Sectional boom height control of individual section for sprayers and system thereof

Abstract

A spray boom of a spray boom assembly includes a boom frame and a spray section coupled to the boom frame. The spray section includes an elongated spray pipe configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source and a nozzle coupled to the spray pipe. An actuator is coupled at one end to the boom frame and at an opposite end to the spray section. The actuator controllably extends and retracts to move the spray pipe and nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position.

1 . A spray boom of a spray boom assembly, 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 distributing a fluid;   an actuator coupled at one end to the boom frame and at an opposite end to the spray section;   wherein, the actuator controllably extends and retracts to move the spray pipe and nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position.   
     
     
         2 . The spray boom of  claim 1 , further comprising a plumbing frame to which the spray pipe is coupled, the plumbing frame being movable by the actuator between the raised position and the lowered position. 
     
     
         3 . The spray boom of  claim 1 , further comprising a protective cover of the spray section for at least partially surrounding the spray pipe and the nozzle. 
     
     
         4 . The spray boom of  claim 3 , wherein the protective cover comprises at least one wall that extends downwardly to a location that is lower than the nozzle in its lowered position. 
     
     
         5 . The spray boom of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the protective cover comprises a top portion, a first side wall, and a second side wall;   the first actuator being coupled to the top portion to move the spray section in a substantially linear direction between the raised and lowered positions.   
     
     
         6 . The spray boom of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a first actuator coupled at one end to the protective cover and at an opposite end to the spray pipe;   a second actuator coupled at one end to the protective cover and at an opposite end to the spray pipe;   wherein, the first actuator and second actuator are spaced along the spray pipe from one another;   further wherein, the first actuator operably moves one end of the spray pipe relative to the protective cover, and the second actuator operably moves an opposite end of the spray pipe relative to the protective cover.   
     
     
         7 . The spray boom of  claim 6 , wherein the actuator operably moves the protective cover, the first and second actuators, the spray pipe, and the nozzle relative to the boom frame. 
     
     
         8 . The spray boom of  claim 1 , further comprising a second actuator coupled at one end to the boom frame and at an opposite end to the spray section, the second actuator being spaced from the first actuator along the spray pipe such that the first actuator is disposed near one end of the spray pipe and the second actuator is disposed near an opposite end of the spray pipe;
 wherein, the second actuator controllably extends and retracts to move the spray pipe between a raised position and a lowered position.   
     
     
         9 . The spray boom of  claim 8 , wherein the first actuator and the second actuator are controllably actuated independently of one another. 
     
     
         10 . The spray boom of  claim 1 , further comprising a second spray section coupled to the 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;   a second actuator coupled at one end to the boom frame and at an opposite end to the second spray section;   wherein, the second actuator controllably extends and retracts to move the second spray pipe and the second nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position;   further wherein, the first actuator and the second actuator are operably controlled independently of one another.   
     
     
         11 . A spray boom assembly, comprising:
 a plurality of boom frames including at least a first boom frame and a second boom frame;   the first boom frame comprising a first spray section coupled thereto, the first spray section including a first spray pipe and a first nozzle, the first spray pipe and first nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source;   the second boom frame comprising a second spray section coupled thereto, the second spray section including a second spray pipe and a second nozzle, the second spray pipe and second nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source;   a first actuator coupled at one end to the first boom frame and at an opposite end to the first spray section;   a second actuator coupled at one end to the second boom frame and at an opposite end to the second spray section;   wherein, the first actuator controllably extends and retracts to move the first spray pipe and the first nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position, and the second actuator controllably extends and retracts to move the second spray pipe and the second nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position;   further wherein, the first actuator and the second actuator are operably controlled independently of one another.   
     
     
         12 . The spray boom assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a third spray section coupled to the first boom frame and having a third spray pipe and a third nozzle, and   a third actuator coupled between the first boom frame and the third spray section for controllably actuating the third spray section between a raised position and a lowered position,   wherein the third actuator is controlled independently of the first and second actuators.   
     
