DISPERSION AIRCRAFT

Abstract

Drone for dispersing capsules containing biological active agents for combatting pests, including propulsion means ensuring movement of the aircraft in a horizontal direction parallel with the ground and a capsule distributing and jettisoning system with a vertical ejector, for in-flight ejection of the capsules toward the ground in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction of movement of the drone. Taking into account the movement direction of the drone, the vertical ejector is positioned in front of the propulsion means, and the capsule distribution and jettisoning system includes a capsule reservoir which is connected to an element for guiding the capsules toward a capsule counting and metering system including a plate for selecting and separating the capsules, the plate having holes calibrated for the passage of a single capsule toward the vertical jettisoning ejector and being mounted for rotation relative to the vertical ejector via a thrust generating motor.

Claims

1. Drone for spraying capsules containing biological agents for pest control, the spraying drone comprising: propulsion means ensuring the displacement of the drone in a horizontal direction parallel to the ground, and a system for dispensing and releasing the capsules provided with a vertical ejector, so that the ejection in flight to the ground of the capsules is in a direction perpendicular to the horizontal direction of displacement of the drone, wherein, taking into consideration the direction of displacement of the drone, the vertical ejector is positioned in front of the propulsion means, and wherein the system for dispensing and releasing the capsules comprises a reservoir with capsules connected to an element for guiding the capsules to a capsule counting and dosing system the capsule counting and dosing system comprising a plate for selecting and isolating the capsules, wherein the plate for selecting and isolating the capsules is provided with calibrated orifices configured to let a single capsule pass through toward the vertical discharge ejector, and the plate is mounted in rotation relative to the vertical ejector through a pulse generating motor.

2. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 1, wherein the drone consists of a fixed flying wing.

3. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 1, wherein the drone comprises means for managing, through software, a flight plan, a speed of displacement of the drone, a frequency of release of the capsules by the dispensing and releasing system relative to a surface to be treated, a number of capsules available, and an area to be treated.

4. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 1, wherein the counting and dosing system comprises an infrared system for detecting the capsules, so as to be capable of counting the number of dispensed and released capsules.

5. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 1, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a valve connected to a permanently rotating motor through a connecting-rod system.

6. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 1, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a stepping motor.

7. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 2, wherein the drone comprises means for managing, through software, a flight plan, a speed of displacement of the drone, a frequency of release of the capsules by the dispensing and releasing system relative to a surface to be treated, a number of capsules available, and an area to be treated.

8. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 2, wherein the counting and dosing system comprises an infrared system for detecting the capsules, so as to be capable of counting the number of dispensed and released capsules.

9. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 3, wherein the counting and dosing system comprises an infrared system for detecting the capsules, so as to be capable of counting the number of dispensed and released capsules.

10. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 7, wherein the counting and dosing system comprises an infrared system for detecting the capsules, so as to be capable of counting the number of dispensed and released capsules.

11. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 2, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a valve connected to a permanently rotating motor through a connecting-rod system.

12. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 3, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a valve connected to a permanently rotating motor through a connecting-rod system.

13. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 4, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a valve connected to a permanently rotating motor through a connecting-rod system.

14. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 7, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a valve connected to a permanently rotating motor through a connecting-rod system.

15. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 2, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a stepping motor.

16. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 3, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a stepping motor.

17. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 4, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a stepping motor.

18. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 5, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a stepping motor.

19. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 7, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a stepping motor.

20. Drone for spraying capsules according to claim 8, wherein the pulse generating motor comprises a stepping motor.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0067] In the attached figures:

[0068] FIG. 1 schematically shows a top view of a particular embodiment of the drone of the invention;

[0069] FIG. 2 schematically shows a side view of the capsule dispensing and release system;

[0070] FIG. 3 schematically shows a cross-sectional profile view of the capsule dispensing and release system;

[0071] FIG. 4 schematically shows a view from below of the capsule dispensing and release system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0072] The present invention relates to an aircraft 1 for spraying capsules 11 such as a drone 1.

[0073] The latter contain biological agents for pest control to be sprayed on the plants of the field to be treated.

[0074] Advantageously, the aircraft 1 consists of a fixed flying wing, in particular such as a drone 1. The flying wing has the advantage of being stable in space and during the flight. The drone 1 comprises at least one propulsion means 2.

[0075] According to a preferred embodiment, said propulsion means 2 consists of a rotary propeller with a horizontal axis of rotation parallel to the ground.

[0076] Said propulsion means 2 ensures the displacement of the drone 1 in a horizontal direction parallel to the ground, which permits the drone 1 to fly over the area to be treated. The drone 1 of the invention also includes a system for dispensing and releasing 3 the capsules 11 towards the field to be treated during the flight of the drone 1.

[0077] Advantageously, said dispensing and release system 3 is provided with a vertical ejector 31 through which the capsules 11 to be ejected pass during the flight.

[0078] The vertical ejector 31, advantageously consisting of a tube, permits to proceed so that the capsules 11 are ejected towards the soil to be treated during the flight.

[0079] The ejector 31 is vertical, oriented downwards, so that the exiting of the capsules 11 occurs in a direction perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the drone 1 in a horizontal direction and in a plane parallel to the ground.

