Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to field sprayers and more
particularly to an automatically extendable and foldable sprayer
that provides for both broad swath application of liquid chemical
solutions in an extended or working position or condition and
for narrow width in a transport position or condition, including
; means to vary the sprayers from one such position or condition to
the other, from the operator's normal working position at motive
power controls, simply by advancing or reversing the sprayer
along its normal line of travel.
Field sprayers re~uire field wheels to ensure proper
support of the spray boom away from the ground surface as well as
provision for variation in the height of the sprayer when in
operation.
Essential elements of a field sprayer generally are:
1. Spray nozzles which eject liquid spray a~ spaced points
along the length of a spray tube.
2. Spray tubes, which carry liquid to be sprayed, f rom a
manifold or pump to all points along the length of a spray boom
~0 which extends across the width of an area to be sprayed.
3. A spray boom which supports the spray tubes and can be mo~ed
to adjust the height of the spray tubes and their spray nozzles
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relative to the ground, so that spray can be ejected at a heiyht
appropriate to the area or material being sprayed.
4. A main boom or support boom which carries the weight of the
foregoing elements and supports it on wheels which are propelled
across the ground by a suitable motive power source, e.g. tractor
or truck, with the boom in either working position or in
transport position. Because working width of the sprayer may be
up to 30 meters or more, provision must be made for
transportation of the boom in the direction of its longitudinal
axis.
The prior art provides for height of spray variation by
rotation of the spray boom about its longitudinal axis. Spray
nozzles offset from this axis are raised or lowered accordingly.
To obtain maximum stability of the main boom in transportation,
; 15 the wheels must be fixed (non-castoring) wheels.
Such prior field sprayers were not automatically or readily
foldable to achieve the narrow transport width necessary to
transport the device through gates or along roadways and
simultaneously retain the necessary rigidity in the boom
structure. The operator was re~uired to stop the tractor,
dismount and remove a fastener in order to fold the implement
into the transport position. Furthermore, the height of the
working parts of the implement generally was not adjustable from
the tractor while underway although some are now hydraulically
adjustable.
The present invention provides a field aprayer with a
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multiple section boom that can be extended to cover a wide swath
in working position and can be folded to achieve narrow width in
a transport position, the extension and folding operations being
entixely operable from the operator's control position at the
motive power controls of the equipment. Furthermore, the
invention provides for powered adjustment of the spray height
while in use without loss of overall rigidity or uniformity or
increase in the number of wheels required to support the sprayer.
Powered rotation of the main boom engages transport wheels with
the surface, clears the sprayer nozzles and associated parts from
interference on folding, and releases the boom draws or boom pull
braces for folding of the main and spray booms.
SUM~RY OF THE INVENTION
The invention thus comprises a field sprayer, extendable for
broad swath application of lic~uicl in working position and
foldable for narrow width transport in a transport position
comprising:
(a) a wheeled motive power source for drawing the sprayer
over the ground,
(b) a main boom ~aving (i) a center section, longitudinally
aligned transverse to the line of travel of the sprayer
and hingedly attached behind said power source to hinge
longitudinally between a working position and a
transport position, and (ii) at least one wing section
aligned at each end of the center section, hingedly
attached thereto and adapted for additional wheel
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support;
(c) a spray boom having a center section and wing sections
corresponding to each of said main boom sections
respectively and rotatably secured thereto in close
parallel relation, said spray boom sections being
linked in alignment by hinged links and rotatable about
the a~is of said alignment,
(d) sections of spray tube, each one rotatably attached to
a corresponding spray boom section in spaced parallel
relation to be rotated by rotation of the spray boom
about the rotation axis of the spra~ boom, said spray
tube sections being linked by flexible connections to a
supply~ on said motive power source, of liquid to be
sprayed,
(e) a plurality of spray noz7.1es at spaced points along the
length of the spray tubes to e~ect liquid spray,
(f) wheel means alternately supporting each of said wing
sections of said main boom substantially parallel to
the ground, comprising a field wheel adapted to engage
;
the ground and support its respective wing section when
the main boom center section is hinged in said working
; position and the wing sections are aligned therewith
and an alternate non-castoring transport wheel adapted
to engage the ground when the main boom center section
is hinged in the transport position,
(g~ power means on said motive power source to move the
main boom center section between its working position
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and its transport posltion, simultaneously moving the
main boom wing sections between support by their fleld
wheels and support by their transport wheels,
(h) a rigid boom draw means for each wing section, each
said draw means being pivotally connected at the back
end thereof to the respective wing section and having a
front end adapted to move between a transport position,
in which said front end is carried by the motive power
source with no load thereon, and a working position in
; 10 which the front end is releasably latched into a
latched position on the motive power source to draw a
: load, and
(i) connecting means, responsive to movement of said main
. boom center section from its working position to its
: 15 transport position, to release the front ends of the
rigid boom draws from their latched position.
