Sprayer boom self-leveling lockout and method of sprayer boom operation

A method of operating a sprayer boom assembly with an intermediate frame, a center boom, a left leveling link pivotally attached to the intermediate frame and the center boom, a right leveling link pivotally attached to the intermediate frame and the center boom, a left wing boom pivotally attached to the center boom, a left hydraulic cylinder attached to the center boom and to the left wing boom, a right wing boom pivotally attached to the center boom, a right hydraulic cylinder attached to the center boom and to the right wing boom, a left sprayer boom lock assembly with a left latch and a left latch contact surface, and a right sprayer boom lock assembly with a right latch and a right latch contact surface comprising:

• a. activate the left hydraulic cylinder to pivot the left wing boom from a left wing working position to a left wing transport position;
• b. activate the left sprayer boom lock assembly to limit pivotal movement of the left and right leveling links and the center boom in a first direction relative to the intermediate frame;
• c. activate the right hydraulic cylinder to pivot the right wing boom from a right wing working position to a right wing transport position;
• d. activate the right sprayer boom lock assembly to limit pivotal movement of the left and right leveling links and the center boom in a second direction relative to the intermediate frame;
• e. activate the left hydraulic cylinder to pivot the left wing boom from the left wing transport position to a left wing working position;
• f. deactivate the left boom lock assembly to move the left latch from the path of movement of the left latch contact surface relative to the left latch and free the left and right leveling links and the center boom to pivot relative to the intermediate frame in the first direction;
• g. activate the right hydraulic cylinder to pivot the right wing boom from the right wing transport position to the right wing working position;
• and
• h. deactivate the right boom lock assembly to move the right latch from the path of movement of the right latch contact surface relative to the right latch and free the left and right leveling links and the center boom to pivot relative to the intermediate frame in the second direction.

A sprayer boom assembly including an intermediate frame adapted to be attached to a sprayer boom carrier;

• a center boom having a left end and a right end, a left wing boom pivotally connected to the left end of the center boom for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis between a left wing working position and a left wing folded transport position and a right wing boom pivotally connected to the right end of the center boom for pivotal movement about a generally horizontal axis between a right wing working position and a right wing folded transport position;
• a left leveling link with an upper end pivotally connected to the intermediate frame for pivotal movement about a left upper axis and a lower end pivotally connected to the center boom for pivotal movement about an axis that is parallel to the left upper axis;
• a right leveling link with an upper end pivotally connected to the intermediate frame for pivotal movement about a right upper axis that is spaced from the left upper axis and a lower end pivotally connected to the center boom for pivotal movement about an axis that is parallel to the right upper axis and spaced from the axis of the pivotal connection between the lower end of the left leveling link and the center boom;
• a left hydraulic cylinder pivotally attached to the center boom and to the left wing for pivoting the left wing between the left wing working position and the left wing folded transport position;
• a right hydraulic cylinder pivotally attached to the center boom and to the right wing for pivoting the right wing between the right wing working position and the right wing folded transport position;
• at least one sprayer boom lock asembly including at least one latch movable between a disengaged position in which the left and right leveling links are free to pivot and an engaged position in which pivotal movement of the left and right leveling links is restricted;
• and a boom lock assembly activation linkage connected to the at least one latch and to at least one of the wings, which is movable in response to pivotal movement of the at least one of the wings relative to the center boom.