Abstract:
The present disclosure relates to a mixer for drawing and mixing a solid product, such as a powder, with a liquid from a tank. The mixer includes a drawing wand which has a drawing tip suitable for drawing the product and a mixing vat which has a rotation shape delimited by a side wall. The discharge tip of the drawing wand leads into the top of a vat and injects the product into the vat. In one form, the mixer includes a hydraulic circuit designed to circulate the liquid between the tank and the vat. The circuit includes at least one injection duct having at least one injection nozzle that leads into the top of the vat so that the liquid from the tank flows over the side wall of the vat.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/FR2016/050300, filed on Feb. 10, 2016, which claims priority to and the benefit of FR 15/51073 filed on Feb. 10, 2015. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to an agricultural sprayer and more particularly to a mixer for mixing a solid product with a liquid coming from a vat of 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]    In the agricultural field, it is sometimes necessary to mix a liquid product contained in a vat of a sprayer, such as water, with a water-miscible solid product, for example a phytosanitary product, the obtained product being intended to be sprayed on cultures. 
         [0005]    In general, the solid product to incorporate in the vat is packaged in a bag which is poured by the operator directly in the vat of the sprayer, via the manhole. 
         [0006]    Such an operation is physically demanding and time-consuming because it requires the operator to bring the bag up to the manhole and manipulate it in order to pour it in the vat. 
         [0007]    In addition, this incorporation operation presents a risk of environment pollution by spilling of a portion of the product by the side of the vat, as well as a risk of contact between the product and the operator, for example by splashing. 
         [0008]    Also, it is observed that the operator agitates the bag above the vat in order to pour the last product residues. Such a gesture might promote the dispersion of the product in the air inhaled by the operator. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0009]    The present disclosure provides a mixer for sucking and mixing a solid product, of a powdery type, with a liquid coming from a vat, characterized in that it includes: 
         [0010]    a suction lance which has a suction tip adapted to suck said powdery product and a tip for discharging said product, 
         [0011]    a mixing basin which presents a shape of revolution delimited by a lateral wall, about a vertical axis of revolution, the basin extending axially from an upper portion delimited by a ceiling, down to a lower portion, the discharge tip of the suction lance opening into the upper portion of the basin so as to inject the product in the basin, 
         [0012]    a hydraulic circuit designed to make the liquid circulate between the vat and the basin, said circuit including at least one injection conduit which includes at least one injection nozzle opening into the upper portion of the basin so that the liquid coming from the vat flows on the lateral wall of the basin, and a discharge conduit which is adapted to link the lower portion of the basin on the vat, and 
         [0013]    a suction device for sucking the liquid which is arranged downstream of the basin, so as to suck the liquid and the product mixed together through the discharge conduit linked on the mixing basin. 
         [0014]    Such a mixer according to the present disclosure allows limiting the manual operations of the operator by enabling him to directly suck the solid product to be mixed from the original container of the product, thanks to the suction lance. 
         [0015]    In addition, the mixer allows obtaining a homogenous mixture of the liquid contained in the vat and of the solid product to incorporate before its introduction in said vat. 
         [0016]    According to one form of the present disclosure, the nozzle for injecting the liquid extends generally tangentially to the axis of revolution of the basin, so as to inject the liquid on the wall of the basin by imparting a swirl movement to said liquid. 
         [0017]    The swirling flow of the liquid allows promoting the mixture of the liquid with the solid product and especially the non-clogging of the powdery products on the walls of the basin. 
         [0018]    According to another variant of the present disclosure, the nozzle for injecting the liquid presents a generally annular shape arranged about the axis of the basin, so as to inject the liquid on the wall of the basin by imparting a descending axial movement to said liquid. 
         [0019]    In particular, this feature inhibits the liquid from rising in the suction lance via the discharge tip of said suction lance. 
         [0020]    In another form, the basin presents a generally truncated-cone shape about the axis of revolution of the basin, the lower portion of the basin tapering towards the discharge conduit of the hydraulic circuit. 
         [0021]    Such a truncated-cone shape promotes the mixture of the liquid and of the solid product as well as the flow and the discharge of the mixture to the lower end of the basin. 
         [0022]    According to an aspect, the discharge tip of the suction lance opens axially into the ceiling of the basin so as to inject the product in the basin, the discharge tip projecting with respect to the ceiling of the basin so as to form a lip inhibiting the entry of liquid inside the lance. 
         [0023]    In addition, the device for sucking the liquid includes a first inlet which is connected on the injection conduit, an outlet is connected on the vat and a second suction inlet which links the discharge conduit of the basin so as to create a vacuum in the basin by Venturi effect. 
         [0024]    Also, the hydraulic circuit includes a device for driving the liquid contained in the vat, which is designed to drive the liquid through the hydraulic circuit. 
         [0025]    In order to promote the suction of a powdery or granular product, the suction tip of the suction lance presents a flared shape. 
         [0026]    Also, the suction tip of the suction lance presents, on one side, a linear edge forming a scraper for scraping the bottom of a container, and on the other side, an edge delimiting notches aiming to inhibit a flexible container from sticking to the suction tip by the suction effect. 
