Spray Boom For An Agricultural Machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020337291-A1
Application number	US-201916397133-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 29, 2019
Priority date	Apr 29, 2019
Publication date	Oct 29, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a spray boom for an agricultural machine in which the boom is arranged as a truss with interior diagonal struts of the truss being configured to absorb tension and compression energy imparted by deflections over the length of the boom with such energy being dissipated as heat. In one aspect, the diagonal strut could comprise a rod moveable with respect to a tube with a polymer, such as an elastomeric material, arranged in the tube to dampen the movement. The tension and compression of the diagonal strut could subject the dampener to a shearing force which could be absorbed by the dampener rather than transferred to the machine.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A spray boom for an agricultural machine, comprising:
an upper frame member defining a top chord of a truss; a lower frame member defining a bottom chord of the truss; first and second interior struts coupled between the top and bottom chords; and a diagonal strut coupled between an upper area of the first interior strut proximal to the top chord and a lower area of the second interior strut proximal to the bottom chord, wherein the diagonal strut is configured to absorb tension and compression, and wherein at least one of the upper and lower frame members is configured to support a plurality of spray nozzle assemblies for spraying a liquid product.

2 . The spray boom of claim 1 , wherein the diagonal strut comprises first and second structures and a dampener, wherein the first structure is movable with respect to the second structure, and wherein the dampener is configured to dampen movement between the first and second structures.

3 . The spray boom of claim 2 , wherein the first and second structures comprise a rod and a tube, respectively, wherein the rod is movable in and out of the tube.

4 . The spray boom of claim 3 , wherein the tension and compression of the diagonal strut subjects the dampener to a shearing force.

5 . The spray boom of claim 3 , wherein the dampener comprises a polymer arranged in the tube.

6 . The spray boom of claim 5 , wherein the polymer comprises elastomeric material.

7 . The spray boom of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the upper and lower frame members is at least 90 feet long.

8 . The spray boom of claim 1 , wherein the diagonal strut is configured to dissipate energy imparted by the tension and compression as heat.

9 . The spray boom of claim 1 , wherein the diagonal strut is a first diagonal strut, and further comprising a second diagonal strut coupled between an upper area of the second interior strut proximal to the top chord and a lower area of the first interior strut proximal to the bottom chord.

10 . The spray boom of claim 1 , wherein the upper and lower areas of the interior struts each comprise a living hinge.

11 . A self-propelled agricultural vehicle, comprising:
a chassis supporting a cab and having a plurality of wheels for moving the vehicle; a liquid product application system supported by the chassis, the liquid product application system comprising a spray boom including: an upper frame member defining a top chord of a truss; a lower frame member defining a bottom chord of the truss; first and second interior struts coupled between the top and bottom chords; and a diagonal strut coupled between an upper area of the first interior strut proximal to the top chord and a lower area of the second interior strut proximal to the bottom chord, wherein the diagonal strut is configured to absorb tension and compression, and wherein at least one of the upper and lower frame members is configured to support a plurality of spray nozzle assemblies for spraying a liquid product.

12 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the diagonal strut comprises first and second structures and a dampener, wherein the first structure is movable with respect to the second structure, and wherein the dampener is configured to dampen movement between the first and second structures.

13 . The vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the first and second structures comprise a rod and a tube, respectively, wherein the rod is movable in and out of the tube.

14 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the tension and compression of the diagonal strut subjects the dampener to a shearing force.

15 . The vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the dampener comprises a polymer arranged in the tube.

16 . The vehicle of claim 15 , wherein the polymer comprises elastomeric mate al.

17 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the upper and lower frame members is at least 90 feet long.

18 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the diagonal strut is configured to dissipate energy imparted by the tension and compression as heat.

19 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the diagonal strut is a first diagonal strut, and further comprising a second diagonal strut coupled between an upper area of the second interior strut proximal to the top chord and a lower area of the first interior strut proximal to the bottom chord.

20 . The vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the upper and lower areas of the interior struts each comprise a living hinge.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Bittner Roy A

Classifications

• F16F1/50

  loaded mainly in shear · CPC title

• F16F1/3814

  characterised by adaptations to counter axial forces (F16F1/393 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01M7/0071

  Construction of the spray booms · CPC title

• A01M7/0053 Primary

  Mounting of the spraybooms · CPC title

• F16F2224/025

  Elastomers · CPC title