METHODS OF OPERATING AN AGRICULTURAL SPRAYER

Abstract

An agricultural sprayer includes an ozone supply arranged to clean at least a portion of the sprayer after a spraying operation has been completed, by supplying ozone to the residual spray liquid and to the interior of the sprayer plumbing. The ozone supply may be preceded by a rinsing or flushing of the sprayer plumbing using a rinse fluid, with the ozone injected to a circulating fluid in the sprayer plumbing. The sprayer may have an auxiliary liquid tank, such that residual spray liquid may be drained to the auxiliary tank to be cleaned using ozone. Such a cleaning operation can be performed at the same time as a further spraying operation, thereby providing for improved efficiency of operation of the sprayer.

Claims

1. A method of operating an agricultural sprayer, the agricultural sprayer comprising a liquid tank, a spray applicator system coupled to the liquid tank, the method comprising: supplying a spray liquid from the liquid tank to the spray applicator system to perform a spraying operation; and after the spraying operation is complete, supplying ozone to the spray applicator system to clean at least a portion of the agricultural sprayer.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating ozone using an ozone generator on board the agricultural sprayer.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising supplying ozone to at least a portion of the spray applicator system to clean at least a portion of the spray applicator system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the spray applicator system comprises a nozzle array arranged along a length of at least one spray boom and connected to the liquid tank by sprayer plumbing, and wherein the method further comprises supplying ozone to the spray applicator system at discrete locations along the length of the at least one spray boom.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises injecting ozone into the sprayer plumbing at discrete locations along the length of the at least one spray boom.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising rinsing at least a portion of the spray applicator system using a rinse fluid after the spraying operation is complete, to at least partly rinse the spray applicator system of the spray liquid.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein rinsing at least a portion of the spray applicator system comprises supplying at least one of rinse water from a rinse water tank or compressed air from a compressed air supply device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: after the spraying operation is complete, supplying compressed air to the spray applicator system to flush at least a portion of the spray liquid from the spray applicator system, subsequently supplying rinse water to the spray applicator system, and supplying ozone to the rinse water to clean the spray applicator system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the sprayer comprises an auxiliary liquid tank arranged to receive residual spray liquid from the spray applicator system after the spraying operation, and wherein the method comprises supplying ozone to the auxiliary liquid tank from the ozone supply to sterilize the residual spray liquid in the auxiliary tank.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising: performing a first spraying operation using a first spray liquid supplied from the liquid tank to the spray applicator system; rinsing the first spray liquid to the auxiliary liquid tank after the first spray operation; performing a second spraying operation using a second spray liquid supplied from the liquid tank to the spray applicator system; and performing a cleaning operation by supplying ozone to the auxiliary liquid tank to cleanse the first spray liquid of chemicals, the cleaning operation performed concurrent with the second spraying operation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising: monitoring a chemical concentration of spray liquid in the agricultural sprayer; and continuing to supply ozone to clean at least a portion of the agricultural sprayer until the monitored chemical concentration of spray liquid in the agricultural sprayer reaches a predefined level.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein supplying ozone is performed for a predetermined length of time.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0052] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an agricultural crop sprayer according to an aspect of the invention;

[0053] FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a spray applicator system according to a first embodiment of the invention, for use with the sprayer of FIG. 1;

[0054] FIG. 3 is a process diagram for an operating method of the spray applicator system of FIG. 2;

[0055] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing of a spray applicator system according to a further embodiment of the invention, for use with the sprayer of FIG. 1; and

[0056] FIG. 5 is a process diagram for an operating method of the spray applicator system of FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0057] The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any combine harvester or portion thereof, but are merely idealized representations to describe example embodiments of the present disclosure. Additionally, elements common between figures may retain the same numerical designation.

[0058] FIG. 1 shows an agricultural crop sprayer 10 used to deliver chemicals to agricultural crops in a field. Agricultural sprayer 10 comprises a chassis 12 and a cab 14 mounted on the chassis 12. Cab 14 may house an operator and a number of controls for the agricultural 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 comprise, for example, a diesel engine or a gasoline powered internal combustion engine. The engine 16 provides energy to propel the agricultural sprayer 10 and also can be used to provide energy used to spray fluids from the sprayer 10.

[0059] Although a self-propelled application machine is shown and described hereinafter, it should be understood that the embodied invention is applicable to other agricultural sprayers including pull-type or towed sprayers and mounted sprayers, e.g., mounted on a 3-point linkage of an agricultural tractor.

[0060] The sprayer 10 further comprises a liquid storage tank 18 used to store a spray liquid to be sprayed on the field. The spray liquid can include chemicals, such as but not limited to, herbicides, pesticides, and/or fertilizers. Liquid storage tank 18 is to be mounted on chassis 12, either in front of or behind cab 14. The crop sprayer 10 can include more than one storage tank 18 to store different chemicals to be sprayed on the field. The stored chemicals may be dispersed by the sprayer 10 one at a time or different chemicals may be mixed and dispersed together in a variety of mixtures. The sprayer 10 further comprises a rinse water tank 20 used to store clean water, which can be used for storing a volume of clean water for use to rinse the plumbing and main tank 18 after a spraying operation.

[0061] At least one boom arm 22 on the sprayer 10 is used to distribute the fluid from the liquid tank 18 over a wide swath as the sprayer 10 is driven through the field. The boom arm 22 is provided as part of a spray applicator system, which further comprises an array of spray nozzles 24 (FIG. 2) arranged along the length of the boom arm 22 and suitable sprayer plumbing 26, 28 (FIG. 2) used to connect the liquid storage tank 18 with the spray nozzles 24. The sprayer plumbing will be understood to comprise any suitable tubing or piping arranged for fluid communication on the sprayer 10.

[0062] A spray applicator system according to one aspect of the invention is illustrated in a schematic outline in FIG. 2 at 50. In the illustrated embodiment, the liquid tank 18 and the rinse water tank 20 are connected with a valve system 30, which can control the supply of liquid from either of the tanks 18,20, and/or the direction of flow. The valve system 30 can comprise any suitable configuration of valve elements, e.g., a single multi-port valve element, or an array of individual elements.

[0063] The valve system 30 is connected with the nozzles 24 of the boom arm 22 via a feed line or channel 26 of the sprayer plumbing. A further recirculation channel or return channel 28 extends from the boom arm 22 to the valve system 30, allowing for a recirculation of liquid in the spray applicator system 50. The system further comprises a pump 32 which acts to circulate liquid from either of the tanks 18, 20 through the sprayer plumbing. The pump 32 can be driven by the engine 16 or any other suitable power source. An example of the relationship between the tank and pump of a suitable spray applicator system can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,959, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

[0064] In the illustrated embodiment, the spray applicator system 50 further comprises a compressed air supply 34, e.g., a compressed air pump, which is coupled with the valve system 30 to provide for selective supply of compressed air to various sections of the sprayer plumbing. It will be understood that other embodiments may omit the use of the compressed air supply 34 from the spray applicator system 50.

[0065] The spray applicator system 50 further comprises an electronic control unit (ECU) 36, which is configured to control the operation of the various components of the system, e.g., the valve system 30, the pump 32, the compressed air supply 34, and the components of the boom arm 22 including the spray nozzles 24 and the boom arm 22 position. The ECU 36 can operate in response to commands issued by an operator in the sprayer cab 14, or based on pre-programmed operating routines, which may be triggered by operator action.

[0066] The spray applicator system 50 further comprises an ozone supply 38. The ozone supply 38 may be provided as an ozone generator located on the sprayer 10 itself, and may comprise any suitable ozone generator design, e.g., a corona discharge method generator, an ultraviolet light generator, a cold plasma generator, and electrolytic generator.

[0067] Additionally or alternatively, the ozone supply 38 may be provided as an on-board storage tank located on the sprayer 10, the ozone storage tank arranged to supply ozone to the sprayer 10. Such a storage tank may be used to temporarily store ozone generated by an on-board ozone generator, or to receive ozone from a separate ozone generator just prior to the sprayer leaving a central depot to perform a spraying operation.

[0068] The ozone supply 38 may be operated by the ECU 36, and is configured to supply ozone to at least a portion of the spray applicator system 50, in order to clean and sterilize residual spray liquid and/or the spray applicator system 50, after a spraying operation has completed.