     
         13 . The spray boom assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a third actuator coupled at one end to the first boom frame and at an opposite end to the first spray pipe, the third actuator being spaced from the first actuator along the first spray pipe;
 wherein, the first actuator and the third actuator are controlled independently of one another.   
     
     
         14 . The spray boom assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a fourth actuator coupled at one end to the second boom frame and at an opposite end to the second spray pipe, the fourth actuator being spaced from the second actuator along the second spray pipe;
 wherein, the first, second, third and fourth actuators are controlled independently of one another.   
     
     
         15 . The spray boom assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of boom frames comprises:
 a third boom frame having a third spray section coupled thereto, the third spray section including a third spray pipe and a third nozzle, the third spray pipe and the third nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source; and   a third actuator coupled at one end to the third boom frame and at an opposite end to the third spray section;   wherein, the third actuator is operably controlled independently of the first and second actuators.   
     
     
         16 . The spray boom assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the first spray section comprises a plurality of spray sections, each of the plurality of spray sections including a spray pipe and a nozzle coupled thereto, where each of the plurality of spray sections further includes an actuator coupled between the first boom frame and each spray pipe of each spray section,
 wherein, each of the actuators operably controlling movement of each of the plurality of spray sections independently of the other spray sections.   
     
     
         17 . A spray boom assembly being transported by a work vehicle in a direction of travel for performing a spraying operation on a field, comprising:
 a control system comprising a controller for operably controlling the spray boom assembly;   a center frame;   a first boom and a second boom pivotally coupled to the center frame, the first boom extending transversely from one side of the center frame relative to the direction of travel and the second boom extending transversely from an opposite side of the center frame;   the first boom including a first boom frame and the second boom including a second boom frame;   the first boom frame comprising a first spray section coupled thereto, the first spray section including a first spray pipe and a first nozzle, the first spray pipe and first nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source;   the second boom frame comprising a second spray section coupled thereto, the second spray section including a second spray pipe and a second nozzle, the second spray pipe and second nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source;   a first actuator coupled at one end to the first boom frame and at an opposite end to the first spray section, the first actuator being operably controlled by the controller;   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 being operably controlled by the controller;   wherein, the first actuator controllably extends and retracts to move the first spray pipe and the first nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position, and the second actuator controllably extends and retracts to move the second spray pipe and the second nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position;   further wherein, the controller operably controls the first actuator and the second actuator independently of one another.   
     
     
         18 . The spray boom assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a first tilt actuator coupled at one end to the center frame and at an opposite end to the first boom for pivotably moving the first boom relative to the center frame;   a second tilt actuator coupled at one end to the center frame and at an opposite end to the second boom for pivotably moving the second boom relative to the center frame;   wherein, the first tilt actuator and the second tilt actuator are operably controlled by the controller;   further wherein, the controller operably controls the first actuator, the second actuator, the first tilt actuator and the second tilt actuator independently of one another.   
     
     
         19 . The spray boom assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of sensors disposed in electrical communication with the controller, where a first sensor of the plurality of sensors is disposed on the first spray pipe for detecting a distance between the first spray section and a target;
 wherein, the controller is configured to receive the distance detected by the first sensor, and compare the first distance to a target distance;   further wherein, the controller operably controls the first actuator to move the first spray section until the distance detected by sensor is approximately the same as the target distance.   
     
     
         20 . The spray boom assembly of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 a third actuator coupled at one end to the first boom frame and at an opposite end to the first spray pipe, the third actuator being spaced from the first actuator along the first spray pipe; and   a fourth actuator coupled at one end to the second boom frame and at an opposite end to the second spray pipe, the fourth actuator being spaced from the second actuator along the second spray pipe;   wherein, the third and fourth actuators are operably controlled by the controller;   wherein, the controller operably controls the first actuator, the second actuator, the third actuator, and the fourth actuator independently of one another.