Abstract:
A dust-control apparatus may be used in combination with tilling, cultivating, harvesting, construction machinery, and other mobile soil treatment implements. The apparatus applies mist to dust particles where the mist is created by pumping water or other liquid through nozzles. Because the apparatus is used in combination with the operation of the dust-generating machinery, the dust suppressing mist is applied nearly simultaneously to the generation of the dust by the agitation of the soil by the machinery. In one embodiment of the device, the operation of the pump or valves which control liquid flow to the nozzles is automatically activated by a optical sensor. The optical sensors cause either the starting of a pump or opening of a valve thereby increasing or decreasing the pressure and/or volume of the liquid upon the dust level reaching a preset trigger point as detected by the sensor.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/741,788 for this invention was filed on Dec. 1, 2005 for which the inventor claims domestic priority. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention generally relates to devices for controlling dust and other particulates generated from agitation of the ground or other soil bearing surfaces. In particular, a mountable apparatus for use in combination with agricultural and/or soil working machinery is disclosed. The apparatus and the method are applied to the problems presented by air particulates, to reduce dust generated by agricultural and soil working machinery. The general mechanism employed by the apparatus is to wet the airborne dust particles with mist. 
     Dust generation by agricultural and construction machinery is a known problem, particularly in and areas. To name just a few problems caused by dust generation, dust particles result in air pollution, water pollution, soil loss, human and animal health problems, and potentially hazardous reductions in visibility. In addition, the dust can adversely impact the health of various plants. In an effort to reduce dust production, some air pollution control districts impose speed limitations on farm machinery or otherwise impose different dust control measures. 
     One method of controlling dust is by applying water to the ground surface, or by applying water mist to the dust particles. A number of different devices are known for using water mist for dust reduction in industrial activities. Examples of these devices are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,371,477; 5,219,208; and 5,803,955. However, these devices are typically stationary devices used primarily for mining and material transfer operations. 
     It is also know to use irrigation for dust control in agricultural and construction activities. The typical form of irrigation is to sprinkle the ground surface with water until the surface is wet. The water confines and settles the dust for a temporary period of time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The presently disclosed dust-control apparatus is used in combination with machinery which generates dust by moving across, tilling, planting, cultivating, harvesting, or otherwise agitating the ground surface. The disclosed apparatus acts to bind the dust as the dust is created by the implement. Other known irrigation methods of dust control in agricultural and construction applications typically sprinkle or drench the ground surface with water until the ground surface is wet or muddy. In contrast, the present system applies a water mist created by pressurized water injection through nozzles. Because the apparatus is used in combination with the operation of the machinery, the dust suppressing mist is applied nearly simultaneously to the generation of the dust by the agitation of the soil by the mobile soil treatment implement. An embodiment of the device allows the operator to manually control the apparatus so that the mist is applied upon the operator manipulating the controls. In another embodiment of the device, the operation of the water pump or valves which control water flow to the nozzles is automatically activated by a sensor, which turns the pump on to create mist upon the dust level reaching a preset trigger point as detected by an optical sensor. 
     The apparatus, which is used in combination with mobile agricultural or construction equipment, comprises a water reservoir, pump, pump drive means (such as a directly coupled motor or engine or electrical power source or a power take-off), connecting conduit, and a plurality of nozzles which are mounted at predetermined locations on the equipment. The apparatus further comprises control means for activating the pump drive means. The control means may comprise manual controls. Alternatively, the controls means may be automated and activated and deactivated respectively by preset start and stop triggering logic. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the disclosed apparatus used in combination with a tillage implement. 
