Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SPECIFICATION
The present invention relates to herbicid~ and/or
insecticide application devices for farm crops and pastures,
the devices reclaiming and reusing spray mc~terial which has
not contacted target weeds or other plant rnaterial.
S Prior methods of herbicide application have lost
100% o~ all chemical material exiting a spray nozzle orifice,
onto target plants, crops, and the soil. All herbicide material
not actually contacting the target weed plants constitutes
an economic loss, decreases weed control efficiency, and also
increases concentration of herbicides in the soil and on the
useful crop plants.
Recirculating sprayers have been developed within
the last several years by the Delta branch Experiment Station -
at Stoneville, Mississippi. The device, commercialized in
15 several forms, is substantially limited to applicatlon with ;~
row~planted crops only. Solid streams sprayed substantially
transversely to the direction of sprayer travel are directed
into fairly wide collector boxes. Areas beneath the collector
boxes and between the spray nozzles are not traversed by any
20 herbicide sprays, leaving ribbons of untreated weeds. Also,
such prior art devices are lîmited in their travel speed~
capabilities and their operating characteristics in high~er winds.
The invention is directed to a full-coverage re-
ci~culating sprayer assembly for application of herbicidal and
25 other liquids via solid streams selectively to standing
vegetation with recapture of liquid not con~acting the
vegetation, the sprayer assembly being carried on a vehicle for
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traversing an agricultural area in a direction; the assembly
comprising a source of pressurized li~uid carried on said
30 vehicle, a horizontal bar carried on said vehicle and extending
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laterally o.f said direction; and ~ plurality o:E solicl-stream
spray nozzles comm~micatin~ to said source o~ pressurized liquid,
a collector means placed to intercept sai.d streams, and at
least one reservoir loca-ted below said collec~or, all carried by
said bar, and wherein the spray nozzles direct said streams at
an angle to the direction of travel of at least 15, the spray
noæzles are arranged in opposed pairs to provide complete, criss-
cross coverage to all parts of the area traversed, said collector
means comprising vertically disposed support means and
collector mat means formed of a fibrous material in which liquid
gravitates by capillarity flow and having a vertical orientation ~:~
with a connection at the upper end with said support means and
a lower edge; and said reservoir being disposed for enclosing
said lower edge of the collector mat and adapted to collect
liquid flowing from the collector, said reservoir including an
abutment surface spaced forwardly of the collector mat to impact
against vegetation, whereby to reduce wind and travel speed
effects on the solid streams of liquid and splashing of said ; ~
streams as they strike said weeds. ~ .
According to another aspect of the invention, there is~
in a recirculating sprayer assembly or application of liquid
to vegetation rising above the ground~ the assembly adapted to~-
be carried by a vehicle in a travel direction and comprising a
plurality of spray nozzles each forming a solid stream of liquid,
a collector means for intercepting the streams af~er passage
among the weeds and a reservoir means for collecting unused
liquid from the streams, the improvement comprising means for
: aligning the spray nozzles in opposed pairs ~o create criss-
cross stream patterns, the patterns contacting one another across
the width of the spray assembly normal to the travel direction
to assure treatment of substantially all vegetation and the
streams each having an angle of at least about 15 D from the
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direction transverse -to the vehi.cle travel directioll, thereby
to reduce wincl and travel speed effects on the streams, the
collector means comprises a fibrous matting material extending
across the entire sprayer assembly width; cmd the reservoir
means encloses a lower edge of the matting material and is
loca-ted at a ver-tical he:i.ght below the tops of vegetation to
be sprayed.
The invention also includes the method of liquid
spraying with a recirculating spray liquid for treating vegetation
which includes ~he steps of directing a trea~ment liquid
through a closed circuit, at one point in the circuit pressurizing
the liquid to drive the liquid in the form of a stream, at a
second point in the circuit throttling the pressurized stream
to form criss-cross spray patterns through which vegetation
under treatment may be guided,at a third point in the circuit ::
absorptively intercepting the criss-cross spray patterns with a
substantially continuous fibrous collector surface to recover
and filter the excess liquid not impacted against the vegetation,
gravitationally and by capillarity flow directing the intercepted
and recovered clarified liquid at said surface towards a
reservoir receiving the lower edge of said fibrous collector
surface at a fourth point in the circuit, screening the spray
patterns from wind effects, and recirculating the collected
filtered liquid from the reservoir back to said one point in :
the circuit.
