Active substance supply system for an agricultural sprayer

Abstract

An active substance supply system for an agricultural sprayer has a main liquid circuit which includes a reservoir for a main liquid and permits circulation of the main liquid, where the main liquid circuit includes one or more distribution sections which are each configured to distribute to several dispensing elements a spray liquid to be dispensed, and a feed system which is connected to the main liquid circuit and in which the main liquid is mixed with at least one separately supplied active substance to form a liquid active substance mixture, where the active substance supply system is configured to introduce the active substance mixture into the one or more distribution sections at several places.

Claims

1. Active substance supply system for an agricultural sprayer, comprising: a main liquid circuit which comprises a reservoir for a main liquid and permits circulation of said main liquid, where said main liquid circuit comprises one or more distribution sections which are each configured to distribute to several dispensing elements a spray liquid to be dispensed, and a feed system which is connected to said main liquid circuit and in which said main liquid is mixed with at least one separately fed active substance to form a liquid active substance mixture; wherein said active substance supply system is configured to introduce said liquid active substance mixture into said one or more distribution sections at several places, and wherein a branching is present at said main liquid circuit and connects said main liquid circuit to a mixing chamber of said feed system in a manner conveying liquid.

2. Active substance supply system according to claim 1, further comprising several flow control units which are each connected to said main liquid circuit and said feed system and are configured to control the flow of said main liquid and said liquid active substance mixture to a distribution section.

3. Active substance supply system according to claim 1, wherein said main liquid circuit comprises in the direction of flow downstream of said one or more distribution sections one or more return lines which are connected to said reservoir, where a respective shut-off device is arranged at said one or more return lines and is configured to block the flow.

4. Active substance supply system according to claim 1, wherein said branching comprises a flow control unit which is configured to control the flow of said main liquid circulating in said main liquid circuit or the outflow of said main liquid circulating in said main liquid circuit to said mixing chamber.

5. Active substance supply system according to claim 1, further comprising several flow control units having inlets each connected to said main liquid circuit and not to said feed system and which are each configured to control the flow of said main liquid to a distribution section.

6. Active substance supply system according to claim 1, further comprising several flow control units having inlets each connected to said feed system and not to said main liquid circuit and which are each configured to control the flow of said liquid active substance mixture to a distribution section.

7. Active substance supply system according to claim 1, further comprising a circulation circuit for said liquid active substance mixture which permits circulation of said liquid active substance mixture.

8. Active substance supply system according to claim 7, wherein said circulation circuit to said reservoir or to said one or more distribution sections is configured to be blocked.

9. Active substance supply system according to claim 7, wherein said circulation circuit and said main liquid circuit are entirely separable from each other.

10. Active substance supply system according to claim 7, wherein said circulation circuit comprises a conveying device and a bypass line bridging said conveying device.

11. Agricultural sprayer, comprising: a distributor linkage on which several dispensing elements are arranged; and an active substance supply system which provides said dispensing elements with a spray liquid to be dispensed; wherein said active substance supply system comprises: a main liquid circuit which comprises a reservoir for a main liquid and permits circulation of said main liquid, where said main liquid circuit comprises one or more distribution sections which are each configured to distribute to said several dispensing elements the spray liquid to be dispensed, and a feed system which is connected to said main liquid circuit and in which said main liquid is mixed with at least one separately fed active substance to form a liquid active substance mixture, and where said main liquid circuit is connected to a mixing chamber of said feed system by means of a branching present at said main liquid circuit in a manner conveying liquid; wherein said active substance supply system is configured to introduce said liquid active substance mixture into said one or more distribution sections at several places.

12. Method for conveying a spray liquid with an agricultural sprayer, comprising the steps of: circulating a main liquid in a main liquid circuit of an active substance supply system of said agricultural sprayer, said main liquid circuit comprising a reservoir for a main liquid, distributing to several dispensing elements in one or more distribution sections of said main liquid circuit a spray liquid to be dispensed, mixing main liquid with an active substance to form a liquid active substance mixture in a feed system of said active substance supply system of said agricultural sprayer, the main liquid circuit being connected to a mixing chamber of said feed system by means of a branching present at said main liquid circuit in a manner conveying main liquid; and introducing said liquid active substance mixture into said one or more distribution sections at several places.

13. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: controlling the flow of said main liquid and said liquid active substance mixture to a distribution section at said several places.

14. Method according to claim 13, wherein controlling the flow of said main liquid and said liquid active substance mixture to a distribution section at said several places is respectively effected by an adjustment valve, which opens either the flow of said main liquid or alternatively the flow of said liquid active substance mixture to a distribution section.

15. Method according to claim 13, wherein controlling the flow of said main liquid and said liquid active substance mixture to a distribution section at said several places is respectively effected with separate valves for said main liquid and said liquid active substance mixture.

16. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of: blocking the return flow of said main liquid circuit from said one or more distribution sections to said reservoir; opening the return flow of said main liquid circuit from said one or more distribution sections to said reservoir.

17. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: circulating said liquid active substance mixture in a circulation circuit.

18. Method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of: preloading said circulation circuit with said active substance mixture before the flow from said circulation circuit to said one or more distribution sections is opened.

19. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: preloading one distribution section, several or all distribution sections with said liquid active substance mixture before their dispensing elements are opened.

20. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of: changing said spray liquid to be dispensed from the active substance mixture to pure main liquid, wherein, for changing said spray liquid to be dispensed from the active substance mixture to pure main liquid, said one or more shut-off devices remain closed at said return lines until all the active substance mixture has left the lines of said main liquid circuit.

Description

(1) Further details of the invention can be gathered from the description of the figures and the drawings, where

(2) FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the active substance supply system according to the invention in a schematic representation; and

(3) FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of the active substance supply system according to the invention in a schematic representation.

(4) FIG. 1 shows an active substance supply system 10 for an agricultural sprayer. Active substance supply system 10 comprises a main liquid circuit 12 within which a main liquid, such as water or a premixed spray broth, circulates.

(5) Main liquid circuit 12 comprises a reservoir 14 for the main liquid, two flow meters 16a, 16b, several flow control units 18a-18c and several distribution sections 20a-20c. Flow meter 16a is arranged between a branching 28 and distribution sections 20a-20c. Flow meter 16b is arranged between return lines 24a-24c and reservoir 14. Several flow control units 18a-18c are each connected to main liquid circuit 12 and a feed system 32, control the flow of the main liquid and an active substance mixture to distribution sections 20a-20c. The active substance mixture and the main liquid can be introduced into distribution sections 20a-20c at several places 68a-68c. Flow control units 18a-18c are formed as 3-way ball valves. Distribution sections 20a-20c each distribute to several dispensing elements 22a-22c spray liquid to be dispensed.

(6) In the direction of flow downstream of distribution sections 20a-20c, main liquid circuit 12 comprises return lines 24a-24c which are connected to reservoir 14. Arranged at each return flow lines 24a-24c is a shut-off device 26a-26c which is formed as a 2-way ball valve with which the flow can be blocked. A manifold line is also arranged between return lines 24a-24c and reservoir 14.

(7) Branching 28 is further present at main liquid circuit 12 and connects main liquid circuit 12 to a mixing chamber 38 of feed system 32 in a manner conveying liquid. Arranged between branching 28 and mixing chamber 38 is a flow meter 30. The main liquid is mixed with the active substance in mixing chamber 38 of feed system 32 to form a liquid active substance mixture. The active substance is fed via dosing pump 34 and line 36 to mixing chamber 38.

(8) Active substance supply system 10 illustrated can be employed, for example, in an agricultural sprayer comprising a distributor linkage on which dispensing elements 22a-22c are arranged.

(9) When spray liquid is dispensed, the main liquid circulates in main liquid circuit 12 of active substance supply system 10. The main liquid is mixed by feed system 32 with active substance to form a liquid active substance mixture and the active substance mixture is introduced into distribution sections 20a-20c at several places 68a-68c. Within distribution sections 20a-20c, the active substance mixture is distributed to dispensing elements 22a-22c which ultimately deliver the active substance mixture as a spray liquid onto agricultural land. The flow rate of the main liquid and the active substance mixture to distribution sections 20a-20c is controlled with flow control units 18a-18c.

