CONTROL SYSTEM, SPRAY BAR, CARRIER AND METHOD OF IMPLEMENTATION

• US 20190321845A1
• Filed: 07/01/2019
• Published: 10/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2015
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Exel Industries (Exel)
• Original Assignee: Exel Industries (Exel)
• Inventors: ROUYER, Sebastien, MICK, Mathieu
• Application Number:
  US16/459,178
• Publication Number:
  US 20190321845A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/008 Tanks, chassis or related parts
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0053 Mounting of the spraybooms
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0057 with active regulation of the boom position
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/20 Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms spray booms for agricultural uses A01M7/0071; spray bars for treating roads E01C19/176; Outlet elements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/124 responsive to distance between spray apparatus and target
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 13/005 mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/023 using fluid means
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 15/027 comprising control arrangements F16F15/0237 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2222/12 Fluid damping
• CPC Class Codes: F16F 2228/066 Variable stiffness

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control system (20) provided to a spray bar (10) mounted on a carrier (1) at an angle (α10) adjustable relative to the carrier (1), the control system (20) comprising an actuator for changing the angle (α10) of the spray bar (10); a control device for controlling the actuator; and a damping device connected to the actuator to damp vibrations and oscillations of the spray bar (10) and thus stabilize the angle (α10). The invention is characterized in that the control system (20) further comprises a recharging device operating simultaneously with the control device to compensate for a pressure change in the damping device during a change in the angle (a 10) of the spray bar (10). The invention also relates to a spray bar (10), a carrier (1) and a method of implementation.

Claims

1. A hydraulic control system configured to control an angle of an inclinable part of a spray bar mounted on a carrier, the control system comprising:

an actuator configured to change the angle of the inclinable part of the spray bar;

a pump in fluid communication with a reservoir, the pump configured to control the actuator using fluid stored in the reservoir;

a first accumulator and a second accumulator, each of the first and second accumulators in fluid communication with the actuator and configured to dampen vibrations of the spray bar and thus to stabilize the angle of the inclinable part of the spray bar; and

a distributor in fluid communication with both the first accumulator and the second accumulator and with the pump, the distributor configured to be in either a circulation position or a non-return position;

wherein when the distributor is in the circulation position fluid flows through the distributor to maintain equal pressure in the first accumulator and the second accumulator.

2. The hydraulic control system of claim 1, wherein modification of the angle of the inclinable part of the spray bar results from a manual actuation of a tilt correction function.

3. The hydraulic control system of claim 1, wherein modification of the angle of the inclinable part of the spray bar results from an automatic actuation of a tilt correction function.

4. The hydraulic control system of claim 1, wherein actuation of a tilt correction function causes the distributor to enter the circulation position.

5. The hydraulic control system of claim 1, further comprising a direct-action adjustable pressure limiter and a check valve positioned in parallel relative to one another and positioned in series between the actuator and the distributor.

6. The hydraulic control system of claim 1, wherein the distributor is positioned downstream from the first accumulator and the second accumulator, relative to the actuator.

7. The hydraulic control system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is a through rod double-acting cylinder comprising a hollow body, a piston moving in the hollow body, a rod secured to the piston and extending on each side of the body, and a first chamber and a second chamber separated by the piston in the body.

8. The hydraulic control system of claim 7, wherein the first accumulator is in fluid communication with the first chamber and the second accumulator is in fluid communication with the second chamber.

9. The hydraulic control system of claim 1, wherein the actuator is formed by first and second single-acting cylinders mounted in opposition and having a same cross-section.

10. The hydraulic control system of claim 9, wherein the first accumulator is in fluid communication with the first single-acting cylinder and the second accumulator is in fluid communication with the second single-acting cylinder.

11. The hydraulic control system of claim 1, further comprising a first accumulator distributor between the first accumulator and the actuator and a second accumulator distributor between the second accumulator and the actuator to control the flow of fluid between the respective accumulator and the actuator to control the hardness of a damping of vibration of the spray bar.

12. A spray bar configured for being mounted on a carrier, the spray bar comprising:

a stationary support;

an inclinable part coupled to the stationary support at an articulation such that the inclinable part has a variable angle with respect to the stationary support;

first and second spray arms extending in opposite directions from the inclinable part; and

a control system comprising;

an actuator configured to change the angle of the inclinable part of the spray bar;

a pump in fluid communication with a reservoir, the pump configured to control the actuator using fluid stored in the reservoir;

a first accumulator and a second accumulator, each of the first and second accumulators in fluid communication with the actuator and configured to dampen vibrations of the spray bar and thus to stabilize the angle of the inclinable part of the spray bar; and

a distributor in fluid communication with both the first accumulator and the second accumulator and with the pump, the distributor configured to be in either a circulation position or a non-return position;

wherein when the distributor is in the circulation position fluid flows through the distributor to maintain equal pressure in the first accumulator and the second accumulator.

13. The spray bar of claim 12, wherein actuation of a tilt correction function causes the distributor to enter the circulation position.

14. The spray bar of claim 12, wherein the control system further comprises a direct-action adjustable pressure limiter and a check valve positioned in parallel relative to one another and positioned in series between the actuator and the distributor.

15. The spray bar of claim 12, wherein the distributor of the control system is positioned downstream from the first accumulator and the second accumulator, relative to the actuator.

16. A vehicle comprising:

a spray bar mounted on the vehicle, the spray bar comprising;

a stationary support;

an inclinable part coupled to the stationary support at an articulation such that the inclinable part has a variable angle with respect to the stationary support;

first and second spray arms extending in opposite directions from the inclinable part; and

a control system comprising;

an actuator to change the angle of the inclinable part of the spray bar;

a pump in fluid communication with a reservoir, the pump configured to control the actuator using fluid stored in the reservoir;

a first accumulator and a second accumulator, each of the first and second accumulators in fluid communication with the actuator and configured to dampen vibrations of the spray bar and thus to stabilize the angle of the inclinable part of the spray bar; and

a distributor in fluid communication with both the first accumulator and the second accumulator and with the pump, the distributor configured to be in either a circulation position or a non-return position;

wherein when the distributor is in the circulation position fluid flows through the distributor to maintain equal pressure in the first accumulator and the second accumulator.

17. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein actuation of a tilt correction function causes the distributor to enter the circulation position.

18. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the control system further comprises a direct-action adjustable pressure limiter and a check valve positioned in parallel relative to one another and positioned in series between the actuator and the distributor.

19. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the distributor of the control system is positioned downstream from the first accumulator and the second accumulator, relative to the actuator.

20. The vehicle of claim 16, wherein the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle.