Boom of an agricultural implement and field sprayer

Abstract

A boom (20) of an agricultural implement (10), in particular a distribution boom of a field sprayer, comprising a plurality of sections (A1-A3) which are adjustable via joints (25) between a working position, preferably unfolded transversely to a working direction, and a folded transport position, preferably pointing approximately in or perpendicular to the working direction, with at least one lighting and / or detection device (5) comprising a plurality of lighting and / or detection elements (50, 51) which are coupled to the sections (A1-A3) in a manner distributed over a plurality of holding devices (40), wherein at least one of the holding devices (40) is arranged on at least one of the sections (A1-A3) so as to be adjustable between the working and transport positions, characterized in thatthat the at least one adjustable holding device (40) can be moved in the transport position within a space enclosed by two opposite sections (A1-A3) together with at least one further holding device (40) between two successive sections (A1-A3).

Description

[0001] The innovation relates to a boom of an agricultural implement according to the preamble of claim 1 and to an agricultural field sprayer according to the preamble of claim 8.

[0002] In the field of agriculture, a variety of towed, mounted, and / or self-propelled equipment is known for different applications. Examples of such equipment include, for example, spreading machines used to spread solid, particularly granular, and / or liquid material. These include, among others, sowing and / or fertilizing machines for placing seed and / or fertilizer, or field sprayers for applying spray agents such as weed killers, crop protection products, and / or fertilizers. In addition to spreading machines, soil cultivation and / or plant treatment equipment, especially hoeing machines, also fall under this category of agricultural equipment.

[0003] In order to achieve particularly high efficiency during processing and / or treatment, devices of this type usually have a rod assembly with a relatively large span, on which a plurality or multiplicity of individual working devices, such as tools, separating and / or dosing devices and / or spray nozzles, are arranged. In particular, row-related arrangements of such working devices have become established. During the work process, these are arranged on the device by means of the rod assembly in and / or transversely to a direction of travel, in particular next to one another. During the work process, particularly in the working position, the span or width of such rod assembly can thus be approximately 15 m, 40 m or more, if necessary. So that such a device can also be moved for transport on public roads, they can usually be moved and / or operated in a so-called transport position.In order not to exceed the maximum permissible, in particular legally prescribed, width of the device including the boom, in particular of approximately 3 m, the booms of this type are predominantly designed to be foldable.

[0004] Such a boom is described, for example, in DE 10 2016 114 422 A1. Accordingly, a boom of an agricultural implement, in particular a distribution boom of a field sprayer, is known, comprising several sections, which can be adjusted via joints between a working position, in particular transverse to a working direction, and a transport position, in particular nested and / or pointing approximately in or perpendicular to the working direction, in the folded position.

[0005] In order to adjust such booms, in particular sections, and / or the working equipment arranged thereon and / or the materials to be applied, as optimally as possible to the underlying usable area and / or plant, modern agricultural equipment, in particular its booms, are assigned various types of lighting and / or detection devices depending on the application. Such a boom of an agricultural equipment is known, for example, from WO 99 / 52354 A1. The lighting and / or detection device accordingly comprises a plurality of lighting and / or detection elements which are coupled to the sections via a plurality of holding devices, wherein at least one of the holding devices is arranged on at least one of the sections and can be adjusted between the working and transport positions.

[0006] A problem with booms designed in this way is the impact of the lighting and / or detection devices and their holding devices on the external width and / or height of the device including the boom in the transport position. Particularly when using a large number of lighting and / or detection elements, their holding devices, particularly when placed adjacent to one another and / or stacked, are each placed in a separate area on and / or between the sections. This significantly influences the stressed width and / or height of the device including the boom in the transport position. This, in turn, has a negative impact on the maximum achievable span and / or working width of the boom and thus of the device.In addition, such a design also has a negative impact on the achievable work results, since relatively only a small number of lighting and / or detection elements can be installed along the boom.

[0007] The objective underlying the innovation is therefore to design a boom of an agricultural implement in such a way that the width and / or height of the boom is minimal even with large boom spans and / or a high number of lighting and / or detection elements in the transport position.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention in that the at least one adjustable holding device can be brought into the transport position, preferably within a space enclosed by two opposite sections, opposite and / or together, with at least one further holding device between two successive sections.