(10) Furthermore, distribution sections 20a-20c can be preloaded with the active substance mixture before their dispensing elements 22a-22c are opened. Preloading is done in that shut-off devices 26a-26c at return lines 24a-24c remain open and flow control units 18a-18c supply the active substance mixture to distribution sections 20a-20c until the active substance mixture is present at dispensing elements 22a-22c of distribution sections 20a-20c.

(11) When changing the spray liquid to be dispensed from the active substance mixture to pure main liquid, shut-off devices 26a-26c remain closed at return lines 24a-24c until all the active substance mixture has left the lines of main liquid circuit 12.

(12) FIG. 2 shows an active substance supply system 10 with a main liquid circuit 12 and a circulation circuit 54.

(13) In the flow direction upstream of distribution sections 20a-20c, main liquid circuit 12 comprises a return line 2 which is connected to reservoir 14, where a shut-off device 26 configured to block the flow is arranged at return line 24. Shut-off device 26 is configured as a 2-way ball valve.

(14) A branching 28 is again present at main liquid circuit 12 and connects main liquid circuit 12 to a mixing chamber 38 of feed system 32 in a manner conveying liquid. Branching 28 in this embodiment comprises a flow control unit 52 which is configured to control the flow of the main liquid circulating in main liquid circuit 12 and/or the outflow of the main liquid circulating in main liquid circuit 12 to mixing chamber 38. Flow control unit 52 is a 3-way ball valve which either permits the circulation of the main liquid in main liquid circuit 12 or alternatively redirects the main liquid from main liquid circuit 12 to mixing chamber 38. A flow meter 66 is additionally arranged between a conveying device 40 of main liquid circuit 12 and flow control unit 52 of branching 28.

(15) Furthermore, main liquid circuit 12 comprises several flow control units 62a-62c which each control the flow of the main liquid to a distribution section 20a-20c.

(16) Circulation circuit 54 permits the circulation of the active substance mixture. Due to circulation circuit 54, an active substance mixture with the desired mixing ratio is present at flow control units 64a-64c which are each connected to feed system 32. Flow control units 64a-64c each control the flow of the active substance mixture to a distribution section 20a-20c. Circulation circuit 54 to reservoir 14 and distribution sections 20a-20c can be blocked. Furthermore, circulation circuit 54 and main liquid circuit 12 are completely separable from each other. In order to nevertheless maintain circulation, circulation circuit 54 and main liquid circuit 12 each comprise a separate conveying device 40, 56, each formed as a pump.

(17) Circulation circuit 54 also comprises a bypass line 60 that bridges conveying device 56. The bypass line inlet is arranged in the flow direction downstream of conveying device 56 and the bypass outlet is arranged in the flow direction upstream of conveying device 56. The integration of bypass line 60 is controlled by flow control unit 58 which is configured as a 3-way ball valve. Bypass line 60 is used for cleaning and emptying circulation circuit 54.

(18) The active substance supply system illustrated can also be employed in an agricultural sprayer comprising a distributor linkage on which dispensing elements 22a-22c are arranged.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(19) 10 active substance supply system

(20) 12 main liquid circuit

(21) 14 reservoir

(22) 16a, 16b flow meters

(23) 18a-18c flow control units

(24) 20a-20c distribution sections

(25) 22a-22c groups of dispensing elements

(26) 24, 24a-24c return lines

(27) 26, 26a-26c shut-off devices

(28) 28 branchings

(29) 30 flow meter

(30) 32 feed system

(31) 34 dosing pump

(32) 36 line

(33) 38 mixing chamber

(34) 40 conveying device

(35) 52 flow control unit

(36) 54 circulation circuit

(37) 56 conveying device

(38) 58 flow control unit

(39) 60 bypass line

(40) 62a-62c flow control units

(41) 64a-64c flow control units

(42) 66 flow meter

(43) 68a-68c introduction points