SPRAYING DEVICE HAVING INTEGRATED DOSING MEANS

Abstract: A device for spraying crop treating agent such as nutrients and/or pesticides/herbicides, which device comprises a source (1) for a liquid carrier, one or more spray members (3) connected to the source via a line (2), at least one container (7) for a concentrate of crop treating agent for mixing with the liquid carrier, pressure means (4) for carrying the liquid carrier, via the line (2) to the spray members, and pump dosing means (8) for carrying the concentrate into the line, wherein according to the invention the container (7) for the concentrate is formed integrally with at least the pumping means (8), whereby the lines for the concentrate (6) become considerably shortened or superfluous and whereby the delivery opening of the container can be connected directly to the main line for the liquid carrier.

Description: SPRAYING DEVICE HAVING INTEGRATED DOSING MEANS The invention relates to a device for spraying crop treating agent such as nutrients and/or pesticides/ herbicides, which device comprises a source for a liquid carrier, one or more spray members connected to the source via a line, at least one container for a concentrate of crop treating agent for mixing with the liquid carrier, pressure means for carrying the liquid carrier via the line to the spray members, and pump dosing means for carrying the concentrate into the line. Such a device is also used on a vehicle, for example an agricultural tractor, which travels over the field and sprays a large width of the field using a spray boom carrying the spray members. It is becoming more and more usual to place the crop treating agent in concentrated form on the vehicle and during travel over the field to mix it with a liquid carrier stored in a tank to the desired concentration. This mixing of concentrate in the liquid carrier takes place by coupling the container with lines via the pump dosing means to the main line of the liquid carrier. This bring with it the danger of concentrate leakages which not only result in damage to the crop but is also dangerous for the user. Filling or changing of the container is laborious, while the connecting lines of the pump dosing means moreover have to be regularly cleaned. Such problems also occur in stationary installations in which the liquid carrier in the form of water is taken directly from the mains system. The invention has for its object to obviate the above stated drawbacks and provides for this purpose a device which is distinguished in that the container for the concentrate is embodied integrally with at least the pump- inσ means. Because of this integral embodiment the lines for the concentrate become considerably shortened or super- fluous, whereby the delivery opening of the container can be connected directly to the main line for the liquid carrier. SUBSTITUTE SHEET Because the pumping means are assembled integrally optionally with the dosing means and the container, these can be adapted to each other. A pump dosing means with a greater flow rate is often associated with a large con- tainer for the crop treating agent, while a pump with a small dosing capacity which can dose accurately can be arranged in the case of a small container. In a preferred embodiment the pumping means is embodied as a piston fitting in the container, which piston is displaceable in this container by a pressure means. It is hereby possible to press the container contents out of the container directly by displacing the piston and carry it into the line via the dosing means. Connecting lines are hereby dispensed with entirely. The pressure means, preferably protected against overload, can be embodied mechanically, pneumatically or hydraulically. The control of the piston can take place subject to the volume flow of the liquid carrier, for which purpose the invention proposes arranging a volume flow meter in the liquid carrier line. The liquid carrier can be dosed into the line via a dosing means embodied as a dosing opening, for example a calibrated opening which may or may not be closable, using a controlled valve so that in the case of a detachable container for the concentrate the opening or calibration opening is simultaneously closed. The invention further relates to the container suitable for the above described spray device which con¬ tainer is preferably formed by the commercial packaging. Above mentioned and other features will be further elucidated in the figure description below of an embodi¬ ment. In the drawing: Fig. 1 shows a perspective rear view of the device according to the invention arranged on an agricultural tractor, fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a first embodi¬ ment ot the container with the crop treating agent con¬ centrate provided with an associated pump, fig. 3 and 4 show in each case a standing section of a container provided with a pumping means according to a second embodiment, fig. 5 and 6 show in each case a standing section through the container for the concentrate provided with a pumping means with alternative pressure means feed, fig. 7a and b respectively show an upright section corresponding with fig. 3 of an alternative embodiment of a container provided with a centrifugal pump and a top view along the line VII-VII in fig. 7a. The device according to the invention comprises