Traditionally,Pressure Sprayer Manufacturer’s agricultural sprayer machines were custom-built on a four-wheel chassis. These custom-built units were heavy, expensive and not easily adapted to other farm applications. Sprayers are typically used to apply herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizer. Naturally, it would be more practical if a machine that could be used for other functions – such as tilling, loading, and baling.
One manufacturer designed a retrofit using unconventional technologies which resulted in a three-wheel flotation spraying applicator. The new vehicle is less heavy, costs 20 to 50 percent less and is more versatile because it's designed to accomplish more than one function. The sprayer exerts lower ground pressure and more affordable than traditional machinery.
The three-wheeled commercial applicator was designed by retrofitting a mid-range (50 to 120 hp), two-wheel-drive tractor chassis with three major innovations:
Hydraulic wheel steering
A suspension fork
Flotation tires
A break from convention
Sprayer Steers Clear of the Ordinary Sprayer Cylinder Divisionof this size generally have hydraulically assisted steering using a hydraulic cylinder and mechanical linkage assembly. In place of the typical front-wheel steering cylinder, the manufacturer used a helical hydraulic rotary actuator.
The rotary actuator is a part of the steering superstructure, providing the strength and flexibility the vehicle requires without unnecessary weight, complexity, and maintenance required of mechanical linages. It supports a thrust load of 8000 pounds and accommodates 423,000 pounds per inch of bending moment capacity. It transmits 55,000 pounds per inch of steering torque when fully loaded. The L30 series actuator’s design makes it capable of angular displacement of 360-degrees or more.
The tractor’s original-equipment hydraulic power unit supplies pressurized fluid for steering and other hydraulic functions. The maximum system pressure is 2950 psig with eight gallons per minute of flow but the steering function generally operates at a pressure of 1500 to 2000 psig. The only modification needed to the tractor’s original hydraulic system is a higher displacement steering unit. This is because a rotary actuator requires more fluid to move the wheel through its entire range of motion than a cylinder does. The plumbing of the steering control unit is routed directed to the actuator, eliminating sections of hose and fittings otherwise required by the cylinder.
The height and orientation of the sprayer boom are also controlled with hydraulics. A five-spool solenoid valve routes hydraulic fluid to and from cylinders that raise, lower, rotate, and pivot the prayer boom. Furthermore, an open-center motor, controlled by an electronic flow-control valve, supplies the driving torque to apply the fertilizer or other substance to crops. The retrofit package also includes a suspension style swing arm fork with twin air springs capable of supporting loads to 8000 pounds above the front tire. The air springs’ pressure is adjustable for different loads for smooth riding in the roughest of field conditions. The manufacturer supplied an electric air compressor to generate the pneumatic power for raising the pressure in the air springs. The fork’s open front allows for easy access for changing or repairing the front tire. The fork is 50 inches wide, allowing the use of huge, 44.00-inch tires for the maximum flotation and the potential for ground pressure as low as four psig. Sprayers are typically used to apply herbicides, insecticides, and fertilizer. Naturally, it would be more practical if a machine that could be used for other functions – such as tilling, loading, and baling.
One manufacturer designed a retrofit using unconventional technologies which resulted in a three-wheel flotation spraying applicator. The new vehicle is less heavy, costs 20 to 50 percent less and is more versatile because it's designed to accomplish more than one function. The sprayer exerts lower ground pressure and more affordable than traditional machinery.
The three-wheeled commercial applicator was designed by retrofitting a mid-range (50 to 120 hp), two-wheel-drive tractor chassis with three major innovations:
Hydraulic wheel steering
A suspension fork
Flotation tires
A break from convention
Sprayer Steers Clear of the Ordinary Sprayer Cylinder Divisionof this size generally have hydraulically assisted steering using a hydraulic cylinder and mechanical linkage assembly. In place of the typical front-wheel steering cylinder, the manufacturer used a helical hydraulic rotary actuator.
The rotary actuator is a part of the steering superstructure, providing the strength and flexibility the vehicle requires without unnecessary weight, complexity, and maintenance required of mechanical linages. It supports a thrust load of 8000 pounds and accommodates 423,000 pounds per inch of bending moment capacity. It transmits 55,000 pounds per inch of steering torque when fully loaded. The L30 series actuator’s design makes it capable of angular displacement of 360-degrees or more.
The tractor’s original-equipment hydraulic power unit supplies pressurized fluid for steering and other hydraulic functions. The maximum system pressure is 2950 psig with eight gallons per minute of flow but the steering function generally operates at a pressure of 1500 to 2000 psig. The only modification needed to the tractor’s original hydraulic system is a higher displacement steering unit. This is because a rotary actuator requires more fluid to move the wheel through its entire range of motion than a cylinder does. The plumbing of the steering control unit is routed directed to the actuator, eliminating sections of hose and fittings otherwise required by the cylinder.
The height and orientation of the China Agricultural power Sprayer Pump boom are also controlled with hydraulics. A five-spool solenoid valve routes hydraulic fluid to and from cylinders that raise, lower, rotate, and pivot the prayer boom. Furthermore, an open-center motor, controlled by an electronic flow-control valve, supplies the driving torque to apply the fertilizer or other substance to crops. The retrofit package also includes a suspension style swing arm fork with twin air springs capable of supporting loads to 8000 pounds above the front tire. The air springs’ pressure is adjustable for different loads for smooth riding in the roughest of field conditions. The manufacturer supplied an electric air compressor to generate the pneumatic power for raising the pressure in the air springs. The fork’s open front allows for easy access for changing or repairing the front tire. The fork is 50 inches wide, allowing the use of huge, 44.00-inch tires for the maximum flotation and the potential for ground pressure as low as four psig.