[0009] In the following, an "illumination and / or detection device" according to the invention is understood to mean the entirety of a plurality of "illumination and / or detection elements" arranged at different positions along the rod assembly by means of the holding device. Depending on the type of application and / or requirements, only one illumination device or, alternatively, only one detection device can be arranged on a rod assembly according to the invention, in particular on the holding devices. Furthermore, the illumination device and the detection device can alternatively or additionally be arranged together, in particular combined into an assembly, on the rod assembly, in particular on the holding devices.In a joint arrangement of the lighting device with the detection device, the individual lighting and / or detection elements, in particular at least one lighting element and at least one detection element, are preferably combined to form one component, wherein alternatively or additionally a separate arrangement of the lighting elements to the detection elements, in particular along the holding devices, is also conceivable.

[0010] The lighting elements are preferably each designed in the manner of a light source, in particular in the form of an LED or the like, and are configured to illuminate the surroundings, in particular in the close range, around the rods and / or underneath the rods. The detection elements are preferably designed in the manner of non-contact, in particular optical, sensors and / or image-capturing cameras and are configured to detect information from and / or about the surroundings, in particular about the usable area and / or the plant population. Depending on the embodiment, the detection device, in particular the detection element, can be configured, for example, to detect the distance of the rods from the ground and / or the plant or, alternatively or additionally, to detect the type and / or condition of the plants. Alternatively or additionally, further orOther types of detection devices, in particular detection elements, are conceivable, for example for detecting temperatures, air movements, in particular their direction and / or speed, properties and / or development stage of the plants, in particular crops and / or wild vegetation, and / or the quality of work, in particular the degree of wetting of the plants with spray, etc.

[0011] In the working position and viewed in the working or travel direction, the lighting and / or detection elements are preferably directed at an area on the usable area and / or the plants that is spaced apart from the boom. Alternatively or additionally, the holding devices can be designed to protrude from the boom in or against the working or travel direction, with the lighting and / or detection elements being arranged at a distance from the boom by means of holding devices designed in this way. Thus, depending on the embodiment, the usable area and / or the plants can be illuminated and / or detected with a specific lead and / or lag to the boom. This embodiment is particularly advantageous due to the system-related response times, for example due to the processes for data processing and / or for adjusting the work equipment.

[0012] The rod assembly, in particular its sections, preferably comprise, in the working position, at least one upper chord arranged on the upper side and extending transversely to the working direction, at least one lower chord arranged on the underside and extending transversely to the working direction, in particular on which the working equipment is positioned, and preferably a plurality of diagonal elements, in particular struts, arranged between the upper and lower chords. Both the upper and lower chords can each be formed from at least one support or from several supports, for example in the form of square or round longitudinal profiles and / or sheet metal constructions.

[0013] According to the innovation, the rod assembly further comprises at least two holding devices assigned to a common section or to different, in particular consecutive, sections, wherein at least one illumination and / or detection element is arranged on each of the at least two holding devices. In other words, a first holding device can preferably be arranged on a first section and a second holding device on a second section. Alternatively or additionally, at least one further holding device can also be arranged on one of the two sections or on at least one further section.

[0014] The at least one holding device, which is adjustable in particular with respect to the sections, is preferably designed to be automatically and / or remotely adjustable, in particular by means of hydraulic, pneumatic and / or electrical actuating elements. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one holding device can be operated manually by an operator and / or automatically by an associated control and / or regulating system. Furthermore, the at least one holding device or at least one end of the holding device is preferably adjustable with respect to the respective associated section before or during the change between the positions towards the top or bottom of the rod assembly, in particular of the section. Alternatively or additionally, at least one holding device can also be adjustable towards or away from the section, in particular translationally and / or parallel to the direction of travel.

[0015] Within the transport position, at least one intermediate space for accommodating a plurality of holding devices is formed between at least two opposing and / or mutually facing sections. Furthermore, the at least one adjustable holding device and at least one further holding device can be moved together within the intermediate space enclosed by the at least two sections, in particular consecutive and / or interconnected by joints. Alternatively or additionally, at least one further intermediate space for accommodating at least one further holding device, or preferably a plurality of holding devices, can be formed between one of the sections and at least one further, in particular third, section.With such an embodiment, the boom including the holding devices is designed to be particularly compact in the transport position, in particular with a minimal width and / or height of the agricultural implement and / or the boom.