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In a preferred embodiment the invention comprises a field
: sprayer, as aforesaid, and further including means responsive
` to movement of said power means beyond the position achieved whenthe main boom center section has been moved to its working
position, to rotate said spray boom and spray tube sections
between maximum and minimum spraying height, and biasing means
resiliently biasing the main boom towards the working position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig l. is a plan view of the field sprayer of the present
invention in extended or working position.
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Fig 2 is a side elevation of the field sprayer shown in Fig 1.
Fig 3. is a plan view of the ~ield sprayer in transport position.
Fig ~. is a side elevation of part of the structure of the spray
boom and spray tube showing the maximum spraying height position
of the spray nozzles and their height adjusting means.
Fig 5. is another elevation of the structure of Fig 4 showing the
spray nozzles approaching their minimum spraying height position.
Fig 6. is another elevation of the structure of Fig 4 showing the
spray boom in its position for transport.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE _EFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to Fig. 1, the numeral 1 refers to the wheeled
tank conveyance or cart of the field sprayer shown as attached to
a prime mover or tractor 4. The cart could optionally be self
propelled, i.e. a truck, obviating need for a tractor 4.
Cart 1 is supported by a pair or two pairs of wheels 3 and
carries a chemical tank 2 which acts as the source of fluid
chemicals for the sprayer. Cart 1 also carries a pump 24 and
suitable tubing and valves (not shown) to deliver the fluid
chemicals under pressure to spray nozzles in a conventional
manner. The frame of cart 1 may be of any suitable
configuration.
A three section boom structure comprising a center section
36 and two wing sections 37, each containing a main boom section
6 or 7, a spray boom section 39, and a spray tub~ section 18, is
pivotally attached to cart 1 by hinges 5 for rotation about a
transverse axis. Wing sections 37 are pivotally attached by
hinges 8 to opposite ends of center section 36 for rotation
about axes which are parallel to the direction of travel o~ the
field sprayer when the boom structure is in the extended working
position shown in Figs 1 and 2. Hinges 8 are preferably
universal joints. Pivoting of the wing sections about an axis
generally longitudinal to the cart when the wing sections are in
the working position provides flexibility to the boom structure
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so as to more evenly cover uneven ground.
Ro~ation of main boom center section 6 about the transverse
axis of hinges 5 causes axes of hinges 8 to assume a generally
vertical orientation and spray boom sections 39, attached to
section 6 and main boom wing sections 7, to assume a position
generally vertlcally above center section 6 and wing sections 7,
thereby permitting the wing sections 37 to fold rearwardly, so as
to be parallel to the direction of travel as shown in Fig 3, in a
conventional manner.
Each wing section 37 is releasably secured to the cart 1 by
means of a boom draw 11 and a releasable latch 15 which retain
wing sections 37 perpendieular to the direetion of travel in the
working or extended position without significant motion in the
horizontal plane such as is eaused by uneven ground or downward
grades.
Rigid fold arm 12 is attaehed to eart 1 for pivotal movement
about a substantially vertical axis at hinge 13 and pivotally
connected to boom draw 11 at joint 14 which is preferrably, for
examplel a sliding collar pivot. The pivot axis at hinge 13
2n provides that boom draw 11 is guided by fold arm 12 into lateh 15
and maintained in wor~ing position therein, out of contaet with
the ground, while clearing cart wheel 3.
Wing seetions 37 are eaeh provided with one or more field
; wheels 16 and a transport wheel 17 whieh alternately support the
wlng seetions 37 out of eontaet with the ground in the field and
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transport positions respectively. Alternate support by wheels 16
and 17 is obtained by rotation of center section 36 about the
transverse axis of hinges S, placing wheels 16 in contact wi.th
; the ground when center section 36 is rotated to lower spray boom
39 to field working position, and placing wheels 17 in contact
with the ground when section 36 is rotated to raise spray boom 39
vertically above main boom sections 6 and 7 for transport.
Optionally, and preferrably, field wheels 16 are fitted with
castor mountings, allowing castor action during turns in working
position or condition; however transport wheels must be fixed,
i.e. non-castoring in transport position. This is essential to
permit safe transport in two way traffic.
Rotation of the boom structure 36 and 37 about the axis of
hinges 5 causes transport wheels 17 to contact the ground and
field wheels 16 to be lifted, as noted above. Rotation as
aforesaid to the transport position also pulls a release cable
(not shown) to release latches 15, thus releasing boom draw 11
and permitting fold arms 12 and wing sections 37 to fold
rearwardly, as the tractor 4 is moved ahead, into the transport
configuration shown in Fig. 3, and thereafter transportation can
proceed at transport speeds.