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Figure 1 is a front slde view in perspective o~
a arm tractor with the spray assembly of the present
invention mounted on the front thereof.
Figure 2 is a top plan vlew o thle sprayer assembly
of -the present invention, in operation.
Figure 3 is a side eleva~ional view of the
apparatus of the invention.
Figure 4 is a detail, side-sectional view taken
on line IV-IV o Figure 2
Figure 5 is a top plan view, partly in section,
taken on line V-V of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a rear elevational view, partly
in section, taken on line VI-VI of Figure 2. ` ;
Figure 7 is a schematic diagram of the plumbing
and control systems for the sprayer assembly.
Figures 8 through 11 are top plan views, partly
schematic, of sprayer assemblies employing collector
panels arranged paraIlel to the dîrection of travel, and
with various spray patterns and collector features.
A sprayer assembly lO is carried for traversal
of an agricultural area by a tractor ll or other vehicle,
as in Figure 1. The sprayer assembly lO comprises a
support framework 12, a height adjustment mechanism 13,
and an appIication and collector sec~tion 14. As shown in
Figures 2 and 3, the support framework 12 comprises
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longitudinal struts 15 which are carried by a bracket
16 connected as by means of hol-ts 17 to khe main frame
of the tractor 11. The longitudinal struts 15 extend
Eorwardly o~ -the tractor 11 and support there a herbi-
cide tank 18 and a rearward, vertical member 19 of theheight adjustment mechanism 14. Upper stringers 20 are
connected -to the rear part of the longitudinal struts 15
as shown to support same against excess bending stresses.
A bracket 21 attached to the forward part of each of the
struts 15 supports the tank 18. A pair of vertically
adjustable feet 22 are positioned at either end of a ~
cross member 23 affixed to the struts 15 f~r selective ~ -
ground support for storage of the sprayer assembly 10
between uses.
The height adjustment mechanism 13 comprises
a pair of paxallel links 25, 26 on either side of a cen-
ter line of the assembly. The links 25, 26 together
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with the fixed rea~rward vertical members 19, 19 and
forward members 27, 27 provide for parallel lifting of
the spray applicator and`collector section 14 wlth re-
spect to the tractor 11 and frame support 15. An hy-
draulic cylinder 29 is remotely controllable from the
tractor seat via fluid Iines 30, An actuating rod 31
of the hydraulic cylinder 29 engages and actuates the
25 ~ lower parallel lines 26 by a horizontal l~nk 32.
The spray applicator and collector section 14
in a first embodiment of the invention is constructed
about a horizontal bar 35 connected to the Eront up-
rights 27 of the height adjustment mechanism 13. The
bar 35 is thus carried transversely to the direction of
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travel of the tractor 11 and establishes a firm support
for the spray mechaniSm 14 across its en-tire operating
width. Such width may be greater for applications where
fields are relatively Elat, but must be smaller where
fields are more uneven.
~ Attached by means of U-bolts 36 to the horizon-
tal bar 35 are a plurality of projecting spray booms 37,
each attached to a plate 38 receiving the U-bolt 36 there-
through. Each spray boom 37 is thus adjustable laterally ;
lU along the horizontal bar 35 to effect any selected spacing
between ~hem. Carried on a front end of each bar 37 is
an upstanding pin 39 connected irrotatably thereto. Each ~ `
pin 3g carries a plurality of spray nozzles 40. Each
nozzle 40 creates a solid stream of li~uid 41, rather than
a cone or mist of spray~ to avoid loss of liquld which
would drift onto the crop and the soil.
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Each nozzle 40 is adjustable as at 42 in Figure
4 in a vertical plane Erom about 10 above the horizontal
to about 30, by means o an adjustable coupling 42 be-
, ~ 20 tween each nozzle 40 and a nozzle carrier plate 44 connec-
~; ted to the upstanding pin 39. Adiustment of the rota~
tional position of the plate 44 is effected by means of
a collar 45~ thereon engaging about the pin 39 and having
a set screw 46~ Left and right side nozzle plates 44L
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; 25 and 44R have collars at opposite vertical ends thereof
to avoid interfering with one another, In accordance with
the invention, adjustment of the spray 41 rearwardly or
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forwardly Prom the direction transverse to the direction
of traveI is accomplished through the arc 47, in Figure 5;
angles between about 15 and 45 from such transverse
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direc-tion have been ound most efEective. At the top
of the pin 39 a shield boom 4~ is carried and is secured
by means of a further set screw 49. The shield boom 48
carries at its Eorward end an angled sltield 50 having a
sharp leading edge 51 for diverting taLl weeds to either
side of the spray boom 37 and the components carried
thereon.