[0080] Specifically according to the invention, taking into consideration the direction of displacement of the drone 1 during the flight, said vertical ejector 31 is positioned before said propulsion means 2, i.e. the propeller, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0081] In other words, said propulsion means 2, permitting to cause the drone 1 to move forward in a horizontal direction during the flight, is located at the rear of the drone 1 and opposite the vertical ejector 31, which is in turn located at the front.

[0082] Thus, the fact that the ejector is positioned before the propulsion means 2 permits to avoid the impact of the turbulences, generated by the operation of the propulsion means 2, on the direction of exit of the capsules 11 towards the soil to be treated.

[0083] In this way, thanks to the position of the vertical ejector 31 relative to the position of the propulsion means 2, the trajectory of the capsules 11 leaving the ejector is not altered by the turbulences of the propulsion means 2 during operation.

[0084] As a result, the ejection of the capsules 11 is more controllable so that they can reach the desired targets on the field to be treated.

[0085] Advantageously, in order to control the ejection of the capsules 11 onto their targets, said drone 1 comprises management means, through software: [0086] for the flight plan, [0087] for the speed of movement of the drone 1, [0088] for programming flight lines perfectly parallel to each other, [0089] for the frequency of release of the capsules 11 by the dispensing and release system 3 relative to the surface to be treated, [0090] for the quantity of release of the capsules 11 onto the soil, i.e. for the number of capsules 11 available, and [0091] for the area to be treated, in order to be able to recognize and select it.

[0092] Thus, through the software, it is possible to adjust the release of the capsules 11 depending on the areas to be treated, over which the drone 1 is flying.

[0093] According to a specific embodiment of the invention, said system for dispensing and releasing 3 said capsules 11 comprises a reservoir 4 with capsules 11.

[0094] Advantageously, the reservoir 4 permits to carry a quantity of capsules 11 for treating an area of up to 100 ha in a single one-hour flight.

[0095] According to the invention, said reservoir 4 is connected to an element 5 for guiding said capsules 11 to a capsule counting and dosing system 11.

[0096] Preferably, said element 5 for guiding the capsules 11 consists of a conical element permitting a distribution of the capsules 11 ending onto the counting and dosing system.

[0097] Advantageously, said counting and dosing system comprises a plate for selecting and isolating the capsule 11. Said plate being provided with calibrated orifices for the passing through of a single capsule 11 towards said vertical ejector 31 for release.

[0098] Each orifice only permits the passing through one by one of a capsule 11. As a result, the ejection of the capsules 11 onto the ground occurs one by one.

[0099] In other words, and in order to avoid a clogging of the orifices of the plate, the conical element will perform the connection between the reservoir 4 of capsules 11 and the plate so that a single layer of capsules 11 can be oriented towards the holes of the plate. The congestion of the orifices of the plate is therefore not possible, thanks to the presence of the conical element, which homogenously distributes the capsules 11.

[0100] In addition, said plate is mounted in rotation relative to said ejector 31 through a pulse generating motor 6.

[0101] According to a first embodiment visible in the figures, said pulse generating motor 6 comprises a valve connected to a permanently rotating motor through a connecting rod system 61.

[0102] According to another embodiment, said pulse generating motor 6 comprises a stepping motor.

[0103] Thus, through the operation of the pulse generating motor, said selection and dosing plate will be submitted to rotations following the different pulses. Each pulse will cause an orifice to be positioned in front of the opening of the ejector 31, which will permit the passing through of a capsule 11 and its exit towards the ground.

[0104] Advantageously, said counting and dosing system 6 comprises an infrared system for detecting 7 the capsules 11, so as to be capable of counting the number of capsules 11 dispensed and released during the flight. Thus, under the action of a pulse, the plate rotates, and one of its orifices will coincide with the opening of the tube of the ejector 31 to then permit one capsule 11 to pass.

[0105] The drone of the invention equipped with its dispensing and release system has an energy autonomy, a capsule embarking capacity and a flight speed permitting to treat up to 100 ha per flight and in one hour; i.e. performance 20 times higher than what currently exists in the field of drones.

[0106] Also advantageously, said drone 1 is connected to a geolocation system, after checking the ground, it permits to program the frequency, the quantity, and the place of release of the capsules 11 depending on the flight plan and the doses necessary for the treatment.

[0107] Preferably, the capsules 11 contain biological agents for pest control at different stages of their development, which permit a curative or preventive treatment of the pests.

[0108] Thus, through the configuration of the system for releasing and dispensing 3 the capsules 11, and under the effect of the instructions of the management means, the drone 1 of the invention permits to treat a field by spraying capsules 11 containing biological agents for pest control.

[0109] By being free of the turbulences, the release of capsules 11 on the soil is accurate and can occur depending on the environment according to a geolocation system predefined by the flight plan.

[0110] Advantageously, the drone 1 of the invention has a 1-hour flight autonomy and can reach a flight speed permitting to treat 100 ha/hour by spraying in an accurate and controlled manner capsules containing biological agents for pest control.

[0111] The piloting software of drone permits to pilot four drones simultaneously by the same operator from the same piloting console or computer in radio contact with the drone. This device permits to reach a rate of 400 ha/hour on territories composed of large plains or large plateaus such as those that can be found in South America, USA, Africa, Australia . . . .

[0112] The use of the drone 1 therefore permits to save time and money and to improve in accuracy compared to the existing devices.