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AssigneeHer Majesty the Queen in right of Canada, as represented by the Minister of Universite Laval, Office of Technology Transfer, Vice-rectorat Research Laval Universitie
InventorsBernard Panneton, Roger Theriault, Benoit Lacasse
Estimating the term…
An apparatus (A, A″) for spraying treatment product on plants, trees, bushes, etc., and for recovering excess treatment product comprises a fan (30) which conveys pressurized air through a duct (37) located over the plant (9) and vertically distally thereof at a manifold section (38) of the duct (37). The treatment product is supplied with a pump (21) from a reservoir (40) to nozzles (43) of a wet boom (42) extending within or along the manifold duct section (38) and is atomized and incorporated into the air stream exiting from the outlets (39) of the manifold duct section (38) which are oriented towards the plant (9) and an air-liquid separator panel (50) supported proximally of the plant (9) on the frame (13) of the apparatus (A, A″). The manifold duct section (38) can be rotated by a device (15) to compensate air stream deviations due to travel velocity. Treatment product which does not adhere to the plant (9) to be treated is carried by the air stream to the separator panel (50) such as to condense thereat. The treatment product recovered in liquid form is filtered and returned to the spray circuit or accumulated in a separate reservoir. A flexible wind-barrier (60) assists in preventing interference from lateral winds and in recirculating part of the excess treatment product not recovered in the separator panel (50) into the ventilation circuit (37).
A spraying method for applying a treatment product on vegetation, comprising:
A spraying apparatus for applying a treatment product on vegetation, comprising a support frame, a fan mounted on said support frame and on a proximal side of the vegetation, a conduit mounted to said support frame and having an inlet and an outlet, said conduit being adapted to extend above the vegetation and to convey air by way of said fan from said inlet to said outlet thereof such that an air stream exiting from said outlet on a distal side of the vegetation is directed towards said support frame, a spray system adapted to inject a treatment product in the air stream, an orientation of said outlet being adjustable such as to vary a discharge direction of the air stream from said outlet, whereby the treatment product and the air stream are discharged at said distal side and towards the vegetation.
A spraying apparatus for applying a treatment product on vegetation, comprising a support frame, a fan mounted on said support frame and on a proximal side of the vegetation, a conduit mounted to said support frame and having an inlet and an outlet, said conduit being adapted to extend above the vegetation and to convey air by way of said fan from said inlet to said outlet thereof such that an air stream exiting from said outlet on a distal side of the vegetation is directed towards said support frame, a spray system adapted to inject a treatment product in the air stream, and a passive treatment product recuperation system mounted at said proximal side, whereby the treatment product and the air stream are discharged at said distal side and towards the vegetation with at least a large portion of overspray emerging from the vegetation on said proximal side being passively collected by said recuperation system.
A spraying apparatus for applying a treatment product on vegetation, comprising a support frame, a fan mounted on said support frame and on a proximal side of the vegetation, a conduit mounted to said support frame and having an inlet and an outlet, said conduit being adapted to extend above the vegetation and to convey air by way of said fan from said inlet to said outlet thereof such that an air stream exiting from said outlet on a distal side of the vegetation is directed towards said support frame, a spray system adapted to inject a treatment product in the air stream, a treatment product recuperation system mounted at said proximal side, and a wind barrier mounted on said support frame for diminishing a wind effect on the air stream and treatment product and positioned to intercept at least part of said air stream exiting from said outlet of said conduit, whereby the treatment product and the air stream are discharged at said distal side and towards the vegetation with at least a large portion of overspray emerging from the vegetation on said proximal side being collected by said recuperation system.
A spraying apparatus for applying a treatment product on vegetation, comprising a support frame, a fan mounted on said support frame and on a proximal side of the vegetation, a conduit mounted to said support frame and having an inlet and an outlet, said conduit being adapted to extend above the vegetation and to convey air by way of said fan from said inlet to said outlet thereof such that an air stream exiting from said outlet on a distal side of the vegetation is directed towards said support frame, a spray system adapted to inject a treatment product in the air stream, said conduit comprising an overhead section extending outwardly from said support frame and adapted to extend above the vegetation and, on said distal side, a flexible manifold section extending downwardly from said overhead section and opposite the vegetation, said spray system comprising a boom extending adjacent said manifold section and capable of bending such that said manifold section and said boom are both capable of deflection upon encountering an obstacle, whereby the treatment product and the air stream are discharged at said distal side and towards the vegetation respectively from said boom and said manifold section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.