"GRASS KILLER" Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (National Research Council) INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL AND EARTH MOVING MACHINERY Report no.

Transcription

1 Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (National Research Council) INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL AND EARTH MOVING MACHINERY Report no T FUNCTIONAL TESTS TOWED WEEDKILLING MACHINE "GRASS KILLER" Manufactured by: CAFFINI S.p.A. Via G. Marconi 2 Palù (VR) - Italy July 2016

2 Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (National Research Council) INSTITUTE FOR AGRICULTURAL AND EARTH MOVING MACHINERY Report no T FUNCTIONAL TESTS TOWED WEEDKILLING MACHINE "GRASS KILLER" Manufactured by: CAFFINI S.p.A. Via G. Marconi 2 Palù (VR) - Italy July 2016

3 Table of Contents 1. INTRODUCTION DESCRIPTION OF THE MACHINE Technical Machine Data Head supply system Head management system Electronic components OPERATION Water loading Use of the machine TRIALS Testing grounds Vineyard test ground Orchard test ground Speed of work Depth of the work Work times Working Capacity CONCLUSIONS INTRODUCTION The concept underlying the new "Grass Killer" machine is the destruction of weeds in the areas between the rows in vineyards and orchards using very high pressure jets of water. The equipment consists essentially of a piston pump working with a maximum pressure of 1250 bar, a water tank and a rotating head sideways on to the direction of travel and controlled hydraulically. Four nozzles are arranged vertically on the rotating head, turned by a hydraulic motor. The rotation speed of the disc holding the nozzles is 600 rpm that, together with the speed of travel of around 2.5 k.p.h, covers the area involved perfectly.

4 The use of a pressure that is so high not only permits the destruction of the weeds that emerge from the ground but also of the root structure by getting into and chopping up the weeds inside the surface layer of the soil. The product used for killing the weeds consists entirely of water, that can be obtained from the domestic or company water supply, with variable consumption of 1000/1500 litres per hectare in rows 2.5 m deep. The consumption per linear metre is 33cc. From the trials over two years on grassed over vineyards (Valplolicella - Verona) has been demonstrated that with just two applications per year it is possible to solve the problem of the weeds in the area between the rows. 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE MACHINE In its present version the "Grass Killer" is a towed machine consisting of a frame to which two support wheels are attached, a steering rod for connection to the tractor, a tank for the water, a very high pressure pump and hydraulic devices for positioning the working part called the "Head" in the area to be treated. In its turn, the head consists of a bearing frame for support and to keep the four nozzles necessary for the distribution of the water on the weeds in position. This head that swivels during normal operation is moved by a motor powered by the tractor's hydraulic system and managed by the machine's general central control unit. The "Grass Killer" herbicide machine is outstanding for its innovative capacity to destroy the weeds under the rows guaranteeing the use of simple water from the domestic or company water supply. The pump on the machine itself in fact generates a flow of liquid at very high pressure channelled towards the nozzles which by directing it towards the soil generates a mechanical action in the soil able not only to eliminate the weeds present but also guarantee the break up of the roots thereby delaying by a long time the regrowth of the plants treated. The machine s operations are fully managed by means of a handy control panel that can be positioned in a control area on the tractor. The functioning of the machine requires a continuous delivery of hydraulic pressure from the rear outlets of the said tractor from which the mechanical power is also drawn by means of the connection to the pdp. For this reason the commands that the operator must set on the tractor during normal operation will simply be linked to driving while the full management of the machine can be done ergonomically through the control panel mentioned above and described in this test report. The head, the power lines and the high pressure pump, fundamental components of the machine are built paying great attention to the all the fundamental details regarding operational precision and reliability. All the components are in fact designed or obtained through rated external suppliers to be able to ensure a wide safety margin and to be able to improve the features of strengths of the entire machine complex. The machine subject to the tests carried out in the plain configuration with bearing frame towed and tank with 1000 litres to guarantee a great work capacity without needing to be refilled. It is however important to mention that the technical and constructional features allow different design aimed possibly at the creation of compact, suitable, extremely agile machines for hill or mountain operations.

5 2.1 Technical Machine Data Data seen Unit of Measurement Value Tank Capacity l 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2000 Water suction filter Mesh 220 Piston pump flow rate l/min 13 with frequency of 500 rpm Piston pump speed rpm Piston pump pressure bar 1000 Safety valve bar 1500 with plumbing By-pass valve type of command Electrohydraulic control with pressure zeroing Piping: Operating pressure Bar 1250 Safety index /// 2.5 Safety system /// Lining with anti-explosion sheath Metal cable locking system Command box /// Head extension Head inclination Supply command Nozzle rotation command Emergency stop Active safety for the vegetation /// Proximity switch with verification of the degree of head tilt. 2.2 Head supply system The job of the power system is to supply water under pressure to the four nozzles in the head and necessary for the weed operation. The supply to the high-pressure pump is through the presence of a tank containing water taken from the normal domestic or company water mains. After leaving the tank, before entering the high-pressure pump the water is microfiltred through a 220 mesh to remove any impurities that are damaging for the said pump. At this point the water pressurised by the pump is injected into the supply pipes of the head with a pressure of or slightly above 1000 bar. The pipes, connected directly with the supply derivations to the nozzles then permit the water to reach them to then be projected with extreme force in the direction of the weeds to be destroyed. The pressure of the pump is managed during the normal functioning of the machine by the speed of the power takeoff rotation which for this reason must be kept at a constant speed between 500 and 600 rpm. In the case of excess pressure in the nozzle supply system a pressure relief valve calibrated to a pressure of 1250 bar guarantees the immediate discharge of flow with the consequent reduction of the pressure. The quantity of water available for the operation is indicated to the operator through a system of communicating vessels thanks to which it is possible o have a precise indication of the quantity of liquid inside the tank. The control panel functions, linked to the supply of the head, allow the manual and automatic management of the water supply. Through the commands available to the operator it is in fact possible: to command the position of the head

6 activate or interrupt the delivery of water to the nozzles activate or interrupt the rotation of the head activate the emergency machine stop command. 2.3 Head management system The head is managed through two different types. The first is hydraulic management through dual-action jacks commanded by hydraulic pressure supplied by the tractor continuously and then managed by solenoid valves installed in the machine s hydraulic system commanded by the operator by means of the control panel. The components thus make it possible to command the position of the head by making movements sideways on to the direction the machine is moving in and rotation around a horizontal and lengthways axis with respect to the machine under normal working conditions. In addition to this type of management there is a controlled head rotation system by means of a vertical axis that, thanks to a contrast spring, allows it to rotate around plants on the land to then return to the work position as soon as the obstacle has been passed. This movement then allows the circumventing of obstacles ensuring the best possible operation around the stems of plants or tree trunks and removing the weeds present in the best way possible. 2.4 Electronic components The machine is fitted with a 12V electric system. This draws its supply directly from the three-pole outlet in the driving cabin of the tractor the machine is attached to. The machine management system consists of a central control unit for managing the activation and interruption of the water distribution, the head movement and rotation commands, preparation for working automatically or manually and for the emergency stop. The solenoid valves used in the hydraulic system managing the movements are the on/off type. All the wiring and electrical and electronic connections are tested and guaranteed by the headquarters. Pressure gauge Control panel High pressure pump Hhead and spacer

7 3. OPERATION 3.1. Water loading The machine is fitted with a single-shell, polyethylene tank that opens at the top for filling with water. Water loading may therefore occur through gravity or under pressure using hoses connected to the normal domestic or company water mains supply. The water is purified on inlet to the machine s tank thanks to a mesh pre-filter position on the filler hole. For this reason, it is strongly recommended not to proceed with the filling of the tank without the proper positioning of this component. 3.2 Use of the machine The machine is used after the head is positioned at the head of the row of plants to be weeded. After said positioning it is necessary to proceed in the order shown below: Send a delivery of oil under constant pressure into the machine s system Turn on the central control unit of the machine by pressing the power up button Command the head by positioning it parallelly with the ground in the working position. This position is considered to be correct when the head is positioned around 5/10 cm inside the row spacing. In this way clearing the weeds will include a portion of ground situated between one plant and the next. Activate the tractor s power takeoff and bring the power takeoff to a speed of 500 to 600 rpm Operate the water delivery to the head immediately after rotate the nozzle holder. Activate the tractor a speed of around 2-4 kph ( ) and proceed with the control of the direction of travel and the position of the head. Positioning in the row DEMONSTRATION of the jet of water Note ( ) The speed of travel depends on the space between the rows of vines

8 4. TRIALS The machine has been tested in appropriate vineyards and orchards set up by CNR/Imamoter at their decentralised centre of Vezzolano. 4.1 Testing grounds For the trials the machine was used on testing grounds at the Vezzolano headquarters. Vineyard Sample %SS TQ t/ha 1 Row 18 - sparse grass Cross-slope planting 2. Row 18 thick grass Cross-slope planting 3 Row 18 thick grass ,154 Down-slope planting SS q/ha Orchard Sample %SS TQ t/ha 1 Row of apple trees - sparse grass , Small valley 2. Row of apple trees thick grass , Small valley SS q/ha