The spray nozzles 40 are supplied with pres-
surized herbicide or other spray fluid by means of
plastic kubes 55 passing through the spray boom 37 and
connecting to a distributor head 56. The head 56 is
supplied with pressurized fluid from a large diameter line
57 extending forwardly to and along the horizontal bar 35.
As developed in the schematic diagram of Figure 7, the
line 57 is supplied with fluid from the tank 18 through
a throttling valve 58 and a filter 59 by a pump 60 driven
by the tractor 11 in a c~nventional manner not shown. A
second distributor line 61 lS supplied by the pump 60
through a filter 62. The line 61 supplies a plurality of
venturi suction heads 63 whlch communicate via lines 64
to the ~ottoms of collector reservoirs 70, as descri~ed
below. The venturL heads 63 reduce pressure in the lines
64~ drawing collected liquid from the reservoirs 70 and
into output lines 65 connecting together and leading back
to the tank 18~ Because of the presence of the throttling
valve 58 only in the spray line 57 r the venturi heads 63
get full ~low at all times, while the pressure and volume
of flow to the spray noæzles 40 is under control of the
operator of the tractor 11.
In further accordance with the principles of
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the present invention, the so:Lid spra~ streams ~1 are
directed by the nozzles 40 -to impact upon a collector
mat 68 arranged generally vertically to form an absorp-
tive collector sur~ace and, in this embodiment, trans-
verse to the direc-tion of movement o the tractor 11.
As shown in Figure 2, each spray 41 should intersect or
overlap at least two other sprays before striking the mat
68, to assure full coverage of the ield being traversed.
Such is readily accomplished by selection of the boom
37 spacing and the rearward spray angle of the nozzles.
The collector 68 preferably comprises one or two thick~
nesses of matted, fibrous material in which liquid
gravitates by capillarity flow. The liquid of the streams
~1 impacting upon the material trickles dcwn gravita-
tionally and by capillarity flow through the fibrous
material to a lower edge 69 of the mats 68 enclosed with- ~ ~
in the reservoir 70. Walls of the reservoir 70 closely `;
abut the mat(s) 68 to limit admission of foreign particles
thereinto. The mat of fibrous material 68 also fulfills
a secondary function since it tends~to operate as a fil~
ter, thereby separating contaminants and impurities so
that the liquid to be recirculated is relatively clean.
The reservoir 70 is segmented along its lateral length` ~
as at 70A, so that side-to-side changes in elevation or ~ ;
attitude of the tractor ll do not cause all the collected
liquid to pass to the lower end of the entire assembly.
Upper ends 71 of the mats 68 are attached together and
supported by spaced vertical bars 72 connected to the `~
horizontal bar 35, where they are ad~justably retained as
by further U-bolts 73. The mats 68, being substantially
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continuous across the entire width of the spray a~semhly
14 and extending relatively far above the horizontal bar
35, shield the sprays 41 somewhat from wind.
The reservoir 70 is shown sectioned for plastic
material and may conveniently compris~ a generally tubular
member of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or some similar chemi-
cally resistant material, and which is slotted as at 70a
to admit the fibrous mat 68. It will be understood that
the reservoir 70 could be made of metal, for èxample !