         FIG. 2  shows a top view of an embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  shows a right side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  shows a rear view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  shows a left side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 6  shows a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now specifically to  FIG. 1 , one embodiment of the apparatus is used in combination with a mobile soil treatment implement  10 , such as a disc or other tilling implement as shown in the figure. As used in this specification, the term “mobile soil treatment implement” generally refers to different classes of vehicles or implements which are used in both agriculture and construction. For agricultural applications, mobile soil treatment implements include tilling implements, planting implements, cultivating implements, and harvesting implements. By way of example, tilling implements  10  include discs (as shown in the figures), rippers, scrapers, plows, mulchers, harrow disks, land planes, levelers and furrowing out rigs. Planting implements include rollers, sleds, drills and rakes. Cultivation implements include mowers, knives, and blades. Harvesting equipment includes various types of harvesters and combines. The agricultural or construction implement may be of the type which requires a tow vehicle, such as a tractor, or in the alternative, may be self-propelled. Given the pervasive use of wheeled vehicles on agricultural and/or construction sites and the working of the soil caused by the wheels of those vehicles, the term “mobile soil treatment implement” may also comprise wheeled vehicles including trucks, all-terrain vehicles, four wheel drive vehicles, etc. 
     An embodiment of the mist-discharging apparatus  12  comprises a mobile soil treatment implement  10  such as the disc shown in the figures, which is a tilling implement. The disc has a front end  14  and a back end  16  defining a longitudinal axis L. The disc may comprise two or more banks  18  of tilling members  20  disposed along the longitudinal axis as shown in the figures. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the soil treatment implement  10  may comprise towing means  22  such as a three-point hitch or tongue which facilitates towing the implement with a tractor or other towing vehicle. The soil treatment implement  10  may further comprise a drag bar  21  which is utilized to roughly grade the soil surface following the working of the soil with tilling members  20 . 
     The apparatus  12  comprises liquid storage means, such as liquid storage vessel  24 . A liquid storage vessel  24  having a volume range of 150 to 300 gallons has been found to be a suitable size for most applications. The liquid storage vessel  24  may either be attached to a tow vehicle, such as a tractor, or it may be attached to the mobile soil treatment implement  10  as shown in the figures. The apparatus  12  further comprises a pump  26 . As with the liquid storage vessel  24 , the pump  26  may either be attached to a tow vehicle or attached to the mobile soil treatment implement  10 . The pump  26  has a suction end  28  and a discharge end  30 , where the suction end is hydraulically connected to the liquid storage vessel with appropriate conduit  32 , such as PVC pipe or flexible hose. As shown in  FIG. 1 , various pipe supports  34  may be used for locating and securing the conduit  32 . Power means  36 , such as a an electric motor, hydraulic motor, or power takeoff from the pulling vehicle, are operationally connected to the pump  26 . The discharge end  30  of the pump  26  is hydraulically connected to a plurality of downwardly facing mist generating nozzles  38  which are attached to the mobile soil treatment implement  10 . 
     Depending upon the application, the mist generating nozzles  38  may have different spray configurations. As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the mist generating nozzles  38  may be mounted in a banked configuration, that is a plurality of nozzles are oriented in along an axis which is transverse to the longitudinal axis L of the mobile soil treatment implement  10 . In this configuration, each bank may comprise a nozzle boom assembly  40 , mounted transversely to the longitudinal axis L of the soil treating implement  10 . The nozzle boom assembly  40  comprises several mist-emitting nozzles  38 . Each boom assembly  40  may be mounted such that the nozzles emit mist immediately following agitation of the soil by either the tilling members  20  or drag bar  21 . The boom assemblies may be constructed so as to allow the bank of mist generating nozzles  38  to either be raised, lowered, or moved forward or backward as desired. 
     The nozzles  38  may emit overlapping and generally circular mist patterns  42  as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . It may also be advantageous to have nozzles  38  which emit different mist patterns. For example, it may be advantageous to have nozzles  38  in a first row having a 180 degree spray configuration. Nozzles  38  in a second row may have a 360 degree spray configuration. The nozzles  38  may mounted at the end of extension nipples  44  which are connected into the distribution piping  46 . The extension nipples  44  facilitate placement of the nozzles  38  at an optimal location for discharging the mist. The extension nipples  44  may comprise PVC pipe. Downwardly oriented guard members  48  may be employed to protect the extension nipples  44  from impact damage. The apparatus may further comprise inline filters  50  to prevent clogging of the nozzles  38  with impurities in the water. 