Figs. 4 - 6 show a more detailed view of the boom
positioning and adjustment means. Referring also to Fig. 1, as
well as Figs. 4 - 6, boom structure 36 and 37 consists o~ hinged
main boom sections 6 and 7 and a parallel spray boom 39. Spray
boom 39 is rotatably secured close and parallel to main boom
center section 6 and wing sections 7 by u-bolts or other
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suitable means.
Spray tube 18 is rotatably secured by struts 19 extending
from spray boom 39 and includes a plural.ity of spray nozzles
(not shown) of conventional design. Liquid chemicals under
pressure are delivered to the spray tube and the spray nozzles
from the tank 2 by means of pump 24 by tubing (not shown) in a
conventional manner. Spray tube 18 includes flexible portions 44
(Fig. 1) adjacent hinge 8.
A hydraulic cylinder 20 shown in Figs. 4-6 is secured to
cart 1 at pivotal connection 21 and to pivot link 22. Pivot link
; 22 is also pivotally secured to cart 1 at hinge 5. Main boom
center section 6 also is pivotally secured to cart 1 at hinge
so as to rotate about a common a~is 10 with pivot link 22.
Cylinder 20 causes pivot link 22 to rotate about hinge 5 between
the position shown in Fig 5 and the position shown in Fig 6.
Between the position shown in Fig 5 and that shown in Fig 4,
pivot link 22 is free to rotate without contacting main boom
center section 6. The motion of pivot link 22 is transmitted to
spray boom 39 by means of interconnecting link 25 and lever 26
rigidly mounted to strut 19 thereby raising or lowering spray
tube 18, i.e. varying the spraying height, without any variation
in height of the main boom. The orientation of spray tube 18
preferrably is maintained constant by means of parallelogram
linkage 41, 42 pivotally mounted on extension 43 of main boom 6.
Further extension of the cylinder 20 beyond the position of
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Fig 4 to that of Fig 6 causes pivot link 22, whlch is in contact
with main boom center section 6, to rotate main boom center
section 6 about hinge 5, preferably without relative movement
between main boom center section 6 and spray tube 18. When not
moved into transport position, main boom 6 preferrably is
resiliently biased towards working position (Figs. 4 and 5)
e.g., by an anti-rotation spring and cable (not shown) pivotally
attached to an anti-rotating lever (not shown) secured to main
boom centre section 6.
n Spray tube height variation in the working position thus is
substantially isolated from alternation of support of the main
boom sections 7 by their support wheels 16 and 17.
Although more than one power source may be used, preferably
one power source or hydraulic cylinder is used to rotate main
boom section 6 and adjust spray height.
As shown in Fig. 1 and Fig 3, boom draw 11 is secured at the
back end to wing section 37, preferrably by a free pivotal
connection, and at its front end is secured to fold arm 12,
preferrably by a pivotal collar so as to be rotationally free
about its own axis and slidably retained within the collar. This
end of the boom draw is preferably disc-shaped and adapted to
form the male por~ion of releasable latch 15. Releasable latch
15 also comprises a retractable female latch portion pivotally
attached to be retractable below the disc shaped end of the boom
draw. Retraction of the female latch portion releases the disc
shaped end and thus releases boom draw 11 for rotation of fold
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arm 12 about axis 13.
Although boom draw 11 is preferably slidably received in
joint 1~ by a collar, it may also simply be fixed to rotatable
member 12 for pivotal movement.
The female latch portion retaining the end of the boom draw
is connected to main boom center section 6 by a cable (not
shown). Rotation from working position to transport position of
; main boom center section 6 about axis of hinges 5 tightens the
cable and retracts the female latch portion below the male
latch portion. Wing sections 37 then are free to move into the
transport position (Fig. 3) as forward movement of cart 1 and
resistance of transport wheels 17, now engaging the ground, cause
draw boom 11 to pull away from the latching position.
E'or further flexibility or increased width, wing sections 37
may be provided with additional sections and hinges for rotation
about axes parallel to the direction of travel in the working
position.
To convert the implement from transport position to working
position, the operator reverses tractor 4. Transport wheels 17
carrying wing sections 37 swing outwardly and, as tractor 4 backs
up further, wing sections 37 assume an extended intermediate
position. As wing sections 37 swing outward, rotatable fold arms
12 carry boom draws 11 to engage their respective latches lS.
When both boom draws are in an engaging position in latches lS,
t~le operator lowers main boom center section 6, allowing the
cable to release the female latch portion into latching
12
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position over the boom draw, thus securing boom draws 11 and wing
sections 37 in working position.
Alternatively to fold arms 12, the forward end of boom
draw 11 can slide in a track longitudinally mounted on cart 1,
enabling latch 15 to engage the boom draw when wing sections 37
are in the working position.
A major advantage of the invention, as can be seen from the
foregoing description, is that the operator need not dismount
from the tractor in order to convert the implement from working
position into transport position and vice versa.
While the preferred structure has been shown and described
above, the invention is not limited to the particular details
shown.
