Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a dispensing device for an agricultural sprayer. The dispensing device includes a supply manifold having at least two inlets, each inlet connectable to a product source and engaging with a closing valve, and a dispensing manifold having at least two outlets, each outlet connectable to at least one spraying member and engages with a closing valve. The dispensing device further includes a control mechanism that includes at least one camshaft having a plurality of cams. Each cam controls the opening and closing of an associated valve.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/FR2016/050224, filed on Feb. 3, 2016, which claims priority to and the benefit of French Application No. FR 1550836 filed on Feb. 3, 2015. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a distribution device for an agricultural sprayer. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. 
         [0004]    It is known a type of spraying system which includes an agricultural sprayer associated with a plurality of sources of products to be sprayed, generally products in liquid form. 
         [0005]    This spraying system is equipped with a plurality of spraying members which are each adapted to spray at least one product coming from the different sources. 
         [0006]    Also, the system includes multi-way gates which are actuated by the operator to link and associate one of the product sources on one of the spraying members, according to the selected position of the gates. 
         [0007]    With this type of spraying system, there is a risk of inadvertently linking one of the product sources with a spraying member not adapted to this product. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0008]    The present disclosure relates to a distribution device for an agricultural sprayer, the sprayer being associated with a plurality of product sources and with a plurality of spraying members, the device being characterized in that it includes: 
         [0009]    a supply manifold having at least two inlets and at least one outlet, each inlet being adapted to be linked on one of said product sources and each inlet cooperating with a closing valve, 
         [0010]    a distribution manifold having at least one inlet and at least two outlets, each outlet being adapted to be linked on one of said spraying members and each outlet cooperating with a closing valve, 
         [0011]    a distribution conduit which links the outlet of the supply manifold on the inlet of the distribution manifold, 
         [0012]    a control mechanism which includes at least one camshaft carrying a plurality of cams, each cam acting on the opening and the closing of one of said valves, the camshaft being rotatably mounted between several angular positions in each of which the valves allow the supply of one of said spraying members by at least one of said product sources, and 
         [0013]    an actuating device for actuating the camshaft. 
         [0014]    Thus, the present disclosure allows decreasing risk of bad manipulation by mechanically linking each product source to a spraying member. 
         [0015]    According to another characteristic, the control mechanism includes a first camshaft which carries at least two cams each acting on one of said associated valves of the supply manifold, and a second camshaft which carries at least two cams each acting on one of said associated valves of the supply manifold, the first shaft being rotatably linked on the second shaft by a disengageable coupling system. 
         [0016]    This characteristic allows driving in rotation the first camshaft independently of the second camshaft, which allows in particular changing the initial attribution of the product sources to the spraying members. 
         [0017]    In addition, the distribution conduit is equipped with a circulation pump designed to allow the flow of the products from said sources up to said spraying members. 
         [0018]    According to a variant, the supply manifold and the distribution manifold form an integral part of the circulation pump. 
         [0019]    Also, the device includes a safety conduit which links the supply manifold on the distribution manifold and which is equipped with a safety valve. 
         [0020]    Finally, this form includes at least one regulating device for regulating the flow rate of the product. 
         [0021]    Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the description provided herein. It should be understood that the description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a schematic view which illustrates a distribution device for an agricultural sprayer including a camshaft for controlling the valves, according to the teachings of the present disclosure; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 2  is a schematic view which illustrates the device of  FIG. 1  including two camshafts for controlling the valves, according to another form of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0025]    The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0026]    The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features. 
         [0027]      FIG. 1  shows an agricultural sprayer  10  which includes three sources of liquid product  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  of different nature and three spraying members  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  each adapted to spray at least one of the products  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c.    
         [0028]    The sprayer  10  is equipped with a distribution device  16  which allows selecting an adapted combination of a product source with an associated spraying member  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c , knowing that the product sources  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  are not all compatible with each spraying member  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c.    
         [0029]    For this purpose, the distribution device  16  includes a supply manifold  18  which is linked on the product sources  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , and a distribution manifold  20  which is linked on the spraying members  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c.    
         [0030]    The supply manifold  18  has three inputs  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  and an output  23 , the inputs  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  being linked on the product sources  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  respectively. 
         [0031]    In addition, each inlet  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  of the supply manifold  18  cooperates with a closing valve  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  respectively. 
         [0032]    Each valve  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  includes an axial actuating rod  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c  which is provided with a head  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c  at a first end and a foot  30   a ,  30   b ,  30   c  at an opposite second end, respectively. 
         [0033]    The rod  26   a ,  26   b ,  26   c  of each valve  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  is mounted axially slidably on the body of the supply manifold  18 , so that each valve  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  is movably mounted between an open position in which the head  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c  allows the passage of the product  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  of the associated source through the associated inlet  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c  of the supply manifold  18 , and a closed position in which the head  28   a ,  28   b ,  28   c  obstructs the inlet  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c.    
         [0034]    Similarly, the distribution manifold  20  has an inlet  30  and three outlets  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c , the outlets being linked on the spraying members  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  respectively. 
         [0035]    In addition, each outlet  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c  of the distribution manifold  20  cooperates with a closing valve  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  respectively. 
