EP3764783A1

EP3764783A1 - Agricultural spraying device

Info

Publication number: EP3764783A1
Application number: EP19711030.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Olaf Ohlhafer; Steffen SIES; Dieter Amesoeder; Hans-Arndt Freudigmann
Original assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Current assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
Priority date: 2018-03-13
Filing date: 2019-03-07
Publication date: 2021-01-20
Also published as: WO2019175001A1; BR112020014986A2; DE102018203766A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an agricultural spraying device (10) for dispensing a mixed spray liquid (20), comprising at least one spray nozzle (14) for spraying the spray liquid (20) and at least one mixing unit (30) fluidically connected to the spray nozzle (14) for mixing the spray liquid (20), wherein at least two feed lines (42, 44, 46, 48) for metering at least two different liquids to be mixed (A, B, C, TF) from respectively one tank (22, 24, 26, 28) into the mixing unit (30) are provided, wherein each of the supply lines (42, 44, 46, 48) is connected upstream of a conveying unit (32, 34, 36, 38) for conveying the respective liquid (A, B, C, TF). Each of the conveying units (32, 34, 36, 38) is connected downstream of a pressure valve (50, 52, 54, 56) with an adjustable opening pressure, wherein the opening pressures of the pressure valves (50, 52, 54, 56) can be adjusted to the same value by means of a control unit (60) in order to provide a constant delivery pressure of the liquids to be mixed (A, B, C, TF).

Description

description

title

Agricultural sprayer

The invention relates to an agricultural spray device for applying a mixed spray liquid, with at least one spray nozzle for

Spraying the spray liquid and at least one fluidically connected to the spray nozzle mixing unit for mixing the spray liquid, wherein at least two supply lines for the dosage of at least two different liquids to be mixed are provided from a respective tank in the mixing unit, each of the feed lines to a conveyor unit for

Conveying the respective liquid is connected upstream.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a use of pressure valves,

in particular pressure relief valves in an agricultural

Spray equipment.

State of the art

In today's agricultural crop protection measures (spraying), the spray mixture consisting of pesticides (combination of active ingredients and formulation materials), hereinafter referred to briefly as PSM, and a carrier liquid (TF) via nozzles in the form of a spray applied to the field. The spray mixture is premixed before the actual application in a central reservoir and conveyed by means of a conveyor to the individual spray nozzles. For spray generation it is necessary to provide the spray mixture with a certain pressure at the nozzles.

In addition to the spray characteristics, such as the drop size distribution, the set pressure also influences the volume flow flowing through a nozzle. So in the course of the injection process (also called application) a

Preset spray volume flow per surface can be applied by a nozzle at a constant, defined droplet spectrum, it is necessary to keep the pressure of the spray mixture as constant as possible or adjust it accordingly.

The still unpublished DE 10 2017 220 028 discloses a spraying device with conveying units for conveying liquid into a mixing valve for

Direct injection directly in front of the spray nozzle, wherein the conveyor units are adapted to each provide the same delivery pressure in all supply lines to avoid pressure deviations in the individual supply lines, which lead to different mixing ratios in the mixing valve.

Disclosure of the invention

According to the invention, each of the conveyor units in the agricultural spraying device is followed by a pressure valve with an adjustable opening pressure, wherein the opening pressures of the pressure valves by means of a

Control unit to the same value adjustable or controllable or

are controllable in order to provide a constant and in particular the same delivery pressure of the liquids to be mixed.

According to the invention, the use of pressure valves, in particular pressure relief valves in an agricultural spray device to provide a constant and in particular equal delivery pressure of liquids to be mixed, wherein the opening pressures of the pressure valves are adjustable by means of a control unit of the agricultural spray device to the same value.

The agricultural spray device may in particular be part of an agricultural field sprayer or a plant protection device or be designed as an agricultural field sprayer or a plant protection device. The spraying device can be arranged and / or arranged on or on a mobile unit. The mobile unit may be used as a land vehicle and / or Aircraft and / or trailer may be formed. The mobile unit may in particular be an agricultural work machine, for example a

Tractor, a tractor, a self-propelled or autonomous sprayer or a self-propelled or autonomous robot. The spray device may also be attached to a hydraulic device of the agricultural

Working machine to be grown. It is also conceivable that the spraying device is constructed on a loading surface of the agricultural machine.