[0016] In a preferred embodiment of the rod assembly according to the invention, at least two holding devices, preferably arranged on different and / or consecutive sections, are adjustable and, in particular for nesting the rod assembly, can be moved at least partially past one another in the transport position. The holding devices are preferably adjustable such that at least two holding devices, which can be moved into an intermediate space, are arranged next to one another and / or one above the other between the sections in the transport position. Particularly preferably, all holding devices are arranged adjustably on the rod assembly, in particular on the respective section assigned to them. In particular, an adjustment path and / or adjustment time to be covered by the adjustable holding devices can also be different, although alternatively, an adjustment path of approximately the same length and / or the same adjustment time for the holding devices is also conceivable.Such an embodiment allows the alignment of the holding devices for the transport position to be varied or adapted to one another to a particularly high degree, whereby the space(s) between the folded sections can be particularly well utilized.

[0017] In a further preferred embodiment, the sections of a rod assembly, in particular of a boom, are arranged and / or can be moved at least partially nested in one another in the transport position.

[0018] In a further development of the rod assembly according to the invention, the at least two adjustable holding devices are adjustable in opposite directions, preferably pivotable. Preferably, at least one of the adjustable holding devices or at least one end of the at least one holding device is pivotable and / or adjustable for the transport position, preferably vertically downwards, in particular in the direction of the lower chord and / or the working equipment, while another, preferably subsequent, holding device or at least one end thereof is pivotable and / or adjustable vertically upwards, in particular in a direction away from the lower chord and / or the spray nozzles. In other words, preferably at least one first holding device is pivotable towards the top of the rod assembly and at least one second holding device, arranged in particular on a subsequent section, is pivotable towards the underside of the rod assembly.This allows a sufficiently large distance between the holding devices to be achieved, with minimal adjustment travel for each holding device.

[0019] In a further development of the rod assembly according to the invention, several or all of the holding devices are located at different positions and / or height levels with respect to a high side of the associated sections in the transport position. The high side of the rod assembly, in particular of the sections, is formed at least substantially between the upper side, in particular the upper chord, and the underside, in particular the lower chord. In particular, the high side is formed at least substantially by the diagonal elements, in particular struts. Preferably, in or during the working position, several of the holding devices or all of the holding devices are arranged at the same position or the same height level with respect to the high side of the respective sections.This results in an at least substantially equal distance to the usable area and / or to the plants for the holding devices and thus also for the lighting and / or detection elements arranged thereon, in particular in the case of a rod which is at least almost horizontally aligned.

[0020] In another preferred embodiment of the rod assembly according to the invention, the holding devices each have a longitudinal axis which extends at least substantially parallel to the sections, in particular the respective associated sections, both in the working position and in the transport position. The holding devices are preferably elongated, in particular in the manner of longitudinal profiles, for example U-profiles. Particularly preferably, at least one of the holding devices extends, viewed lengthwise, over a large part of the associated section, so that in particular a plurality of lighting and / or detection elements are arranged on the rod assembly via the associated holding device, preferably at a specific distance of approximately 0.5 m, 1 m or more from one another. Thus, a particularly large number of lighting and / or detection elements can be attached together to one holding device and thus to one section.In addition, a longitudinal axis running at least approximately parallel to the sections results in a particularly short adjustment path and / or space requirement for adjusting the holding devices.

[0021] In another development of the rod assembly according to the invention, the holding devices are arranged and / or designed to be rotatable about their longitudinal axes, preferably in an adjustable manner. The holding devices can preferably be adjusted and thus adjusted independently of one another about their longitudinal axes. Alternatively, it is also conceivable for the holding devices to be adjustable jointly and / or synchronously with one another. The adjustment can be carried out manually, in particular manually or remotely, by an operator or automatically by an associated control and / or regulation system. In particular, this ensures that the angle of incidence of the lighting and / or detection elements arranged jointly on a holding device relative to the usable area and / or the plants can be adjusted jointly and thus comparatively easily and / or with little effort.

[0022] In a further preferred embodiment of the rod assembly according to the invention, the holding devices are designed in the manner of, preferably flat, profiles, wherein the lighting and / or detection elements and / or electronic modules associated with the lighting and / or detection elements are embedded at least almost completely and / or protruding into the holding devices, in particular into the installation space of the holding devices. The holding devices can preferably be hollow and / or designed as extruded parts. Alternatively or additionally, the holding devices can be designed as formed parts, in particular sheet metal, preferably each in the manner of at least one U-profile. Alternatively or additionally, electronic modules of the lighting and / or detection elements are arranged at least almost completely within the installation space, in particular enclosed by the external dimensions of the respective holding device.Such an embodiment ensures that the lighting and / or detection elements and / or their electronic modules are particularly well protected and arranged in a particularly space-saving manner. The electronic modules of the lighting and / or detection elements include, for example, power electronics, control units, evaluation devices, electronic cables, or the like.

