Patent Application
20170072420
The disclosed embodiments relate in general to an agricultural spray boom cleanout assembly, and more specifically, to an agricultural spray boom pipe end cap assembly with a cleanout valve.
Agricultural spray booms are known in the art. Such vehicles include a tank with material to be applied to an agricultural field and a spray boom to apply the material to the field. Agricultural spray booms supply fluid material to nozzles provided on the booms through a fluid pipe. The spraying functions associated with the nozzles are controlled by a diaphragm that turns the nozzles on and off. If air becomes trapped in the fluid pipe supplying fluid to the nozzles, the compressive nature of air trapped within the fluid pipes can cause a delay in actuation of the diaphragm turning the nozzles on and off. It would therefore be desirable to reduce the amount of air in the fluid pipe to increase the responsiveness of the diaphragm in turning on and off the nozzles.
It is known in the art to provide an end cap over the end of a spray boom fluid pipe to allow the venting of air out of the fluid pipe to increase the responsiveness of the diaphragm controlling the nozzles. One such device known in the art is a Hypro® model 7433 Express Nozzle Body End Cap, manufactured by Pentair Ltd., of Minneapolis Minn. Such prior art end caps eliminate trapped air from the fluid pipe of the boom by allowing air to escape through a vent, while maintaining liquid within the fluid pipe. One drawback associated with such prior art end caps is the difficulty in flushing the fluid pipe. Such prior art devices have a cover that can be removed for cleanout. Removal of the cover, however, requires manual manipulation. One drawback associated with such systems is that while manipulating the cover the user may come into contact with potentially hazardous fluid contained within the fluid pipe. It would therefore be desirable to provide a system for removing trapped air from the fluid pipe, while reducing user contact with fluid contained within the pipe during cleanout.
Another drawback associated with such prior art systems is the difficulty and time consuming nature associated with removing and replacing the cover for cleanout of the spray boom fluid pipe. Cleanout using such systems involves multiple steps including releasing a locking pin, maintaining the cover in place, and thereafter removing the cover. Additionally, since the pin and cover are no longer connected to the assembly after removal, these small pieces can become lost during the cleanout phase, which can lead to significant down time of the sprayer while replacements are located and installed.
It is also known in the art to provide boom end flush out valves to reduce user contact with fluid in the boom pipe during flushing and cleanout of the pipe. One such prior art system is the Wilger End Flush Valve Model #WL25176, manufactured by Wilger Industries Ltd. of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada. One drawback associated with such prior art systems is the inability of such systems to remove trapped air from the fluid pipe. It would therefore be desirable to provide a boom end flush valve that allowed for removal of trapped air within the fluid pipe of a spray boom.
In light of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide an end cap spray boom fluid pipe cleanout assembly that allows for the removal of trapped air and easy rapid cleanout of the fluid pipe, while reducing user contact with fluid contained within the fluid pipe. The difficulties discussed herein above are sought to be eliminated by the present invention.
The present invention includes systems and methods for purging and cleaning the fluid pipe of a spray boom. A spray boom cleanout assembly is provided and secured over the end of a fluid pipe of a spray boom. The end cap is provided with a vent configured to release trapped air from the fluid pipe, while maintaining the liquid therein. The assembly is also provided with a fluid flush valve for cleanout of the fluid pipe.
The features and advantages described in this summary and in the following detailed description are not all inclusive. Many additional features and advantages may be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in view of the drawings, specification and claims presented herein.
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Whereas the end cap body (34) is typically provided with a removable cover (not shown), in the present invention, the cover is replaced by the adapter (34), shown in more detail in
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While the adapter (38) may be constructed of any type of material known in the art, in the preferred embodiment, the adapter (38) is integrally molded into a single piece of polypropylene. As shown in
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The first threaded end (42) of the adapter (38) is screwed into the threaded cavity (72) of the fluid flush valve (36) to a desired tightness. The second end (46) of the adapter (38) is then inserted into the end cap body (34) and retained therein by the clip (62). The adapter (38) is secured within the end cap body (34) in an orientation having the large port (52) on the top and the small port (52) at the bottom, to facilitate purging air (84) from the fluid pipe (14). As shown in
When it is desired to use the spray boom cleanout assembly (30) of the present invention, a user manipulates a control panel (82) provided on the sprayer (10) to remotely open one of the nozzles (96) on the nozzle assembly (92). Thereafter the user manipulates the control panel (82) to direct fluid (18) into the fluid pipe (14). As the fluid (18) begins to fill the fluid pipe (14), the fluid (18) remains at near the bottom of the fluid pipe (14) while air (84) within the fluid pipe (14) moves to the top of the fluid pipe (14). Given the relative sizes of the ports (52 & 54) and the relatively lower viscosity of the air (84) compared to the fluid (18), pressure caused by the fluid (18) entering the fluid pipe (14) forces more air (84) through the upper large port (52) than fluid (18) through the small port (54). This causes the air (84) to move through the large port (52), vent channel (56), through the nozzle assembly (92) and out of the nozzle (96). Air (84) continues to vent from the fluid pipe (14) through the nozzle (96) until the fluid (18) fills the fluid pipe (14), at which point fluid (18) begins to move through the large port (52) to be exhausted through the nozzle (96). Once the user sees fluid (18) exiting through the nozzle (96), the user manipulates the control panel (82) to remotely close the nozzle (96), completing the purging of air (84) from the fluid pipe (14). Allowing the use of the nozzle (96) to purge the fluid pipe (14) allows the entire purging operation to be conducted from the control panel (82) as the nozzle (96) can be remotely operated therefrom.
When it is desired to clean out the fluid pipe (14) after application of the fluid (18), the user manually turns the knob (80) on the fluid flush valve (36) to open the valve (78). The user then uses the control panel (82) to direct water or other cleaning liquid through the fluid pipe (14). Once the fluid pipe (14) has been sufficiently flushed with water (86) the user uses the control panel (82) to stop providing water (86) to the fluid pipe (14), allowing the remainder to drain from the outlet (74). Once the fluid pipe (14) is empty, the user turns the knob (80) to close the valve (78) and the sprayer (10) is again ready for use. Providing the spray boom cleanout assembly at the end (28) of the fluid pipe (14), prevents fluid (18) from remaining trapped in the fluid pipe (14) and not exiting the fluid pipe (14) during cleanout. By positioning the spray boom cleanout assembly at the end (28) of the fluid pipe (14), the fluid pipe (14) may be completely flushed of remaining fluid (18), thereby reducing the mixing of fluid (18) remaining in the fluid pipe (14) with a new fluid (18) subsequently introduced into the fluid pipe (14).
Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited, since changes and modifications can be made therein which are within the full, intended scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims. What is claimed is:
