Patent Publication Number: US-8985532-B2

Title: Modular boom mounting system for agriculture sprayer

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/548,771 filed Oct. 19, 2011, entitled “MODULAR BOOM MOUNTING SYSTEM FOR AGRICULTURAL SPRAYER.” 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of Invention 
     This invention relates generally to a sprayer boom on a crop sprayer, and more particularly to modular bracket system for mounting plumbing to the sprayer boom. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     The high crop yields of modern agribusiness require application of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Dispersing these chemicals onto high acreage fields requires specialized machines mounted on or towed by a vehicle. An example of such a machine is the self-propelled crop sprayer. 
     A common design for a self-propelled crop sprayer includes a dedicated chassis with a tank, boom arms, and nozzles connected to the boom arms. The tank contains fluid such as fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Boom arms extend outward from the sides of the dedicated chassis. Boom plumbing contains supply lines and a plurality of nozzles spaced apart along the length of the boom arms at a standard spacing distance which corresponds to the spray pattern of the nozzles. In operation, as the crop sprayer crosses the field, fluid is pumped from the tank through the supply lines along the boom arms, and out through the nozzles. This allows the self-propelled sprayer to distribute the fluid along a relatively wide path. The length of conventional boom arms may vary from, for example, 6 meters (18 feet) up to 46 meters (150 feet), but smaller or longer booms are possible. The boom arms typically swing in for transport and out for operation. 
     Conventionally, pipes and hoses are supported along the boom arms with flat or bent metal brackets attached to the boom with u-bolts. Attachment of the pipes and hoses with the u-bolts can be time consuming. Based on the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a configurable plumbing mounting system that reduces the amount of hardware, enhances functionality, durability, flexibility in mounting options and simplifies assembly. 
     OVERVIEW OF THE INVENTION 
     In one embodiment, the invention relates to a configurable plumbing mount for supporting plumbing conduits on a boom arm of an agricultural sprayer. The plumbing mount includes a mounting base mountable on a beam of the boom arm at its proximal end and having an elongated platform portion extending to a distal end. The platform portion has a front face, a rear face, and opposing side faces, the front face forming a base interface having a center groove running between two tracks. The tracks run from the distal end to a primary stop. One of the tracks has a secondary stop formed thereon located between the primary stop and the distal end of the mounting base. The plumbing mount also has at least one conduit bracket having a conduit retaining portion and a bracket interface configured to slidingly engage and lock with the base interface of the mounting base. The bracket interface has a center tongue with first and second skids on opposing sides on the center tongue. The conduit bracket is configured to slide on the mounting base by interlocking the center tongue with the center groove. 
     In one aspect, the bracket interface is configured to mount the conduit bracket on the mounting base in a first orientation with a first end of the center tongue initially inserted into the groove or in a second orientation with a second end of the center tongue initially inserted into the center groove. In the orientation with the first end inserted first, the skid without the ledge slides along the track with the secondary stop over the secondary stop until the tab overlays the primary stop and the detent snaps over the primary stop to lock the conduit bracket onto the mounting base. In the second orientation, the skid with the ledge slides along the track with the secondary stop and slides over the secondary stop until the ledge contacts the secondary stop and the detent snaps over the secondary stop to lock the conduit bracket onto the mounting base. 
     Another aspect of the invention is directed to a mounting bracket for supporting plumbing conduits on a boom arm of an agricultural sprayer. The mounting bracket has a variable diameter conduit retaining portion having a flexible tie strap and a saddle with a strap-receiving channel formed therein configured to allow for the passage of the tie strap through the saddle. The saddle has a vertex at or near its center and two legs extending from the vertex to form a generally V-shape. The saddle has an upper opening leading to the strap-receiving channel at an outer end of one leg that forms a first end of the channel and a lower opening at an opposite end of the channel at an outer end of the second leg. A front wall of the saddle has at least two cavities therein leading to the channel in between the upper and lower openings with a first of said at least two cavities on one side of the vertex and a second of said at least two cavities on the other side of the vertex. 
     The upper and lower openings and the at least two cavities provide for a plurality of paths for the tie strap. A large diameter path is provided by having the tie strap pass through the upper opening into the channel, out through the first cavity so that the tie strap passes on a conduit-facing side of the vertex of the saddle, back into the channel through the second cavity, and out through the lower opening. A medium diameter path is provided by having the tie strap pass through the upper opening, through the channel and through the lower opening. A small diameter is path provided by having the tie strap pass through the first cavity into the channel and through the second cavity. 
     Another aspect of the invention is directed to a configurable mounting system for supporting plumbing conduits on a boom arm of an agricultural sprayer. The mounting system includes a mounting base mountable on a beam of the boom arm at its proximal end and having an elongated platform portion extending to a distal end. The platform portion has a front face, a rear face, and opposing side faces, the front face forming a base interface having a center groove running between two tracks. The tracks run from the distal end to a primary stop. One of the tracks has a secondary stop formed thereon located between the primary stop and the distal end of the mounting base. The mounting system also has at least one conduit bracket having a conduit retaining portion and a bracket interface configured to slidingly engage and lock with the base interface of the mounting base. The bracket interface has a center tongue with first and second skids on opposing sides on the center tongue. The conduit bracket is configured to slide on the mounting base by interlocking the center tongue with the center groove. The mounting system also has an extension member mounted on the distal end of the mounting base. The extension member forms an extension to the platform portion increasing an area capable of receiving conduit brackets. The mounting system also has a horizontal spacer positionable between the mounting base and the conduit bracket. The horizontal spacer increases the horizontal separation between the mounting base and plumbing mount mounted on the horizontal spacer. 
     These and other features and advantages of this invention are described in, or are apparent from, the following detailed description of various example embodiments of the systems and methods according to this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above mentioned and other features of this invention will become more apparent and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a crop sprayer; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a portion of a boom arm on the crop sprayer of  FIG. 1  showing a plumbing mount of a configurable mounting system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 3  is an enlarged view of a mounting base of the plumbing mount of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the mounting base of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view a plumbing mount of the configurable mounting system having an extension member; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the plumbing mount of  FIG. 5  without the plumbing brackets; and 
         FIG. 7  is a view of the mounting base and the extension member of the plumbing mount of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view a conduit bracket of the configurable mounting system of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 9  is an end view of the conduit bracket of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 10  is a top view of the conduit bracket of  FIG. 8 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view another embodiment of a conduit bracket of the configurable mounting system of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a sectional view of the conduit bracket of  FIG. 11 ; and 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of a plumbing mount of the configurable mounting system having a horizontal spacer between the mounting base and the conduit bracket. 
     
    
    
     Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the views of the drawings. 
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention will now be described in the following detailed description with reference to the drawings, wherein preferred embodiments are described in detail to enable practice of the invention. Although the invention is described with reference to these specific preferred embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. But to the contrary, the invention includes numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents as will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description. 
       FIG. 1  shows a crop sprayer  10  used to deliver chemicals to agricultural crops in a field. Crop sprayer  10  includes a chassis  12  and a cab  14  mounted on the chassis  12 . Cab  14  may houses an operator and a number of controls for the crop sprayer  10 . An engine  16  may be mounted on a forward portion of chassis  12  in front of cab  14  or may be mounted on a rearward portion of the chassis  12  behind the cab  14 . The engine  16  may be commercially available from a variety of sources and may comprise, for example, a diesel engine or a gasoline powered internal combustion engine. The engine  16  provides energy to propel crop sprayer  10  and also may provide energy used to spray fluids from the crop sprayer  10 . 