a source in the form of a tank 1 for a liquid carrier, for example water or other suitable liquid means, a line 2 which leads to sprayers 3 which are arranged on a spray boom 4. The construction of the spray boom, sprayers and branchings of the line 2 can be of random type, that is, in series, parallel or with other branchings of the line 2. A first pumping means 4 for carrying the liquid carrier to the spray members 3 under pressure is received in the line 2. In the embodiment shown the feed opening 5 for a crop treating agent concentrate to which a line 6 from a container 7 for the concentrate connects in each case is arranged in the pressure part of the line 2 behind the pump 4. Shown in the drawing are three containers, for example for three different types of concentrate. Each container is provided with a pump dosing means 8. The schematic designation of the container 7, pump dosing means 8 with connecting line 6 to the injection point 5 is constructed according to the invention as an integral unit, at least with respect to the pumping means. Such an integral unit can be seen in fig. 2. The container 7 is here a rectangular tank of random material, for example metal, cardboard or plastic, which is provided on the top side with a filling opening 11 for closing with a cap 10. The container 7 is embodied on the front side with a recess 12 in which is accommodated a hose pump 13. The hose pump consists of a flexible tube 14 the one end 15 of which debouches into a chamber 16 in the bottom of the container 7. The other end 17 must be connected to the injection point 5 in fig. l. he tube 14 is received in the arcuate upper part of the recess 12, this such that the tube 14 of flexible material can be deformed by a rotating deforming member 18. This deforming member is an elongate body which is fixedly attached in the middle to a motor shaft 19 of a drive motor 20. The length of the elongate body 18 is such that the free ends thereof can deform the inner side of the arcuate portion of the tube 14 during the rotating in the direction of the arrow P2. The motor 20 is mounted at the front in a bracket 21 which is fixed in random manner to the can-like container 7, and by means here of wing nuts 22. the motor shaft 19 is extended on the side remote from the motor and ends in a bearing 23 in the bottom of the recess 12. Finally, it is noted that a level monitoring glass 24 is arranged on the side of the container. With the embodiment shown the line for the con¬ centrate 14 is limited to a minimum and the associated motor requires no further maintenance or cleaning of con¬ centrate if it is replaced by another concentrate. Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the container for the concentrate connected to the injection point 5 of the line 2 to the spray members. Here the container 7 consists of a flange which is circular in cross-section and in which a piston 25 is fittingly received. The flange is received with the neck 26 thereof in a screw cap 27, which screw cap forms a whole with a chamber-like coupling piece 28 that is provided with an inlet 29 and outlet opening 30 respectively. The inlet and outlet openings serve for connection of the connecting stumps 31 and 32 for the lines 2 which respectively lead from the pump 4 and to the spray members 3. Received in the chamber 28 is a needle-like body 33, whereof the sharp bottom end 34 serves to open and close the flange 7, which is further elucidated herein- below. The needle-like body 33 is suspended from the middle of bracket 35. Both ends 38 are pivotally fixed to a pin 39 which carries a plunger 40. The plungers 40 have a shape such that the lever 35 is pressed downward by the stumps 29 and 30 such that the passage through the member 33 is released at 34 when both lines 31 and 32 are con¬ nected. A coil spring 41 is arranged around the needle¬ like element 33 and supports on one side on the bottom of the chamber 28 and on the other side against the underside of the bracket 35. As already stated, the container 7 for the con¬ centrate is embodied with a piston 25 which is slidable in the container 7 in up and downward sense according to the arrow P3. For this purpose the bottom end of the piston 25 is embodied with coupling means 45 for connection onto a screw spindle 46. The screw spindle is guided in a screwed sleeve 47 of a flange 49 screwable onto the bottom edge 48 of the container. By turning the threaded rod 46 in the screwed sleeve 47 an axial displacement thereof in the direction of the arrow P3 can take place, carrying the piston 25 with it. For a good closure the piston 25 is embodied with a rubber peripheral collar 25'. The above described embodi¬ ment operates as follows. The container 7 is provided with concentrate, wherein the piston 25 is situated close to the open bottom end of the container. By screwing the container at the top with the neck into the screw cap 27 the sharp end 34 will break through the initially closed neck portion 26 and effect a communication between the contents of the con¬ tainer 7 and the chamber 28. After arranging the flange 49 on the underside of the container 7 and coupling the threaded rod 46 on the piston 25 the device is ready for feeding concentrate to the flow of liquid carrier which is supplied via the line 2 according to the arrow P5. Spindle 46 and nut 47 are embodied