WO2022084912A1

WO2022084912A1 - Mobile equipment and method for sanitization with ozone of open field or greenhouse crops

Info

Publication number: WO2022084912A1
Application number: PCT/IB2021/059719
Authority: WO
Inventors: Federico PONTI; Fabiano SENESE; Luca GAMBERINI
Original assignee: Met Medical Equipment Technologies S.R.L.; G.R. Gamberini S.R.L.
Priority date: 2020-10-21
Filing date: 2021-10-21
Publication date: 2022-04-28
Also published as: EP4231825A1

Abstract

A mobile equipment (1), provided for sanitizing crops (C) in the field or greenhouse, is mounted on a supporting structure (10) on wheels (11), which may be a trailer (R) of an agricultural tractor (T) or it can be equipped with its own engine. The equipment (1) comprises a pair of diffuser panels (12), symmetrical with respect to the supporting structure (10), with spray nozzles (5) distributed therein to atomize ozonized water (H). If the crop (C) is low, the diffuser panels (12) are kept horizontal, almost parallel to the ground; on the contrary, if the crop includes fruit plants (P), the diffuser panels (12) are arranged vertically and have a flared horizontal section. Ejector nozzles (6) of compressed air (A), provided in the diffuser panels (12), are operated at the same time as said spray nozzles (5) of ozonized water (H), to shake the leaves of said crops (C) arranging them with variable and random positions, uniforming and improving the distribution of ozonized water (H) on their surface.

Description

MOBILE EQUIPMENT AND METHOD FOR SANITIZATION WITH OZONE OF OPEN FIELD OR GREENHOUSE CROPS

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of agricultural equipment for the treatment of crops, aimed at achieving optimal development of the crops and eliminating microorganisms harmful to the health of plants, such as bacteria, molds and various parasites.

BACKGROUND ART

Phytosanitary products, pesticides, fungicides and the like are normally used for this purpose, which are very often synthetic chemical preparations provided by large industries.

These preparations, however, have a number of known contraindications, both for agricultural products to be sold and for plants and soils, mostly due to their long residence times.

Before being put on the market, the harvested product is often treated with detergents and disinfectants to improve its appearance to the consumer, but also to remove any residues of treatments received during growth and maturation, which are harmful to the consumers health.

TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Therefore, there is a continuous search for solutions that allow to reduce the use of fertilizers and chemical treatments in crops, both in the field or greenhouse, maintaining as much as possible the positive effects that these preparations allow to obtain in terms of protection from parasites, product appearance and crop yield.

The reduction of the use of such toxic substances results in economic savings but especially in important benefits for the environment and the health of living beings, humans, animals and plants.

Sanitization systems are known that involve the use of ozone mixed with water to reduce the bacterial load of objects or food products.

In particular, with regard to this last application, the Applicant has filed an International PCT patent application published under No. WO201 6/075620.

These documents intend to defend the originality of the application of ozonized water inside a closed place, such as a greenhouse, either by wetting the soil and crops using a fixed dispensing system, distributed over the entire surface to be treated or part of it, in order to sanitize the crops and the growth medium, by exploiting the disinfecting and germicidal power of ozone.

Since the persistence of ozone on the surfaces is limited to a few minutes, it can be taken for granted that the so treated fruit and vegetables, when placed on the market, are completely free of toxic substances, even if the treatment precedes the sale and/or consumption.

Considering the excellent results obtained in greenhouse, the Applicant intends to develop the technical solution suitable for use in the field as well as in greenhouse, overcoming with the present invention the new technical problems.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, it is the object of the invention to provide a mobile equipment for the sanitization with ozone of crops in the field or greenhouse, designed to operate independently from fixed installations, ensuring a good working autonomy, depending on the extent of the crop to be treated. Another object of the invention is to allow an optimal sanitization with ozone both of low crops, substantially on the ground, and crops with taller plants, such as orchards or other crops that extend vertically.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the equipment with original technical measures capable of improving the application of ozonized water, making it more uniform on the surface of plants, foliage and soil.

A further object of the invention is to obtain an equipment which allows to adjust its operating positions so as to adapt to the type of crops on the ground or to the height of the plants to be treated.

A still further object of the invention is to obtain an equipment whose overall dimensions can be reduced when not in operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are fully obtained by means of a mobile equipment for sanitizing with ozone crops in the field or greenhouse, with said equipment being of the type comprising at least means for supplying a mixture of water and ozone in predetermined proportions, a pump for liquids, connected to said means for supplying a mixture of water and ozone and destined to take ozonized water and pressurize it, and a plurality of nozzles, connected to the outlet of said pump by means of suitable hydraulic hoses, for spraying ozonized water in atomized form to said crops.

The above mentioned equipment further comprises:

- a wheeled supporting structure, provided to support at least part of the components of the equipment and adapted to move on the grounds in which said crops are present;

- at least one diffuser panel, associated with said supporting structure, provided with a plurality of said nozzles spraying ozonized water, suitably oriented and distributed to direct water towards said crops.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the invention will be apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments of the mobile equipment for sanitizing with ozone the crops in the field or greenhouse under discussion, in accordance with what has been proposed in the claims and with help of the enclosed figures, in which:

- Fig. 1 is a partial schematic plan view of a first embodiment of the equipment under discussion;

- Fig. 2 is a rear view of the equipment of Fig. 1 ;

- Fig. 3 is an axonometric view of an element of the equipment of Figs. 1 and 2;

- Fig. 4 is a partial view of the detail of Fig. 3 in enlarged scale, during an operation step of the equipment;

- Fig. 5 is a partial schematic plan view of a second embodiment of the equipment;

- Fig. 6 is a section view in enlarged scale taken along the plane VI-VI of Fig. 5;

- Fig. 7 is a rear view of the equipment of Fig. 5;

- Fig. 8 is a partial axonometric view of the component of the equipment of Fig. 6;

- Fig. 9 is a schematic view of the structure of the ozone generating devices and mixers to obtain the ozonized water.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the above figures, the mobile equipment for sanitizing crops with ozone as a whole, proposed by the invention, has been indicated with reference number 1 .

The mobile equipment 1 is mainly applied in the treatment of crops C in the field, although its use in greenhouse is not excluded.

In a known way, the mobile equipment 1 comprises means 2 for supplying a mixture of water and ozone in predetermined proportions, a pump for liquids 3, connected to said means 2 for supplying a mixture of water and ozone and intended to take ozonized water H and pressurize it, and a plurality of nozzles 5, connected to the outlet of said pump 3 by means of suitable hydraulic hoses 4, for spraying ozonized water H in atomized form to said crops C.

According to a preferred embodiment, in the examples shown in the figures, the above-mentioned means 2 for supplying a mixture of water and ozone comprise a water tank 20, ozone generating means 21 and mixing means 22 for preparing the ozonized water H.

In particular, the ozone generating means 21 preferably comprise (see a block diagram in figure 9) an oxygen generating device or oxygen concentrator 121 , aimed at producing pure oxygen or oxygen at concentrations close to 100% starting from atmospheric air and making it available at its outlet port, and an ozone generating device 122, connected to the aforementioned outlet port of the generating device or concentrator 121 , aimed at receiving oxygen produced thereby and at converting at least part of it into ozone, according to well-known techniques that will not be described in further detail.

The use of pure oxygen, instead of atmospheric air, in the generation of ozone, and the on-site production of oxygen is a characterizing aspect of the present invention and allow an increase of the efficiency in the production of ozone and ensures a continuous production suited to all possible operational needs.

At the outlet of the ozone generator device 122 there are connected the above mentioned mixing means 22, intended to receive a flow of water from the aforementioned tank 20 and a flow of ozone from the generator 122, in order to obtain a mixture of water and ozone (ozonized water) with a concentration close to or equal to the saturation concentration typical of the local atmospheric temperature and pressure.

According to the invention, in order to further improve the efficiency of mixing of ozone with water, the mixing means 22 comprise two mixing stages.

A first, more conventional mixing stage consisting of an injection pre-mixer 221 comprises the injection of ozone into a flow of water within a venturi. A second turbulence mixing stage 222, situated downstream of the pre-mixer 221 , is aimed at prolonging the contact of water with residual ozone, not yet dissolved after the passage through the pre-mixer 221 and to increase its concentration in the flow of water.

The turbulence mixer 222, illustrated in figure 9, in the shown examplary embodiment, is formed by a cylindrical container 223, provided with an inlet port 224 situated in its lower part and with a plurality of baffles 225 situated therein, which are preferably but not exclusively cylindrical and coaxial with one another, aimed at imposing a tortuous path of the flow of water, up to an outlet 226 situated in the upper part of the container 223, the path being indicated with arrows in figure 9. Such path facilitates the stirring of the ozonized water, prolongs the duration of its contact with the not yet dissolved ozone and facilitates its further mixing.

In this way it has been experimentally verified that it is easy to obtain values of ozone concentration at the outlet port 226 equal or close to the saturation values.

The turbulence mixer 222 further comprises an automatic degassing valve 227, situated in the upper part thereof, and a discharge port 228 for periodic emptying of the container 223 for maintenance purposes. The degassing valve is situated at the bottom of the container 223 and is provided with suitable closing means, not illustrated.

It is obvious that the shape and dimensions of the turbulence mixer 222 as described, as well as the number and conformation of the baffles 225, may vary depending on specific requirements, such as optimizing the mixing of the pre-mixed water or the space available for installation.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown nor described in detail since of simple and immediate understanding, far more simply, the means 2 for supplying ozonized water present in the mobile equipment 1 can comprise a tank containing ozonized water H, prepared previously in the desired concentration in a fixed installation located in another site, and then introduced into said tank.

Obviously, the capacity of the tank for water, whether natural or already ozonized, is calibrated so as to guarantee the equipment sufficient working autonomy.

According to the invention, the mobile equipment 1 further comprises:

- a supporting structure 10 set on wheels 11 and provided to support at least part of the components of the equipment 1 , the supporting structire being adapted to move on the grounds in which said crops C are present;

- at least one diffuser panel 12, associated with said supporting structure 10, provided with a plurality of said nozzles 5 spraying ozonized water H, which are suitably oriented and distributed so as to direct water towards said crops C.

Advantageously, there are two of said diffuser panels 12 provided In the illustrated examplary embodiments, which are arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal symmetrical plane L of the supporting structure 10.

In the enclosed figures, the supporting structure 10 defines a trailer R, aimed at being towed by a tractor, for example an agricultural tractor T.

However, it is contemplated that the supporting structure 10 may be provided with its own driving parts, so as to define a self-propelled vehicle that moves autonomously.

Advantageously, the mobile equipment 1 comprises parts, not illustrated in detail since of a known type, for generating compressed air A to be fed to a plurality of ejector nozzles 6 suitably oriented and distributed in the at least one diffuser panel 12.

The ejector nozzles 6 of compressed air A are operated at the same time as the spray nozzles 5 of ozonized water H, to shake the leaves of said crops C arranging them with variable and random positions, thereby uniforming the distribution of ozonized water H on their surfaces.

Figures 1 to 4 illustrate an equipment 1 intended for crops C on the ground, in which each of the two diffuser panels 12, shaped like an arm, is hinged to said supporting structure 10, preferably at the rear part of the latter.

The diffuser panels 12 are movable, independently of each other, from a respective inoperative position N, in which they assume a substantially vertical position (dotted lines in Fig. 2), to a working position W, in which they are arranged substantially parallel to the ground and crosswise to a strip of said crops C to be treated with the ozonized water H.

Preferably, although not necessarily, said diffuser panels 12 are moved between the inoperative position N and working position W by power means, for example hydraulic means, not shown.

Each of said diffuser panels 12 further comprises, in addition to the normal fan spray nozzles 5, a certain number of omnidirectional spray nozzles 50, suitable for atomizing the ozonized water H in all directions (Figs. 3 and 4). In particular, such omnidirectional nozzles have a ball shape.

Each ball spray nozzle 50 is carried at the lower end of a corresponding flexible rod 51 , extending downwards from the body of the diffuser panel 12, so as to be located in proximity to the base of said crops C on the ground (see in particular Fig. 4).

Furthermore, it is contemplated that said flexible rods 51 may also support additional ejector nozzles 6 intended for ejecting compressed air, in addition to those already provided.

Figures 5 to 8 show an equipment 1 intended for crops C on plants P, in which each of the two diffuser panels 12 is arranged substantially vertical and lateral with respect to said supporting structure 10, so as to spray over plants P arranged therealong.

According to a preferred embodiment, the profile of each diffuser panel 12 is flared along a horizontal section, which resembles a bell, so that the intrados faces plants P (see in particular Fig. 6).

In such diffuser panel 12, the positions of said spray nozzles 5 of ozonized water H are advantageously more central in said flared profile with respect to said ejector nozzles 6 of compressed air A.

This allows the operation range of the spray nozzles 5 of ozonized water H to be concentrated where the agitation of the foliage induced by the jets of compressed air A is stronger, and moreover two air barriers are created along the vertical sides of the respective diffuser panel 12, that avoid the dispersion of the ozonized water H outward of the plant P (see Figs. 6 and 8).

