SUPPORT FOR SPREADING BOOM OF AN AGRICULTURAL SPRAYER
20190357519 · 2019-11-28
Inventors
- Ezequiel Castro (Buenos Aires, AR)
- Javier Mariano Bertani (Buenos Aires, AR)
- Ezequiel Poodts (Buenos Aires, AR)
- Germán Adrián Kokubu (Buenos Aires, AR)
Cpc classification
B05B1/20
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B15/62
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B05B13/005
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
A01M7/00
HUMAN NECESSITIES
B05B1/20
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
A01C23/04
HUMAN NECESSITIES
Abstract
Spraying boom support for agricultural sprayers, whether trailed, self-propelled and/or airborne, which includes identical articulated arms arranged on either side of the sprayer. Said arms are extended transversely to the direction of advance of the sprayer, and are coupled in an articulated manner to a central support section of the chassis of said sprayer. Each articulated arm is comprised of bar sections formed by a composite material consisting of a reinforcing agent selected from carbon fiber, fiberglass, aramid fiber, boron fiber or a combination thereof, and a matrix of epoxy, vinyl ester, phenolic, polyester resins or thermoplastic material. At its ends, the bar sections have metal nodes that make up the joints and links, also fulfilling the role of taking the concentrated loads of them and distribute them in the bar sections of composite material. In this way areas of great thickness of composite material are avoided and the advantages of each material are exploited resulting in an economical, efficient, lightweight, low maintenance and easily repairable design.
Claims
1. A spraying boom support for self-propelled, trailed and/or airborne agricultural sprayer, which includes both articulated arms, being able to be arranged symmetrically on either side of the sprayer to balance the support and extending transversely to its direction of advance, wherein the articulated arms are coupled in an articulated manner to a central support section of the sprayer chassis and comprising a set of stabilization tensioners, said spraying boom support characterized in that each articulated arm is constituted by bar sections of composite material comprising stabilization tensioners of composite material, wherein the bar sections are tubes of composite material with metal nodes at their ends forming articulation mechanisms, such that each arm is composed of at least three tubular sections made of composite material, linked through inserts fixed at the ends of the tubes made of metallic material forming joints in at least three areas: (a) in the linking of the main bar section to the central support of the sprayer, (b) in the folding break located between the main and the secondary bar, and (c) in the break of the last section of bar.
2. The spraying boom support of claim 1, characterized in that said bar sections forming the articulated arms have a tubular profile of circular, oval section or other section of rounded faces, the profiles being formed by a composite material taken from the group consisting of a reinforcing agent selected from carbon fiber, fiberglass, aramid fiber, boron fiber or a combination thereof, and a matrix of epoxy, vinyl ester, phenolic, polyurethane, polyester resins or thermoplastic material, and combinations thereof.
3. The spraying boom support of claim 2, characterized in that the tubular profiles are closed weft covering the entire surface of the profile.
4. The spraying boom support of claim 2, characterized in that the tubular profiles are open weft wherein the fibers form an isometric grid-like structure (Iso-Grid) or isometric weft (Iso-Truss).
5. The spraying boom support of claim 1, characterized in that bar sections forming the articulated arms are manufactured through a robotic process selected from among the group consisting of winding of fibers (FW, Filament Winding), automated tape placement (ATP), automated fiber placement (AFP), pultrusion or pultrusion associated with fiber winding (Pullwinding Technology), and combinations thereof.
6. The spraying boom support of claim 1, characterized in that the metallic junction nodes of the bar sections of the boom are manufactured from a material selected from the group consisting of steel, titanium, magnesium, aluminum or alloys with good resistance to concentrated loads, and combinations thereof.
7. The spraying boom support of claim 1, characterized in that it incidentally integrates, in any of the metal nodes that make up the joints, a folding wheel commanded from the cockpit or automatically.
8. The spraying boom support of claim 1, characterized in that the metal nodes are fixed to the tubular profiles of composite material, this connection being achieved by chemical means as adhesives, or by mechanical means comprising pins, rivets, bolts, keys or the like, and combinations thereof.
9. The spraying boom support of claim 1, characterized in that the metal nodes are fixed to the tubular profiles of composite material, this connection being achieved by chemical means comprising adhesives.
10. The spraying boom support of claim 1, characterized in that the stabilizing tensioners are formed by a composite material consisting of a reinforcing agent selected from the group consisting of fiber carbon, fiberglass, aramid fiber, boron fiber and combinations thereof, and a matrix of epoxy, vinyl ester, phenolic, polyurethane, polyester resins or thermoplastic material.
11. The spraying boom support of claim 10, characterized in that the tensioner running from the metal flange of the first end of the main bar to a support of metallic material and/or compound fixed to the same bar section, which is manufactured of composite and/or metallic material, wherein the tubular section of the main bar section is constant, in such a way that the main and secondary bar sections are manufactured with the same mold.