such that in the case of overload, if the needle opening at 34 is clo¬ sed, slip occurs without damage. A description of the invention according to fig. 4 now follows. The same reference numerals for the same compo¬ nents are used here as in the embodiment according to fig. 3. Here the container 7 likewise has a circular cross-section wherein a circular piston 25 is received sealingly by means of the rubber collar 25'. The piston 25 is fixedly connected here to a threaded rod 46 which is received in a rotatable screwed sleeve 47' which is fixedly connected in a pinion 50. The pinion co-acts with a worm wheel 52 driven by a motor 51, wherein the gear wheels are mounted in a gear box 53 integrally formed on the underside of container 7. The top edge of the container 7 is provided with screw threading and fits into a threaded flange 54 of a closing cover 55. The closing cover is embodied in the centre on the top with a connecting sleeve 56 for hose connecting element 57 onto which the line 2 of the liquid carrier is connected. The end surfaces 58 of the hose connecting stumps also serve as stop for a ring 59 with resistance opening 60, and a ring 61 with larger passage opening 62 which corresponds at the least with that of the connecting stumps 57. Received between the rings 59 and 61 is a link assembly 63 on the middle link of which is suspended the valve stem 64 of a valve 65. Between the middle link of the assembly 63 and the bottom wall of the connecting sleeve 56 is received a pressure spring 41 which ensures that the valve 65 lies sealingly with the upper part thereof against the underside of the cover 55. The valve stem 64 is recei¬ ved with spacious clearance in a passage 66 of the connect- ing part between connecting sleeve 56 and the cover 55, such that when the valve 65 is lifted a communication is effected between the connecting sleeve 56 and the contents of container 7. By sliding the connecting stumps 57 into container 56 the ring 60 will slide to the right and the ring 62 to the left, whereby the link assembly 63 will lift the valve 65 against the action of the pressure from the spring 41. The connection to the concentrate in container 7 is thus effected when the line 2 is connected. The concentrate can be fed by energizing the motor 51 which moves the piston 25 in upward direction via gear transmission, which piston pushes the concentrate before it via the passage 66 into the sleeve 56 and line 2 respectively. The motor 51 can herein be controlled in stepwise manner in order to obtain the desired dosing. An overload protection is situated between the motor 51 and screw 46. There now follows a description with reference to figures 5 and 6. The container can be connected to the line 2 in the manner according to fig. 3 or fig. 4 respectively. The difference from the embodiments according to figures 3 and 4 is to be found in that the piston 25 is received freely in the container 7, wherein a pressure means in the form of a liquid is supplied under the piston 25 from a controllable hydro-pump 70. The liquid herein can be ordi¬ nary water or a freeze-proof liquid. This liquid is extrac¬ ted from a supply container 71. The non-return valve 72 can likewise serve as safety valve by placing the valve in the reset position via a throttled pressure line 73 as soon as the pump 70 encounters a determined resistance. Filling of the container 7 can take place by pressing the piston 25 downward by any suitable means, for instance by causing the pump 70 to pump towards the supply tank 71. The embodiment according to fig. 6 is distingui¬ shed from that of fig. 5 by a pneumatic embodiment as pressure means, wherein the gas is placed in the space 74 under the piston. Feed of the dosed liquid takes place through a valve 75 which is driven electronically. It is noted finally that dosing of the concentrate out of the container 7 into the line 2 can be performed in controlled manner by having the drive of the piston 25 take place subject to the volume flow in the line 2. The motor 51, the pump 70 and the pulse-controlled valve 75 can thus be operated by a sensor received in the line 2 for detect¬ ing the volume flow. An embodiment is shown in fig. 7 in which the container 7 is embodied on the bottom side with a pump chamber 80 which is closed on the side facing the container by a cover 81 with inlet openings 82. These openings form a communication between the contents of the pump chamber 80 and the contents of the tank 7. The cover 81 and the pump chamber serve as support for a pump shaft 83 around which a fan 84 is rotatably mounted. The fan can be of any suitable form and is shown here as a wheel with wings, see fig. 7b, which is accom¬ modated eccentrically in the pump chamber 80. The fan has an integrated magnetic body or magnetizable body 85. The pump chamber 80 communicates via a rise line 86 with the inlet stump 87 of a controllable valve 88. The valve housing 89 is connected in any suitable manner to the line 2 for the liquid carrier. The bottom of the container 7 is embodied such that a motor housing 90 can be coupled thereto. The elec¬ tric motor in the motor housing 90 drives a magnet 91 which is situated directly beneath the fan 84. Energizing of the electric motor causes the magnet 91 to rotate which carries with it the magnetizable body 85 in the fan 84 and thus causes