[0001] The present disclosure refers to a method for surface coating in an agricultural
sprayer and an agricultural sprayer.
Background
[0002] An agricultural sprayer is a device used to spray a liquid. For example, the agricultural
sprayer may be used for applying herbicide, pesticide, and fertilizers on agricultural
crops. The agricultural sprayer may be a trailed sprayer that is connected to a tractor
or a self-propelled machine.
[0003] In document
EP 2 666 352 A1 for a harvesting machine it is proposed to provide a wear-resistant and hydrophobic
coating on a surface on which the harvested material is conveyed in the harvesting
machine. The wear-resistant and hydrophobic coating is provided by a diamondlike carbon
coating.
Summary
[0004] It is an object to provide a method for surface coating in an agricultural sprayer
and an agricultural sprayer allowing for improved operation of the agricultural sprayer,
wherein contamination of the surface of a tank and pipe system of the agricultural
sprayer is reduced or avoided.
[0005] For solving the problem, a method for surface coating in an agricultural sprayer
and an agricultural sprayer according to the independent claims 1 and 10, respectively,
are provided. Additional embodiments are disclosed in the dependent claims.
[0006] According to one aspect, a method for surface coating in an agricultural sprayer
is provided, the method comprising: providing an agricultural sprayer having a tank
and pipe system configured for receiving and distributing a liquid material, and producing
a hydrophobic coating on at least part of an inner surface of the tank and pipe system
by applying a hydrophobic material to the inner surface.
[0007] According to another aspect, an agricultural sprayer is provided. The agricultural
sprayer comprises a tank and pipe system configured for receiving and distributing
a liquid material, wherein a hydrophobic coating is provided on at least part of an
inner surface of the tank and pipe system.
[0008] The hydrophobic coating helps to avoid contamination of the inner surface of the
tank and pipe system.
[0009] The tank and pipe system provides for a storage and flowing system of the agricultural
machine for receiving, storing, and carrying the liquid material to be distributed
by the agricultural sprayer. The tank and pipe system may be provided with one or
more valves. There may be a plurality of tanks. There may be a storage container (in
addition to one or more tanks for the liquid material to be distributed) for receiving
a cleaning and rinsing liquid provided for cleaning and rinsing the tank and pipe
system. Tank and pipe systems as such are known for agricultural sprayers with different
design.
[0010] One or more nozzles may be connected to the tank and pipe system, the nozzles configured
for distributing the liquid material received by the tank and pipe system.
[0011] The agricultural sprayer may be carried by a tractor. Alternatively, the agricultural
sprayer may be provided on an implement hooked to a tractor. Also, a self-propelled
agricultural sprayer may be provided.
[0012] The hydrophobic coating will also minimize the (unwanted) amount of liquid remaining
in the tank and pipe (rest liquid).
[0013] The applying may comprise spraying a spray material on the inner surface, the spray
material containing the hydrophobic material. The spray material may be applied to
the inner surface by spraying using one or more nozzles provided within the tank and
pipe system, for example in the tank. The spray material may be provided from an additional
tank separated from the tank receiving the liquid material for distribution. The additional
tank may connect to one or more spraying nozzles by one or more pipes.
[0014] In another example, in addition or alternatively, the hydrophobic material may be
applied to the inner surface by vaporization.
[0015] The applying may comprise rinsing the tank and pipe system with a rinsing material
flowing through tank and pipe system, the rinsing material containing the hydrophobic
material. The rinsing material or substance may be provided from an additional tank.
In case both spraying and rinsing are to be conducted for producing the hydrophobic
coating, a combined spraying and rinsing material containing the hydrophobic material
may be applied. The combined spraying and rinsing material may be provided from the
additional tank.
[0016] In this and other embodiments, the additional tank may be part of the agricultural
sprayer. Alternatively, the additional tank may be provided separately from the agricultural
sprayer. If the additional tank is provided as part of the agricultural sprayer, the
additional tank may be fixedly or detachable connected to the tank and pipe system.
[0017] The applying may comprise applying at least one of the spraying material and the
rinsing material by a cleaning system provided for cleaning the tank and pipe system.
In this embodiment the cleaning system provided for cleaning the tank and pipe system
in operation is additionally used for applying the spraying material and / or the
rinsing material containing the hydrophobic material for producing the hydrophobic
coating. Thus, the cleaning system is used as a multifunctional component of the agricultural
sprayer. In a cleaning process the cleaning system will clean the tank and pipe system
after it was used for distributing the liquid material. For example, clean water may
be applied by the cleaning system for cleaning and the tank and pipe system. For applying
the hydrophobic coating, the cleaning system may be connected to the (additional)
reservoir or tank storing the spraying or rinsing material containing the hydrophobic
material or substance. Such connecting may be conducted automatically in response
to some connecting signal received from a controller in case of producing the hydrophobic
coating. Alternatively, the cleaning system may be connected manually to the additional
tank storing the spraying or rinsing material containing the hydrophobic material
or substance. For applying the spraying material, one or more nozzles of the cleaning
system may be used, for example, one or more nozzles provided in the tank configured
to receive the liquid material to be distributed.
[0018] The method may further comprise applying the hydrophobic material after a cleaning
process conducted for the tank and pipe system. The application of the hydrophobic
material after a cleaning process may be conducted as a first time application of
the hydrophobic material. Alternatively, such application may be provided as a refreshing
or reestablishing of the hydrophobic coating applied before. It may be provided, that
the hydrophobic material is applied after each cleaning process conducted for the
tank and pipe system in operation.
[0019] The method may further comprise applying the hydrophobic material prior to a first
use of the agricultural sprayer. For example, the hydrophobic material may be applied
at the time of production of the agricultural sprayer. For example, in a production
process, besides spraying and rinsing, other methods for producing a hydrophobic coating
on the inner surface of the tank and pipe system may be applied. Such methods are
known as such for applying hydrophobic coating on a surface.
[0020] The method may further comprise: detecting a surface contamination for the tank and
pipe system by a contamination sensor, and, in response to the detecting, applying
the hydrophobic material. Alternatively, the application of the hydrophobic material
may be started or initiated manually by the user. The contamination sensor may be
provided with a camera configured for taking images indicating contamination of the
inner surface of the tank and pipe system. For example, a biofilm provided on the
inner surface of the tank and pipe system after the agricultural sprayer has been
used may be detected by the contamination sensor. The step of applying the hydrophobic
material may be conducted in dependence on one or more parameters of the contamination
detected, for example, depending on a layer thickness and / or color of the contamination
on the inner surface.
[0021] The method may further comprise: detecting a threshold number for use cycles by a
counting device, and, in response to the detecting, applying the hydrophobic material.
After the agricultural sprayer has been used several times for distributing the liquid
material such as herbicide, pesticide, or fertilizer, the hydrophobic material is
applied automatically. Alternatively, the application of the hydrophobic material
may be initiated by the user manually after a certain number of use cycles. A use
cycle may be characterized by a predefined number of fillings of the tank. Such tank
filling may be detected by a level indicator or sensor.
[0022] Alternatively or in addition, other controlling parameters may be detected and assessed
or evaluated for controlling the application of the hydrophobic material. For example,
a time period parameter may be detected, the time period parameter indicating at least
one of a time period after last application of the hydrophobic material and a time
period of use of the agricultural sprayer.
[0023] The hydrophobic material may comprises at least one of the following substances:
perfluorinated compound, paraffine, lipid, and silicon.
[0024] A superhydrophobic or ultrahydrphobic coating may be applied to at least part of
the inner surface of the tank and pipe system.
[0025] The embodiments disclosed above with respect to the method for surface coating may
be applied to the agricultural sprayer
mutatis mutandis.
Description of further embodiments
[0026] Following, further embodiments are disclosed by referring two figures. In the figures,
show:
- Fig. 1
- a schematic block diagram for a method for surface coating in an agricultural sprayer;
and
- Fig. 2
- a schematic representation of a tank and pipe system of an agricultural sprayer.
[0027] Fig. 1 refers to a block diagram for a method for surface coating in an agricultural
sprayer. In step 10 an agricultural sprayer is provided. The agricultural sprayer
is having a tank and pipe system configured for receiving and distributing a liquid
material which is to be distributed by the agricultural sprayer. For example, distribution
of the liquid material is conducted by a nozzle system connected to the tank and pipe
system. The tank and pipe system may comprise one or more tanks connected to or separated
from each other. Following, in step 20 a hydrophobic coating is produced on at least
part of an inner surface of the tank and pipe system by applying a hydrophobic material
to the inner surface. In step 30 the agricultural sprayer is receiving a liquid material
to be distributed in the tank and pipe system. The liquid material is distributed
by the agricultural sprayer in step 40.
[0028] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a tank and pipe system for an agricultural
sprayer. The tank and pipe system is configured to receive in a tank 50 a liquid material
to be distributed, the liquid material comprising, for example, herbicide, pesticide,
or fertilizer. The liquid material is distributed by an arrangement of nozzles 51.
A pump 52 is used for providing the liquid material from the tank 50 to the arrangement
of nozzles 51 through a pipe or pipe arrangement 53.
[0029] A separate tank 54 is connected to the tank 50 by a pipe or pipe arrangement 55.
A cleaning material may be pumped from the separated tank 54 by a further pump 56.
The separate tank 54 is provided for a cleaning and rinsing system configured to clean
and rinse elements or components of the tank and pipe system after use. For example,
the tank 50 and the pipe 53 may be cleaned after a liquid material has been distributed
by the arrangement of nozzles 51. By cleaning the tank and pipe system is prepared
for use with another liquid material to be distributed, for example, a fertilizer.
Also, cleaning and rinsing may be applied for avoiding surface contamination in the
tank and pipe system.
[0030] In addition, the separate tank 54 may receive a hydrophobic or substance which is
applied to the tank and pipe system through the pipe 55 for producing a hydrophobic
surface coating on an inner surface of the tank and pipe system, for example, in the
tank 50, and the pipe 53.
[0031] Optional elements of the tank and pipe system are depicted by dotted lines in Fig.
2. In addition to the tank 50 and the separated tank 54, an additional tank 57 for
receiving additional liquid material to be distributed may be provided in combination
with an additional pump 58.
[0032] An additional separate tank 59 may be provided for receiving a substance containing
the hydrophobic material in combination with still a further pump 60. In such embodiment
a substance for cleaning and rinsing may be provided from the separated tank 54, but
the hydrophobic material or substance will be provided from the additional separate
tank 59 to, for example, the tank 50 and the pipe 53 for producing the hydrophobic
surface coating.
[0033] The embodiments described above refer to producing and / or refreshing hydrophobic
surface coating in the tank and pipe system after such tank and pipe system has been
produced and has optionally already been in use. In an alternative example, the hydrophobic
surface coating on at least part of the inner surface of the tank and pipe system
may be produced at the time of production already.
[0034] In another example, a superhydrophobic or ultrahydrophobic coating may be applied
to at least part of the inner surface of the tank and pipe system. A superhydrophobic
surface coating provides a non-wettable surface with high water contact angles and
faciles sliding of drops. Such surface coating provides a surface layer that (even
better) repeals water. Droplets hitting this kind of coating can fully rebound in
the shape of a column or pancake. Superhydrophobic coatings can be made from different
materials, for example, materials selected from the following group: manganese oxide
polystyrene (MnO2 / PS) nano-composite, zinc oxide polystyrene (ZnO / PS) nano-composite,
precipitated calcium carbonate, carbon nano-tube structures, silica nano-coating,
fluorinated silanes, and fluoropolymer coatings. Silica-based coatings can be gel-based
and can be applied either by dipping the object to be coating into the gale or via
aerosol spray.
[0035] The features disclosed in this specification, the figures and / or the claims may
be material for the realization of various embodiments, taken in isolation or in various
combinations thereof.
1. A method for surface coating in an agricultural sprayer, comprising
- providing an agricultural sprayer having a tank and pipe system configured for receiving
and distributing a liquid material; and
- producing a hydrophobic coating on at least part of an inner surface of the tank
and pipe system by applying a hydrophobic material to the inner surface.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the applying comprises spraying a spray material
on the inner surface, the spray material containing the hydrophobic material.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the applying comprises rinsing the tank
and pipe system with a rinsing material flowing through tank and pipe system, the
rinsing material containing the hydrophobic material.
4. The method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the applying comprises applying at least
one of the spraying material and the rinsing material by a cleaning system provided
for cleaning the tank and pipe system.
5. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising applying
the hydrophobic material after a cleaning process conducted for the tank and pipe
system.
6. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising applying
the hydrophobic material prior to a first use of the agricultural sprayer.
7. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising
- detecting a surface contamination for the tank and pipe system by a contamination
sensor; and
- in response to the detecting, applying the hydrophobic material.
8. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, further comprising
- detecting a threshold number for use cycles by a counting device; and
- in response to the detecting, applying the hydrophobic material.
9. The method according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the hydrophobic
material comprises at least one of the following substances: perfluorinated compound,
paraffine, lipid, and silicon.
10. An agricultural sprayer, comprising a tank and pipe system configured for receiving
and distributing a liquid material, wherein a hydrophobic coating is provided on at
least part of an inner surface of the tank and pipe system.