         [0027]    According to another form of the present disclosure, the suction lance is detachably mounted on the basin, and the mixer includes a device for quick coupling of the discharge tip of the suction lance on the basin. 
         [0028]    Finally, the mixer includes a liquid product incorporation device, which is linked on the upper portion of the basin via a conduit so as to enable the incorporation of an additional liquid product in the basin without the use of the suction lance. 
         [0029]    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 
         [0030]    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: 
           [0031]      FIG. 1  is a schematic overview, which illustrates a mixer including a mixing basin and a lance for sucking the solid product, according to the teachings of the present disclosure; 
           [0032]      FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional detail view, which illustrates a variant of the basin of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0033]      FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional detail view, which illustrates the mixer of  FIG. 1  equipped with a hopper for incorporating a liquid product; 
           [0034]      FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional detail view, which illustrates the mixer of  FIG. 1  equipped with a stick for sucking a liquid product; and 
           [0035]      FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional detail view, which illustrates a device for quick coupling of the discharge tip of the suction lance on the basin, according to a variant of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
       [0036]    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 
       [0037]    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. 
         [0038]    In the description and the claims, the expressions “higher”, “lower” and their derivatives will be used without limitation to refer respectively to the upper portion and to the lower portion of  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
         [0039]    In addition, in order to clarify the description and the claims, the terms longitudinal, vertical and transverse will be adopted without limitation with reference to the trihedron L, V, T indicated in the figures. 
         [0040]    It is noteworthy that in the present patent application, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” should be understood with reference to the circulation of the fluids and solids through the mixer. 
         [0041]    In the different variants, the same reference numerals may be used for elements which are similar or provide common functions for simplification of the description. 
         [0042]    In  FIG. 1 , there is represented a mixer  10  for mixing a solid product  12  contained in a bag  13 , with a liquid  14  coming from a vat  16 , for example a vat of an agricultural sprayer, in order to obtain a sprayable liquid mixture. 
         [0043]    Solid product  12  means all products of a powdery, granular, in shavings or in sequins type. In particular, it may consist of a water-miscible fertilizer. 
         [0044]    The mixer  10  includes a suction lance  18  which extends from a suction tip  20  adapted to suck the product  12 , up to a discharge tip  22  of the sucked product. 
         [0045]    The suction tip  20  of the lance  18  is mounted at the end of a manipulating arm  24  which is adapted to be manipulated by the operator to suck the product  12  contained in the bag  13 . 
         [0046]    To this end, the suction tip  20  has a flared shape enlarged at its free end so as to promote the suction of the product  12 . 
         [0047]    In addition, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the suction tip  20  has a free end with a generally rectangular section which is delimited by a first linear edge forming a scraper  26  for scraping the bottom of the bag  13 . 
         [0048]    Advantageously, the suction tip  20  has a second linear edge  28  which delimits notches  30  aiming to inhibit the flexible bag  13  from sticking to the suction tip  20  by the suction effect. 
         [0049]    The discharge tip  22  of the lance  18  is linked on a mixing basin  32  via a flexible conduit  34  which links the manipulating arm  24  of the lance  18 . 
         [0050]    In one form of the present disclosure, the inner wall of the arm  24  and that of the associated conduit  34  are smooth and devoid of asperities, so as to promote the suction and the non-clogging of the product  12  when these walls are wet. 
         [0051]    The mixing basin  32  presents a truncated-cone shape of revolution about a vertical axis A of revolution. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the basin  32  is delimited by a truncated-cone shaped lateral wall  36  flared upwardly, the basin  32  extending axially from an upper portion  38  delimited by a ceiling  40 , down to a lower portion  42  with a narrowed section. 
         [0053]    As shown in  FIG. 2 , the discharge tip  22  of the suction lance  18  opens axially into the ceiling  40  of the upper portion  38  of the basin  32 , generally at the center of the ceiling  40 , so as to inject the product  12  in the basin  32 . 
         [0054]    Advantageously, the discharge tip  22  of the lance  18  projects axially with respect to the ceiling  40  of the basin  32 , inside the basin  32 , so as to form a lip  44  inhibiting the entry of liquid inside the lance  18 . 
         [0055]    According to another aspect, the mixer  10  includes a hydraulic circuit  46  which is designed to make the liquid  14  circulate between the vat  16  and the basin  32 . 
         [0056]    In this form, the circuit  46  includes an injection conduit  48  which links the vat  16  on the upper portion  38  of the basin  32  and a discharge conduit  50  which links the lower portion  42  of the basin  32  on the vat  16 . 
         [0057]    According to one form of the present disclosure represented in  FIG. 1 , the injection conduit  48  includes an injection nozzle  52  which opens into the upper portion  38  of the basin  32  and which extends generally tangentially to the axis A of revolution of the basin  32 , so as to inject the liquid  14  on the wall  36  of the basin  32  by imparting a swirl movement to the liquid  14 . 