In order to better position each of the two diffuser panels 12 with respect to the plants P placed in front of them, corresponding first adjustment means 13 are provided, aimed at varying the position according to a horizontal direction, transversal to said supporting structure 10, and second adjustment means 14 aimed at varying their height.

Advantageously, the above mentioned movements of the diffuser panels 12 in horizontal and vertical direction are motorized by means of actuators 130, 140, associated with said first and second adjustment means 13, 14, so that each diffuser panel 12 is adjusted independently from the other (Fig. 7).

Depending on the characteristics of the crop C to be treated, it will be possible to operate during the forward movement of the equipment 1 at low speed or with the equipment stopped on the portion of the crop C to be treated.

Therefore, the method of sanitization according to the invention, advantageously carried out with the above described equipment, comprises substantially the following operational steps:

- production of a flow of ozone in gaseous phase in ozone generating means 21 ;

- feeding of an injection mixing device 221 with a water flow from a tank 20 and with said ozone flow, to obtain a water flow with ozone dissolved therein;

- feeding of a turbulence mixing device 222 with said pre-mixed flow of water and further mixing of at least part of the residual ozone not yet dissolved in water, to produce ozonized water with an ozone concentration equal or almost equal to the saturation concentration thereof;

- the above mentioned tank 20, ozone generating means, injection mixing device 221 and turbulence mixing device 222 being installed in a supporting structure 10 on wheels 11 , intended to transport them through the above mentioned crop, in the field or greenhouse;

- force feeding of the flow of ozonized water to one or more diffuser panels 12, likewise mounted on the aforesaid supporting structure 10, provided each with a plurality of spray nozzles 5 for spraying the crop with the above mentioned ozonized water.

Preferably, the production of the aforementioned flow of ozone begins from a flow of pure oxygen or with oxygen concentrations higher than 80%.

Preferably, the aforementioned flow of pure oxygen or with oxygen concentrations higher than 80% is produced on site, beginning from atmospheric air, in an oxygen generating device or oxygen concentrator 121 being part of the aforementioned ozone generating means 21 .

It is clear from the above description how the equipment proposed by the present invention is capable of sanitizing with ozonized water both open field and greenhouse crops, being able to work autonomously, independently from fixed plants and ensuring a good working autonomy, depending on the extent of the crop to be treated.

The enclosed figures show schematically but clearly that it is easy to realize different versions of the equipment, suitable for low cultivations, substantially on the ground, or destined more to plantations, such as orchards, obtaining in any case sanitizing treatments, which are efficacious, uniform and without waste of ozonized water.

For all these versions of the equipment, the technical solution which combines blowing of compressed air together with ozonized water is extremely advantageous to move the plants and the foliage facilitating in this way the application of ozonized water.

With particular reference to the version of the equipment suitable for cultivation on the ground, the technical solution offers an advantageous aspect that allows the diffuser panels hinged to the arm to be carried vertically, so as to greatly reduce the overall dimensions of the machine during transfer movements. With particular reference to the version of the equipment suitable for fruit plants or the like, it is necessary to point out the usefulness of the devices that allow both horizontal and vertical adjustment of each diffuser panel, according to the characteristics of the plant. However, it is understood that what is described above is illustrative and not limiting, therefore any detail variations that may be necessary for technical and/or functional reasons are considered from now on within the same protection scope defined by the claims below.

Claims

CLAIMS A mobile equipment for sanitization with ozone of open field or greenhouse crops, with said equipment (1 ) being of the type comprising at least means (2) for supplying a mixture water and ozone, or ozonized water (H), in predetermined proportions, a pump for liquids (3), connected to said means (2) for supplying a mixture of water and ozone and aimed at taking ozonized water and pressurizing it, and a plurality of nozzles (5), connected to the outlet of said pump (3) by means of suitable hydraulic hoses (4), for spraying ozonized water (H) in atomized form to said crops (C), said equipment (1) being characterized in that it further comprises:

- a supporting structure (10) on wheels (11 ), provided to support at least part of the components of the equipment (1 ) and adapted to move on the grounds in which said crops (C) are present;

- at least one diffuser panel (12), associated with said supporting structure (10), provided with a plurality of said spray nozzles (5) of ozonized water (H), suitably oriented and distributed to direct water towards said crops (C);

- said means (2) for supplying a mixture of water and ozone comprising ozone generating means (21 ) and mixing means (22) of said ozone with water to produce ozonized water (H), said mixing means (22) in turn comprising an injection mixing device (221), aimed at pre-mixing of water with said flow of ozone, and a turbulence mixing device (222), hydraulically connected to the outlet of said injection mixing device (221 ) and aimed at extending the path of said flow of water and producing turbulence therein, in order to prolong the contact time of said water with residual ozone not yet dissolved therein and to increase its concentration. An equipment according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises means for generating compressed air (A) to be fed to a plurality of ejector nozzles (6) suitably oriented and distributed in said at least one diffuser panel (12), said ejector nozzles (6) for ejecting compressed air (A) being operated at the same time as said spray nozzles (5) of ozonized water (H), to shake the leaves of said crops (C), so as to move them to variable and random positions, thus making the distribution of ozonized water (H) uniform on their surface. Equipment according to claim 1 or 2 intended for crops (C) on the ground, characterized in that said at least one diffuser panel (12) is hinged to said supporting structure (10) and is movable from an inoperative position (N), in which it assumes a substantially vertical attitude, to a working position (W), in which it is arranged substantially parallel to the ground and crosswise to a strip of said crops (C) to be treated with said ozonized water (H), and in that power means are provided for moving said at least one diffuser panel (12) between said inoperative (N) and working (W) positions. An equipment according to claim 3, characterized in that omnidirectional spray nozzles (50) aimed at atomizing said ozonized water (H) in all directions are provided in said at least one diffuser panel (12), with each of the nozzles being associated with a corresponding flexible rod (51 ), extending downwards from said diffuser panel (12), so as to be located in proximity to the base of said crops (C) on the ground. An equipment according to claim 4, characterized in that said omnidirectional spray nozzles (50) have a ball shape. An equipment according to claim 1 or 2 intended for crops (C) on plants (P), characterized in that said at least one diffuser panel (12) is arranged substantially vertical and lateral with respect to said supporting structure (10), so as to spray over plants (P) arranged next to the latter, in that it is flared along a horizontal section, so that the intrados is facing said plants (P), and in that said spray nozzles (5) of ozonized water (H) have more central position in said flared profile with respect to said ejector nozzles (6) of compressed air (A). An equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that first adjustment means (13) are provided for the variation of the position of said at least one diffuser panel (12) according to a horizontal direction, crosswise to said supporting structure (10), in that second adjustment means (14) are provided for varying the position of said at least one diffuser panel (12) according to a vertical direction, and in that actuators (130, 140) are provided, associated with said first and second adjustment means (13, 14) for motorized movement of said at least one diffuser panel (12) in both horizontal and vertical directions. An equipment according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that two diffuser panels (12) are provided, arranged symmetrically with respect to the longitudinal center line plane (L) of said supporting structure (10). An equipment according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said supporting structure (10) defines a trailer (R), aimed at being towed by a mover vehicle (T). An equipment according to any one of the previous claims, characterized in that said supporting structure (10) defines a self- propelled vehicle, provided with its own driving parts. An equipment according to claim 1 , characterized in that said turbulence mixing device (222) comprises a container (223), provided with an inlet port (224) situated in the lower part thereof and, a plurality of baffles (225) situated therein intended to impose a tortuous path of the flow of water, up to an outlet port (226) of said container (223). A method for sanitization with ozone of open field or greenhouse crops, carried out with the sanitizing equipment (1 ) according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the following operating steps: - production of a flow of ozone in gaseous phase in ozone generating means (21 ); - feeding of an injection mixing device (221 ) with a flow of water from a tank (20) and with said flow of ozone to obtain a flow of water pre-mixed with ozone dissolved therein; - feeding a turbulence mixing device (222) with said flow of pre-mixed water and further mixing of at least part of the residual ozone not yet dissolved in water, to produce ozonized water with an ozone concentration equal or close to the saturation concentration thereof; - said tank (20), ozone generating means, injection mixing device (221 ) and turbulence mixing device (222) being installed in a supporting structure (10) mounted on wheels (1 1 ), intended to transport them through the above mentioned crop, in the field or greenhouse; forced feeding of the flow of ozonized water to one or more diffuser panels (12), likewise mounted on said supporting structure (10), and provided each with a plurality of spray nozzles (5) for spraying the crop with said ozonized water. A method according to claim 12, characterized in that the production of said flow of ozone in said ozone generating means (21 ) is carried out starting from a flow of pure oxygen or with oxygen concentrations higher than 80%. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that said flow of pure oxygen or with oxygen concentrations higher than 80% is 17 produced on site, obtaining it from atmospheric air, in an oxygen generating device or oxygen concentrator (121 ) being part of said ozone generating means (21).