Apparatus For Managing Agricultural Overspray

Abstract

A mobile agricultural spray apparatus, the spray apparatus including at least one spray nozzle arranged to be on one side of a crop during spraying and an overspray collector arranged to be on the opposite side of the crop during spraying such that the overspray collector can capture overspray from the spray nozzle during operation, wherein the overspray collector includes: at least two curtains, the curtains including at least one pervious and flexible front curtain and an impervious rear curtain; an overspray space between the pervious front curtain and the impervious rear curtain; and an overspray chamber in fluid communication with at least the overspray space for collection of overspray captured by the overspray collector.

Claims

1. A mobile agricultural spray apparatus, the spray apparatus including at least one spray nozzle arranged to be on one side of a crop during spraying and an overspray collector arranged to be on the opposite side of the crop during spraying such that the overspray collector can capture overspray from the spray nozzle during operation, wherein the overspray collector includes: at least two curtains, the curtains including at least one pervious and flexible front curtain and an impervious rear curtain; an overspray space between the pervious front curtain and the impervious rear curtain; and an overspray chamber in fluid communication with at least the overspray space for collection of the overspray captured by the overspray collector.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the rear curtain is also a flexible curtain.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible curtains function in combination with the overspray space to dampen the energy of droplets in the overspray, minimising spray bounce-back and/or spray droplet shatter from the overspray collector, and to maximise the capture of overspray that reaches the collector.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front curtain permits the passage of both air and spray droplets into the overspray space, but minimises the return of air and spray droplets back through the front curtain after impacting the impervious rear curtain and circulating within the overspray space.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein liquid from the overspray is captured on each of the outside and inside surfaces of the front curtain, the inside surface of the rear curtain, and within the overspray space, with captured liquid falling or flowing by way of gravity downwardly to be collected by the overspray chamber of the overspray collector.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the flexible curtains are formed from a non-rigid material that is pliant and supple.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the flexible curtains are formed from a natural material such as flax (linen), hemp or cotton (including canvas), or a synthetic material such as nylon, polyester (such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene naphthalate (PEN)), and aramid fibers.

8. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the pervious and flexible front curtain is a barrier of connected strands defining apertures therethrough, the aperture size being in the range of about 1.0 mm.sup.2 to about 1.0 cm.sup.2.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the overspray collector includes more than one pervious front curtain, either of the same material or of different material, and either with the same aperture size or with a different aperture size.

10. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the overspray space between the front and rear curtains has a maximum distance in the range of from 10 mm to 1000 mm, more preferably in the range of 20 mm to 200 mm, and ideally in the range of 40 mm to 100 mm.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, the apparatus including a curtain separation device capable of maintaining a desired distance between the curtains during operation.

12. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the overspray space exists between every adjacent part of the front and rear curtains, or only exists between the front and rear curtains adjacent to the entire area of the front curtain where the overspray hits the front curtain.

13. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the front and rear curtains are substantially the same size and shape, and are supported in a manner such that the overspray space exists between the entire surface area of both curtains.

14. Apparatus according to claim 1, including a supporting frame for the spray nozzle and the overspray collector, the supporting frame being capable of arching over a row of crops such that at least one spray nozzle can be arranged to be on one side of the crop during spraying and the overspray collector can be arranged on the opposite side of the crop during spraying, and such that the overspray collector captures overspray from the spray nozzle.

15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the supporting frame is capable of allowing for the overspray collector to be foldable.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein foldability is provided by the use in the supporting frame of a foldable mounting member for the overspray collector.

17. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein either the supporting frame or the foldable mounting member also include an adjustment mechanism allowing for the alteration of the facing angle of the front curtain of the overspray collector from being substantially perpendicular to the spray direction, to being selectively placed at a desired angle to the spray direction.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the foldable mounting member includes a curtain mounting mechanism.

19. Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the foldable mounting member provides for mounting of an overspray chamber, at or towards the bottom thereof, and at or towards the bottom of the flexible curtains, for collection of the spray liquid contained in the overspray, captured by the overspray collector.

20. Apparatus according to claim 1, including more than one spray nozzle and/or more than one overspray collector.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0047] A preferred embodiment of a mobile agricultural spray apparatus in accordance with the present invention will now be described in relation to the accompanying drawings. However, it must be appreciated that the following description is not to limit the generality of the above description.

[0048] In the drawings:

[0049] FIG. 1 is a view from the rear of a mobile agricultural spray apparatus in accordance with the prior art, showing a typical spray region;

[0050] FIG. 2 is the same view as FIG. 1, but showing a mobile agricultural spray apparatus fitted with overspray collectors, and thus being in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, showing a modified spray region;

[0051] FIG. 3 is a perspective schematic view from the rear of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2;

[0052] FIG. 4a is the same view as FIG. 3 but showing an outer overspray collector retracted;

[0053] FIG. 4b is the same view as FIG. 4a but showing an inner overspray collector retracted; and

[0054] FIG. 5a is an exploded perspective view of the overspray collector shown in Box X of FIG. 4a; and

[0055] FIG. 5b is an end view of the overspray collector of FIG. 5a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0056] Illustrated in FIG. 1 is the view from the rear of a typical mobile agricultural spray apparatus 10. The apparatus 10 is in the form of a trailer designed to be towed by another vehicle (not shown). The mobile agricultural spray apparatus 10 includes a spray reservoir 15 for holding spray liquid and multiple spray nozzles in the form of fan assisted spray heads 20a, 20b, 20c etc for spraying liquid on rows of crop 22a, 22b etc. Other ancillary equipment and connections are also not shown, but their type and location will be understood by a skilled addressee. Also, only the parts of the apparatus on the right side of the illustration are provided with reference numeralsthe same parts can, however, be seen on the left side of the illustration.

[0057] The two regions A in FIG. 1 are approximations of regions typically affected by the multiple spray heads 20a etc of the apparatus 10. As can be seen, the spray heads 20a etc generate spray excess to requirements, that is not caught by the crop canopies during spraying, which is then normally lost to the ground or to other surfaces. It is this overspray which the present invention seeks to address.

[0058] Illustrated in FIG. 2 is the same apparatus 10 fitted with overspray collectors 30a, 30b, where once again, only the overspray collectors on the right side of the illustration are provided with reference numerals. The region B is an approximation of the smaller region now affected by the multiple spray heads 20a etc once the overspray collectors 30a, 30b are in place and operational. Not only can the overspray collectors 30a,30b act to reduce the size of those regions, but they also act to collect overspray and return it to the spray reservoir 15 for reuse if desired.

[0059] The arrangement of the overspray collectors 30a,30b is better illustrated in FIG. 3, without the crop rows shown. The outer overspray collector 30b is shown generally opposite the two inner spray heads 20a, 20c such that the overspray collector 30b can capture overspray from those two spray heads 20a, 20c during operation. The same is the case for the inner overspray collector 30a with respect to its location generally opposite the outer spray heads 20b, 20d and its ability to capture overspray from those spray heads. In this respect, it will be appreciated that all of the spray nozzles (being spray heads 20a etc) used in this embodiment are spray nozzles that include a fan mounted within a cowling, with multiple nozzles located about the periphery of the cowling such that spray is directed into the airflow to atomise and direct the spray liquid.

[0060] Of course, having said that, it will be appreciated that the type of spray nozzle used is not important with regard to the present inventionother types of spray nozzles may also be used with the apparatus of the invention.

[0061] FIGS. 4a and 4b schematically illustrate the basic retraction and extension of the overspray collectors 30a,30b. Before describing them, it is to be appreciated that these actions, and how they are achieved in the apparatus of this embodiment, are not essential to the invention. Indeed, a skilled addressee will understand that the retraction and extension of the overspray collectors could be achieved in numerous ways.

[0062] The apparatus 10 shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b of the present invention includes a supporting frame 36 for the spray heads 20a, etc and the overspray collectors 30a,30b, the supporting frame 36 arching over a row of crops (not shown) such that the outer overspray collector 30b can be arranged to be on one side of a crop during spraying and the inner spray heads 20a,20c can be arranged on the other side of the crop during spraying, and such that the outer spray heads 20b,20d can also be arranged on the one side of the crop during spraying, with the inner overspray collector 30a also arranged to be on the other side of the crop during spraying. It can also be seen that this arrangement of opposing overspray collectors also functions to provide cross-wind protection for the crop spraying process, which can be quite advantageous in itself on days when cross-winds might otherwise hamper the crop spraying process.

[0063] The supporting frame 36 is adapted to be mounted on a tractor or trailer or the like (not generally shown), the tractor or trailer including other the ancillary equipment mentioned above (also not shown) necessary for a mobile agricultural spray apparatus, such as tanks, pumps, control equipment, drive equipment and appropriate piping.

[0064] The supporting frame 36 can be adapted so as to be foldable or adjustable as desired, such as by the incorporation of a suitable pivoting mechanism being provided at junction 36b so that arm 36a could be folded back upon the main apparatus, such as for the purpose of transport.

