MOBILE STATION FOR CARRYING OUT AERIAL SPRAYING OPERATIONS BY MEANS OF UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES

Abstract

Mobile station to carry out aerial spraying operations for large surfaces by means of drones which comprises at least one of a machine room comprising at least one electricity generator and an energy backup system; at least one compartment for the storage and transport of drones; a mixing tank connected to a water storage tank; a loading and unloading equipment movable on at least one rail; a lifting equipment arranged outside and configured to lift an operator; a battery charging and transport compartment for drones, a lighting system, a resting place incorporated into the system, multiple hermetic and washable containers for the transport of chemical products, dispensers, chemical waste, personal protection elements, spill containment elements (sand, non-sparking shovels, swabs), clean clothes, dirty clothes, trash.

Claims

1. A mobile station to carry out aerial spraying operations by means of drones, wherein it comprises at least one of: a machine room comprising at least one electricity generator and an energy backup system; at least one compartment for the storage and transport of drones; a mixing tank connected to a water storage tank; a loading and unloading equipment movable on at least one rail; a lifting equipment arranged outside and configured to lift an operator; a battery charging and transport compartment for drones.

2. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the mixing tank comprises a water inlet pipe connected to a first pump which in turn is connected to a water supply pipe coming from the water storage tank.

3. The mobile station according to claim 2, wherein the water inlet pipe is connected to a first water outlet.

4. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the mixing tank comprises at least two rotary shafts with stirring blades.

5. The mobile station according to claim 4, wherein each rotary shaft is connected to a shaft motor.

6. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the mixing tank comprises a water extraction pipe connected to a second pump, the latter being connected to a second outlet of water.

7. The mobile station according to claim 6, wherein the water extraction pipe is connected to a retractable hose configured to dispense the liquid to drones.

8. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein it is mounted on a motorized vehicle.

9. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein it comprises retractable gates on its sides.

10. The mobile station according to any of the preceding claims, in that claim 1, wherein the water storage tank consists of a vertical tank anchored to a wall of the mobile station.

11. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the lifting equipment consists of a folding platform movable through a vertical axis.

12. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the battery charging compartment comprises multiple electric sockets and a current selector.

13. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein it is energized by a source of electrical supply selected from the electricity generator the energy backup system and current external to the mobile station.

14. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein it comprises cabinets and/or compartments for the storage and transport of equipment and supplies.

15. The mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the energy backup system comprises a charger inverter and a battery bank.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0049] FIG. 1 shows a general view of the mobile station of the present disclosure.

[0050] FIG. 2 shows the machine room of the mobile station of the present disclosure.

[0051] FIG. 3 shows the loading and unloading equipment of the mobile station of the present disclosure.

[0052] FIGS. 4a and 4b show the lifting equipment of the mobile station of the present disclosure.

[0053] FIG. 5 shows the battery charging compartment of the mobile station of the present disclosure.

[0054] FIG. 6 shows the cabinet of supplies and tools of the mobile station of the present disclosure.

[0055] FIG. 7 shows a diagram of the mixing tank of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0056] According to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the mobile station 100 of the present disclosure is mounted on a motorized vehicle 1, preferably a 4×4 vehicle comprising a cabin 2 movable on wheels 3 and driven by an engine 4.

[0057] According to alternative embodiments of the disclosure, the mobile station 100 can be a trailer driven by a vehicle connected to it or it can even be self-propelled.

[0058] Continuing with FIG. 1, the mobile station comprises a machine room 110, preferably arranged at the front and at least one compartment for the storage and transport of drones 120. Preferably, the mobile station 100 has gates 101 on its sides, such as retractable metal curtains to protect its components during transportation and hermetic separations between the areas of preparation, dosage, dissolution, measurement and distribution of the agrochemical mixture and the part allocated to drones, energy load of devices, tools, work desk and security elements.

[0059] FIG. 2 shows in more detail the machine room 110 of the present disclosure which comprises at least one electricity generator 111, a mixing tank 200 and a water storage tank 112 with their independent systems for their use, measurement and distribution. According to a preferred embodiment, the machine room also comprises an airtight and washable container for the exclusive use of dosing elements, an airtight and washable container for transporting chemical products, both with anti-spill systems, lights, an extinguisher and a blackboard for mixtures and their prepared doses.

[0060] According to the illustrated embodiment, the electricity generator 111 consists of a diesel generator configured to supply current to the mobile station, as well as a charger inverter connected to a battery bank, said generator being mounted on a base with springs 113 to dissipate the vibrations generated by the electricity generator 111, thus allowing a correct and safe operation during transportation. In addition, the generator is connected to an exhaust pipe 114 that evacuates the gases out of the mobile station, said exhaust pipe may include silencers 115 to reduce the noise caused by the generator inside the mobile station contributing to safety of operators and keeping noise levels within safe standards for operators.

[0061] According to a preferred embodiment, the charger inverter together with the battery bank act as an energy backup system that replaces the function of the electricity generator 111 in case of failures.

[0062] The water storage tank 112 preferably consists of a vertical stainless steel tank anchored by rubber supports to a wall of the mobile station and has, according to the illustrated embodiment, a quadrilateral shape that minimizes the use of space and the volume inside the mobile station.

[0063] Likewise, the mixing tank 200 is constructed from anticorrosive materials and has a preferably cylindrical shape. This is connected to the water storage tank 112 which supplies it with the water necessary to dissolve the agrochemicals according to the operation that will be described below.

[0064] According to FIG. 3, the mobile station comprises loading and unloading equipment 130 movable on a rail 131 and electronically actuated by a button 132 for loading and unloading heavy equipment to and from the mobile station, such as drones, supplies, tools, etc., contributing to the safety of the operators and the efficiency of these common tasks.

[0065] As can be seen in FIGS. 4a and 4b, the mobile station comprises on its outer part a lifting equipment 140 configured to lift an operator so as to improve his vision during the operation of the drone or drones that carry out the spraying tasks. The lifting equipment 140 consists of a folding platform movable in the vertical direction through a vertical axis 142 by means of a motor and preferably comprising at least a base 143, a door 144 and a step 145. FIG. 4a shows the retractable platform in its folded condition while FIG. 4b illustrates the retractable platform in its unfolded condition. The lifting equipment 140 is preferably arranged at the rear of the mobile station.

[0066] According to FIG. 5, the mobile station comprises a battery charging compartment 150 configured to transport and charge the spare batteries and the total of the necessary and required devices by the drones in charge of carrying out the aerial spraying. According to the illustrated embodiment, the battery charging compartment 150 comprises a container for inputs 151 such as rechargeable batteries, cables, etc. It also comprises multiple sockets 152 to simultaneously charge several batteries and a current selector 153 to choose the selectable power supply source from, for example, the generator of the mobile station, the battery bank of the mobile station, external current to the mobile station or others. According to the illustrated embodiment, the battery charging compartment may comprise a charging pedestal 154 for arranging the batteries, tools and supplies that are used during the charging operation.

[0067] The battery charging compartment 150 also has a customized and electrically energized airtight plastic case whose function is to transport and charge during transfers a series of delicate devices such as radio control of drones, GPS, radio communicators, measuring instruments, among others.

[0068] Continuing with FIG. 6, the mobile station can have multiple cabinets 160 for the storage and transport of supplies and operating elements, such as personal protection items such as waterproof suits, glasses, gloves, masks, boots, sunscreen, first aid kit, helmet, chemical products, compressor, tools, software and hardware for measuring: wetting, flow, PH, wind speed, relative humidity and temperature. It can also comprise containers for fuel, water, detergent, folding tables, a chemical bath, attached shade curtain for the resting place, tools, spare parts, elements for containment of spills, etc., preferably constructed from washable and anticorrosive materials those that require/have anti-spill devices.

[0069] According to FIG. 7, an important component of the present disclosure is the mixing tank 200, which has a series of elements that help in the preparation, dosage, dissolution, and maintenance of chemical product mixtures, as well as to distribute them remotely to spray drones through mechanical, hydraulic and digital devices.

[0070] The mixing tank 200 is connected to the water storage tank 112 by means of a water supply pipe 201 connected to a first pump 210. From the first pump 210, water may flow into the tank through a water inlet pipe 202 or through a cleaning pipe 203, an operation that is selected manually by a valve 230. The cleaning pipe 203 flows out a pressure valve that cleans the walls of the mixer avoiding to be done manually by an operator. On the other hand, the water can be withdrawn directly from the water inlet pipe 202 by means of a first water outlet 240 regulated by a stopcock. The water that is driven by the first pump 210 is regulated by a pressure switch 241. Furthermore, the circuit includes check valves to prevent the transit of water from the mixer towards the water tank thus contributing to the safety of the operators and the system. It can also include a rapid priming system by manipulating different stopcocks, saving a lot of time in that daily operation.

[0071] Inside the mixing tank 200 there are preferably two rotary shafts 250 having stirring blades 251 configured to mix the liquid inside the tank. The rotation of each shaft is produced by a shaft motor 252 activated manually or remotely and connected to a reducer 253.

[0072] The liquid into the tank is extracted by a water extraction pipe 204 and by means of a second pump 211, activated manually or remotely, which evacuates the liquid towards a second water outlet 242 preferably connected to a retractable hose and from there it is distributed to drones at a distance between 1 and 100 meters. Likewise, the liquid contained at the bottom of the tank can be extracted at the end of the operation for cleaning or in case of failure of the pump 211 by means of a third water outlet 243 through a first drain pipe 205.

[0073] The mixing tank 200 also has a filling cap 260 for the entry of the chemical products into its interior and is mounted on an anti-spill container 260 that includes a second drain pipe 206 for the removal of the fluids accumulated inside. It also has a hermetic hatch in the vertical half of its structure to facilitate access to its interior either for cleaning or repair.

[0074] The mixing tank and water have liter meters that indicate their current content and with drain cocks in case of failure of the 210 pump.

[0075] The mobile station may comprise other security elements such as: [0076] Lights in the different compartments which allow working without daylight; [0077] Fire extinguishers; [0078] Access stairs; [0079] Washable, non-slip and insulating floor to provide safety to operators; [0080] Tell-tales that indicate motor and pump operation visible from any location; [0081] Remote control commands; [0082] Reflective stripes for visibility; [0083] Drain valves for anti-spill containers; [0084] Motors and pumps on and off switches; [0085] Vehicle GPS with vehicle locking capability; [0086] Tachograph; [0087] Reverse camera; [0088] Winch [0089] Hands-free system [0090] Chocks [0091] Wheel Chains

[0092] In addition, to allow and facilitate the operation of spraying agrochemicals by drones, the mobile station may comprise: [0093] Multiple sockets to power different devices; [0094] Satellite Internet equipment for drone flight control system, computers; [0095] Hardware and software to control the wetting of the spraying drones in terms of number of impacts per square centimeter and size of the drops for the correct regulation of speed, application height, pump pressure, nozzles to be used in the drones depending on each crop and product to apply; [0096] Work desks and blackboards.