Agricultural Sprayer and Agricultural Sprayer Arm in Composite Construction

Abstract

The invention relates to an agricultural sprayer arm to attach a conduit spreading a good, with multiple foldable segments articulately attached to each other, the shape of at least one segment of which is determined by longitudinal beams mainly loaded by traction and diagonal braces connected thereto and mainly loaded by pressure and/or torsion, wherein the longitudinal beams are made of fiber reinforced material and the diagonal braces are made of a light alloy. The invention also relates to an agricultural sprayer comprising one such agricultural sprayer arm or two such agricultural sprayer arms.

Claims

1. An agricultural sprayer arm to attach a conduit for deployment of some commodities/goods, the agricultural sprayer arm comprising: multiple foldable segments articulately attached to each other, a shape of at least one segment of which is determined by longitudinal beams mainly underlying tensile stress loaded by traction; and diagonal braces connected thereto and mainly loaded by pressure and/or torsion, wherein the longitudinal beams are made of fiber-reinforced material and the diagonal braces are made of a light metal alloy.

2. The agricultural sprayer arm according to claim 1, wherein at least one segment comprises a bottom which is connected with some of the longitudinal beams.

3. The agricultural sprayer arm according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal beams are hollow.

4. The agricultural sprayer arm according to one of claim 1, wherein the agricultural sprayer arm comprises a distal segment comprising at least fiber-reinforced-material-containing surface component.

5. The agricultural sprayer arm according to claim 4, wherein the distal segment comprises three surface components which are connected with each other in a manner of one piece.

6. The agricultural sprayer arm according to claim 4, wherein a fluid conduit is attached to an inner side or to an outer side of a surface component oriented horizontally in an operation position.

7. The agricultural sprayer arm according to claim 1, wherein every two segments are connected by at least one actor causing a flapping action in an operating mode.

8. The agricultural sprayer arm according to claim 7, wherein the actor is attached with a force transmission to a longitudinal beam of one of the segments and a longitudinal beam or a surface component of another one of the segments.

9. The agricultural sprayer arm according to claim 1, wherein the longitudinal beams and the diagonal braces define a through tunnel.

10. An agricultural sprayer comprising one agricultural sprayer arm or two agricultural sprayer arms according to claim 1.

11. The agricultural sprayer arm according to claim 1, wherein at least one segment comprises a bottom which is connected with some of the diagonal braces.

12. The agricultural sprayer arm according to claim 1, wherein the diagonal braces are hollow.

13. The agricultural sprayer arm according to claim 4, wherein a bulk good conduit is attached to an inner side or to an outer side of a surface component oriented horizontally in an operation position.

14. An agricultural sprayer comprising two agricultural sprayer arms according to claim 1.

15. The agricultural sprayer arm according to claim 4, wherein the distal segment comprises three surface components which are connected with each other by at least one of: form fit, force fit and material fit.

Description

[0034] The invention will also be explained as below with the aid of a drawing.

[0035] FIG. 1 is a perspective representation of an agricultural sprayer arm constructed from three segments,

[0036] FIG. 2 is a side view of the agricultural sprayer arm along its longitudinal axis,

[0037] FIG. 3 is a partial sectional perspective view of a middle segment and the adjacent segments which are adjacent thereto and partially illustrated,

[0038] FIG. 4 is an enlargement of the area IV of FIG. 3,

[0039] FIG. 5 is a perspective representation which is similar to FIG. 1,

[0040] FIG. 6 is an enlargement of the area VI of FIG. 5 with a coupling of the individual components at nodes by means of clamps/spiders instead of mechanical connecting elements,

[0041] FIG. 7 is an enlargement of the area VII of FIG. 5 to simplify the hydraulic components at segment transitions by the means of clamps and rigid beam elements in perspective diagram,

[0042] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of the loads at the agricultural sprayer bar of the agricultural sprayer arm shown along/above the length of the agricultural sprayer arm,

[0043] FIG. 9 is a diagram of a coupling area of diagonal braces with longitudinal beams,

[0044] FIG. 10 is an alternative configurement of FIG. 9.

[0045] The drawings are merely schematic in nature and function to facilitate the understanding of the invention. The same reference signs are used to represent the same elements.

[0046] In FIG. 1, a first embodiment of an agricultural sprayer arm 1 according to the present invention is illustrated. The agricultural sprayer arm 1 can also be referred to as an agricultural sprayer bar or is formed at least partially by such a bar. The agricultural sprayer arm 1 is prepared to be attached to a vehicle. The agricultural sprayer arm 1 comprises for this propose a proximal end 2. On the other hand, a distal end 3 remains free. The proximal end 2 is attached, for example, to a tractor or an agricultural sprayer. However, this land vehicle is not illustrated.

[0047] The agricultural sprayer arm is provided to receive or fix a conduit, namely a fluid and/or bulk good conduit, which are also not illustrated.

[0048] The agricultural sprayer arm 1 comprises in the present embodiment three segments 4. In this case, there is a distal segment 5, a middle segment 6 and a proximal segment 7.

[0049] The middle segment 6 and the proximal segment 7 comprise respectively three longitudinal beams 8. The three longitudinal beams 8 of the segment 6 or 7 are connected with each other by multiple diagonal braces 9. For example, the uppermost, vertically highest longitudinal beam 8 is connected with the two vertically lower longitudinal beams 8 by three diagonal braces. However, at a node 10, a vertically lower longitudinal beam 8 is connected with the vertically higher longitudinal beam by only two diagonal braces 9. Ultimately, a truss or framework is formed.

[0050] The longitudinal beams 8 are made of fiber-reinforced material, in particular, carbon fiber reinforced plastic, whereas the diagonal braces 9 are made of aluminum.

[0051] While the structure of the middle segment 6 and the proximal segment 7 are similar, the structure of the distal segment 5 is completely different, since it is formed without diagonal braces 9, and in a special embodiment formed also without longitudinal beams 8. However, it uses multiple surface components 11, i.e. components that determine a closed surface. In particular, three surface components 11 are used, which are either connected with each other or formed in one piece.

[0052] The middle segment 6 and the proximal segment 7 comprise also a panel-type bottom 12, which comprises perforations 13. The perforations 13 are formed as circular holes, in particular through holes. The not illustrated fluid and/or bulk good conduit is thereby attached, such that the good transported by the conduit is spreadable through the perforations due to pressureand gravity.

[0053] A substantially horizontally oriented surface component 11 in the distal segment 5 comprises also perforations 13, so that a spreading of good from the conduit is there also possible.

[0054] The longitudinal beams 8 and diagonal braces 9 comprise a uniform thickness. The thickness of the longitudinal beams 8 is equal to or greater by the factor 0.75 or smaller than the wall thickness of the diagonal braces 9.

[0055] While the longitudinal beams 8 are mainly under tensile stresses, the diagonal braces 9 are mainly loaded by pressure and/or torsion.

[0056] Some hydraulic components 14, such as hydraulic cylinder 15 are present in the area of joints 16, such as swivel joints. At the end of the longitudinal beams 8, clamps or spiders 17 are present, by which the diagonal braces 9 are connected with the longitudinal beams 8.

[0057] The clamps 17 therefore partially circularly surround the longitudinal beams 8, and are attached to the diagonal braces 9 with a flat flange portion 18 (better shown in FIGS. 9 and 10). The clamps/spiders 17 are made of metal, for example, of an aluminum alloy. The clamps or spiders 17 comprise outside of a sectionwise circular bushing portion 19 hollow projection extensions 20 with a tapered outer contour. Each projection extension 20 is hollow. A hollow space 21 is therefore present between the peaks of the projection extension 20 and the bushing portion 19.

[0058] In FIG. 2, the forming of a through tunnel 22 by the diagonal beams 9 and the longitudinal braces 8 is apparent, as is the presence of a coupling component 23 to attach the proximal end 2 of the proximal segment 4 of the agricultural sprayer arm 1 to the land vehicle.

[0059] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a swivel bracket 25 is used. The hydraulic cylinder 15 is thus in operative connection with at least one swivel bracket 25. The longitudinal beams 8 are made of CFRP. The bottom 12 and the connection element formed as clamps/spiders 17 are made of aluminum. Likewise, the diagonal braces 9 can be made of aluminum, but can also be made alternatively or in combination from fiber-reinforced composite material, such as CFRP, or other suitable fiber-containing plastic conglomerates.

[0060] The distal segment 5 is completely made of CFRP, and comprises no reinforcing braces.

[0061] In the FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the clamps 17 are illustrated in more detail. The clamps 17 can also be referred to as rigid spider. A simplification of the hydraulic components at a segment transition via such spiders 17 and rigid beam elements is desired. A coupling of the nodes 10 via spiders 17 instead of mechanical connection elements has significant advantages. In the diagrams of FIGS. 5 to 7, the hydraulic components 14 are not apparent, although they are present.

[0062] In FIG. 8, the loads at the agricultural sprayer bar is illustrated, wherein the following relationship for the vertical acceleration a, applies:

[00001]$a_v=a_{v.Math..Math.\max }-\frac{x}{l_{\mathrm{gesamt}}}.Math.\left(a_{v.Math..Math.\max }-a_{v.Math..Math.\min }\right)$

[0063] In the example shown here, two outer segments 4 using only surface components 11 are utilized, and only the innermost segment 7 is formed as frame work.

[0064] In the FIGS. 9 and 10, the two connection components are shown in more detail in a position of two longitudinal beams 8. A geometry simplification during a component integration is to be noted, which leads to a reduction of the present component mass. Consideration of the different masses of the mass elements for rigid spiders 17 for each connection component was beneficial. In the segment A, a connection segment was achieved with only 275 g, whereas even in a segment B, a lower connection element weighed only 142 g. Connection element and higher beam balanced themselves out.

[0065] It has been proven that in the proximal segment, the diagonal braces has a wall thickness that is between 120% and 180% of the (sheet) thickness of the bottom, and the longitudinal beams have a wall thickness that is between 180% and 220%, for example, 200% of the (sheet) thickness of the bottom. Further, it is advantageous, if the bottom in the middle segment has the same thickness as the bottom in the proximal segment. However, the wall thickness of the distal component constructed only by surface components should be 30% greater than the bottom thickness, and/or correspond to the thickness of a diagonal beam, for example, a diagonal beam of the middle segment.

[0066] The fiber orientation should be selected corresponding to the traction, pressure and torsion load to be expected.

Reference Signs List

[0067] 1 agricultural sprayer arm

[0068] 2 proximal end

[0069] 3 distal end

[0070] 4 segment

[0071] 5 distal segment

[0072] 6 middle segment

[0073] 7 proximal segment

[0074] 8 longitudinal beam

[0075] 9 diagonal brace

[0076] 10 nodes

[0077] 11 surface component

[0078] 12 bottom

[0079] 13 perforation

[0080] 14 hydraulic component

[0081] 15 hydraulic cylinder

[0082] 16 joint

[0083] 17 clamp/spider

[0084] 18 flange portion

[0085] 19 bushing portion

[0086] 20 projection extension

[0087] 21 hollow space

[0088] 22 tunnel

[0089] 23 coupling component

[0090] 24 swivel bracket