CENTRAL BAR FOR SPRAYING AND/OR DISTRIBUTING PRODUCTS IN POWDER, LIQUID AND GRANULATE

FORMULATIONS

The invention disclosed in this specification pertains, in a general way, to the technological field of agricultural machinery and implements, and refers more specifically, to a central bar for spraying and/or distributing products in powder, liquid and granulate formulations, with a hitherto unknown placement of its components, since it is fixed between the front wheel and the back wheel of the propeller vehicle, which associated to the application -in an innovative way- of a series of technological resources in the central frame as regards the propeller vehicle, creates from part of the central frame a set of two brackets fixed on the propeller vehicle chassis, this part being a component of a horizontal pantograph set and two vertical pantograph sets, the vertical ones having an alternator axis which joins the upper side arms thereof in a rigid way. The central frame is also composed of actuating and pulling elements articulated by means of balls and cross pieces, supplementing in this way the opening and closing features of the side bars, the work height rigging of the whole central bar, independent opening and closing of the side bars and an angular movement in the vertical direction, synchronized or independent from the same.

The state of the art in this technological field consists of spraying bars for agricultural sprayers and fertilizer applicators, agricultural enhancers in powder, liquid or granulate forms. All the spraying and distribution bars comprised within the state of the art use the same mechanic or hydraulic principles and possess equivalent constructive formulas which produce similar results.

The problem with this type of equipment derives from the movements made by the propeller vehicle when moving over irregular ground, since such transit produces abrupt movements in all directions, with different intensities and different dimensions during movements. Such movements are transferred to all mechanical components of the device and, after some time of use the components and stabilizing means tend to have cracks and/or strain due to stress.

The impact and vibration absorbing means in said conventional equipment, unavoidable in this type of operation, are composed of mechanisms which have flaws in damping and stabilization during the work, which are made worse by the fact that the existing frame systems are not independent from the vehicle's movements as regards the bars, transferring to the application systems strong impacts which may cause the appearance of cracks in the relevant mechanisms. Some frame systems possess the above mentioned independence, but the courses of the impact absorbing mechanisms produced by the propeller vehicle's movement are minor, which implies more efficiency than that of former mechanisms, although it does not solve the problem completely, since it causes the bars to collide much more frequently at course ends, thus producing impact transfer and making the mechanism ineffective for preventing ruptures due to stress which are caused after some time of use. Currently used mechanisms are always placed in the rear or front portion of the propeller vehicle, that is, they are always placed beyond the axis of the bearings, either to the front or to the rear, and the greater the distance thereof from the intermediate point of the vehicle axes the larger the oscillations, and therefore, the larger the risks of the bars being damaged.

Obviously, as regards efficiency of the stabilization of the bars during working movements, the said conventional implements leave much room for improvement. The flaws in the technical resources implemented for absorbing jolts and shaking caused by the propeller vehicle to the application bars are evident.

The invention disclosed in this specification refers to spraying and distribution bars, with a new concept in placement, operativity and absorption of the vibrations and impacts inherent to the operation of this kind of equipment, featuring a series of advantages as regards the current state of the art.

The proposed bar system is placed between the front and back wheels of the propeller vehicle, which may be placed beyond the axis of the wheels both to the front and the rear, and even thus the central position provides three major advantages as regards known placements, by promoting a better visualization of the bars during the application operations, apart from protecting the operator, since the spraying of chemicals takes place in front of the cabin and to the rear thereof, completely eliminating the possibility of the operator being reached. Another advantage inherent to this invention is the increase in the useful life of the central frame mechanisms and the application bars, due to their central placement, since when the propeller vehicle suffers any sudden oscillations -both lateral and vertical or a change in direction or system, through damping and stabilization items which are rubber bearings, accumulators, springs and hydraulic accumulators, it causes the effect of said load to be smaller, providing (as well as more durability) a better application of the products due to the great stability of the bars as regards the ground. Another important effect which takes place when the bar is placed between the front and

back wheels is the tandem effect, which reduces the vertical movement caused by the passage of one of the wheels over an uneven part of the ground, wherein one of the axes accompanies such uneven portion of the ground and the other one remains at ground level, since the movement of climbing or going down an obstacle is smaller at the intermediate point of the propeller vehicle, which significantly reduces the harmful effects caused by said oscillations and impacts.

Another technical advantage of this new placement is the better side control the operator has in order to keep the spraying or distribution bar set aligned in the product application band, thus avoiding superposition or failures in the application.

As well as the novel placement of the new central frame system for supporting the side bars, the invention comprises a novel set of balls and/or cross pieces in the components which make up the union between the side bars and/or the central frame, in order to enable movement of the side bars without losing horizontal and vertical alignment when the system movements take place simultaneously (in three dimensions), maintaining the uniform application of the products on the target.

The central frame is designed in order to enable independence of the side bar movements as regards movements of the propeller vehicle, which is achieved through the joint action of a horizontal pantograph set which joins the side bars at their bottom bases, enabling vertical, simultaneous and reverse rotation of the side bars up to a limit of 20° , creating a state of balance between the same.

The central bar may also have any of its side arms rotated, independently, through hydraulic actuators, in the vertical direction,

with an angular movement of about 15° upwards and 5° downwards, rotated from components which are applied to the extensions of the top and bottom arms of the vertical pantographs, the horizontal pantograph also taking part in this, which creates a relative balance between the side bars which results in a counterweight system between them.

The adjustment of the working height of the side bars as regards the ground is made by the vertical pantograph system, through the application of hydraulic actuators. In order to absorb shock, not only when braking but during ignition and changes of direction, the central bar has a set of articulated braces with balls and cross pieces, bearings and brackets, which keep a specific position of the side bars, but leave them in complete freedom for absorbing the horizontal oscillations caused by the propeller vehicle.

Description of the attached drawings In order for this invention to be understood in full and put into practice by any technician in this technological field, it will be clearly, concisely and sufficiently explained so as to enable the reproduction thereof based on the attached drawings mentioned below, which illustrate and exemplify the same. The following figures were made from a spraying set and keep the same innovative principles which are applicable to the distribution bars of products with powder or granulate formulations: Figure 1 : Perspective view of a complete central bar, in the case of a spraying equipment, depicting and mentioning the main components and sets involved in the invention.

Figure 2: Perspective view of a complete central bar mounted on a propeller vehicle with spraying equipment, depicting and mentioning the main components involved in this invention and also showing the intermediate placement of the central bar fixed on the propeller vehicle chassis.

Figure 3: Perspective view of the central portion of the central bar, allowing for visualization and indication of the respective subsets.

Figure 4: Perspective view of the central bar with an enlarged detail of the central portion thereof, showing in detail the subsets, horizontal pantograph and vertical pantographs.

Figure 5: Perspective view of the central frame, with a detail of the enlarged view of the components, the top and bottom articulation subsets of the side bars. Figure 6: Drawing of the central bar with an enlarged sectional view showing the placement of the damping bearings within the bracket of the top subset, which depict the damping system of the side bar shocks.

Figure 7: Front view of the central bar depicting the vertical angular movements of the side bars which compensate the irregular movements of the propeller vehicle in motion.

Figure 8: Front view of the central bar depicting one of the bars rotated vertically due to the action of the hydraulic actuator and another one in the regular working position. Detailed Description of the Invention

With reference to the attached figure 1 , we may observe that the central bar (1 ), for spraying and/or distributing products in powder, liquid or granulate formulations, is composed of a central

frame (3) to be fixed on a propeller vehicle associated to a set of side bars (4) which may or may not be divided in modules or sections (5).

In figure 2 it is possible to identify and understand the way in which said central bar (1 ) is fixed to the propeller vehicle (2). The central frame (3) of the central bar (1) is fixed on the chassis (2a) of the propeller vehicle (2), in an intermediate position between the front wheel (2b) and the back wheel (2c), in an attempt to minimize the effects of vibrations and jolts occurring when the equipment is at work; these enable the operator to visualize and control the alignment of said vehicle in the application bands, and prevent a fog of the applied product from being formed in front of the cabin thus decreasing the risk of the operator being intoxicated.

Figure 3 shows the central frame (3) set and indicates its subsets: Brackets (3a), horizontal pantograph (3b), two vertical pantographs (3c), the subsets for vertical articulation of the bars (3d) and the opening, closing and shock absorbing subsets (3e), of the side bars (4).

Figure 4 shows, in perspective, the horizontal pantograph set (3b) in detail, and the two sets of vertical pantographs (3c), the horizontal one being composed by the following components: two bottom side arms (3h), the stabilizing bar (3g) and the brackets (3a), which when fixed to the chassis (2a), as indicated on Figure 2, form a single rigid component. Through its stabilizing bar (3g), the horizontal pantograph (3b) interlinks the two side bars (4) and when it moves to the sides, it pulls the bases thereof towards sides opposite to their movement, thus causing a vertical rotation of the side bars (4), raising the end of one of them while lowering the end of the other one. Such placement of the parts creates a condition of balance of action-

reaction forces between the side bars (4). The two vertical pantographs (3c) are formed and identified in this figure by the following components: Subset of brackets (3a); the two top side arms (3f) which form a rigid set with the alternator axis (3i); the two bottom side arms (3h); and the braces (3j), forming a vertical pantograph (3c) for each side of the central frame (3), a hydraulic actuator (31) being also applied for each one, thus achieving the function of adjusting the working height of said central bar (1 ).

In the enlarged view of figure 5, the pieces which make up the two top subsets (3e) and the two bottom subsets (3d) are identified. The top subsets (3e), for opening and closing the side bars (4), are formed by the following pieces: bearing support (3m), fixed to the side bars (4), internal brace with a ball and a pin (3n), an attachment brace with a ball and a cross piece (3o), cross piece bracket (3p) and hydraulic actuator (3q), which set of components has the function of opening and closing and absorbing shocks in side bars (4) during movements when at work. Likewise, in figure 5 the following pieces may be identified, which compose the bottom subsets (3d): Bar terminal (3r), with a cross piece; an attachment brace (3s), also with ball and cross piece; and a hydraulic actuator (3t), which drives the vertical rotation independently for each side bar (4), of such central bar

(1 ).

In figure 6 the way in which the damping bearings (3u) work may be identified, supported by the internal walls of the bearing brackets (3m), against the internal braces (3n), each bearing acting towards one side of the brace in order to soften the jolts and longitudinal shakings suffered by the side bars (4) during movements when at work.

Figure 7 shows the mentioned central bar (1 ), on a front view, simulating the vertical rotation movements of the side bars (4), in a condition of balance between them so as to absorb irregular movements caused by said propeller vehicle (2). In practice, constant tilting of said propeller vehicle (2) occurs, with the side bars (4) remaining inert to such movements and maintaining parallel quality of the ground.

Figure 8, on a front view, shows the central bar (1 ), with one of its side bars (4), rotated upwards in order to avoid obstacles, through the hydraulic actuator (3t) and the other one in the regular working position. Both side bars (4) may be driven by the hydraulic actuators (3t), independently or simultaneously, according to the needs during work.

This specification refers to a novel and original invention, provided with all requirements for being granted the privilege it applies for.