     The crop sprayer  10  further includes at least one storage tank  18  used to store fluid to be sprayed on the field. The fluid may include chemicals, such as but not limited to, herbicides, pesticides, and/or fertilizers. The at least one storage tank  18  may be mounted on chassis  12 , either in front of or behind cab  14 . Crop sprayer  10  may include more than one storage tank  18  to store different chemicals to be sprayed on the field. The stored chemicals may be dispersed by crop sprayer  10  one at a time or different chemicals may be mixed and dispersed together in a variety of mixtures. 
     Boom arms  20  extending from each side of the crop sprayer  10  are used to distribute the fluid from the at least one tank  18  over a wide swath as the crop sprayer  10  is driven through the field. The boom arms  20  extending from either side of the crop sprayer  10  are desirably substantially identical but mirror images of each other. The fluid is conveyed by a fluid supply system  22  using pipes and/or hoses, broadly conduits,  24  to various spray nozzles (not shown) spaced along the boom arms  20 . As is known in the art, the fluid supply system  22  includes at least one pump (not shown) configured to pumps fluid from the at least one tank  18  through the various hoses and/or pipes  24  to the spray nozzles (not shown). An operator of the crop sprayer  10  may use controls (not shown) located in the cab  14  to control movement of the boom arm  20  and to turn on and to shut off the fluid flow to the plurality of spray nozzles. Each boom arm  20  has a frame containing one or more tubular beams  26  that extend from the crop sprayer  10  to the distal end of the boom arm  20 . According to the invention, conduits  24  are supported along beams  26  of the boom arms  20  using a configurable mounting system  30  as will be described below. 
     Turning now to  FIG. 2 , the configurable mounting system  30  includes a plurality of plumbing mounts  32  spaced along the beam  26  to support the conduits of the fluid supply system  22 . Since crop sprayers  10  are used in different conditions and on different types of crop, the fluid supply system  22  carried on one crop sprayer  10  may be different than the fluid supply system  22  carried on another crop sprayer  10  designed for use in different conditions. Therefore, the plumbing mounts  32  of the configurable mounting system  30  have a modular design for receiving conduit brackets  34  that support the different type and diameter of conduits  24  used in fluid supply systems  22  on different crop sprayers  10 . 
     The plumbing mount  32  includes a mounting base  40  attachable to the beam  26 . In the illustrated embodiment, the mounting base  40  receives an L-shaped clasp arm  42  that hooks around the square tubing of the beam  26 . Desirably, the clasp arm  42  is pivotably received on the mounting base  40  on a cylindrical hinge point  44  at a proximal end  46  of the mounting base  40  as best seen in  FIG. 3 . A clamping bolt  48  and nut  49  connect end of the clasp arm  42  to the mounting base  40  to lock the mounting base  40  on the beam  26 . Desirably, the mounting base  40  has a molded-in hexagon  50  in a beam-mounting portion  52  of the mounting base  40  used for capturing the head of the mounting bolt  48  to aid in assembly. In the illustrated embodiment, a plurality molded-in hexagons  50  are provided along the beam-mounting portion so the mounting base  40  can be used with clasp arms  42  of different sizes so as to clamp on beams  26  of different sizes. However, one skilled in the art will understand that other means for attaching the mounting base  40  to the beam  26  may be used using sound engineering judgment without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     The mounting base  40  has an elongated platform portion  54  adjacent the beam-mounting portion  52  extending to a distal end  56  of the mounting base  40 . The platform portion  54  is configured to receive one or more conduit brackets  34  used to support conduits  24 . The platform portion  54  has a front face  58 , a rear face  60 , and opposing side faces  61 . Desirably, the front and rear faces  58 ,  60  are substantially identical such that the mounting base  40  can receive conduit brackets  34  of the mounting base. As the front and rear faces  58 ,  60  are identical in the illustrated embodiment, only the front face  58  will be described herein. The platform portion  54  has a base interface  62  that interacts with a bracket interface  63  on conduit brackets  34  to removably lock the conduit brackets  34  on the mounting base  40 . The base interface  62  includes a center groove  64  running between tracks  66  in the platform portion  54 . The center groove  64  and tracks  66  run from the distal end  56  of the mounting base  40  to a primary stop  68  located at the boundary between the platform portion  54  and the beam-mounting portion  52  of the mounting base  40 . One of the tracks  66  has a secondary stop  70  formed thereon located between the primary stop  68  and the distal end  56  of the mounting base  40 . In one embodiment, the center groove  64  has a dovetail shape as best seen in  FIG. 4 . Side faces  61  have side tongues  72  extending therefrom in an upper part of the platform portion  54 . Side tongues  72  extend from the distal end  56  of the mounting base  40  to a block  74 . In the illustrated embodiment, the side tongues  72  have a dovetail shape. 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 5-7 , the mounting base  40  is selectively capable of receiving an extension member  76  to increase the available area capable of receiving conduit brackets  34 .  FIG. 5  illustrates mounting base  40  with the extension member  76  attached thereto having four conduit brackets  34  supported thereon. Thus, it can be seen that the extension member  76  increases the capacity of the plumbing mount  32  of the configurable mounting system  30  for applications where additional conduits  24  need to be supported on the beam  26 . The extension member  76  has a platform portion  54 A with a pair of connection legs  78  extending from side faces  61 A. Interior surfaces  80  of the legs  78  have grooves  82  formed therein. The extension member  76  fits on the distal end  56  of the mounting base  40  with the legs  78  straddling the distal end  56  of the mounting base  40  and by interlocking the side tongues  72  on the side faces  61  of the mounting base  40  into the grooves  82  on the interior surfaces  80  of the legs  78 . Each of the ends of the legs  78  has a tab  84  with a detent  86  that snaps over the block  74  at the end of the side tongue  72  to lock the extension member  76  onto the mounting base  40 . Desirably, tabs  84  are flexible such that they may be pulled out to release the detents  86  when removal of the extension member  76  from the mounting base  40  is desired. 
     As can be seen in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the platform portion  54 A of the extension member  76  is substantially similar to the platform portion  54  of the mounting base  40  such that a center groove  64 A in the extension member  76  aligns with the center groove  64  of the mounting base  40 . Additionally, tracks  66 A of the extension member  76  align with the tracks  66  of the mounting base  40 . Each of the tracks  66 A has a primary stop  68 A and one of the tracks  66 A of the extension member  76  has a secondary stop  70 A substantially similar to the secondary stop  70  on one of the tracks  66  of the mounting base  40 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 8-10 , one embodiment of the conduit bracket  34  particularly suited for holding pipes has conduit retaining portion  88  and the bracket interface  63 . The bracket interface  63  is configured to slidingly engage and lock with the base interface  62  of the mounting base  40  ( FIGS. 3 and 4 ). The conduit retaining portion  88  has a saddle  92  and a hinged cover  94  that is mounted at one end of the saddle  92  with a pivot mount  96  and is configured to attach to the saddle  92  with a clamping bolt (not shown) passing through a bolt-receiving hole  100  ( FIG. 2 ) at its opposing end. In the illustrated embodiment, the pivot mount  96  includes a pivot shaft  102  on the hinged cover  94  that snap fits into hooked trough  104 . However, one skilled in the art will understand that the conduit retaining portion  88  may have clamping bolts (not shown) at both ends of the cover  94 , or may use other conduit retaining means using sound engineering judgment. Desirably, conduit facing surfaces of the hinged cover  94  and saddle  92  have anti-rotation ribs and anti-slip ridges to reduce movement of the conduit  24 . 
     The bracket interface  63  has a center tongue  106  with first and second skids  108  on opposing sides on the center tongue  106 . Each skid  108  has a tab  110  with a locking detent  112  at one end thereof. The first skid  108  has a ledge  114  formed thereon running a portion of the length of the skid  108  and terminating before reaching the tab  110  and locking detent  112 . In the illustrated embodiment best seen in  FIG. 10 , the center tongue  106  has a dovetail shape that corresponds to the dovetail shape of the center groove  64  in the platform portion  54  of the mounting base  40 . However, one skilled in the art will understand that the center groove  64  and center tongue  106  may have other interlocking shapes, such a T-shaped groove and tongue or an obround and groove without departing from the scope of the invention. The conduit bracket  34  slides on the mounting base  40  by interlocking the center tongue  106  into the center groove  64 . Of course one skilled in the art will understand that other interlocking shapes for the center tongue  106  and center groove  64  may be used without departing from the scope of the invention. Additionally, one skilled in the art will understand that the center tongue  106  may be on the mounting base  40  and the center groove  64  may be on the conduit bracket  34 . 
     In the example embodiment, the bracket interface  63  is configured to mount the conduit bracket  34  on the mounting base  40  with either the pivot mount  96  on top or with the bolt-receiving hole  100  on top. In the orientation with the bolt-receiving hole  100  on top, the skid  108  without the ledge  114  slides along the track  66  with the secondary stop  70 . The skid  108  slides over the secondary stop  70  until the tab  110  overlays the primary stop  68  and the detent  112  snaps over the primary stop  68  to lock the conduit bracket  34  onto the mounting base  40 . Desirably, the tab  110  is flexible such that it may be pulled out to release the detent  112  when removal of the conduit bracket  34  from the mounting base  40  is desired. In the orientation with the pivot mount  96  on top, the skid  108  with the ledge  114  slides along the track  66  with the secondary stop  70 . The skid  108  slides over the secondary stop  70  until the ledge  114  contacts the secondary stop  70  and the detent  112  snaps over the secondary stop  70  to lock the conduit bracket  34  onto the mounting base  40 . When the bracket interface  63  interacts and locks with the primary stop  68 , the conduit bracket  34  is mounted in a first station  120  ( FIG. 2 ) on the mounting base  40 . When the bracket interface  63  interacts and locks with the secondary stop  70 , the conduit bracket  34  is mounted in a second station  122  ( FIG. 2 ) on the mounting base  40  that is offset vertically from the first station  120 .  FIG. 1  illustrates a conduit bracket  34  mounted on the second station  122  on the front face  58  of the mounting base  40  and a second conduit bracket  34  mounted in the first station  120  on the rear face  60  of the mounting base  40 . Thus, it can be seen that the operator may select the vertical position of the conduit bracket  34  on the mounting base  40  with the orientation of the conduit bracket  34 . Of course, one skilled in the art will understand that the specific conduit retaining portion  88  used in the description of the interaction of the bracket interface  63  with the base interface  62  is for example purposes only and is to help describe the possible orientations of the bracket interface  63  relative the base interface  62 . 
     Turning now to  FIGS. 11-12 , an embodiment of a variable diameter conduit bracket  34 A is illustrated. The variable diameter conduit bracket  34 A has a bracket interface  63  configured to slidingly engage and lock with the base interface  62  of the mounting base  40  identical to bracket interface  63  of the conduit bracket  34 . A conduit retaining portion  88  of the variable diameter conduit bracket  34 A has a flexible tie strap  126  and a saddle  92 A with a strap-receiving channel  130  formed therein. The tie strap  126  may be of any conventional design known to those skilled in the art and need to be described in detail. The strap-receiving channel  130  allows for the passage of the tie strap  126  through the saddle  92 A. The saddle  92  has a vertex  132  at or near its center and two legs  134  extending from the vertex  132  in a generally V-shape. A conduit  24  supported by the variable diameter conduit bracket  34 A is held in the saddle  92 A by the tie strap  126  such that the lower of the two legs  134  supports the weight of the conduit  24  and the tie strap  126  is primarily in tension pulling the conduit  24  toward the vertex  132  of the saddle  92 A. The saddle  92 A has an upper opening  136  leading to the strap-receiving channel  130  at an outer end of one leg that forms a first end of the channel  130  and a lower opening  138  at an opposite end of the channel  130  at an outer end of the second leg. A front wall  140  of the saddle  92  has a plurality of cavities  142 A,  142 B therein leading to the channel  130  in between the upper and lower openings  136 ,  138 . In the illustrated embodiment, two cavities  142 A,  142 B are provided in the front wall  140 , the first cavity  142 A on one side of the vertex  132  and the second cavity  142 B on the other side of the vertex  132 . However, one skilled in the art will understand that more than two cavities  142 A,  142 B may be used. 
     The upper and lower openings  136 ,  138  and the plurality of cavities  142 A,  142 B provide for a multitude of paths for the tie strap  126  to pass through in order to accommodate differing diameters of conduits  24 . As best seen in  FIG. 12 , a large diameter path L is provided by having the tie strap  126  pass through the upper opening  136  into the channel  130 , out through the first cavity  142 A so that the tie strap  126  passes on the conduit-facing side of the vertex  132  of the saddle  92 , back into the channel  130  through the second cavity  142 B, and out through the lower opening  138 . A medium diameter path M is provided by having the tie strap  126  pass through the upper opening  136 , through the channel  130  and through the lower opening  138 . A small diameter path S is provided by having the tie strap  126  pass through the first cavity  142 A into the channel  130  and through the second cavity  142 B. One skilled in the art will understand that additional cavities  142 A,  142 B may be provided between the upper and lower openings  136 ,  138  to provide additional path options. The shape of the saddle  92 A and the number of guide paths for the tie strap  126  enable the variable diameter conduit bracket  34 A to be used for conduits  24  having a range of diameters. 
     Desirably, the back wall  144  of the channel  130  has a shape configured to feed the tie strap  126  in the desired path, L, M or S. The back wall  144  has a center section  146  with a curved surface to deflect a tie strap  126  inserted through one of the cavities  142 A,  142 B out of the other cavity  142 A,  142 B. The back wall  144  has outer sections  148  with straight surfaces sloped to guide the tie strap  126  through the channel  130  and out the opposite opening  136  or  138 . 
     Turning now to  FIG. 13 , a horizontal spacer  150  can be mounted on the plumbing mount  32  between the mounting base  40  and the conduit bracket  34  to increase the horizontal separation between the conduit  24  and the mounting base  40 . As seen, the horizontal spacer  150  has a body  152  with an interface  154  substantially identical with the bracket interface  63  on a first side that mounts on the base interface  62  of the mounting base  40 . A second side of the body has an interface  156  substantially identical with the base interface  62 . Thus, the conduit bracket  34 ,  34 A can be mounted on the second side of the horizontal spacer  150  in substantially the same way as described above. Therefore, the horizontal spacer  150  can be used to vary the horizontal spacing of the conduit  24  with respect to the mounting base  40  or other conduits  24  on the plumbing mount  32 . 
     Thus, the plumbing mount  32  of the configurable mounting system  30  can be attached to the beam  26  of the crop sprayer  10  and outfitted with conduit brackets  34 ,  34 A that can be positioned at different stations vertically and horizontally with respect to the mounting base  40 . The conduit brackets  34 ,  34 A can be installed in different vertical positions by switching the orientation of the conduit bracket  34 ,  34 A or by adding an extension member  76  to the mounting base  40 . The conduit brackets  34 ,  34 A can be installed in different horizontal positions by using horizontal spacers  150  between the mounting base  40  and the conduit brackets  34 . Additionally, conduit brackets  34  of different sizes or a variable diameter conduit bracket  34 A can be used on the plumbing mount  32  based on the sizes of the conduits in the fluid distribution system  22 . 
     While this invention has been described in conjunction with the specific embodiments described above, it is evident that many alternatives, combinations, modifications and variations are apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the preferred embodiments of this invention, as set forth above are intended to be illustrative only, and not in a limiting sense. Various changes can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.