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EP 0 941 770 B1 |
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EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION |
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Mention of the grant of the patent: |
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29.01.2003 Bulletin 2003/05 |
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Date of filing: 02.10.1997 |
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International application number: |
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PCT/ES9700/241 |
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International publication number: |
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WO 9901/7887 (15.04.1999 Gazette 1999/15) |
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ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED SPRAY FOR AGRICULTURE AND/OR GARDENING
ELEKTRONISCH GESTEUERTER ZERSTÄUBER FÜR LANDWIRTSCHAFT ODER GARTENBAU
PULVERISATEUR POUR AGRICULTURE ET/OU JARDINAGE COMMANDE ELECTRONIQUEMENT
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Designated Contracting States: |
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ES FR IT |
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Date of publication of application: |
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15.09.1999 Bulletin 1999/37 |
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Proprietor: GOIZPER, S. COOP. |
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E-20577 Anzuola
Guipuzcoa (ES) |
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Inventor: |
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- URRUTXI ARIN, Mariano
E-Anzuola (ES)
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Representative: Carpintero Lopez, Francisco |
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HERRERO & ASOCIADOS, S.L.
Alcalá, 35 28014 Madrid 28014 Madrid (ES) |
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References cited: :
FR-A- 2 181 405 US-A- 4 380 704 US-A- 4 645 151 US-A- 5 344 075
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US-A- 3 568 175 US-A- 4 397 610 US-A- 4 801 088
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Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European
patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to
the European patent
granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall
not be deemed to
have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent
Convention).
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OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a sprayer of the type used in both agriculture and
gardening, provided with an electric pump powered by a rechargeable electrical battery,
to propel the product out, through a spear ending in the corresponding spray nozzle.
[0002] The object of the invention is to obtain a sprayer with optimal functional performance,
that is, one allowing to perfectly control the amount of product to be dosed and also
resulting in a reduced energy consumption, with the ensuing increase in sprayer operation
time, that is, in the time periods between battery charging.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In spraying liquid phytosanitary products in the field of gardening and agriculture,
sprayers are used which consist of a back-pack type tank loaded on the operator's
back, from which a conduct emerges which through an opening and shut-off valve is
connected to a nozzle by which the spray is produced and dosed on the plants to be
treated. A sprayer of this type is for example described in utility model ES 9302324
U of the applicant or in US-A-4 801 088.
[0004] In addition, utility model ES 9000610 U also of the same applicant describes a opening
and shut-off check valve for sprayers and the like, consisting of a long hollow body
in which is housed a filter the front of which ends in a disc and the back of which
is constantly pushed towards a set position by a spring, so that when it moves due
to the action of the release lever it opens and liquid is allowed to pass from the
conduct communicated to the tank to the tube with the spear ending in the spray nozzle,
while when the lever is released the spring pushes the filter in the opposite direction,
resulting in a liquid-tight seal which prevents liquid from passing. In this way,
the activation handle acts as a valve which opens or closes the liquid passage from
the tank to the spraying spear.
[0005] In addition, these sprayers are naturally provided with a pressure pump to adequately
pressurize the inside of the tank, so that the phytosanitary liquid leaves the tank
with the required pressure. Normally activation pumps are of manual type, operated
with an external lever, while in the present for high-range sprayers electrical pumps
are used, fed by a rechargeable electrical battery conveniently housed in the sprayer.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The sprayer proposed in the invention, which incorporates an electrical pump as means
of propulsion of the phytosanitary liquid, whether with glands or gears, and an opening
and closing valve performing in the manner described in utility model no. 9000610,
centers its characteristics in an electronic control system which on one hand provides
a simpler and more efficient operation and also a substantial saving of energy.
[0007] For this reason, and more specifically, the sprayer proposed is provided with an
electronic control board to govern the electrical pump which in turn is commanded
by a small electronic card located in the spear itself and related to the electronic
control unit by cables housed in a tube placed parallel to and joint to the phytosanitary
liquid outlet. The electronic card placed in the spear includes a reed relay to activate
the command circuit, which is performed with the aid of a magnet conveniently attached
to the handle, said card also aided by two potentiometers, one to control the time
of operation of the electrical pump, so that it operates at preset intervals set through
this potentiometers, while the second potentiometer allows controlling the operation
pressure, specifically acting on a chopper which chops the voltage signal acting on
the electrical pump thus changing its velocity of rotation.
[0008] A general switch cancels at will the operation of the timer potentiometer so that
the sprayer can also be used continuously or as a dosifier, depending on the type
of work to be performed. If the switch is off the electropump will operate when the
handle is activated and the operation pressure will depend on the position of the
pressure potentiometer, while if the switch is on once the handle is activated the
electrical pump will operate for the time set by the timer with an operation pressure
set by the position of the pressure potentiometer.
[0009] An LED diode mounted next to the aforementioned potentiometers on the base of the
spear shows the charge status of the battery and together with a protection circuit
for said battery prevents excessive discharging, which may damage it. For this reason,
when the battery charge reaches a minimum preset value the LED lights and the electrical
pump power is shut off, this situation being preceded by a blinking LED which warns
of the need to recharge the battery.
[0010] In accordance with that exposed above and with the essence of the invention, by electronically
controlling the voltage applied to the electrical pump, a reduction in energy consumption
is achieved and thereby the battery remains charged longer, as much as 78% more than
known systems, in which flow regulation is performed mechanically by strangling the
liquid passage or by diverting part of the flow, but with the electrical pump always
operating at 100% power, and therefore with a maximum energy consumption.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] As a complement of the description being made and in order to aid a better understanding
of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred embodiment of the
same, attached to this description as an integral part of the same is a set of drawings
where, with an illustrative and no-limiting nature the following is shown:
Figure 1.- Shows a general disassembled view of an electronically controlled sprayer
for agriculture and/or gardening, according to the object of the present invention.
Figure 2.- Shows an enlargement of a cross section of the spear base as well as a
double hose for connection to the tank.
Figure 3.- Shows another more enlarged detail of the spear base, in the area where
the control card is located.
Figure 4.- Shows a transverse view of the enlargement of the previous figure, showing
both the arrangement of the potentiometers and a double hose connecting the spear
to the tank.
Figure 5.- Shows, to finish, a diagram comparing current consumption by the electrical
pump with respect to working pressure between a classical mechanical system and the
electronic system object of the invention.
PREFFERED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0012] In view of these figures it can be seen how the sprayer proposed consists of a tank
(1) of adequate capacity, from the lower side of which emerges a conduct (2) for liquid
outlet, obviously flexible, which in its free end ends in a spear (3) finished in
a spray nozzle (4), said spear having a base (5) which makes up a handle provided
with a lever (6) which acts as a valve element, allowing or not the liquid to pass
outside, propelled by a classical electrical pump (7) fed by a rechargeable battery
not shown in the figures.
[0013] Based on this basic structure the characteristics of the invention center on tank
(1) incorporating an electronic control board (8) for the electrical pump (7), board
(8) being connected by electrical leads (9) to a control card (10) placed in the base
(5) of the spear, said cables (9) being housed in a hose (11) which lies along the
outlet hose (2) for the liquid to which it is attached by one of its generatrices.
Naturally, a single hose may be used with two inner conducts, one for the liquid and
another for the electrical cables.
[0014] Control card (10) is aided by a reed relay (12) clearly seen in figure 3, by a pair
of potentiometers (13) and (14) and by an LED diode (15), with a permanent magnet
(16) aiding the reed relay, conveniently located in lever (6) opposite reed relay
(12) as seen by the arrow in figure 2, so that when lever (6) swings towards the valve-open
position relay (12) is activated and therefore electrical pump (7) is activated.
[0015] In parallel, the activation of electrical pump (7) is also controlled by control
card (10) by potentiometers (13) and (14) mentioned above, of which potentiometer
(13) acts as a timer device, automatically varying the dosing time of the sprayer
when allowed by a general switch (17) which can enable or disable its timer function,
while potentiometer (14) which acts as a pressure controller, does so by chopping
the voltage signal acting on the motor thus varying its rotation velocity and therefore
the pressure supplied by the electrical pump.
[0016] Potentiometer (13) acts on a timer so that after the time set is over the circuit
cuts off power supply to the electrical pump interrupting the outlet of liquid. The
timer allows to continuously vary application time between 1 and 10 seconds regardless
of the position of the other potentiometer, that is, regardless of the pressure supplied
at the electrical pump. When the timer stops liquid flow, action of the lever is irrelevant,
and it must be released to open the reed relay (12) and pressed again to begin a new
application cycle which will last exactly the time set by the timer potentiometer.
