NOZZLE ASSEMBLY FOR A SPRAY DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF CROPS WITH A JET STOP DETECTION

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a nozzle assembly for a spray device for the treatment of agricultural crops and includes at least one orifice for dispensing at least one treatment product. The nozzle assembly further includes, downstream of the orifice, at least one set of electrodes configured to pass an electrical signal when humidified under the effect of the spray jet. The electrodes are configured to be connected to an electronic system for detecting the electrical signal.

Claims

1. A nozzle assembly for a spray device for the treatment of agricultural crops, the nozzle assembly comprising: at least one orifice for dispensing at least one treatment product; and at least one set of electrodes downstream of the at least one orifice, wherein the at least one set of electrodes are configured to emit an electrical signal when humidified as a result of an effect of a spray jet, and the at least one set of electrodes are configured to connect to an electronic system for detecting the electrical signal.

2. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one set of electrodes are disposed substantially in a direction of a flow of the spray jet.

3. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one set of electrodes are disposed substantially perpendicular to a flow of the spray jet.

4. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein at least two electrodes are disposed at a distance having maximum points of proximity.

5. The nozzle assembly according to claim 4, wherein one of the two electrodes is electrically powered by a voltage comprised between 5 Vdc and 15 Vdc.

6. The nozzle assembly according to claim 5 further comprising an electronic system for detecting a presence of a threshold voltage on the other electrode by measuring an electric current flowing between the electrodes of at least 50 pA.

7. The nozzle assembly according to claim 6, wherein the electronic system includes a device for adjusting the threshold voltage to be detected.

8. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one set of electrodes are formed as a printed circuit.

9. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one set of electrodes are two fine combs intersecting without contact.

10. The nozzle assembly according to claim 9, wherein the comb-shaped electrodes define a thinnest pin thickness while remaining rigid to form a wall having a hole of at least at 50% to provide passage through the spray jet.

11. The nozzle assembly according to claim 9, wherein the combs are integrated by overmolding in a support.

12. The nozzle assembly according to claim 11, wherein the combs form an integral part of the nozzle assembly.

13. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one set of electrodes are composed of a material having antioxidant properties relative to the treatment product.

14. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1, wherein the at least one set of electrodes are composed of a material having an electrical conductivity of at least 1.310E6 Siemens/m.

15. The nozzle assembly according to claim 1 further comprising a drying device for drying the at least one set of set of electrodes.

16. The nozzle assembly according to claim 15, wherein the drying device includes a pressurized air jet.

17. The nozzle assembly according to claim 15, wherein the drying device provides a supply of calories.

18. A spray device comprising at least one nozzle assembly according to claim 1.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0044] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0045] FIG. 1 is a side axial sectional view of a nozzle assembly with pneumatic jet according to the present disclosure;

[0046] FIG. 2 is a top axial sectional view of the nozzle assembly with pneumatic jet according to the present disclosure;

[0047] FIG. 3 shows a type of electrode disposed on a spark gap of the nozzle assembly according to the present disclosure;

[0048] FIG. 4 shows another type of electrode disposed on a spark gap of a nozzle assembly with pneumatic jet according to the present disclosure;

[0049] FIG. 5 is a top axial sectional view of a nozzle assembly with pneumatic jet including an electrode according to the present disclosure;

[0050] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a front view of electrodes according to the present disclosure;

[0051] FIG. 7 is a side axial sectional view of a nozzle assembly with an air-assisted spray according to the present disclosure;

[0052] FIG. 8 is a side axial sectional view of a nozzle assembly with a non-air assisted spray according to the present disclosure; and

[0053] FIG. 9 shows an agricultural vehicle equipped with a spray bar including a nozzle assembly according to the present disclosure.

[0054] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0056] FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a nozzle assembly including a treatment product inlet 2 disposed in the center of a pressurized air inlet 6, at the end of a pipe, opening onto a plurality of treatment product dispensing orifices 4 extending in the vertical direction.

[0057] The direction called vertical direction, can be for the treatments disposed according to all orientations. The spraying is done in a forward direction indicated by the arrow AV.

[0058] The pressurized air forms a flow 8 coming on the sides of the orifices 4, which is guided laterally by an air diffuser 18 of generally conical shape opening toward the front. The air flow 8 drives the product to carry it on a spark gap 10. The spark gap 10 has an aerodynamically-shaped horizontal section, comprising a curved rear portion and a pointed front portion. The curved rear portion may also be designated as a leading edge of the treatment product and the front portion as a trailing edge of this treatment product.

[0059] In contact with the spark gap 10, the product droplets burst and disperse to form a fine spray which gives the pneumatic jet 16 evenly dispersed throughout the arc formed by the air diffuser 18. By adjusting the aerodynamic profile of the spark gap 10 and the opening of the air diffuser 18, a spray jet 16 is carried out including a suitable opening angle, performing a homogeneous treatment over the entire covered surface.

[0060] The spark gap 10 includes two electrodes 12 bonded onto its surface, each including a set of strips disposed in parallel and evenly spaced, receiving between two strips, a strip of the other electrode.

[0061] Each electrode 12 includes a power supply wire 14 which is connected to a control system onboard the vehicle. The control system applies a differential voltage onto the pair of electrodes 12, and measures the current flowing between these two electrodes.

[0062] Particularly, the electrodes 12 may be formed by a printed circuit including an insulating flexible support having conductive strips fixed thereto, which is wound and bonded onto the spark gap 10.

[0063] The distance between the strips of each electrode may be comprised between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, and particularly between 0.5 and 1.5 mm. During a spraying, the water contained in the spray product humidifies the electrodes 12. A certain conductivity is obtained between the parallel strips of the electrodes 12, which allows the current to flow between these two electrodes.

[0064] If the nozzle assembly gets clogged, or if for any other reason the treatment product no longer flows out of the orifices 4, there is then only the air flow 8 that dries very quickly the surface of the spark gap 10. The conductivity between the two electrodes 12 decreases sharply, the decrease of the current flowing in these electrodes is measured by the control system that alerts the driver by any means such as an indicator light or a sound signal.

[0065] The control system can measure in an undifferentiated manner the current flowing in the electrodes of all the nozzles of the spray facility, which allows it to report a defect without being able to specify the ineffective nozzle. Alternatively, the control system can measure in a particular way the current flowing in each pair of electrodes, which allows it to report the ineffective nozzle assembly.

[0066] In addition, any other connection means between the control system and the electrodes 12 of the different sets of nozzles may be used, such as a wireless connection or a multiplexed array.

[0067] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a pair of electrodes 12 forming a rigid metal comb disposed in a vertical plane perpendicular to the spray jet 16, comprising the alternating strips of each electrode disposed horizontally. Each side of the comb includes an electric wire 14 connected to an electrode 12, for the connection with the control system.

[0068] The comb is inserted into the spark gap 10 a little before its end tip, so as to have its two sides opposite the spray jet 16 passing therethrough. Particularly, the spark gap 10 can be made by overmolding a plastic material around the comb.

[0069] In the same manner, the spray jet 16 humidifies the surfaces of the electrodes 12 thereby performing an electrical conduction therebetween.

[0070] FIG. 6 shows a comb forming the electrodes 12. The number of horizontal strips 20, their lengths and their spacings define, with the presence of humidity, an electrical conduction capacity which is calculated to allow a dry resistivity variation that is easily measurable by the control system.

[0071] FIG. 7 shows a nozzle assembly for an air-assisted spray. The air flow 8 guided by the diverging air diffuser 18 takes the treatment product flowing out of this nozzle in the form of very fine droplets in order to form the spray jet 16.

[0072] In this case a support 30 is disposed which supports a pair of electrodes 12 formed on one side of the spray jet 16 to reduce disturbance to the jet.

[0073] In the same manner, the spray jet 16 humidifies the surface of the electrodes 12, which is measured by the control system to detect that the treatment product has stopped.

[0074] FIG. 8 shows a nozzle assembly comprising several dispensing orifices 4 disposed in parallel for a non-air assisted spray, which receive the treatment product with a sufficient pressure to directly produce, without an additional air jet, the bursting of this product at the outlet of these orifices, and the projection of spray jets 16.

[0075] As for the air-assisted spray shown in FIG. 7, a support 30 receiving a pair of electrodes 12 is disposed in front of each orifice 4 to detect the absence of outflow of the product through this orifice.

[0076] In addition, a small pressurized air jet injector 40 giving a small air flow rate directed directly onto the electrodes is added opposite each pair of electrodes 12, in order to dry them rapidly in case the treatment product stops to flow. In this manner, a rapid drying of the electrodes 12 allowing to report without delay to the driver the clogging of the nozzles 4 is obtained with a low consumption of pressurized air.

[0077] Alternatively, any other rapid drying system of the electrodes 12 may be disposed, in particular by a supply of calories, for example with an infrared radiant system.

[0078] In general, reliable detection is obtained in a simple, cost-effective and efficient manner, allowing to detect very quickly that a spray jet has stopped, which does not require a particular attention for the driver.

[0079] FIG. 9 illustrates an agricultural vehicle 1, such as an agricultural tractor, equipped with a device for spraying the treatment product 2. The spray device is a spray bar 3 of the treatment product 2. The spray bar 3 includes the nozzle assembly as described above. Without this being restrictive, the spray bar 3 is provided to pass over the rows of plantations and thus treat these rows from above. Alternatively, such a spray bar 3 may be a lateral bar provided to extend laterally with respect to the agricultural vehicle 1 in order to span several rows of plantations.

[0080] Of course, the present disclosure is not limited to the various forms described and represented.

[0081] Thus, the electrodes could be integrated with other portions of the nozzle assembly, such as the wall of the diffuser 18

[0082] The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.