[0069] Ozone is a relatively strong oxidant and disinfectant which is suitable for the treatment of aqueous solutions and gaseous mixtures, which is partially soluble in water. Accordingly, ozone is particularly suitable for the cleaning of the internal tubing and plumbing of a crop sprayer. In addition, after ozone oxidizes or disinfects, it decomposes into oxygen, leaving no harmful by-products. As a result, the use of an ozone supply to perform a cleaning operation of a crop sprayer presents a simple, cost-effective, and safe cleaning system for a crop sprayer, which can be relatively easily incorporated into existing sprayer designs.

[0070] A method for use with the embodiment of FIG. 2 is now described, with reference to the process illustrated in FIG. 3. After start of the sprayer 10, step 100, a spraying operation is performed, step 102, wherein spray liquid is supplied from the liquid tank 18 via the valve system 30 and the feed line 26 to the boom arm 22, for application as a spray from the spray nozzles 24. When the spraying operation is completed, step 104, the valve system 30 shuts off the supply of spray liquid to the boom arm 22. At this point, the ECU 36 is configured to start a cleaning operation of the spray applicator system 50.

[0071] The ECU 36 commands the array of spray nozzles 24 to close, such that the spray applicator system 50 can be put into recirculation mode, step 106. The ECU 36 then configures the valve system 30 such that clean rinse water can be supplied from the rinse water tank 20 to the spray plumbing 26,28 and the boom arm 22, and can be recirculated through the associated tubing using the pump 32, step 108.

[0072] As rinse water is being circulated in the plumbing, the ECU 36 instructs the ozone supply 38 to inject ozone into the recirculating fluid, step 110. The ozone is supplied such that the concentration level of ozone in the recirculating fluid acts to ensure that the interior of the spray applicator system 50 is cleaned of all hazardous or undesirable substances, and that the chemical concentration of any remaining spray liquid is reduced to a safe level. The ECU 36 is then arranged to stop the recirculation mode, and to allow the safe liquid to be drained or flushed from the spray applicator system, step 112, ready for a further spraying operation.

[0073] It will be understood that the sprayer 10 may comprise at least one chemical sensor arranged to detect the chemical concentration of the recirculating fluid, wherein the ECU 36 is configured to continue the recirculation of the rinse water and ozone until the detected concentration level is reduced to a safe level. Additionally or alternatively, the ECU 36 is configured to maintain recirculation of the rinse water and ozone for a predefined time period, to ensure that all concentration levels are reduced to a safe level.

[0074] It will be further understood that the concentration levels and/or time periods may be adjustable, either by the sprayer operator, or based on the type and/or concentration of spray liquid used in the spray applicator system 50.

[0075] The ozone may be injected from the supply 38 into the circulating liquid at a single location, but in a preferred embodiment, the spray applicator system 50 is configured such that the ozone supply 38 can inject ozone into the circulating liquid at a plurality of different locations. Such distributed injection of ozone ensures that an effective concentration of ozone is supplied at all locations of the spray applicator system 50, in particular in the spray plumbing of the system. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 2, the ozone supply 38 is configured to inject ozone into the spray plumbing at a number of locations spaced along the length of the boom arm 22.

[0076] In a preferred embodiment, where the spray applicator system 50 comprises a compressed air supply 34 as shown in FIG. 2, an additional step may be performed between the end of the spraying operation (104) and the start of the recirculation mode (106). In this case, when the spraying operation has completed, the ECU 36 instructs the air supply 34 and the connected valve system 30 to supply compressed air to the spray plumbing 26, 28, step 114, such that residual spray liquid remaining in the plumbing system after the spray operation can be blown out through the nozzles 24 to ground. This acts to reduce the volume of fluid to be cleansed from the system. Once the compressed air has been cycled through the spray applicator system 50, the ECU 36 can then shut off the compressed air supply 34, before continuing the remainder of the process by entering the recirculation mode as described above for step 106.

[0077] A further embodiment of spray applicator system is illustrated in FIG. 4, where elements in common with the embodiment of FIG. 2 are provided with the same reference numerals. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the spray applicator system 50 is provided with an auxiliary liquid tank 40, which is connected to the valve system 30. The auxiliary liquid tank 40 is arranged to receive a fluid to be cleaned after a spraying operation, wherein the ozone supply 38 is configured to supply ozone to the auxiliary tank 40 to clean any such contained fluid. The spray applicator system 50 may be provided with an additional liquid tank 42 to store an additional spray liquid for use in a second spraying operation, as described below.

