High resolution spray section height control and dynamic nozzle height adjustment

Abstract

A spray boom for spraying a fluid on a target includes a boom frame and a spray section coupled to the boom frame. The spray section includes a spray pipe configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source and a nozzle coupled to the spray pipe and configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source. An actuator is coupled at one end to the boom frame and at an opposite end to the spray section. The actuator is controllably extending and retracting to move the spray pipe and nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position. A trip assembly is coupled between the boom frame and actuator for biasing the spray section to a biased position in which the actuator and nozzle are substantially perpendicular to the underlying surface.

1 . A spray boom for spraying a fluid on an underlying surface, comprising:
 a boom frame;   a spray section coupled to the boom frame, the spray section including an elongated spray pipe configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source;   a nozzle coupled to the spray pipe and configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source, the nozzle including a tip for spraying the fluid; and   an actuator coupled at one end to the boom frame and at an opposite end to the spray section, the actuator controllably extending and retracting to move the spray pipe and nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position.   
     
     
         2 . The spray boom of  claim 1 , wherein the actuator and spray section are pivotable between a first position and a second position, the first position being defined where the actuator and nozzle are substantially perpendicular to the underlying surface, and the second position being defined rearward of the boom frame. 
     
     
         3 . The spray boom of  claim 1 , further comprising a trip assembly coupled between the boom frame and actuator, the trip assembly biasing the spray section to a biased position in which the actuator and nozzle are substantially perpendicular to the underlying surface. 
     
     
         4 . The spray boom of  claim 3 , wherein the trip assembly comprises a spring and a damper. 
     
     
         5 . The spray boom of  claim 1 , further comprising a second actuator coupled at another end to the boom frame and at an opposite end thereof to the spray section, the second actuator being spaced along the spray section from the first actuator;
 wherein the second actuator controllably extends and retracts to move the spray pipe and nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position.   
     
     
         6 . The spray boom of  claim 1 , wherein the spray section comprises a nozzle body for holding the nozzle, a first link, and a second link, the first link being pivotably coupled at a first pivot to the boom frame and at a second pivot to the spray pipe, and the second link being pivotably coupled at a third pivot to the boom frame and at a fourth pivot to the spray pipe;
 wherein, the boom frame, the first link, the second link and the nozzle body form a four-bar linkage assembly.   
     
     
         7 . The spray boom of  claim 6 , wherein the actuator is pivotably coupled between the boom frame and the first link, and the trip assembly is pivotably coupled between the boom frame and the second link. 
     
     
         8 . The spray boom of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller disposed in electrical communication with the actuator for operably controlling the actuator between its extended position and retracted position; and   a sensor disposed in electrical communication with the controller and configured to detect a distance between the nozzle and the target;   wherein, the sensor communicates the distance to the controller, and the controller operably controls movement of the actuator until the distance satisfies a target distance.   
     
     
         9 . The spray boom of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second boom frame coupled to the boom frame;   a second spray section coupled to the second boom frame, the second spray section including a second elongated spray pipe configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source;   a second nozzle coupled to the second spray pipe and configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source, the second nozzle including a tip for spraying the fluid;   a second actuator coupled at one end to the second boom frame and at an opposite end to the second spray section, the second actuator controllably extending and retracting to move the second spray pipe and second nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position; and   a second trip assembly coupled between the second boom frame and the second actuator, the second trip assembly biasing the second spray section to a biased position in which the second actuator and second nozzle are substantially perpendicular to the underlying surface.   
     
     
         10 . A spray boom, comprising:
 a center frame;   a boom assembly coupled to the center frame, the boom assembly comprising a first boom frame;   a spray pipe coupled to the first boom frame, the spray pipe being in fluid communication with a fluid source for supplying fluid to be sprayed on a target;   an actuator coupled to the first boom frame, the actuator being operably controlled between an extended position and a retracted position;   a tube assembly coupled to the first boom frame, the tube assembly comprising a first tube and a second tube, the second tube being telescopically coupled to the first tube; and   a nozzle configured to spray the fluid on the target, the nozzle being coupled to the second tube;   wherein, the second tube is coupled to the actuator such that as the actuator moves between its extended position and retracted position, the second tube moves relative to the first tube.   
     
     
         11 . The spray boom of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a controller disposed in electrical communication with the actuator for operably controlling the actuator between its extended position and retracted position; and   a sensor disposed in electrical communication with the controller and configured to detect a distance between the nozzle and the target;   wherein, the sensor communicates the distance to the controller, and the controller operably controls movement of the actuator until the distance satisfies a target distance.   
     
     
         12 . The spray boom of  claim 11 , wherein the controller operably controls movement of the second tube into and out of the first tube until the distance satisfies the target distance. 
     
     
         13 . The spray boom of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the boom assembly comprises a second boom frame;   a second spray pipe is coupled to the second boom frame, the second spray pipe being in fluid communication with the fluid source;   a second actuator coupled to the second boom frame, the second actuator being operably controlled between an extended position and a retracted position;   a second tube assembly coupled to the second boom frame, the second tube assembly comprising a first tube and a second tube, the second tube being telescopically coupled to the first tube; and   a second nozzle configured to spray the fluid on the target, the second nozzle being coupled to the second tube of the second tube assembly;   wherein, the second tube of the second tube assembly is coupled to the second actuator such that as the second actuator moves between its extended position and retracted position, the second tube of the second tube assembly moves relative to the first tube of the second tube assembly;   further wherein, the first actuator and second actuator are operably controlled independently of one another.   
     
     
         14 . The spray boom of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a second spray pipe coupled to the first boom frame, the second spray pipe being in fluid communication with the fluid source;   a second actuator coupled to the first boom frame, the second actuator being operably controlled between an extended position and a retracted position;   a second tube assembly coupled to the first boom frame, the second tube assembly comprising a first tube and a second tube, the second tube being telescopically coupled to the first tube; and   a second nozzle configured to spray the fluid on the target, the second nozzle being coupled to the second tube of the second tube assembly;   wherein, the second tube of the second tube assembly is coupled to the second actuator such that as the second actuator moves between its extended position and retracted position, the second tube of the second tube assembly moves relative to the first tube of the second tube assembly;   further wherein, the first actuator and second actuator are operably controlled independently of one another.   
     
     
         15 . A spray boom, comprising:
 a boom frame;   a spray section coupled to the boom frame, the spray section including a flexible member and a nozzle, the nozzle being coupled to the flexible member and configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source, the nozzle including a tip for spraying a fluid from the fluid source onto a target; and   an actuator coupled at one end to the boom frame and at an opposite end to the flexible member, the actuator controllably moving between an extended position and a retracted position;   wherein, movement of the actuator between its extended and retracted positions flexes the flexible member to adjust a distance between the nozzle and the target.   
     
     
         16 . The spray boom of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible member comprises a spray pipe configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source, the nozzle being fluidly coupled to the spray pipe for receiving fluid to be sprayed on the target. 
     
     
         17 . The spray boom of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a spray pipe coupled to the boom frame and configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source; and   a hose fluidly coupled between the spray pipe and the nozzle for feeding the fluid from the spray pipe to the nozzle;   wherein the flexible member is vertically offset from the spray pipe.   
     
     
         18 . The spray boom of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a controller disposed in electrical communication with the actuator for operably controlling the actuator between its extended position and retracted position; and   a sensor disposed in electrical communication with the controller and configured to detect the distance between the nozzle and the target;   wherein, the sensor communicates the distance to the controller, and the controller operably controls movement of the actuator until the distance satisfies a target distance.   
     
     
         19 . The spray boom of  claim 15 , wherein in the extended position the flexible member is flexed toward the target to decrease the distance, and in the retracted position the flexible member is flexed away from the target to increase the distance. 
     
     
         20 . The spray boom of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 a second actuator coupled at one end to the boom frame and at an opposite end to the flexible member, the second actuator controllably movable between an extended position and a retracted position; and   a second nozzle being coupled to the flexible member and configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source, the second nozzle including a tip for spraying the fluid from the fluid source onto the target;   wherein, movement of the second actuator between its extended and retracted positions flexes the flexible member to adjust a distance between the second nozzle and the target.