Alternatively, the spray device may be attached to the agricultural machine.

The application of the spray liquid can take place on an agricultural area or an agricultural area. This can be understood as a field or a cultivated area for plants or even a plot of such a cultivated area. The agricultural area can thus be arable land, a grassland or a pasture. The plants may include, for example, crops whose fruit is used for agriculture (for example as food, feed or as an energy crop) as well as weeds, weeds and grass weeds. The plants can be part of the agricultural area.

The spray liquid preferably has at least one active agent liquid. However, the spray liquid may also have two or more active agent liquids. The active agent liquid may be a spraying agent, i. have a preparation or pesticide, in particular a pesticide concentrate. Accordingly, the active agent liquid may, for example, comprise a herbicide, fungicide or an insecticide (pesticide). However, the active agent liquid may also comprise a fertilizer, in particular a fertilizer concentrate. The active agent liquid can therefore a liquid fertilizer and / or a

Have growth regulator.

The spray liquid further preferably comprises a carrier liquid. In the context of the present invention, a carrier liquid can be understood as a liquid which is designed to mix with the active agent liquid in order to produce or deliver the active agent liquid, for example. permit or improve the pesticide or fertilizer. The carrier liquid is preferably water.

Accordingly, the spray liquid can be formed, for example, as: liquid, suspension, emulsion, solution or a combination thereof. The

Spray liquid is preferably designed as a plant protection agent diluted with water or fertilizer diluted with water. The spray liquid can be a spray mixture.

The metering valves are part of the mixing unit. That is, in other words, that the mixing unit has the metering valves. Accordingly, the mixing unit can be designed as a mixing valve. In this case, the metering valves can be fluidically connected to the mixing lines by means of the feed lines to a mixing chamber of the mixing unit.

Each feed line is preceded by a feed unit. This is not intended to mean that each supply line must be preceded by its own delivery unit. Rather, this means that several feed lines and a common feed unit can be connected upstream. However, it is important that each delivery line, a delivery unit, whether jointly or solely, is connected upstream to the desired delivery pressure to the respective metering valve

provide. Thus, in particular in each case a conveyor unit the

Dosing valves upstream with a common supply line. In particular, it is provided that the conveyor units are identical.

Under a line can in the context of the present invention, a

Conduction arrangement with branches or a section of the

appropriate line understood. The line may be formed as a fluidic connection line, for example. In the form of a tube, tube, channel or a tube.

The delivery unit is designed to convey or direct a liquid and / or a granulate under pressure, in particular to meter it. Accordingly, the delivery unit can, for example, in each case one / a / one or more pumps, Feed pumps, dosing pumps, accumulators, screw conveyors, valves, diaphragms etc. include.

The mixing unit is preferably arranged in the region of the spray nozzle. The mixing unit can thus be arranged as a final mixing unit in front of the spray nozzle. Preferably, each spray nozzle is assigned a separate mixing unit. That is, in other words, that a mixing unit is arranged upstream of each spray nozzle.

The supply lines of the spray device can at least a first

Inlet line for the metering of at least one carrier liquid and at least three second feed lines for metering three different,

especially dilute solvent liquids.

The mixing chamber may have a static mixer or be designed as a static mixer. As a result, the mixing of the

Enhanced agent liquids with each other or with the carrier liquid and achieved an optimal application result. Preferably, the

Active agent liquids already prediluted in order to increase the total discharge.

The pressure valves are preferably designed as pressure relief valves.

Further, preferably, each pressure valve is associated with a return line, by means of which the excess liquid in the corresponding tank is traceable.

The inventive agricultural spray device, it is now possible to easily and inexpensively compensate for pressure fluctuations and pressure control or regulation with a constant and in particular the same delivery pressure on all supply lines almost independent of the set delivery pressure of the conveyor units perform on all supply lines of the spray nozzle unit. This is achieved by the fact that pressure valves are arranged in the supply lines in the wake of the conveyor units, which are adjustable or controllable or regulated to a common value. The constant delivery pressure or the constant delivery pressures are particularly important in systems of the type mentioned, since the required

Mixing ratio over defined flow resistance in the mixing unit in Combination with constant and in particular same delivery pressures of the liquid streams is achieved at the inlet lines of the mixing unit and thus deviations in the pressure of the liquid streams lead to deviations from the desired mixing ratio in the mixing unit. Furthermore, it is possible to significantly reduce the requirements for the central pressure control device of an agricultural spray device, which is designed for the selective application of spray liquid.

It is advantageous if the pressure valves are pressure-controlled.

In other words, that the pressure valves are designed such that the opening pressure of the pressure valves is adjustable pressure-dependent. In this case, it is particularly advantageous if the control unit has a control pressure source which can be fluidly connected or connected to the pressure valves by means of a control pressure line in order to set the opening pressures to the same value via a control pressure. In this case, a control device for controlling and / or regulating the control pressure of the control pressure source can be provided. The fluid in the control pressure line can be liquid or gaseous. By this measure, the opening pressures of the pressure-controlled pressure valves can be brought very easily and inexpensively via a common control pressure line corresponding to the control pressure simultaneously to the same pressure value or to the same pressure level.

It is also advantageous if each inlet line in the mixing unit is associated with an actuatable valve. It is particularly advantageous if the control unit has a control device by means of which the valves are selectively actuated such that in a leading from the mixing unit to the spray nozzle drain line regardless of the operation of the valves or

Wiring of the supply lines a constant volume flow of

Spray fluid results. By this measure, it is possible to make a rapid and appropriate plant protection measure, it being ensured that the total application rate or the at least one spray nozzle supplied volume flow regardless of the number of

dosed drug liquids remains constant. This ensures optimum application of pesticides in a field. It is particularly advantageous if the actuatable valves are each formed the same. This results in a high number of identical parts, which ensures easy installation and a cost-effective provision of the spray device. In addition, this ensures that due to the same design of the valves, the valves each have the same flow resistance and the same

Make flow cross sections available.

Further advantages and preferred features and combinations of features emerge in particular from the previously described and from the claims.

In the following, the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Show this

1 shows an agricultural spray device in one

simplified representation; and

Figure 2 is a schematic detail view of a

Spray device according to the invention.

In the following description of preferred embodiments of the present invention are for the in the various figures

represented and similar elements acting the same or similar

Reference numeral used, wherein a repeated description of the elements is omitted.

FIG. 1 shows, in a simplified representation, an agricultural one

Spray device 10 which is arranged on a trained as a tractor vehicle 12. The spray device 10 has a plurality of spray nozzles 14, wherein the spray nozzles 14 are arranged distributed over a cross member 16 side by side. The vehicle 12 pulls the cross member 16 and the spray nozzles 14 behind it, so that the spray nozzles 14 above a bottom 18, to apply a spray liquid 20 and a plant protection agent 20 on the ground 18 and any plants located thereon. The vehicle 12 also carries a plurality of tanks 22, 24, 26 for this purpose and 28, wherein in the tanks 22, 24 and 26 each have a liquid Wirkmitel A, B or C, and in the tank 28 a carrier liquid TF, in particular in the form of water is kept in stock. The tanks 22 to 28 are connected to the spray nozzles 14 by one or more mixing units 30. To promote the respective liquid A, B, C, TF, each tank 22-28 is assigned a delivery unit 32, 34, 36 and 38, by means of which the respective liquid A, B, C, TF can be removed and fed to the mixing unit 30.

While in the following embodiment, three different

However, it is to be understood that the spray device 10 may also comprise more or fewer drug agent tanks than drug carriers 22, 24 and 26 are shown and described.

The injection device 10 also has a control device 40.

FIG. 2 shows in a simplified detailed view of the spray device 10, in which the four tanks 22-28, the associated conveyor units 32-38 and two of the spray nozzles 14 are shown. The spraying nozzles 14 are preceded in each case by a mixing unit 30 which is connected in each case to the conveying units 32-38 by a feed line 42, 44, 46, 48. Thus, each of the mixing unit 30 with the respective liquid A, B, C, TF acted upon, wherein the mixing unit 30 is adapted to set a desired mixing ratio of the individual liquids A, B, C, TF together and supply the respective spray nozzle 14.

In order to be able to compensate for pressure fluctuations and to be able to provide a constant and in particular the same delivery pressure of the liquids A, B, C, TF to be mixed, each of the delivery units 32-38 is followed by a respective pressure valve 50, 52, 54, 56. The pressure valves 50-56 are in this case designed as pressure limiting valves 50-56 with an adjustable opening pressure. The pressure relief valves 50-56 are pressure-controlled, ie, the opening pressure is adjustable depending on the pressure. Each pressure valve 50-56 or pressure relief valve 50-56 is associated with a return line, by means of which the excess liquid A, B, C, TF in the corresponding tank 22, 24, 26, 28 is traceable. Further, a control unit 60 is provided, which is formed, the

Opening pressures of the pressure valves 50-56 to set or regulate to the same value or the same pressure level. For this purpose, the control unit 60 has a control pressure source 62 and a control pressure line 64, by means of which the control pressure source 62 fluidly connected to the pressure valves 50, 56 connected, so that the pressure valves 50-56 on the control pressure of the control unit 60 and the control pressure source 62nd can be adjusted or regulated to the same value or the same pressure level. The control unit further comprises the control device for controlling and / or regulating the control pressure of the control pressure source 62.

Claims

claims

1. Agricultural spray device (10) for applying a

mixed spray liquid (20), with at least one spray nozzle (14) for ejecting the spray liquid (20) and at least one with the spray nozzle (14) fluidly connected mixing unit (30) for mixing the

Spray liquid (20), wherein at least two supply lines (42, 44, 46, 48) for the metering of at least two different liquids to be mixed (A, B, C, TF) from a respective tank (22, 24, 26, 28) in the mixing unit (30) are provided, wherein each of the feed lines (42, 44, 46, 48) is preceded by a conveyor unit (32, 34, 36, 38) for conveying the respective liquid (A, B, C, TF) characterized in that each of the conveyor units (32, 34, 36, 38) is a pressure valve (50, 52, 54, 56) connected downstream of an adjustable opening pressure, wherein the

Opening pressures of the pressure valves (50, 52, 54, 56) by means of a control unit (60) are adjustable to the same value to a constant

Delivery pressure of the liquids to be mixed (A, B, C, TF)

provide.

2. Agricultural spray device (10) according to claim 1, characterized

in that the pressure valves (50, 52, 54, 56) are pressure-controlled.

3. agricultural spray device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit (60) has a control pressure source (62), which by means of a control pressure line (64) fluidly connected to the pressure valves (50, 52, 54, 56) and / or connected to set the opening pressures to the same value via a control pressure.

4. Agricultural spray device (10) according to claim 3, characterized

characterized in that the control unit (60) has a control device (40). for controlling and / or regulating the control pressure of the control pressure source (62).

5. Agricultural spray device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pressure valves (50, 52, 54,

56) are designed as pressure limiting valves (50, 52, 54, 56).

6. agricultural spray device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each pressure valve (50, 52, 54, 56) is associated with a return line (58) by means of which the excess liquid (A, B, C, TF) in the corresponding tank (22, 24, 26, 28) is traceable.

7. Agricultural spray device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each feed line (42, 44, 46, 48) in the mixing unit (30) is associated with an actuatable metering valve.

8. Agricultural spray device (10) according to claim 7, characterized

characterized in that the actuatable metering valves are each formed the same.

9. Agricultural spray device (10) according to claim 7 or 8,

characterized by a control device (40), by means of which the metering valves are selectively actuated such that in one of the mixing unit (30) to the spray nozzle (14) leading drain line regardless of the operation of the metering valves or wiring of the supply lines (42, 44, 46, 48) results in a constant volume flow of the spray liquid (20).

10. Agricultural spray device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mixing unit (30) is designed as a mixing valve (30).

11. Agricultural spray device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the supply lines (42, 44, 46, 48) at least a first supply line (48) for metering at least one Carrier liquid (TF) and at least three second supply lines (42, 44, 46) for the dosage of three different, in particular pre-diluted active agent liquids (A, B, C).

12. Use of pressure valves (50, 52, 54, 56), in particular

Pressure relief valves (50, 52, 54, 56) in an agricultural spray device (10) to a constant delivery pressure of

to provide mixing liquids (A, B, C), wherein the

Opening pressures of the pressure valves (50, 52, 54, 56) by means of a control unit (60) of the agricultural spray device (10) are adjustable to the same value.