Spraying device

Abstract

A spraying device for dispensing liquids, particularly for agricultural purposes, comprising a spray boom arrangement assigned to a vehicle and having at least one liquid line running transversely to the direction of travel and provided with spray nozzles at intervals, wherein at least one of the liquids to be dispensed can be supplied to the spray nozzles via the at least one liquid line in an adjustable quantity by at least one liquid pump conveying the carrier liquid from a liquid tank and generating the spray pressure, and at least one dosing pump conveying at least one active ingredient and feeding it into the carrier liquid in a metered manner, wherein the active ingredients are conveyed via at least one active ingredient line to the liquid line and fed into the carrier liquid upstream of the spray nozzles of the spray boom arrangement via at least one feed device into the liquid line,wherein a mixing device is arranged between the feed device for the active ingredient into the carrier liquid line and the spray nozzles of the spray bar arrangement in the supply line to the spray nozzles, wherein at least one sensor (18) for determining the concentration of the active ingredients in this line (5) is arranged at least in the supply line (5) between the mixing device (6) and the spray nozzles (3), characterized in that at least one sensor (20) for determining the concentration of the active ingredients in this line (12) is arranged upstream of the mixing device (6), or that at least one sensor (22) for determining the concentration of the carrier liquid is arranged upstream of the feed device and / or mixing device (6) in the liquid line (5) conducting the carrier liquid.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a spraying device according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

[0002] Such a spraying device is known, for example, from EP 1 932 424 A1. In such spraying devices, the spray agent is fed into the carrier liquid via dosing devices. However, there is no checking of the active ingredient concentration once the carrier liquid and active ingredient are mixed with one another in the so-called spray mixture to be applied. The prior art relies on the desired active ingredient concentration being achieved through the set mixing ratio, i.e. the set delivery rates of carrier liquid and active ingredient to one another. The concentration of the active ingredient in the carrier liquid is therefore set using appropriate dosing pumps or dosing devices. However, it is not possible to determine the actual concentration of the active ingredient within the liquid to be applied.

[0003] DE 39 04 759 A1 discloses a spraying device in which at least one sensor for determining the concentration of the active ingredients is arranged at least in the supply line between the mixing device and the spray nozzles. However, it has been shown that such a concentration determination is inadequate and / or error-prone.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of creating a simple way to determine the concentration of the active ingredient in the liquid to be dispensed more precisely.

[0005] This object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. As a result of these measures, the actual concentration of the active ingredient in the liquid being dispensed or being dispensed is measured and monitored by the concentration measurement. Based on the transmitted concentration value, the active ingredient concentration in the dispensed quantity can be monitored and controlled.

[0006] In order to be able to adjust the active ingredient concentration extremely precisely and easily, one embodiment of the invention provides for at least one sensor for determining the concentration of the active ingredients in the active ingredient line upstream of the mixing device. This initially determines the concentration of the active ingredient itself. This value forms a baseline for easily adjusting and determining the active ingredient concentration in the applied spray liquid using simplified control means. This allows the active ingredient concentration to be determined in a simple manner before it is fed into the carrier liquid.

[0007] A further improvement in the determination of the concentration of the active ingredient in the dispensed liquid can be achieved by arranging at least one sensor for determining the concentration of the active ingredients in the lines, at least in the active ingredient line upstream of the mixing device and at least in the supply line between the mixing device and the spray nozzles.

[0008] A further improvement according to the invention in determining the active ingredient concentration in the spray liquid applied can be achieved by arranging at least one sensor for determining the concentration of the carrier liquid in the liquid line carrying the carrier liquid upstream of the feed device and / or mixing device.

[0009] In some cases, it may be useful to pre-dilute the active ingredient using a premixing device, preferably with a carrier liquid. This is particularly advantageous for highly viscous active ingredients, as they can then be dosed more effectively and precisely.

[0010] A simple determination of the active ingredient concentration via a computer device can be achieved by providing a computer device, by connecting the computer device to the sensors via data transmission means, by transmitting the sensor data to the computer device via the data transmission device, and by being able to determine the concentration in the individual lines in the computer device by means of a stored evaluation program.

[0011] In order to be able to adjust and vary the active ingredient concentration in a simple manner, it is provided that quantity adjustment devices are arranged in the individual lines, that the quantity adjustment devices are connected to the computer device, that via the computer device a change in the concentration of the spray liquid to be applied can be adjusted and / or changed by changing the quantity flow in at least the active ingredient line by means of corresponding setting commands to the quantity adjustment devices.

[0012] Further details of the invention can be found in the example description and the drawings. Fig. 1 the fluid plan for the spray device according to the invention during premixing and predilution of a granulated or liquid active ingredient in the premixing container in a schematic and simplified representation and Fig. 2 the fluid plan of the spraying device according to the invention during the spraying process in a schematic and simplified representation.

[0013] The spraying device according to the invention according to the liquid plans according to the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 has a liquid tank 1 for holding carrier liquid, usually water, a liquid-delivering pump 2, and a line 5 leading to a spray boom 3, which is equipped with spray nozzles 4 and in which the mixing device 6 is arranged. The spray nozzles 4 are arranged at a distance from one another on the spray boom 3. The spray device also has the premixing container 7, which is connected via a branch 8 to the liquid-delivering pump 2 and the line 5 carrying the carrier liquid via line 9. This line 9 opens into the premixing container 7. A shut-off valve 10 is arranged in this line 9. Between the premixing container 7 and the line 5 leading from the liquid-delivering pump 2 to the spray boom 3, a line 12 is arranged which opens into this line 5 upstream of the mixing device 6, as seen in the flow direction 11.A metering pump 13 is arranged in this line 12, which leads from the premixing tank 7 to the line 5 leading from the pump 2 to the spray boom 3. A metering valve (not shown) is arranged in the line leading from the pump 2 to the spray boom 3, upstream of the inlet of the line 12 coming from the premixing tank 7. The line 12 opens into the carrier fluid line 5 behind the pump 2 arranged in the carrier fluid line 5, viewed in the flow direction 11 of the carrier fluid line 5.

[0014] The operation of the spray device according to the invention is as follows: In the liquid tank, carrier liquid 1, usually water, is first filled through a filling opening. In the premixing container 7, granulated or liquid active agent, such as Fig. 1, symbolically represented by containers 14. To dissolve the granulated active ingredient and to pre-dilute the added active ingredient, the pump 2 draws carrier liquid as a dilution liquid from the liquid tank and feeds it into the premixing container 7 via line 9. This dissolves the granulated active ingredient, and the liquid and granulated dissolved active ingredient is dissolved with the dilution liquid, usually water, before the liquid is dispensed and / or pre-diluted in the premixing container. A corresponding mixing and stirring device (not shown) in the premixing container 7 produces a homogeneous, pre-diluted active ingredient batch.

[0015] To apply the active agent to the respective target area via the spray nozzles 4, the shut-off valve 10 in the line 9 leading from the pump 2 into the premixing container 7 is removed from the Fig. 1 shown flow position to the one in Fig. 2, while the shut-off valve arranged in the line 5 and designed as a three-way valve 15 is moved from the position shown in Fig. 1 shown shut-off position to the one shown in Fig.2. Carrier liquid, usually water, is sucked in from the liquid tank 1 by the liquid-feeding pump 2 and pumped via line 5 to the spray nozzles 4 of the spray boom 3. The amount of carrier liquid supplied to the spray nozzles 4 is adjusted accordingly in terms of pressure and quantity via a dosing valve (not shown) which is arranged in line 5. At the same time, the pre-diluted active ingredient is sucked in from the premix container 7 via the dosing pump 1 and fed in a metered manner into the carrier liquid in line 5. The pre-diluted active ingredient is intensively mixed with the carrier liquid in the mixing device 6, so that a homogeneous spray mixture is produced which can be applied via the spray nozzles 4.

[0016] The premixing tank 7 has a capacity such that sufficient pre-diluted active ingredient is present in the premixing tank to feed the pre-diluted active ingredient into the carrier liquid contained in the liquid tank 1. The capacity of the premixing tank 7 is matched to the maximum carrier liquid capacity of the liquid tank. It has been determined that the capacity of the premixing tank 7 should be approximately 1 / 10 of the capacity of the liquid tank 1, or at least 100 liters.

[0017] In order to be able to keep the premixed active ingredient in a homogeneous solution even under difficult conditions, a stirring device (not shown) is assigned to the premixing container 7, which is fed via the line 16 from the dosing pump 13.

[0018] In order to be able to precisely determine the spray agent concentration in the spray liquid applied via the spray nozzles 4, the sensor 18 is arranged in section 17 of the line 5 between the mixing device 6 and the spray nozzles 3. The sensor 18 is connected to an electronic computer device (not shown) via data transmission means (not shown). The concentration of the active ingredients located in section 17 of the line 5 and applied via the spray nozzles 3 can be determined via the sensor 17 in conjunction with the electronic evaluation and control device, which can be designed, for example, as an on-board computer. The determined concentration value can be monitored via the electronic computer device and displayed by suitable means.

[0019] Furthermore, a further sensor 20 for determining the concentration of the active ingredient in line 12 is arranged in line 12, designed as an active ingredient line, upstream of the mixing device 6, before the active ingredient is fed into the carrier liquid line 5 in section 19. The concentration of the pre-diluted active ingredient(s) located in the mixing container 7 is determined via the sensor 20, which is also connected to the electronic computer device by means of data transmission means (not shown).