the fan 84 to rotate around the shaft 83. It will be apparent that the contents of the container 7 enter the pump chamber 80 via the openings 82 and are carried by energizing of the electric motor, and therefore by the turning of the fan 84, via the rise line 86 to the control valve 88. The control valve 88 can be driven by a control circuit 92 with which dosage of the concentrate in the liquid carrier in the line 2 is determined. The control circuit 92 can be supplied inter alia with a signal from a sensor 93 for measuring the travel speed as well as a signal from a sensor 94 for measuring the liquid flow. A venting cap 95 is arranged in the top side of the container 7. This embodiment makes it possible to exchange the electric motor easily relative to the container 7 without leakage of concentrate being possible. The container 7 is likewise detachably arranged to the inlet stump 87 of the valve housing 88 so that the empty container 7 can easily be replaced by a full one. It will be apparent that with the embodiments as described above the container 7 in fig. 3-7 permits a total absence of extra tubes to the main line 2. Leakage is therefore reduced to a minimum. In the embodiments accord¬ ing to fig. 3-7 the liquid is moreover pressed in upward sense into the line 2 so that leakage from the container 7 is also excluded at the injection point. It is finally noted that the container 7 in the embodiment according to fig. 3-7 is easily exchangeable and can take the form of a normal commercial packaging. The pump 70 or the pressure tank 74 can herein already be integrated into the container 7 so that the connections can also be easily performed by the user. *****

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Device for spraying crop treating agent such as nutrients and/or pesticides/herbicides, which device comprises a source for a liquid carrier, one or more spray members connected to the source via a line, at least one container for a concentrate of crop treating agent for mixing with the liquid carrier, pressure means for carrying the liquid carrier via the line to the spray members, and pump dosing means for carrying the concentrate into the line, characterized in that the container for the concen- trate is formed integrally with at least the pumping means. 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the pumping means is a piston fitting into the con¬ tainer which piston is displaceable by a pressure means. 3. Device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the pressure means of the piston is controlled subject to the volume flow of the liquid carrier. 4. Device as claimed in claims 2 and 3, charac¬ terized in that mechanical means are arranged for displac¬ ing the piston. 5. Device as claimed in claims 2 and 3, charac¬ terized in that pneumatic or hydraulic means are arranged for displacing the piston. 6. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the dosing means is an open- ing, for example a calibrated opening, arranged between the container for the concentrate and the line for the liquid carrier. 7. Device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the calibration opening is situated on the top of the container for the concentrate. 8. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the passage between the container and the line for the liquid carrier is σlosable by means of a valve. 9. Device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the valve is controlled by means of a control member such as a pulse motor, spring, etcetera. 10. Device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the valve is controlled by an electronic control circuit. 11. Device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the electronic control circuit is provided with at least one sensor for detecting the volume flow respectively the travel speed and the like. 12. Device as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the drive of the pumping means is controlled by the volume flow of the liquid car¬ rier in the line. 13. Container suitable for a device according to any of the foregoing claims, . 14. Container as claimed in claim 13, characteri- zed in that it has a circle-cylindrical cross-section and is provided with a piston received fittingly therein. 15. Container as claimed in claim 13 and 14, characterized in that the container is provided with a closed wall located opposite the piston and suitable for boring through mechanically. 16. Container as claimed in claim 13, characteri¬ zed in that the container wall is provided with a pump chamber for a displacement pump. 17. Container as claimed in claim 16, characteri- zed in that the displacement pump is a fan pump. 18. Container as claimed in claim 17, characteri¬ zed in that the fan is driven by means of a magnet coup¬ ling. 19. Container as claimed in any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the container including the piston is embodied as a commercial packaging with concen¬ trate. 20. Container as claimed in any of the foregoing claims 13-19, characterized in that the wall of the con- tainer is provided with a transparent portion for monitor¬ ing the liquid level. *****

Inventors: BORGMAN FOKKO PIETER, BORGMAN, FOKKO, PIETER
Applicants: PROLION BV, PROLION B.V.
Application year: 1992
Main classification: A01C23
IPC codes: A01C23, A01M7, B05B7