         [0036]    Each valve  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  includes an axial actuating rod  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c  which is provided with a head  38   a ,  38   b ,  38   c  at one end and a foot  40   a ,  40   b ,  40   c  at an opposite second end, respectively. 
         [0037]    The rod  36   a ,  36   b ,  36   c  of each valve  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  is mounted axially slidably on the body of the distribution manifold  20 , so that each valve  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  is movably mounted between an open position in which the head  38   a ,  38   b ,  38   c  allows the passage of the product through the outlet  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c  of the distribution manifold  20 , and a closed position in which the head  38   a ,  38   b ,  38   c  obstructs the outlet  32   a ,  32   b ,  32   c.    
         [0038]    In a complementary manner, a distribution conduit  42  links the outlet  23  of the supply manifold  18  on the inlet  30  of the distribution manifold  20 , in order to allow the products to pass from one to the other. 
         [0039]    Also, the distribution device  16  is equipped with a control mechanism  44  which is designed to drive in displacement the different valves in order to combine and connect a product source with an adapted spraying member. 
         [0040]    According to one form of the present disclosure, shown in  FIG. 1 , the control mechanism  44  includes a camshaft  46  which carries six cams  48 . 
         [0041]    Each cam  48  cooperates with the foot of an associated valve  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c ,  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  to drive the associated valve into its open or closed position. 
         [0042]    In addition, the camshaft  46  is rotatably mounted between at least three angular positions in each of which the valves allow the supply of one of the spraying members  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  by one of the product sources  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c.    
         [0043]    For this purpose, the three cams  48  which are associated with the three valves  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  of the supply manifold  18  are arranged on the camshaft  46  in an angularly offset manner by at least one third of a turn, namely 120 degrees, following the three angular positions of the camshaft  46 . 
         [0044]    Similarly, the three cams  48  which are associated with the three valves  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  of the distribution manifold  20  are arranged on the camshaft  46  in an angularly offset manner by at least one third of turn, namely 120 degrees, following the three angular positions of the camshaft  46 . 
         [0045]    More particularly, the cams  48  are arranged such that for each angular position of the camshaft  46 , one of the three valves  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  of the supply manifold  18  is open and one of the three valves  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  of the distribution manifold  20  is open to allow the passage of the product from one of the product sources  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c , up to one of the associated spraying members  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c.    
         [0046]    Further, the distribution device includes an actuating device  50  allowing to drive in rotation the camshaft  46 , the actuating device  50  is, according to the example described herein, a crank which is linked on the camshaft  46  to drive the camshaft  46  manually between its three positions. 
         [0047]    By way of non-restrictive example, the actuating device  50  may also be a motorized device, for example an electric motor which drives the camshaft  46  in rotation. 
         [0048]    As can be seen in  FIG. 1 , the flow of the products  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  from their source up to the spraying members  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  is provided by a circulation pump  52  which is mounted on the distribution conduit  42 . 
         [0049]    According to a non shown variant of the present disclosure, the supply manifold  18  and the distribution manifold  20  form an integral part of the circulation pump  52 . 
         [0050]    According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the distribution device  16  includes a safety conduit  54  which links the supply manifold  18  on the distribution manifold  20  and which is equipped with a safety valve  56  to limit the pressure and protect the device. 
         [0051]    In addition, a regulating device  58  for regulating the flow rate of the product is associated with a spraying member  14   c.    
         [0052]    According to another form of the present disclosure, shown in  FIG. 2 , the control mechanism  44  includes a first camshaft  46   a  which carries three cams  48  each cooperating with one of the three valves  24   a ,  24   b ,  24   c  of the supply manifold  18 , and a second camshaft  46   b  which carries three cams  48  each cooperating with one of the three valves  34   a ,  34   b ,  34   c  of the distribution manifold  20 . 
         [0053]    In this form of the present disclosure, being similar to the form described above, it will only be described succinctly so as not to add to the description unnecessarily. 
         [0054]    According to this form, each camshaft  46   a ,  46   b  is rotatably mounted between at least three angular positions in each of which the valves allow the supply of one of the spraying members  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c  by one of the product sources  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c.    
         [0055]    In addition, the first camshaft  46   a  is linked in rotation on the second camshaft  46   b  by a disengageable coupling system  60 . 
         [0056]    The coupling system  60  is for example constituted by a pinion  62  mounted free in translation on the first camshaft  46   a  between an engaged drive position of the second camshaft  46   b  and a disengaged position. 
         [0057]    This characteristic allows, when the coupling system  60  is disengaged, to drive in rotation the first camshaft  46   a  independently of the second camshaft  46   b , which allows in particular to change the initial attribution of the product sources  12   a ,  12   b ,  12   c  to the spraying members  14   a ,  14   b ,  14   c.    
         [0058]    The present description of the present disclosure is given by way of non-restrictive example. 
         [0059]    Similarly, simple mechanical inversions are covered by the present disclosure, as well as the number of sources of products and spraying members. 
         [0060]    It will be understood that the valves may be replaced by any equivalent means allowing opening or closing an orifice, such as a gate or a flap. 
         [0061]    The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.