stainless steel. The tubular configuration provides a
surface rounded about a ~ertical axis, thereby forming
an abutment surface 70b which will impact against vegeta-
tion and bend it over towards the spray nozzles 40 into ~ ;
the spray pattern 41. The reservoir also prevents the ~:
vegetation from directly engaging the mat 68 of fibrous ~ :
materïal. . :
In operation, the tractor~ll with the sprayer
assembly lO mounted thereon is driven through an agr~
cultural area 80 as in Piyure 3 having desired crops 81
growing thereon to a height 32. Noxious weeds 83 extend~ :
~ing above such crop height 82 may be~destroyed by spray~
ing thereon a herbicidal chemical ~rom the tank 18, The
height of the spray section 14 is adjusted by the hydrau-
c actuator 29 and tne~parallel links 25~ 26~ to a
: 25 selected height~in ~elation to the crop height 82. The
: pump 60 is actuated, sending fluid coursing through the
lines 57 and 61. Throttling valve 58 supplies about
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10 psi pressure to the dlstributor heads 56 and the sup-
ply lines 55 going to the spray nozzles 40. Solid
streams or ~n type streams 41 ejected from the nozzles :
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~0 contact upper parts of each weed 83 erom botll left
and right sides, due to the criss-cross pattern of spray
of the present invention. As shown in Figure 2, the
spray streams 41 cover with double sprays the entire
area traversed by the sprayer assembly 10, insuring that
even those weeds which are aligned with one of the spray ~-
booms 37 will receive direct spray from at least one of
the nozzles as it is bent to one side or other by the
shield S0 and then Eorwardly by the reservoir tube 70 and
bar 35. ~ ~.
; ~pray streams 41 not contacting a weed 83 will
pass unobstructed to the collector mat 68 and will be
collected with minimal splashing and trickle therein to
the lower edge 69 thereof for collection in the reservoir `;:~:
70. ~he herbicide collected ~rom the reservoir 70 is .
passed through the suction tube 64 to the venturi 63 and
back to tank 18 from the line 65. Thus, when the paths~
of the streams 41 of the spray assembly 10 are unobstruct~
ed, there will be~substantially no:loss of fluid from the .
system.
In the embodiment shown~ the spray streams 4I .;~.- :
are directed rearwardly opposite to the direction of move~
ment of the tractor 11. When the reservoir abutment sur~
face 70b bends vegetation over, the spxay nozzles 40
~ 25 being arranged to project liyuid streams above the level
:~: of the reservoir 70 ~ill spray directly into the bent
:~ over vegetation. This is highly desirable ! for example,
: in treating corn. Moreover, in a weeding process the ;~
rounded abutment surface 70b will not cut or break the :: -~
veyetation and thereby interfere with the action of a
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systemic chemical. An impor-tant advantacJe is created
by the rearward component of velocity of t,he spray stream
41, since the net impact speed oE -the stream upon the
weed material 83 will be somewhat reduced. Thus, the
spray assembly of the present invention i~5 able to
traverse the ground at speeds substantially double that
of known prior art recirculating spray devices. Also,
; the large collector mats 68 serve to screen the sprays 41
somewhat ~rom wind, enabling the device of the present
invention to operate in wind conditions up to three times
that of the known prior art. Because the sprayer appara- :
tus 10 is suspended well in front of the tractor 11, dust
kicked up by the wheels of the tractor cannot generally
get into the herbicide system. Further, the fibrous `~ :~
matted material of the collector mats 68 filter any such
,~ dust and prevent most of it from passing through the mat
to the lower end 69 thereof~and into the reservoir 70. ~-
Other embodiments of the structure of the pre-
sent invention are shown i.n Figures 8 through 11~ In :~
Figure 8, collector mats 168 are arranged parallel to the
direction D of travel. Spray nozzles 140 mounted on each . ~'
spray boom 137 each create one or more solid sprays of
, liquid herbicide directed toward adjacent collection mats
,~ 168. The sprays of each pair of nozzles between each pair ...
of mats contact each other at or through the collector .,
' mats on which they are directed. Reservoirs 170 at the .
; bottoms of the mats 168 collect the ~luid as before for ~ ~
siphoning back to ~he tank. . ~.
In the apparatus of Figure 9, the spray nozzles
' 30 240 are mounted at the rear of the spray booms 137 and
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spray forwardly rather than rearwardly~ In Figure lO,
-the suhstantially Elat mats have been replaced by mats
368 rounded and arranged about vertical axes, for re-
ceiving sprays 341 from the rear-mounted spray nozzles
340. Finally, in Figure 11, the horizontal bar 435 is
arranged at the front end of the spray apparatus, with
spray nozzles 440 directing sprays 441 rearwardly.
Each of the alternate e~bodiments is useful un-
der different circumstances. Having the collection mats
68 arranged parallel to the direction of travel permits
the sprayer to be used on greatly-inclined surfaces,
where the sidewardly-mounted reservoirs of the first em-
bodiment would not be useable. In each case, the trans-
verse portion of the apparatus can be closed off, so that
the wind shielding ef~ects of the first embodiment can be
preserved and enhanced.
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