9 4.2 Vineyard test ground The vineyard is in the sixth year under vine and is structured in cross-slope and down-slope rows with Arneis and Sauvignon grapes. Data read Unit of Measurement Value Row width m 2.80 Slope planted crossways Lengthways Crossways Average slope planted downhill Lengthways Crossways Vine distance M 0.90 Positioning in the row Machine at work Sparse grass Thick grass

10 Row after weeding Row during weeding Note: Machine with head also in the presence of left overs of pruning with excellent results VIEW OF THE PARCELS OF LAND AFTER 1 DAY Parcel 1 after 1 day Parcel 2 after 1 day VIEW OF THE PARCELS OF LAND AFTER 2 DAYS Parcel 2 after 1 day Parcel 2 after 2 days

11 4.3 Orchard test ground The orchard tested is in its fifth productive year and consists of apple, plum and pear trees Data read Unit of Measurement Value Type of system --- Row width m 5.00 Distance between trees m 4.00 Average slope Lengthways Crossways Parcel of land with sparse grass Parcel of land with very thick grass Parcel of land with sparse grass Parcel of land with very thick grass

12 4.4 Speed of work The machine is able to work at very different speeds within values between 2.0 and 3.5 kph. This of course depends on the type of weed present (density, vegetative state) but also by the distance between the rows for the need to be able to clear the part of the land between the plants. In the presence of a greater concentration of weeds at an advanced vegetative state the speed will inevitably be reduced, unlike what is contemplated when the ground is characterised by weeds that are not very concentrated and where the vegetative state is not very developed. The speed maintained during all the tests conducted is between 2.4 and 3.2 k.p.h. Another situation that is important for productivity is the planting density because of the need to be able to clear the ground between the plants. 4.5 Depth of the work The machine can tackle weeds in the subsoil to so the herbicidal effect is not limited exclusively to through the weeds on the surface but also allows treatment that includes the roots, with a working depth of 30 to 60 mm. Substratum treated Depth reached 4.6 Work times Working times have been measured subsequently to pinpointing the optimal working speed for the machine depending on the vegetation present under the row treated. The time measured thus takes into account a speed of travel kept constant for the entire working period. Vineyard Unit of

13 Data measured Measurement Value Speed of the actual work k.p.h Length of the row worked m 80.0 Width of the row worked m 2.80 Distance between the plants m 0.90 Orchard Low speed Data measured Unit of Measurement Value Speed of the actual work k.p.h Length of the row worked m 120 Width of the row worked m 5.00 Distance between the plants m 4.00 Orchard high speed Data measured Unit of Measurement Value Speed of the actual work k.p.h Length of the row worked m 120 Width of the row worked m 5.00 Distance between the plants m Working Capacity Times measured (*)

14 AT - Actual times G+R TRT - Turnround times OT - Operating time Vineyard- average three parcels Outwards and return with parts uphill and downhill of the row AT hr/ha OT hr/ha Orchard at low speed average of three parcels Outwards and return with parts uphill and downhill of the row AT 1.57 hr/ha OT 1.61 hr/ha Orchard at high speed - average of three parcels Outwards and return with parts uphill and downhill of the row AT 1.10 hr/ha OT 1.13 hr/ha Note (*) The need to terminate the trials temporarily obliges the use of data available at present but the trials currently in progress and the latest applications on the machine will be able to impact positively on its work time. 5. CONCLUSIONS The machine has amply demonstrated that it is able to provide high-quality work just using water from the domestic or company water mains. The commands to give the machine during normal functioning have proved to be simple and operable with a single hand, in this way never losing contact with the controls of the tractor to which the machine is hitched. The speed of travel, that can be chosen depending on the type of ground, the crop and the extent of the weeds always permit smooth and precise weeding. The electronic part has contributed to improving the functions of the machine through easy and effective activations thanks to servo functions.

15 In addition to the effective working capacity and ease of use we wish to underscore that the Grass Killer performs all weeding operations using just clean water without additives or herbicides. 1 Before treatment 2 After treatment 3 The next day Treatment in a vineyard on the plain - After the work mentioned, in the following days, the rows treated were seen to be perfectly free from the weeds described in this test report. - Trials currently underway and the changes recently installed on the machine have shown further improvements both mechanically and in terms of performance. - In particular, it is necessary to stress that the modifications made to the herbicidal head management system that will allow a closer approach to the plants and facilitated control of the positioning of the same in part dependent on the hill work the side and lengthways slopes require more precise regulations because of the terrain. - Future trials already planned will provide further data which will presumably be a further improvement on what has been published here.

16 This report consists of 17 pages