12. The spraying boom support of claim 1, characterized in that a slip mechanism of the last bar section is integrated by a pneumatic elastic element composed of a tubular sleeve, wherein said sleeve is pressurized by means of air coming from a compressor housed in the sprayer.
13. The spraying boom support of claim 1, characterized in that feed lines of the spray line with their respective peaks applicators, the electrical installation and the installation of the hydraulic conduits of the entire boom are mounted outside the sections of tubes of composite material with special supports fixed to them.
14. The spraying boom support of claim 13, characterized in that the fixing of the special supports to the tubes of composite material is carried out by means taken from the group consisting of adhesive, pins, rivets, bolts, keys or the like, and combinations thereof.
15. The spraying boom support of claim 13, characterized in that the fixing of the special supports to the tubes of composite material is carried out by means comprising an adhesive.
16. The spraying boom support of claim 2, characterized in that the tubular sections of the boom made of composite materials have a web formed by continuous reinforcing fibers intertwined and arranged in the last layer at an angle between 10 sexagesimal degrees and 40 sexagesimal degrees with respect to the generatrix or longitudinal axis of the tubular sections, forming drawings of triangles and/or rhombuses along the section.
17. A quick repair kit for severe breaks of the first and second section of a spraying boom support of claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a tube of the same section as the first and second sections, with two tubular ends that encased inside.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0027] The present specification is complemented with a set of illustrative figures of the preferred example, never limiting the invention.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0052] The present invention is a spraying boom support for agricultural sprayers, whether driven or self-propelled and/or airborne, such as drones or aircraft.
[0053] The support includes two articulated arms (1), as shown in
[0054] As shown in
[0055] Also, as shown in
[0056] In said
[0057] On the other hand,
[0058] Meanwhile, each articulated arm is comprised of sections of bar with tubular profile, for example, round, oval section, or other section of rounded faces, formed of a composite material (for example, plastic reinforced with carbon fiber, fiberglass, etc.). The composite materials allow a low weight of each section thanks to the network of continuous fibers of high strength and specific rigidity (i.e. in relation to its density) and the plastic matrix with which they are manufactured.
[0059] Alternatively, open-frame profiles can be used to form cross-linked structures, also known as isometric grid structures (Iso-Grid) or isometric framework (Iso-Truss), which allows increasing the diameter of the tubes to achieve greater moment of inertia of the section, which improves the aerodynamic performance of the profile, leaving an open structure that lets air pass and decreasing the total weight of the profiles.
[0060] In addition, the bar sections have metal nodes at their ends that make the joints and links, and also have the role of resisting the concentrated loads of them and distribute them in the bar sections of composite material. In this way areas of great thickness of composite material are avoided and the advantages of each material are exploited resulting in an economical, efficient, lightweight, low maintenance and easily repairable design.
[0061] Particularly, the metallic junction nodes of the bar sections of the boom are manufactured in a material selected from steel, titanium, magnesium, aluminum or alloys with good resistance to concentrated loads.
[0062] As shown in
[0063] In
[0064] In
[0065] The structural configuration of the bar sections (1.1, 1.2, 1.3) of previously described material, forming articulated arms (1) due to the use of metal nodes in their joints (1.11, 5.1, 5.2, 1.21, 1.31), allows greater length with less weight than an equivalent metal structure, and allow a lower production cost than a structure constructed of synthetic material manufactured with another known manufacturing process.
[0066] The main bar section (1.1) has at its second end a metal flange (5.1) fixed with adhesive, pins, rivets, bolts, keys or other suitable joining means. The flange (5.1) in turn is linked to the metal flange (5.2) that is fixed to the first end of the secondary bar section (1.2). The link between 5.1 and 5.2 includes a mechanism that allows the folding of the articulated arm (1).
[0067] In
[0068] The metallic flange fixed at the end of the composite tube allows it to maintain its section and thickness constant, therefore, it helps to lower the cost and, in addition, acts as a support for the tensioner (4.2), and for the tensioner (4.1) that goes to a metallic support (1.14) fixed to the same bar section (1.1).
[0069] In
[0070] In
[0071] The break (5) of the articulated arm (1) for its storage or folding is made up of two metal flanges (5.1 and 5.2) joined to the second end of main bar and the first end of secondary bar, respectively, and linked together by a mechanism that allows folding.
[0072] The break mechanism is driven by a hydraulic cylinder (5.6) that provides the necessary force to produce the movement, it is fixed to a piece of machined aluminum (5.5), which has four rods of metallic material and/or of composite material (5.4) that are linked to the metal nodes (5.1 and 5.2) of the sections of the boom.
[0073] In
[0074] Meanwhile,
[0075] The sleeve is housed and fixed internally between the second end of the second bar (1.2) and the first end of the last section of bar (1.3). The break system thus prevents possible breakage of the last section during the movement and work of the sprayer. The compressed air system, in addition to ensuring the first end of the last section of bar alignment, results in a simple, economical, efficient and lightweight design.