[0020] The two sensors 18 and 20 can therefore be used to determine the concentration of the active ingredient in the spray liquid and applied via the spray nozzles 3, taking into account the concentration of the active ingredient fed into the carrier liquid.

[0021] In line 5 supplying the carrier fluid to the system, a further sensor 22 is arranged in section 21. This sensor checks whether the carrier fluid already contains active ingredients or whether there are no active ingredients. If the carrier fluid already contains active ingredients, this sensor 22 can determine the active ingredients in the carrier fluid before the active ingredient is fed in via line 12 in conjunction with the computer device (not shown).

[0022] An evaluation program is stored in the computer memory in order to determine the concentration in the individual lines 5, 12.

[0023] Quantity adjustment devices are assigned to the individual lines 12, 5, 9, and 16. These quantity adjustment devices are connected to the computer device via suitable data transmission devices (not shown). Via the computer device, the concentration of the spray liquid to be applied, which is applied via the nozzles 3, can be adjusted or changed by issuing appropriate adjustment commands to the quantity adjustment devices by changing the flow rate in the active ingredient line and / or in the carrier liquid line.

[0024] Thus, according to the spraying device according to the invention, a method for using a spraying device is created by means of which, in a separate operation, the active ingredient is pre-diluted with a fertilizing liquid, usually water, in the premixing container 7 and / or dissolved if it is a granulated active ingredient, in a separate operation before the liquid is applied to agricultural land. In this operation, before the actual application of the liquid, the amount of active ingredient is always pre-diluted and dissolved in the premixing container 7 to at least be sufficient for application in a carrier liquid quantity that the carrier liquid container 1 can maximally hold. During the spraying process, the at least one pre-diluted and / or, if it is a granulated active ingredient, dissolved and pre-diluted active ingredient is fed into the carrier liquid in a metered manner via the metering pump 13.In the mixing chamber of the mixing device 6, the at least one pre-diluted active ingredient is evenly mixed with the carrier liquid.

[0025] The respective concentration of the active ingredient in the respective carrier liquid and / or spray liquid is determined, monitored, adjusted and / or changed via the sensors 18, 20, 22 in conjunction with the evaluation program stored in the computer's memory.

Claims

[1] Spraying device for applying liquids, in particular for agricultural purposes, with a spray boom arrangement assigned to a vehicle with at least one liquid line running transversely to the direction of travel, which is provided with spray nozzles at intervals, wherein at least one of the liquid to be applied can be supplied to the spray nozzles via the at least one liquid line in an adjustable quantity by at least one liquid pump conveying the carrier liquid from a liquid tank and generating the spray pressure, and at least one metering pump conveying at least one active ingredient and feeding it into the carrier liquid in a metered manner, wherein the active ingredients are conveyed via at least one active ingredient line to the liquid line and are fed into the carrier liquid upstream of the spray nozzles of the spray boom arrangement via at least one feed device into the liquid line,wherein a mixing device is arranged between the feed device of the active agent into the carrier liquid line and the spray nozzles of the spray bar arrangement in the supply line to the spray nozzles, wherein at least one sensor (18) for determining the concentration of the active agent in this line (5) is arranged at least in the supply line (5) between the mixing device (6) and the spray nozzles (3), , characterized by that at least one sensor (20) for determining the concentration of the active substances in this line (12) is arranged at least in the active substance line (12) upstream of the mixing device (6), or that at least one sensor (22) for determining the concentration of the carrier liquid is arranged in the liquid line (5) conducting the carrier liquid upstream of the feed device and / or mixing device (6). [2] Spraying device according to claim 1, characterized bythat at least one sensor for determining the concentration of the active substances in the lines (5, 12) is arranged at least in the active substance line (12) upstream of the mixing device (6) and at least in the feed line (5) between the mixing device (6) and the spray nozzles (3). [3] Pointing device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that the active ingredient can be pre-diluted, preferably with carrier liquid, via a pre-mixing device (7). [4] Spraying device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized bythat a computer device is provided, that the computer device is connected to the sensors (18, 20, 22) via data transmission means, that the sensor data can be transmitted to the computer device via the data transmission device, that the concentration in the individual lines (5, 12) can be determined in the computer device by means of a stored evaluation program. [5] Spraying device according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized by that quantity adjustment devices are arranged in the individual lines (5, 12), that the quantity adjustment devices are connected to the computer device, that a change in the concentration of the spray liquid to be applied can be set and / or changed via the computer device by means of corresponding setting commands to the quantity adjustment devices by changing the quantity flow in at least the active ingredient line.

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