An apparatus for the spraying of an area of interest (S) of a high-pressure working fluid (V) wherein the apparatus is susceptible to move relatively to the ground (S) along a direction of reciprocal advancement (d) and it comprises at least one tank (2) for the working fluid (V), at least one outlet nozzle (41) and a fluid connecting line (4) extending from the tank (2) towards the outlet nozzle (41). The apparatus further comprises supply means (5) of the working fluid (V) that include a high-pressure pump and at least one spraying device (10) placed along the fluid connecting line (4) the former (5) upstream with respect to the latter (10). Furthermore, the spraying device (10) comprises a support structure (11) that comprises a first plate (12), motor means (35) acting upon the first plate (12) to promote the eccentric rotation thereof around a first axis (Z) and at least one manifold (42) placed on the first plate (12) to move integrally therewith. In particular, the latter (42) comprises at least one outlet nozzle (41) oriented so as to spray a jet of working fluid (V) towards the ground (S). The first plate (12) is mounted movable with said support structure (11) so that upon the movement along the direction of reciprocal advancement (d) of the apparatus (1) and of the ground (S), the jet flowing from the outlet nozzle (41) hits the latter with helical path.

At present, the Asian country's overrated agricultural plant protection sprayer UAV (Unmanned Air Vehicle) is of limited use. Each take off can only carry about 10 liters of liquid, and a flight time of about 10 minutes. This garden-level product cannot meet the needs of large-scale agricultural development. In the United States the autonomous flight control technology for civilian use is not ready. For safety reasons, FAA cannot approve certification of UAVs payload of more than 20 kilograms to 100 kilograms of agricultural spray for business user into the commercial market for the next several years. Between now and tomorrow, the market demand is to develop a new product invention that is lower cost than the agricultural aircraft and long boom spraying tractors. Today's need is for new agricultural invention with simple to use technology and higher efficiency.

The new invention uses a ground-based heavy payload ground vehicle, trailer, or fixed ground station to deliver agriculture chemical, power and control signals to a hinged, ground-mounted, lightweight propeller lift, boom truss module using Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) technology to unload and suspend multiple boom truss modules, extending out to cover a large spray area. This is the newest, most practical invention that is low cost and easy to use. The total weight of each suspension boom truss modules is less than 10 kilograms and can be completely unloaded by motor-driven propellers. The suspended boom truss module is hinged on the ground vehicle, trailer or ground station and will never lose control. It is not necessary to apply for a flight permit from the FAA. In the field, the propeller and toxic pesticides are fixed on the suspension boom truss module and hazards can be controlled to a minimum for personnel safety. This new invention is significantly lower cost to own, operate, maintain, and less technical requirements than existing agricultural spray aircraft and long boom spraying tractors.

The disclosure of this patent will make possible the important invention for the development of large-scale agriculture.

A system for agricultural operations is provided in which an applicator may be attached to chassis using a ball and socket configuration. The ball and socket configuration allows for a faster and more convenient way to change between applicators than previously known for such applications. Also, the ball and socket configuration provides a semi-rigid mount which may allow for improved handling of forces between the chassis and the applicator as the chassis traverses through rough agricultural terrain.

A boom mounting assembly for attachment to an agricultural application machine is provided. The assembly includes a boom support frame which is suspended from a primary frame mounted to a chassis. The boom support frame comprises a transverse beam for supporting an intermediate section of a fluid application boom. The suspension mechanism allows both yaw and pitch of boom support frame relative to the primary frame resulting from fore and aft forces on the boom. Dampers are each connected between the primary frame and the boom support frame at a position spaced from the transverse center of the assembly. Damping of pitch and asymmetrical yaw movement of the transverse beam away from a neutral position is controlled by the first and second dampers.

The present disclosure describes a fastening system for an agricultural system. The fastening system includes a first mounting plate coupled to a first component of the agricultural system and a second mounting plate coupled to a second component of the agricultural system, in which the second mounting plate is configured to be aligned with the first mounting plate. The fastening system also includes a coupling assembly coupled to the first mounting plate by at least one retaining fastener, in which the coupling assembly comprises two clamping plates configured to move from a first position that facilitates alignment of the first and second mounting plates to a second position that at least partially sandwiches the first and second mounting plates between the two clamping plates of the coupling assembly. The at least one retaining fastener extends through the two clamping plates of the coupling assembly. At least one alignment fastener also extends through the two clamping plates and is configured to be selectively tightened while the coupling assembly is in the second position to establish a compressive force that drives the two clamping plates to couple the aligned first and second mounting plates to one another.

A sprayer vehicle includes a mobile frame, a boom, and a boom-positioning mechanism. The boom is spaced from the frame. The boom-positioning mechanism is configured to support the boom on the frame for selective movement between a raised boom position and a lowered boom position. The boom-positioning mechanism includes a positioning actuator, and a telescoping parallel linkage providing constant spacing between the boom and the frame in the raised boom position and lowered boom position. The positioning actuator is configured to raise the boom to the raised boom position upon elongation and to lower the boom to the lowered boom position upon retraction. The agricultural sprayer may further include a controller for positioning the boom relative to the frame, an underlying surface, or another reference.

A movable agricultural product applicator system for dispensing various agricultural-related products along the ground surface of agricultural crops is provided. The application system provides a hose assembly interconnecting a supporting boom and an applicator, wherein the applicator drags along the ground surface dispensing product as the supporting boom moves by a carrier. The application system may include a swivel connection facilitating a rotational and pivotal connection of the hose assembly to the supporting boom, wherein a mounting assembly removably mounts the application system to the supporting boom. The hose assembly is designed with bending properties that enable the applicator to self-center and locate rows between crops as it is being dragged along the ground surface, as well as enable the applicator to surf above obstacles.

A self-propelled agricultural application machine includes a chassis which carries a storage tank for the material to be applied. The chassis has a central longitudinal beam from which at least a pair of wheels is suspended. A transversely-extending boom assembly is suspended from the longitudinal beam. An engine is located to one side of the longitudinal beam and has an output drive shaft connected through the longitudinal beam to hydraulic pumps. The narrow chassis allows steerable wheels to be positioned at tolerable track widths while permitting a large steering angle and thus small turning radii.

The present invention relates to a control system (20) provided to a spray bar (10) mounted on a carrier (1) at an angle (10) adjustable relative to the carrier (1), the control system (20) comprising an actuator for changing the angle (10) of the spray bar (10); a control device for controlling the actuator; and a damping device connected to the actuator to damp vibrations and oscillations of the spray bar (10) and thus stabilize the angle (10). The invention is characterized in that the control system (20) further comprises a recharging device operating simultaneously with the control device to compensate for a pressure change in the damping device during a change in the angle (10) of the spray bar (10). The invention also relates to a spray bar (10), a carrier (1) and a method of implementation.

An agricultural sprayer assembly includes a wheeled carriage, a chassis, and a spray delivery system. The wheeled carriage has a number of adjustable support legs (e.g., four), each formed of hydraulically coupled and actuated upper and lower leg sections or members. The chassis is supported on the wheeled carriage, at an adjustable clearance height defined by the operational height of the support legs. The spray delivery system includes a spray boom coupled to a boom support, and an actuator coupled to the boom support and the chassis. The actuator is configured to adjust the height of the spray boom with respect to the clearance height of the chassis.