[0076] In said
[0077]
[0078] In the set of tensioners (4), we can differentiate the tensioner (4.1) from the rest of the tensioners (4.2, 4.3, and 4.4). The main function of the composite material and/or metal tensioner (4.1), which goes from a tensioner support (1.13) of the metal flange of the first end of the main bar (1.11) to a metal support (1.14) fixed to the same section of bar (1.1), is to help the stability of the articulated arm (1) against accelerations, decelerations and other movements of the sprayer. In addition, this tensioner (4.1) allows the section of the main bar section (1.1) to be constant throughout its length, and equal to the section of secondary bar (1.2), so that the main and secondary bar sections are manufactured with the same mold.
[0079] The other tensioners (4.2, 4.3, and 4.4) help to stabilize the boom when the sprayer applies the product in the field. These tensioners can be metallic and/or composite materials, in addition they allow the regulation of the tension necessary for the correct functioning of the articulated arms (1). The pillar (4.5) can be metallic and/or made of composite material, it is fixed to a support base of metallic and/or composite material (4.6) that is fixed with adhesive or mechanically to the first section of bar (1.1). This base allows easy replacement and distributes the load evenly on the tube. The pillar, in addition to distributing the forces of the tensioners, allows the support of the secondary section (1.2) when the arm (1) is folded.
[0080] The stabilization tensioners are formed by a composite material consisting of a reinforcing agent selected from carbon fiber, fiberglass, aramid fiber, boron fiber or a combination thereof, and a matrix of epoxy, vinyl ester, phenolic, polyurethane, polyester resins or thermoplastic material.
[0081] In
[0082] Each articulated arm comprises sections of bar with a tubular profile, for example of round, oval section, or another section of rounded faces, formed of a composite material, for example, plastic reinforced with carbon fiber, fiberglass, etc., manufactured by the process of Filament Winding or another robotic process such as Automated Tape Placement, Automated Fiber Placement, Pultrusion or Pullwinding Technology and metallic nodes in the articulation areas, resulting in a modular boom, where the use of tubes allows to modify their length, adjust thickness and/or the sequence of the laminate, only changing the tubes without the need for complex molds, while the metal nodes facilitate the repair without the need to replace the entire tube, this results in a reduction of maintenance cost as well as the cost of the whole in a considerable way.
[0083] The manufacturing process of the sections of the composite material bar is preferably by the Filament Winding method, which is typically carried out with robotic machinery. Likewise, another robotic method such as Automated Tape Placement, Automated Fiber Placement, Pultrusion or Pullwinding Technology can be used as a production process.
[0084] Composite materials allow a low weight of each section thanks to the network of continuous fibers of high strength and specific stiffness (i.e. in relation to their density) and the plastic matrix with which they are manufactured. In addition, the production method allows reducing the manufacturing time of the tube, achieving an optimization in the cost of the boom.
[0085] The cylindrical sections use a stack of layers with predominantly longitudinal orientation, combined with layers with helical and circumferential orientation, designed to withstand the axial, bending and other stresses that appear during the operation of the boom.
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[0088] In order to provide greater stability to the system as a whole, the articulated arms (1) can integrate, in any of the metal nodes that make up the joints, a folding wheel (12) that is commanded from the cockpit or automatically.
[0089] In relation to this constructive alternative, in
[0090] Due to the material with which the sections of bar are manufactured and their cross section that remains constant along each of the sections is possible, before a break, easily and quickly repair the section of damaged bar in the field itself, without have to move to a workshop that may be distant from where the work is carried out. For this, two repair kits can be counted, one for break in the last bar section (10.1) whose simplicity can be applied by the operator of the sprayer, and another for a severe break (11.1) in the two main sections of the bar.
[0091] The breakage kit of the last bar section (10.1) consists of pieces made of the same material that are easily changed, fixing them on both sides by adhesive, pins, rivets, bolts, keys or other suitable joining method.
[0092] In
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[0094] When a severe break is suffered in any of the two sections of bar (1.1) and (1.2), being these of the same section, a cut of equal length is made to the spare section of the same composite material. That spare section (11.1) of standardized measurement, has tubular ends and external section equal to the internal section of the sections, which allows to fit them and fix them by adhesive, pins, rivets, bolts, keys or other suitable joining method, or combinations thereof, to the two sections of the tube that will be damaged, being repaired and in the original length.
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[0097] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the hose that acts as the supply conduit (8.1) of the spray line (8.2) and where the spray nozzles (9) are connected goes outside the sections of material bar compound, thus avoiding the need to pierce and consequently weaken the articulated arm (1), also allowing rapid assembly and/or possible replacement of hoses and/or electrical and hydraulic wiring if necessary. For all this, a special support (8.3) has been designed. The fixing of this support (8.3) to the tubes of composite material is given by adhesive, pins, rivets, bolts, keys or other suitable joining method.
[0098] In
[0099] The parts that can be identified in