[0023] The problem underlying the innovation is also solved with an agricultural field sprayer for applying spraying agent to agricultural land, with a boom, wherein the boom is designed according to at least one of the above-described embodiments of the boom according to the innovation. Regarding the advantages and modifications of the field sprayer according to the innovation, reference is first made to the advantages and modifications of the boom according to the innovation.

[0024] Further details of the innovation can be found in the example description and the drawings. The drawings show Fig. 1 a perspective front view of a boom arranged on a field sprayer in the unfolded working position and with unfolded holding devices; Fig. 2A the rods from Fig. 1 with folded-in holding devices; Fig. 2B the holding devices from Fig. 2A in closer view; Fig. 3A the rods and the holding devices in the nested transport position in a front view; and Fig. 3B the rods from the Fig. 3A with twisted holding devices.

[0025] An agricultural implement 10 designed as a field sprayer with at least one storage container 11 and a boom 20 coupled via an implement frame 12 and in the working position is shown in the Fig. 1. It can be seen that the boom 20 comprises a central section 21 connected to the implement frame 12 and booms Li, Re extending transversely to the direction of travel F or working direction, in particular to the left and right, respectively. It can also be seen that the left boom Li, in particular analogous to the right boom Re (not shown), has a plurality of sections A1-A3 which are connected in a foldable and / or pivotable manner via joints 25. The individual sections A1-A3 can be folded about a vertical axis S1-S3, so that the working width or span of the agricultural implement 10, in particular of the boom 20, can be adjusted and / or moved between a working and transport position.The sections A1-A3 are designed to be pivotable about the respective pivot axis S1-S3 in a pivoting direction SR indicated by an arrow, wherein the pivoting direction SR is reversed from the transport position to the working position.

[0026] The Fig. 1 shows a state in which sections A1-A3 are fully extended. Alternatively or additionally, the rod assembly 20 can swing around an axis (not shown) running at least approximately parallel to the direction of travel F and / or can be adjusted vertically, in particular by means of adjusting elements.

[0027] Sections A1-A3 further each have an upper chord 22 running along the upper side and formed from tubular and / or sheet metal structures, and a lower chord 23 running along the underside and formed from tubular and / or sheet metal structures. A plurality of diagonal elements 24, in particular struts, are arranged between the upper chord 22 and the lower chord 23, which also essentially form a high side H of the boom 20, in particular of sections A1-A3. A plurality of working means 30 designed as spray nozzles are arranged below the lower chord 23, which working means are fluidly connected to the at least one storage container 11 and are configured to apply a spray agent stored in the storage container 11 to an agricultural area and / or a plant, in particular a crop and / or weed.In the illustrated application, the spray agent can be embodied, in particular, as a crop protection agent, fertilizer, and / or weed control agent. Furthermore, the agricultural implement 10 can alternatively or additionally comprise at least one further storage container, for example, designed as a front tank, which is fluidly connected to the working media 30, in particular the spray nozzles.

[0028] In an alternative embodiment to the one shown, the agricultural implement 10 can also be designed as a sowing and / or fertilizing machine, in which the working means 30 are designed as dosing, spreading, and / or depositing devices and are configured to spread granular material on the cultivated area. In a further alternative embodiment not shown, the agricultural implement 10 can also be designed as a soil cultivation implement and / or plant treatment implement and have working means 30 that at least partially penetrate into the arable soil.

[0029] In addition, especially in the Fig. 2A and / or 2B, it can be seen that the agricultural implement 10 comprises at least one lighting and / or detection device 5, which is assigned to the boom 20. The lighting and / or detection device 5 has a plurality of lighting and / or detection elements 50, 51, which are coupled to the sections A1-A3 via a plurality of holding devices 40 assigned to the sections A1-A3. The holding devices 40 are each connected to the sections A1-A3 via pivot arms 41 in an adjustable manner, in particular pivotable about an adjustment axis 42 running parallel to the sections A1-A3. In the exemplary embodiment shown, several, in particular all, holding devices 40 are adjustable, although alternatively only one of the holding devices 40 can be adjustable.

[0030] Furthermore, it can be seen that the holding devices 40 are each arranged on different and / or successive sections A1-A3. In particular, a first holding device 40 is arranged on an inner section A1 connected to the middle part 21, a second holding device 40 is arranged on a middle section A2 connected to the inner section A1, and a third and / or fourth holding device 40 is arranged on an outer section A3 connected to the middle section A2. Alternatively or additionally, at least one further holding device 40 can be arranged on the sections A1-A3, and / or one of the holding devices 40 of a section A1-A3 can be connected and / or coupled to at least one further holding device 40 of at least one other section A1-A3.

[0031] The holding devices 40 are further configured in the manner of, in particular, flat and / or U-shaped profiles, wherein the lighting and / or detection elements 50, 51 and / or the electronic modules associated with the lighting and / or detection elements 50, 51 are embedded at least almost completely and / or protruding into the holding devices 40, in particular into the installation space of the holding devices 40. This provides particularly good protection for the electronic components. Alternatively or additionally, the lighting and / or detection elements 50, 51 can also be arranged at least partially outside and / or externally on the holding devices 40.

[0032] The Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B shows a state in which the sections A1-A3 are still unfolded into the working position, while the holding devices 40, in particular already in the transport position or inoperative position, are adjusted and / or pivoted, in particular folded in. It can be seen that the holding devices 40 of the first and second sections A1, A2, in particular the inner section and middle section, are adjusted and / or pivoted towards the upper side and / or the upper chord 22, while the holding devices 40 on the third section, in particular the outer section A3, are adjusted and / or pivoted in the opposite direction and / or towards the underside and / or the lower chord 23. Alternatively or in addition to the embodiment shown, it is conceivable that at least one end of at least one holding device 40 is adjustable and / or pivotable.Furthermore, alternatively or additionally, an at least partial translational adjustment of the holding devices 40, in particular in and / or perpendicular to the direction of travel F, is conceivable. Furthermore, it can be seen that a longitudinal axis L of the holding devices 40 extends both in the direction shown in . Fig. 1 shown working position, as well as in the one in Fig. 2A and Fig. 2B, extends at least substantially parallel to the sections (A1-A3).

[0033] The Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B show a folded transport position of the boom 20 pointing in the direction of travel F, in which part of the storage container 11 and the left boom Li can be seen in a view from the front and opposite to the direction of travel F. As an alternative to the embodiment shown, the folded sections A1-A3 can also be aligned approximately perpendicular to the working direction or direction of travel F. The high side H of the first section A1, which points in the direction of travel in the working position, faces the storage container 11 in the transport position. Furthermore, the holding device 40 arranged on the first section A1, in particular on the inner section, is arranged and / or can be moved into a first intermediate space ZW1 enclosed between the storage container 11 and the first section A1. In particular, the first intermediate space ZW1 is formed in the vertical direction below a part of the upper chord 22 projecting towards the storage container 11.Furthermore, it can be seen that at least one of the adjustable holding devices 40 can be moved with at least one further holding device 40 between two consecutive sections A2, A3, in particular between the central section and the outer section. The at least two holding devices 40 are arranged opposite one another and / or together, in particular, within a second intermediate space ZW2 enclosed by the at least two opposing sections A2, A3. The intermediate spaces ZW1, ZW2 are shown in the . Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B are each indicated by a broken border.

[0034] In order to secure the holding devices 40 as shown in the Fig. 3A and Fig. 3B, the holding devices 40 are adjustable and / or pivotable, in particular in opposite directions, so that they can be guided at least partially past one another in the transport position. It can be seen that the holding devices 40 that can be moved in the common intermediate space ZW2 are also located at different height levels with respect to a high side H of the sections A2, A3 assigned to them. In the transport position shown, the holding device 40 coupled to the second section A2, in particular the middle section, is also arranged in the region of the upper chord 22, while the holding device 40 coupled to the third section A3, in particular the outer section, is arranged in the region of the lower chord 23.

[0035] In addition, the longitudinal axis L of the holding devices 40 is shown, about which the holding devices 40 are each arranged and / or designed to be rotatable. This is indicated by the Fig. 3B. The holding devices 40 can thus additionally be adjusted and / or rotated at an angle W about their longitudinal axis L. This allows, for example, the angle of inclination of the illumination and / or detection elements 50, 51 relative to the usable area and / or the plants, and thus the distance of the area being illuminated and / or detected from the rod assembly 20, to be adjusted in a simple and / or joint manner.

[0036] The holding devices 40 are further adjusted by motors, in particular by means of hydraulic, pneumatic, and / or electrical actuators. Furthermore, the adjustment of both the holding devices 40 and the rod assembly 20, in particular of the sections A1-A3, can be initiated manually by an operator and / or automatically by the associated control and / or regulating system 200. Alternatively or additionally, at least one holding device 40 can also be adjusted automatically, in particular spring-loaded, by pressing against a section A1-A3.

[0037] The lighting elements 51 shown in the figures are each designed as a light source, in particular in the form of an LED, and are configured to illuminate the surroundings, in particular in the close range, around the rod 20 and / or beneath the rod 20. Alternatively, other types of light sources would also be conceivable, for example, with infrared, ultraviolet, or other wavelengths. The detection elements 50 shown are designed as image-capturing cameras and are configured to capture information and / or properties from and / or about the surroundings, in particular about the usable area and / or the plants. Alternatively or additionally, detection elements 50 are also conceivable that are designed as contactless sensors, for example, distance sensors (ultrasonic, radar sensors), temperature sensors, wind sensors, soil value sensors, or the like.Furthermore, the lighting elements 51 and detection elements 50 shown as separate components can alternatively or additionally be combined to form one component, for example consisting of at least one lighting element 51 with at least one detection element 50. Furthermore, it would also be conceivable alternatively for the agricultural device 10 and / or the rod assembly 20 to comprise only lighting elements 51 or only detection elements 50, which are arranged on the holding devices 40 according to the invention.

[0038] It is understood that the features mentioned in the previously described embodiments are not limited to these specific combinations and are also possible in any other combinations. Furthermore, it is understood that the geometries shown in the figures are merely examples and are also possible in any other configurations. List of reference symbols 5 Lighting and / or detection device 10 agricultural equipment, field sprayer 11 storage containers 12 device frames 20 rods 21 Middle section 22 upper chord 23 Lower chord 24 diagonal elements 25 joint 30 Work equipment, spray nozzle 40 Holding device 41 Swivel arm 42 Adjustment axis of the holding device 50 recording element 51 lighting element 200 Control and / or regulation system A1 first section, inner section A2 second section, middle section A3 third section, outer section F Direction of travel H High side of the section L Longitudinal axis of the holding device Li left boom Re right boom S1 Swivel axis of the first section S2 Swivel axis of the second section S3 Swivel axis of the third section SR swivel direction W Angle of the holding device around the longitudinal axis ZW1 Space between first section and storage container ZW2 space between second and third section QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2016 114 422 A1

[0004] WO 99 / 52354 A1

[0005]

Claims

[1] A boom (20) of an agricultural implement (10), in particular a distribution boom of a field sprayer, comprising a plurality of sections (A1-A3) which are adjustable via joints (25) between a working position, preferably folded out transversely to a working direction, and a folded-up transport position, preferably pointing approximately in or perpendicular to the working direction, with at least one lighting and / or detection device (5) comprising a plurality of lighting and / or detection elements (50, 51) which are coupled to the sections (A1-A3) in a manner distributed over a plurality of holding devices (40), wherein at least one of the holding devices (40) is arranged on at least one of the sections (A1-A3) so as to be adjustable between the working and transport positions, characterized bythat the at least one adjustable holding device (40) can be moved into the transport position within a space enclosed by two opposite sections (A1-A3) together with at least one further holding device (40) between two successive sections (A1-A3). [2] Linkage (20) according to claim 1, characterized by that at least two holding devices (40), preferably arranged on different and / or successive sections (A1-A3), are adjustable; and, in particular for nesting the rod assembly (20), can be guided at least partially past one another in the transport position. [3] Linkage (20) according to claim 2, characterized by that the at least two adjustable holding devices (40) are adjustable in opposite directions, preferably pivotable. [4] Linkage (20) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat several or all holding devices (40) in the transport position are located at different positions and / or height levels with respect to a high side (H) of the associated sections (A1-A3). [5] Linkage (20) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the holding devices (40) each have a longitudinal axis (L) which extends at least substantially parallel to the, in particular respectively assigned, sections (A1-A3) both in the working position and in the transport position. [6] Linkage (20) according to claim 5, characterized by that the holding devices (40) are arranged and / or designed to be rotatable about their longitudinal axis (L), preferably in an adjustable manner. [7] Linkage (20) according to at least one of the preceding claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat the holding devices (40) are designed in the manner of, preferably flat, profiles, and that the lighting and / or detection elements and / or electronic modules associated with the lighting and / or detection elements (50, 51) are embedded at least almost completely and / or protruding into the holding devices (40), in particular into the installation space of the holding devices (40). [8] Agricultural field sprayer (10) for applying spraying agent on an agricultural area, with a boom (20), characterized by that the rod assembly (20) is designed according to at least one of the preceding claims.

Images