     It has been found that mist emitting nozzles  38  having an opening of approximately 0.015 to 0.030 inch provide an acceptable mist when used in conjunction with a pump  26  having approximately 20 to 40 psig discharge pressure. One source of this type of nozzle  38  is that manufactured by AQUARIOUS for drip irrigation systems. It is to be appreciated that the disclosed apparatus does not drench the soil, but rather creates a mist which binds airborne dust particles. In addition, the cooling effect of the mist acts to lower temperatures at ground level and reduces dust particles being lifted by air flow generated from the thermal gradient. The reduction of the thermal transport mechanism reduces particulate emissions which might otherwise be dispersed in a large geographic area and impacting the regional air quality. 
     The apparatus may further comprise controls for activating the prime mover  36  on the pump  26 . The controls may comprise a simple on-off switch which allows the operator to turn the pump on and off as desired. Alternatively, the controls may be more elaborate. For example, the pump may be automatically activated by optical sensors  52 , which sense either light level or particulate matter levels and emit an output signal when preset light thresholds are detected. It has been found that an acceptable optical sensor  24  is the BALLUF BOS 65 K Series, including part number BOS-65K-1-M110T-1, which emits an infrared beam which generates an output signal based upon reflection of an emitted infrared beam. 
     In the embodiment utilizing optical sensors, water would be supplied to the nozzles  38  when the dust level (i.e., the light level or particulate level) reaches a magnitude sufficient to trigger the preset value on the optical sensor  52 , and water would continue to be supplied to the nozzles  38  until the dust is reduced to a level which triggers a preset shut-off of the pump  26 . The automated controls allow the operator of the implement  10  to focus on operation of the implement as opposed to concentrating on reducing the dust. As an alternative to controlling the pump, optical sensors  52  may be connected to solenoid-controlled actuators on valves  54  which may be used to control flow of liquid to each bank of nozzles  14 . In this embodiment, a separate optical sensor  24  is used to activate each valve  54 , thereby allowing flow to the applicable bank of nozzles  14 . Relays and/or transformers may be required to obtain the proper voltage and current for driving a valve actuator or pump controls. 
     Although  FIG. 1  shows all three optical sensors  52  at a single location, it is to be appreciated that the optical sensors may be located as desired on the particular mobile soil treatment implement  10 . Placement of the optical sensors  52  at different locations on the mobile soil treatment implement  10  may reduce water consumption where sufficient dust suppression is generated by the first bank of nozzles  38 . It is to be appreciated that other controls may used in conjunction with the pump  26 . For example, variable speed pumps may be used which may increase water flow and thereby increase the pressure drop across the nozzle and the mist volume. It is also to be appreciated that the disclosed apparatus is not limited to water for dust control. Other misting dust control agents may be utilized as desired. It is also to be appreciated that while the figures show a disc implement, the mist-discharging apparatus may comprise a number of different agricultural and construction implements. 
     It is to be appreciated that various components of the mist-discharging apparatus  12  may either be individually attached to the mobile soil treatment implement, or attached separately to a towing vehicle or related vehicle. As an alternative embodiment, the components of the mist-discharging apparatus  12  may be packaged together such that they may be readily installed to an existing piece of equipment. In this embodiment, a support structure  56  may be utilized which is used for supporting some of the different components. The support structure may comprise a vessel cradle  58  which is used to mount the liquid storage vessel  24 . The support structure  56  may further comprise a pump platform  60  which may be used for mounting the pump  26 , valves  54 , filters  50  and interconnecting piping as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The vessel cradle  58  and pump platform  60  are secured to support members  62 , which are attachable to the frame work  68  of the soil treatment implement  10  with attachment means  64  such as bolts and attachment plates as shown in  FIG. 1 . Distribution piping may be attached to the nozzle boom assemblies  40  with clamps  66 . 
     While the above is a description of various embodiments of the present invention, further modifications may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus the scope of the invention should not be limited according to these factors, but according to the claims to be filed in the forthcoming utility application.