[0078] While the embodiment of FIG. 4 shows the ozone supply 38 connected with the auxiliary liquid tank 40, it will be understood that the features of the embodiments of FIGS. 2 and 4 may be combined, such that the ozone supply 38 is configured to be connected with both an auxiliary liquid tank 40 and the sprayer boom arm 22. In addition, while the schematic outlines of FIGS. 2 and 4 show a single boom arm 22, it will be understood that the sprayer 10 may be provided with a plurality of separate boom arms and associated spray nozzles and plumbing.

[0079] With reference to FIG. 5, a method of operation of the system illustrated in FIG. 4 is now described.

[0080] After start of the sprayer 10, step 200, a first spraying operation is performed, step 202, wherein spray liquid is supplied from the liquid tank 18 via the valve system 30 and the feed line 26 to the boom arm 22, for application as a spray from the spray nozzles 24. When the spraying operation is completed, step 204, the valve system 30 shuts off the supply of spray liquid to the boom arm 22. At this point, the ECU 36 is configured to start a cleaning operation of the spray applicator system 50.

[0081] The ECU 36 commands the array of spray nozzles 24 to close, such that compressed air can be blown through the spray applicator system 50 from the compressed air supply 36, step 206. The ECU 36 controls the valve system 30 such that any residual spray liquid remaining in the spray applicator system 50 after the spray operation is blown into the auxiliary liquid tank 40.

[0082] At this point, the ECU 36 commands the ozone supply 38 to inject ozone into the auxiliary tank 40, step 208, to cleanse the residual spray liquid of chemicals. As with the embodiment described in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ozone injection may be performed for a defined period of time, and/or until a monitored chemical concentration level of the liquid contained in the auxiliary tank 40 reaches a safe level, step 210. At this point, the cleaned and sterilized liquid in the tank 40 may be drained, e.g., to ground, step 212.

[0083] In order to monitor the chemical concentration level of the contained liquid, the system may be arranged to measuring the difference between input and output mass flows of ozone supplied to the system. When the supplied ozone mass flow input is equal to the output, accordingly this indicates that the chemical concentration is very low, as the level of reaction of the ozone with any remaining chemical is reduced.

[0084] In parallel with the ozone injection and liquid clean steps, 208, 210, the sprayer 10 can be configured to perform a second spray operation using the spray applicator system 50, while a cleaning operation is being performed for the first spray operation. Accordingly, while the ECU 36 is commanding the ozone supply 38 to inject ozone to the auxiliary tank 40, step 208, the ECU 36 can also command that a spray liquid is supplied to the boom arm 22, step 214. The ECU 36 can then act to open the spray nozzles 24 of the boom 22, in accordance with a second spray operation, step 216.

[0085] It will be understood that the second spray operation may be performed using several alternative approaches. In one aspect, the sprayer may be reloaded with a “hot mix” of water and chemical already mixed at a local farm or facility. Alternatively, the sprayer may be loaded with water, while chemicals are added using an educator mounted on the sprayer, or mounted on a water supply truck. Further alternatively, the sprayer may be loaded with water and a direct chemical injection system can be used to inject chemicals into the water just prior to spraying, when the water is already in the boom plumbing. It will be further understood that the spray liquid used in the second spray operation may be supplied from the liquid tank 18, or from a secondary liquid tank 42 which can be coupled with the valve system 30. The second spray liquid may be a different liquid than that used in the first spray operation, or may be the same liquid, but mixed in a different concentration or used in combination with additional spray liquids.

[0086] When the spraying operation is completed, step 218, the valve system 30 shuts off the supply of spray liquid to the boom arm 22. At this point, the ECU 36 can be arranged to start a further cleaning operation of the spray applicator system 50, step 220, to clean any residual spray liquid remaining after the second spray operation 216. Such a further cleaning operation may be performed through use of the auxiliary tank 40, as described in steps 206-212, and/or through use of ozone injection into a fluid recirculation mode, as described in steps 106-112 of FIG. 3.

[0087] The use of an ozone supply in a cleaning operation for an agricultural crop sprayer allows for a relatively simple and cost-effective mechanism for the cleaning of agricultural sprayers as well as the sterilization of the spay liquid used in such sprayers. The ozone supply may be relatively easily designed as part of a crop sprayer system, with appropriate cleaning steps relatively easily incorporated into sprayer operations.

[0088] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein, and may be modified or adapted without departing from the scope of the present invention.