[0017] Regulation by potentiometers (13) and (14) can be performed at all times, even during
application, so that it is not necessary to stop spraying to change from one situation
to another or to change the pressure or dosage time.
[0018] The sprayer is also provided with a battery protection circuit, with a warning system
consisting of an LED (15), also associated to card (10), this circuit preventing an
excessive discharge of the battery, specifically at a minimum charge of 10.2 volts,
when power to the electrical pump is stopped and LED (15) indicates this situation
by lighting, blinking first in order to warn that, although the sprayer is operational,
it the battery is about to be exhausted and therefore its recharging is required.
[0019] According to all exposed above, the electronic sprayer of the invention incorporates
the following advantages with respect to conventional sprayers:
- The activation lever acts simultaneously on the switch and on the closing valve, preventing
liquid from leaving through the spray spear when the circuit is disactivated, while
in other systems when the control switch is acted on to prevent spraying the liquid
held inside the hose, from the tank to the end of the spear; may leave through the
spray nozzle and, if the hose is placed below the bottom of the tank, the latter may
even be emptied.
With the sprayer of the invention, when the lever is released or when in dosification
mode, after the timer stops, a valve shutoff occurs which does not allow any liquid
to leave, in addition to the pump not supplying any pressure.
- To begin spraying, it suffices to simply act on the lever, which simultaneously opens
the valve and the circuit which activates the electrical pump, making pressurized
liquid to leave through the spray nozzle, while in other systems it is necessary to
act on the lever and on an on/off switch of the system, which is generally located
on a side of the back-pack, making activation more uncomfortable.
- Since the voltage supplied to the electrical pump is controlled electronically, reduced
consumption of the electropump is achieved, as clearly seen in figure 5, and therefore
the battery lasts longer, up to 78% more, resulting in a longer spraying operation
time, which is naturally of great importance.
In said diagram the results obtained with the traditional system have been labeled
(A) while (B) corresponds to the results of the system of the invention.
Specifically, in conventional systems regulation is performed mechanically, that is
the motor or battery are not acted upon; instead after a certain maximum pressure
supplied by the electrical pump mechanical devices are activated which stop all the
pressure from reaching the spray nozzle, implying that in order to obtain a similar
output pressure a greater force must be applied, since either the push of a spring
must be overcome or part of the flow must be rerouted so that it does not go through
the nozzle.
- Power supply to the electrical pump is constant for a given position of the potentiometer,
so that the electrical pump is not overloaded as occurs in other systems, overloads
which may be caused by for example, impurities in the liquid tank which in passing
to the pump make it operate faster than the normal operation speed, possibly causing
overloads which damage it.
- With the operation as dosifier of potentiometer (13) it is possible to simultaneously
vary liquid pressure and spraying time, thus achieving a full control over the amount
of product to be applied. In the systems presently known, it is possible in the best
of cases to perform a fixed time of I second, with the system operating at maximum
pressure. With the system of the invention it is possible to exactly control the amount
of product applied, resulting in significant saving of the product as the exact amount
is sprayed in each case. This saving of sprayed liquid also has great ecological importance
since often sprayed product contain poisons, detergents and CFC.
- Controlling the minimum charge of the battery avoids its excessive discharge which
may damage it, reducing its operation time, useful lifetime or even resulting in its
complete destruction. The system of the invention first warns of the moment when the
battery must be recharged, and then when a minimum charge level is reached, power
to the electrical pump is automatically shut off, temporarily disactivating the sprayer
so that there is no way the battery charge will go below the corresponding preset
levels.
1. Electronically controlled sprayer for agriculture and/or gardening, of the type provided
with a tank placed on the operator's back, out of which emerges a hose (2) for liquid
outlet, aided by an electrical pump, towards a spear ending in a spray nozzle, on
the base of which spear a valve mechanism is placed controllable by a lever, characterized in that in a suitable place of said tank (1) an electrical control board (8) is placed to
control said electrical pump (7), said control board (8) being in turn controlled
by a control card (10) placed at the base of the spear, provided with reed relay (12)
for activation of the same, activated by a permanent magnet (16) conveniently connected
to said lever (6), so that when said lever (6) is closed the permanent magnet (16)
excites said reed relay (12), generating in said control card (10) the signal supplied
to the electrical board (8) for activation of the electrical pump (7).
2. Electronically controlled sprayer for agriculture and/or gardening, as claimed in
claim 1, characterized in that said control card (10) is related to said electrical board (8) by a set of cables
(9) housed in a flexible hose (11), following the same path as said hose (2) for liquid
outlet, to which it is connected by one of its generatrices.
3. Electronically controlled sprayer for agriculture and/or gardening, as claimed in
claim 1, characterized in that said control card (10) is aided by a timer potentiometer (13) which acts on a timer,
stopping power flow to said electrical pump (7) and therefore dosification, after
each time period set, another activation of the lever (6) being needed to begin a
new application cycle.
4. Electronically controlled sprayer for agriculture and/or gardening, as claimed in
claim 1, characterized in that said control card (10) is aided by a pressure potentiometer (14) which acts on a
chopper which chops the voltage signal applied to the motor, changing its rotation
velocity and thus the pressure supplied by the electrical pump.
5. Electronically controlled sprayer for agriculture and/or gardening, as claimed in
claims 1 and 3, characterized in that it is provided with a switch (17) which disables said timer potentiometer (13), so
that depending on the position of said switch (17) the device may operate continuously
or as a dosifier.
6. Electronically controlled sprayer for agriculture and/or gardening, as claimed in
previous claims, characterized in that it is provided with a battery protection circuit, preventing battery discharge below
a preset level, aided by an led diode (15), which blinks when battery charge nears
said preset minimum charge level and is permanently lit when said level is reached
and power supply to the electrical pump (7) is cut off.
1. Elektronisch gesteuertes Spritzgerät für Landwirtschaft und/oder Gartenbau, das einen
Behälter umfasst, der auf dem Rücken des Bedieners zu tragen ist, von dem ein Schlauch
(2) für den Austritt der Flüssigkeit abgeht, die unter Beteiligung einer Elektropumpe
zu einem Mundstück hin in einer Spritzdüse ausläuft, einem Mundstück, in dessen Basis
ein über den Kipphebel kontrollierbarer Ventilmechanismus angeordnet ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass an einer geeigneten Stelle des besagten Behälters (1), eine elektronische Steuerplatte
(8) zur Steuerung der Elektropumpe (7) angeordnet ist, eine elektronische Platte (8),
die gleichzeitig von der Steuerkarte (10), die sich in der Mundstückbasis befindet,
gesteuert wird, eine Karte, die zu ihrer Aktivierung mit einem Reed-Relais (12) versehen
ist und die durch einen Dauermagneten (16), der zweckmässigerweise mit besagten Kipphebel
(6) verbunden ist, so beaufschlagt wird, dass beim Schliessen des besagten Kipphebels
(6) der Dauermagnet (16) das besagte Reed-Relais (12) beaufschlagt und die besagte
Steuerkarte (10) das Signal erzeugt, das an die elektronische Platte (8) zur Aktivierung
der Elektropumpe (7) zuführbar ist.
2. Elektronisch gesteuertes Spritzgerät für Landwirtschaft und/oder Gartenbau nach dem
Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass besagte Steuerkarte (10) mit besagter elektronischen Platte (8) über ein Kabelbündel
(9), das in einem flexiblen Schlauch (11) untergebracht ist, verbunden ist, wobei
dieser Schlauch in der gleichen Weg verläuft, wie besagter Schlauch (2) für den Austritt
der Flüssigkeit und die beide an einer ihrer Mantellinien miteinander befestigt sind.
3. Elektronisch gesteuertes Spritzgerät für Landwirtschaft und/oder Gartenbau nach dem
Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass zusammen mit besagter Steuerkarte (10) ein Timer-Potentiometer (13) wirkt, das einen
Timer beaufschlagt, der die Versorgung besagter Elektropumpe (7) und infolgedessen
die Dosierung nach jedem vorbestimmten Zeitraum unterbricht, wobei für einen neuen
Dosierungszyklus ein erneutes Betätigen des Kipphebels (6) erforderlich ist.
4. Elektronisch gesteuertes Spritzgerät für Landwirtschaft und/oder Gartenbau nach dem
Patentanspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass zusammen mit besagter Steuerkarte (10) ein Druck-Potentiometer (14) wirkt, das einen
Choper beaufschlagt, der die Spannungssignal, die gleichzeitig auf den Motor wirkt,
schneidet und die Laufgeschwindigkeit des letztgenannten und infolgedessen den von
der Elektropumpe zur Verfügung gestellten Druck, variiert.
5. Elektronisch gesteuertes Spritzgerät für Landwirtschaft und/oder Gartenbau nach den
Patentansprüchen 1 und 3, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es einen Schalter (17) aufweist, der die Wirksamkeit des besagten Timer-Potentiometers
(13) ausstellt, so dass durch die Stellung dieses Schalters (17) das Gerät in kontinuierlicher
Form oder als Dosierer funktionieren kann.
6. Elektronisch gesteuertes Spritzgerät für Landwirtschaft und/oder Gartenbau nach vorherigen
Patentansprüchen, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass es eine Schutzschaltung für die Batterie aufweist, die eine Entladung derselben unter
das festgelegte Niveau verhindert, wobei mit diesem Schaltkreis eine LED-Diode (15)
verbunden ist, die aufblinkt, sobald sich die Batteriespannung an das besagte Niveau
der Mindestladung nähert und die ständig aufleuchtet, sobald besagtes Niveau erreicht
wird und eine Unterbrechung der Versorgung der Elektropumpe (7) bewirkt.
1. Pulvérisateur pour l'agriculture et/ou le jardinage avec contrôle électronique, du
type comprenant un réservoir que l'opérateur porte sur le dos, qui comprend un tuyau
(2) de sortie du fluide, avec la collaboration d'une pompe électrique, vers une lance
munie d'un embout de pulvérisation et dont la base comprend un mécanisme de vanne
contrôlé par une manette, caractérisé en ce qu'une plaque électronique de contrôle (8) est installée sur le réservoir (1) pour le
pilotage de la pompe électrique (7). Cette plaque électronique (8) est commandée à
son tour par une carte de contrôle (10) installée sur la base de la lance. Cette carte
est munie d'un relais reed (12) pour activer cette dernière et activé par un aimant
permanent (16) convenablement associé à la manette (6), de manière que lorsque cette
manette (6) se ferme, l'aimant permanent (16) excite le relais reed (12). La carte
de contrôle (10) génère alors le signal fourni à 1a plaque électronique (8) pour activer
la pompe électrique (7).
2. Pulvérisateur pour l'agriculture et/ou le jardinage avec contrôle électronique, selon
la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la carte de contrôle (10) est reliée à la plaque électronique (8) par un faisceau
de câbles (9) logé dans un tuyau souple (11) décrivant la même trajectoire que le
tuyau (2) de sortie du liquide, auquel il est fixé à travers l'une de ses génératrices.
3. Pulvérisateur pour l'agriculture et/ou le jardinage avec contrôle électronique, selon
la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la carte de contrôle (10) reçoit la collaboration d'un potentiomètre de temporisation
(13) agissant sur un temporisateur qui interrompt l'alimentation de la pompe électrique
(7), et, donc, le dosage, après chaque période de temps prévue, ce qui oblige à actionner
de nouveau la manette (6) pour démarrer un nouveau cycle de dosage.
4. Pulvérisateur pour l'agriculture et/ou le jardinage avec contrôle automatique, selon
la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que la carte de contrôle (10) reçoit la collaboration d'un potentiomètre de pression
(14) qui agit sur un choper qui coupe la signal de tension agissant à son tour sur
le moteur, pour varier la vitesse de rotation de ce dernier, et, donc, la pression
fournie par la pompe électrique.
5. Pulvérisateur pour l'agriculture et/ou le jardinage avec contrôle électronique, selon
les revendications 1 et 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un interrupteur (17) qui annule l'efficacité du potentiomètre de temporisation
(13), de manière que sur la base de la position de cet interrupteur (17) l'appareil
peut fonctionner en continu ou comme doseur.
6. Pulvérisateur pour l'agriculture et/ou le jardinage avec contrôle électronique, selon
les revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un circuit de protection de la batterie, qui empêche que celle-ci ne se
décharge en dessous d'un niveau préétabli, avec la collaboration d'une diode LED (15)
qui clignote lorsque la tension de la batterie s'approche du niveau indiqué de charge
minimum et qui s'allume dúne maniére permanente lorsque ce niveau est atteint, ce
qui déclenche l'interruption de l'alimentation de la pompe électrique (7).