         [0058]    Thus, by the combined effect of the terrestrial gravity and the orientation of the injection nozzle  52 , the liquid  14  coming from the vat  16  swirls against the wall  36  of the basin  32  while descending down to the lower portion  42  of the basin  32 . 
         [0059]    In a complementary manner, the discharge conduit  50  opens axially at the truncated-cone shaped lower end of the basin  32  so as to collect the liquid  14 . 
         [0060]    In addition, a suction device  54  for sucking the liquid is arranged downstream of the discharge conduit  50 , so as to suck the liquid  14  and the product  12  mixed together through the mixing basin  32 . 
         [0061]    The Venturi-type suction device  54  includes a first inlet  56  which is connected on the injection conduit  48 , an outlet  58  which is connected on the vat  16  and a second suction inlet  60  which links the discharge conduit  50  of the basin  32 . 
         [0062]    The second inlet  60  of the suction device  54  creates a vacuum by Venturi effect, which allows setting the basin  32  in vacuum so as to suck the mixture contained in the basin  32  and to suck the product  12  through the suction lance  18 . 
         [0063]    Furthermore, the hydraulic circuit  46  is equipped with a pump  62  which is arranged on the injection conduit  48 , upstream of the basin  32 , so as to drive and pressurize the liquid through the hydraulic circuit  46 . 
         [0064]    An example of the operation of the mixer  10  is described hereinafter. 
         [0065]    As a first step, the pump  62  is set in operation to drive the liquid in the hydraulic circuit  46  and to create a sufficient pressure upstream of the suction device  54 . 
         [0066]    When passing through the suction device  54 , the liquid generates a vacuum in the basin  32 . 
         [0067]    Also, the liquid  14  coming from the vat  16  is injected in the basin  32  via the injection nozzle  52  provided, the liquid creating a swirl and a cyclonic effect in the basin  32 . 
         [0068]    After having opened the bag  13  containing the product  12  to incorporate, the operator introduces the suction lance  18  directly in the bag  13 , the lance  18  sucking the product  12  by the effect of the vacuum generated in the basin  32 . 
         [0069]    Depending on the texture of the product  12 , it may be desired to agitate the suction lance  18  in the bag to “fluidify” the product  12  in order to enable the suction thereof. 
         [0070]    In order to draw the bottom of the bag  13 , all it needs is to tilt the bag manually and orientate the suction tip  20  of the lance  18  in the lower corner of the bag  13 . 
         [0071]    In the case of a bag  13  made of paper, it may be desired to scrape the bottom of the bag with the scraper  26  of the suction tip  20  in order to leave as little as possible of residual product. 
         [0072]    According to a variant of the present disclosure represented in  FIG. 2 , the nozzle  52  for injecting the liquid  14  in the basin  32  presents a generally annular shape which opens axially into the ceiling  40  of the basin  32 , so as to inject the liquid  14  on the wall of the basin  32  by imparting a descending axial movement to the liquid  14 , as illustrated by the arrows in  FIG. 2 . 
         [0073]    The annular injection nozzle  52  is centered along the axis A of revolution of the basin  32 , so that the discharge tip  22  of the suction lance  18  opens at the middle of the injection nozzle  52 . 
         [0074]    This variant allows avoiding wetting the discharge tip  22  of the suction lance  18 . 
         [0075]    According to another variant represented in  FIG. 5 , the suction lance  18  is detachably mounted on the basin  32 . 
         [0076]    To this end, the mixer  10  includes a coupling device  64  for quick coupling by form-fitting of the discharge tip  22  of the suction lance  18  on the ceiling  40  of the basin  32 . 
         [0077]    The quick coupling device  64 , which is for example of the form-fitting nesting type, is airtight so as to allow setting the suction lance  18  in vacuum. 
         [0078]    According to another form of the present disclosure represented in  FIG. 3 , the mixer  10  includes a liquid product incorporation device  66 , which is linked on the upper portion  38  of the basin  32  so as to enable the incorporation of an additional liquid product in the basin  32 . 
         [0079]    The incorporation device  66  includes for example an incorporation hopper  68 , a conduit  70  which links the hopper  68  on the basin  32  and a shut-off valve  72  which is stitched on the conduit  70 . 
         [0080]    In addition, the conduit  70  opens into the basin  32  so as to disturb as little as possible the flow of the liquid  14  coming from the vat  16  into the basin  32 . 
         [0081]    According to a variant of the present disclosure, the conduit  70  opens into the basin  32  between the ceiling  40  of the basin  32  and the quick coupling device  64 , in order not to disturb the flow of the liquid  14 . 
         [0082]    The incorporation device  66  allows incorporating an additional liquid to the liquid  14  contained in the vat  16 , simultaneously or not with the solid product  12 . 
         [0083]    In a non-limiting manner, the incorporation device  66  may include an incorporation stick  74  represented in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0084]    The stick  74  links the basin  32  via a flexible hose  76  equipped with a check valve  78  and a shut-off valve, so as to allow sucking a liquid from a container (not represented), such as a tank, up to the basin  32 . 
         [0085]    The present description of the present disclosure is given as a non-limiting example. 
         [0086]    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.