which is the portion of the spray nozzle between the upper flange  84  and the lower flange  86 , is located in each of the receiving openings  112 ,  122  of the retention plates  110 ,  120 , respectively. As shown, the retention plates  110 ,  120  are positioned about the spray nozzle  80  such that the receiving openings  112 ,  122  are located opposite one another. In effect, it may again be described that the retention plates  110 ,  120  are “sandwiching” the spray nozzle  80  between each other and within each of the receiving openings  112 ,  122 . 
     Although the receiving openings  112 ,  122  may be defined by any shape operable to retain a spray nozzle, as shown, the receiving openings  112 ,  122  define a slot extending from an edge surface  113 ,  123  into an interior portion of the retention plates  110 ,  120 , respectively. More specifically, the receiving openings  112 ,  122  are defined by a first retaining surface  127 , a second retaining surface  128 , and a third retaining surface  129  (only labeled with respect to the second retention plate  120  in  FIG. 9 ). The first, second, and third retaining surfaces  127 ,  128 ,  129  may be configured to receive three of four sides of a square portion (e.g., intermediate portion  88 ) of the spray nozzle  80 . Locating a square portion of the spray nozzle  80  within such retaining surfaces may assist in the restriction of rotational movement of the spray nozzle  80  about the axis  82 , which may, e.g., result in less adjustment to the spray nozzles  80  and better spray coverage inside the channel  24 . 
     Although the retention plates  110 ,  120  may be coupled to the spray hood  12  using various techniques, as depicted, the retention plates  110 ,  120  are connected to the spray hood  12  using fasteners  102 . For example, the retention plates  110 ,  120  may define apertures  104  and the spray hood  12  may define apertures  106  for receiving the fasteners  102 . Further, the spray hood  12  may further include threaded nuts molded into the spray hood  12  (although not shown) corresponding to apertures  104  and configured to receive a threaded fastener  102  (e.g., the thread fasteners  102  may include a serrated flange). 
     As shown, the spray hood  12  includes a raised area  143  proximate the spray nozzle aperture  70 . The raised area  143  may be configured to be adjacent (e.g., to be in contact with) the bottom side  116  of the first retention plate  110  when the first retention plate is coupled to the spray hood  12 . Further, a portion of the edge  123  proximate the receiving opening  122  of the second retention plate  120  may be configured to be located adjacent, or in contact with, a side surface of the raised area  143  of the spray hood  12  (e.g., as shown in  FIG. 11 ). 
     The spray hood assembly  10  may further include a pair of closure sheets  150 ,  152  coupled to the spray hood  12  at opposite ends of the channel  24  that are configured to retain liquid when sprayed by the spray nozzles  80  within the channel  24 . The front closure sheet  150  may be coupled to the spray hood  12  proximate the open end  15  of the channel  24  and may be further configured to allow the passage of undesired foliage into the channel  24  when the spray hood assembly  10  is being used (e.g., moved over a ground surface upon which undesired foliage is growing). Further, the rear closure sheet  152  may be coupled to the spray hood  12  proximate the open end  17  of the channel  24  and may be further configured to allow the passage of undesired foliage out of the channel  24  when the spray hood assembly  10  is being used (e.g., moved over a ground surface upon which undesired foliage is growing). For example, while the spray hood assembly  12  is being moved over undesired foliage, the undesired foliage may pass through the closure sheet  150  into the channel  24 , be sprayed by the spray nozzles  80  while the undesired foliage is in the channel  24 , and may exit the channel  24  through the closure sheet  152 . 
     The closures sheets  150 ,  152  may be formed of stiff polymeric material (e.g., 0.6 inch thick polyethylene). Further, the closure sheets  150 ,  152  may each include continuous or un-slotted upper portions proximate their attachment or coupling to the spray hood  12  and may each include longitudinal side by side flap portions (e.g., each about 3 inches wide) extending from the upper portion toward the ground surface defining parallel slots or slits. 
     The spray hood assembly  10  may further include one or more elongate knock-down bars  160  extending between opposite side wall portions of the spray hood  12  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ) (e.g., perpendicular to the axis  18 ) and proximate the front end  14  of the spray hood  12  and front open end  15  of the channel  24 . The knock-down bars  160  may be configure to deflect undesired foliage located within the channel  24  downwardly towards the ground surface to, e.g., allow more of the undesired foliage to be sprayed with liquid when in the channel  24 . 
     The spray hood assembly  10  may further include a pair of gathering rods  170  that are configured to direct undesired foliage into the channel  24 . The gathering rods  170  may extend from the spray hood  12  proximate the transition region  50  to the front end  14 . More specifically, the gathering rods may define a proximal portion  172  and a distal portion  174 . The proximal portion  172  may be coupled to the spray hood  12  proximate the transition region  50  and may extend beyond the front end  14  parallel to the axis  18 . The distal portion  174  may be coupled to the spray hood  12  proximate the front end  14  and may be coupled to the proximal portion  172 . 
     Suspension apparatus  60  may also be included as part of the spray hood assembly  10 . The suspension apparatus  60  may be configured to suspend, or support, the spray hood  12  from a frame to be used in conjunction with a tractor (as shown in  FIG. 13 ). The suspension apparatus  60  may include two rigid bars pivotally coupled to the spray hood  12  proximate the top portion  21  of the spray hood  12 . The two rigid bars may also be pivotally coupled to a frame member, which may be part of a frame or may be coupled to a frame. Such pivotal couplings may allow the spray hood  12  to be raised and lowered with respect to the ground surface. The suspension apparatus  60  may further include actuation apparatus (e.g., a hydraulic piston, etc.) to raise and lower the spray hood  12 . 
     As an example, the spray hood  12  may be adapted for use between crop rows separated by about 36 to 40 inches (e.g., cotton) and may a have a length (parallel the axis  18 ) of about 39 inches and a channel width (perpendicular the axis  18 ) between the outer surfaces within the rear portion  40  of about 30 inches (e.g., in a range of about 15 inches to about 40 inches depending on use). Further, the spray hood  10  may define a channel width (perpendicular the axis  18 ) between the outer surfaces proximate the front end  14  of about 18 inches. Still further, the spray hood  10  may define a channel height (perpendicular the axis  18 ) between a lowermost portion of the spray hood  10  and the uppermost portion of the channel  24 . For example, the front open end  15  of the spray hood  10  may have a channel height of about 11.5 inches (e.g., in a range of about 6 inches to about 30 inches depending on use). 
     All patents, patent documents, and references cited herein are incorporated in their entirety as if each were incorporated separately. This disclosure has been provided with reference to illustrative embodiments and is not meant to be construed in a limiting sense. As described previously, one skilled in the art will recognize that other various illustrative applications may use the techniques as described herein to take advantage of the beneficial characteristics of the apparatus and methods described herein. Various modifications of the illustrative embodiments, as well as additional embodiments of the disclosure, will be apparent upon reference to this description.