[0065] The supporting frame 36 also allows for each overspray collector 30a,30b to itself be foldable, such that, when not in use, the supporting frame 36 and the overspray collectors 30a,30b may all be folded compactly so as to permit easy storage and transport of the entire apparatus, and also to allow for ready access to tanks and the like on the apparatus. In this embodiment, desirable foldability is achieved by the use in the supporting frame 36 of foldable mounting members for the overspray collectors 30a,30b. A first foldable mounting member 38 includes a lower boom 40 that pivots upwardly from a base to lie parallel to a vertical dropper arm 42 that supports the overspray collector 30b. This first foldable mounting member is also evident in FIG. 5a.

[0066] A second foldable mounting member 44 includes a mounting mechanism that also allows for easy installation and replacement of the overspray collector 30a, and is such that the overspray collector 30a may be drawn therealong from a furled to an unfurled position (and vice-versa) as is evident in FIG. 4b.

[0067] In this embodiment, each foldable mounting member 38,44 also provides for the inclusion of an overspray chamber 48,52 for each overspray collector 30a,30b, at or towards the bottom thereof, for collection of the liquid contained in the overspray, captured by the overspray collector as outlined above (and as will become more evident below in describing FIGS. 5a and 5b). The overspray chamber 48 of the overspray collector 30a is a gutter at the bottom of the overspray collector 30a formed by the impervious rear curtain of the overspray collector 30a coming a short way up the lower face of the front curtain of the overspray collector 30a. A liquid removal tube 50 may be located in the lowermost portion of the overspray chamber 48, in association with a pump, to extract liquid therefrom that pools in the overspray chamber 48.

[0068] In this embodiment, the overspray chamber 52 of the overspray collector 30b (which is more evident in FIGS. 5a and 5b) is in the form of a U-shaped channel member located along the bottom of the overspray collector 30b to form a gutter. Such a gutter may be inclined slightly downwardly to a collection point 54, such that captured overspray flows to the collection point 54 via gravity, where it may pass through a filter and be pumped to a central collection tank (not shown). Such a central collection tank may also be gravity fed (or fed by a pump) and the collected overspray may be filtered prior to reintroduction to the main spray tank.

[0069] Turning now to a description of one preferred form of overspray collector, being the overspray collector 60 evident in box X in FIG. 4a, which is itself the same type of overspray collector as overspray collector 30b, the overspray collector 60 includes a front, pervious and flexible curtain 62 and a rear impervious curtain 64. There is an overspray space 66 between the pervious front curtain 62 and the impervious rear curtain 64, and there is an overspray chamber 52 in fluid communication with the overspray space 66 for collection of overspray captured by the overspray collector 60.

[0070] The curtains 62,64 of the overspray collector 60, in conjunction with the overspray space 66, function in combination to dampen the pressure and speed (and thus the energy) of the droplets of the overspray (entering at arrows C in FIG. 5b), minimising or entirely reducing spray bounce-back and/or spray droplet shatter from the overspray collector 60, and to maximise the capture of overspray that reaches the collector 52. As mentioned above, the pervious nature of the front curtain 62 permits the passage of both air and liquid droplets (and small solid particles if the spray includes solid particles) through the front curtain 62 into the overspray space 66, but yet minimise the return of air and liquid droplets back through the front curtain after impacting the impervious rear curtain and circulating within the overspray space 66, as shown by arrows D in FIG. 5b.

[0071] In this embodiment, both of the curtains 62,64 are formed from a polyester material (PET), with the front curtain 62 being a PVC coated PET material formed as a plain weave mesh with a strand thickness of about 0.28 mm and an aperture size of about 2.0 mm.sup.2.

[0072] In relation to the overspray space 66, the space is shown in FIG. 5b existing between almost every part of the front and rear curtains 62,64, but for the upper reaches of those curtains. Ideally this space will exist between the front and rear curtains at least adjacent to the entire area of the front curtain 62 where the majority of the overspray hits the front curtain 62.

[0073] As also mentioned above, the maximum distance between the front and rear curtains 62,64, would ideally be in the broad range of from 10 mm to 1000 mm, more preferably in the range of 20 mm to 200 mm, and would ideally be about 40 mm to 100 mm. This reference to a maximum distance would be a distance measured when the curtains are still and the apparatus is not operating, and preferably would be constant across at least a portion of the curtains. However, with the illustrated construction of the preferred embodiment, it can be seen that the distance varies from a maximum at the bottom of the curtains to a minimum at the top of the curtains. In this embodiment, it is envisaged that at least the lower half of the space 66 has a distance between the curtains in the above preferred range of 20 mm to 200 mm. Of course, it will also be appreciated that during operation, and particularly due to the preferred flexible nature of the curtains, the distance between the curtains will vary from time-to-time.

[0074] Finally, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications.