Sprayer boom assembly

Claim 2

A sprayer boom assembly comprising: a. a frame; b. means for rigidly affixing said frame to a sprayer truck adapted to be driven across the ground and carrying a source of supply of a chemical to be applied to the ground or to crops growing therein; c. an elongated boom having spray nozzles spaced along the length thereof and adapted to be operatively connected to said source of chemical supply, said boom being positioned to extend transversely to the line of travel of said truck and laterally outwardly from both sides of said truck, above ground level, and including a central section having its midpoint generally at the midline of said truck and a pair of end sections of equal length pivoted respectively to the opposite ends of said central section for vertical movement relative thereto; d. vertically yieldable resilient means suspending said central boom section from said frame; and e. a pair of flexible strands each connected at one end to said frame generally above the pivotal connection of one of said end boom sections, and at its opposite end to the adjacent end boom section in spaced apart relation from its pivotal connection to said central section, whereby normally to support said end boom sections in linear alignment with said central section.

Claim 3

The assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible strands are attached to said end boom sections at points thereof spaced outwardly from the centers of gravity thereof.

Claim 4

The assembly as recited in claim 2 wherein said suspension means of said central boom section comprises a pair of vertically yieldable springs spaced apart longitudinally of said central boom section, each of said spring having connections at its upper and lower ends respectively to said frame and said central boom section, at least one of said spring connections being vertically adjustable relative to said frame or central boom section whereby said central boom section may be levelled.

Claim 5

A sprayer boom assembly comprising: a. a frame; b. means for rigidly affixing said frame to a sprayer truck adapted to be driven across the ground and carrying a source of supply of a chemical to be applied to the ground of to crops growing therein; c. an elongated boom having spray nozzles spaced along the length thereof and adapted to be operatively connected to said source of chemical supply, said boom being positioned to extend transversely to the line of travel of said truck and laterally outwardly from both sides of said truck, above ground level, and including a central section having its midpoint generally at the midline of said truck, and a pair of end sections of equal length pivoted respectively to the opposite ends of said central section for vertical movement relative thereto; d. means suspending said central boom section from said frame for effecTively free pivotal movement about a horizontal axis transverse to said boom, and disposed above and midway between the ends of said central boom section, whereby said central boom section swings laterally of said truck, and remains generally horizontal, despite tilting of said truck laterally to its line of travel; and e. a pair of flexible strands each connected at one end to said frame generally above the pivotal connection of one of said end boom sections, and at its opposite end to the adjacent end boom section in spaced apart relation from its pivotal connection to said central boom section, whereby normally to support said end boom sections in linear alignment with said central section.

Claim 6

A sprayer boom assembly comprising: a. a frame; b. means for rigidly affixing said frame to a sprayer truck adapted to be driven across the ground and carrying a source of supply of a chemical to be applied to the ground of to crops growing therein; c. an elongated boom having spray nozzles spaced along the length thereof and adapted to be operatively connected to said source of chemical supply, said boom being positioned to extend transversely to the line of travel of said truck and laterally outwardly from both sides of said truck, above ground level, and including a central section having its midpoint generally at the midline of said truck, and a pair of end sections of equal length pivoted respectively to the opposite ends of said central section for vertical movement relative thereto; d. means suspending said central boom section from said frame for effecTively free pivotal movement about a horizontal axis transverse to said boom, and disposed above and midway between the ends of said central boom section, whereby said central boom section swings laterally of said truck, and remains generally horizontal, despite tilting of said truck laterally to its line of travel; and e. a pair of flexible strands each connected at one end to said frame generally above the pivotal connection of one of said end boom sections, and at its opposite end to the adjacent end boom section in spaced apart relation from its pivotal connection to said central boom section, whereby normally to support said end boom sections in linear alignment with said central section.

Claim 7

The assembly as recited in claim 4 wherein said suspension means is additionally resiliently yieldable in a vertical direction, whereby said central boom section may move upwardly or downwardly without pivotal movement.

Claim 8

The assembly as recited in claim 5 wherein said suspension means of said central boom section comprises: a. a pair of normally vertical upper tubular guides disposed above said central boom section in equally spaced relation at opposite sides of the midpoint thereof, each of said upper guides being pivoted adjacent its upper end to said frame on a horizontal axis transverse to said boom; b. a pair of normally vertical lower tubular guides fixed at their lower ends to said central boom section and extending upwardly therefrom into sliding telescopic engagement respectively with the two upper guides; and c. a vertically yieldable spring interconnecting each of said upper guides with its associated lower guide.

Claim 9

The assembly as recited in claim 6 with the addition of means operable to adjust the tension of said two springs independently.

Claim 10

The assembly as recited in claim 6 with the addition of means operable to limit the pivotal movement of said upper guides about their pivotal connections to said frame.