Jettisonable agricultural sprayer

Claim 2

A spraying apparatus for spraying a fluid, said spraying apparatus being adapted for connection to an aircraft having a fuselage and a landing gear, said spraying apparatus comprising: a tank for containing the fluid to be sprayed; first means for releasably coupling the tank to the aircraft with at least a portion of the tank being generally between the landing gear; a spray boom having at least one opening through which the fluid can be discharged; means for interconnecting the spray boom and the tank with the spray boom projecting laterally outwardly of the tank and with the spray boom being in fluid communication with the tank so that the spray boom can dispense the fluid; pump means for pumping the fluid from the tank to the spray boom and through the opening whereby the fluid can be distributed; at least one boom support coupled to the spray boom; coupling means for releasably attaching the boom support to the aircraft so that the boom support can support the spray boom against forces tending to pivot the boom downwardly; and at least said tank and said spray boom being releasable from the aircraft upon the release of said coupling means and said first means.

Claim 3

A spraying apparatus as defined in claim 1 including means on said landing gear defining a downwardly opening recess, said spray boom extending laterally from said tank through said recess whereby said landing gear does not interfere with the release of the spray boom.

Claim 4

The spraying apparatus recited in claim 1 including means extending from the aircraft toward the tank for stabilizing the tank with respect to the aircraft.

Claim 5

A spraying apparatus for spraying a fluid and adapted to be connected to an aircraft having a fuselage and first and second laterally spaced landing gear members, said spraying apparatus comprising: a tank for containing the fluid to be sprayed; means for releasably coupling the tank to the aircraft with the tank lying generally between the landing gear members and closely adjacent to the fuselage; a spray boom having at least one opening through which the fluid can be discharged; means for interconnecting the spray boom and the tank so that the spray boom can receive the fluid from the tank; pump means for pumping the fluid from the tank to the spray boom and through the opening thereof whereby such fluid can be distributed; means on at least one of said landing gear members for defining a downwardly opening recess; and said boom extending laterally from said tank toward said one landing gear member and through said recess whereby upon release of the releasable means the spray boom and the tank can be released from the aircraft without interference from said one landing gear member.

Claim 6

A spraying apparatus for spraying a fluid and adapted to be connected to an aircraft having a fuselage and first and second laterally spaced landing gear members, said spraying apparatus comprising: a tank for containing the fluid to be sprayed; means for releasably coupling the tank to the aircraft with the tank lying generally between the landing gear members and closely adjacent to the fuselage; a spray boom having at least one opening through which the fluid can be discharged; means for interconnecting the spray boom and the tank so that the spray boom can receive the fluid from the tank; pump means for pumping the fluid from the tank to the spray boom and through the opening thereof whereby such fluid can be distributed; means on at least one of said landing gear members for defining a downwardly opening recess; and said boom extending laterally from said tank toward said one landing gear member and through said recess whereby upon release of the releasable means the spray boom and the tank can be released from the aircraft without interference from said one landing gear member.

Claim 7

A spraying apparatus for spraying a fluid, said spraying apparatus being adapted for connection to an aircraft having a fuselage and a landing gear, said spraying apparatus comprising: a tank for containing the fluid to be sprayed; first means operable when the aircraft is in flight for releasably coupling the tank to the aircraft with the tank being adjacent and beneath the fuselage; a spray boom having at least one opening through which the fluid can be discharged; means for interconnecting the spray boom and the tank with the spray boom projecting laterally outwardly of the tank along a path having a horizontal component and with said spray boom being in fluid communication with the tank so that said spray boom can dispense the fluid; at least one boom support coupled to the spray boom; coupling means other than said first means for releasably attaching the boom support to the aircraft so that the boom support an at least assist in supporting the spray boom, said coupling means being releasable with the aircraft in flight; and at least said tank and said spray boom being releasable from the aircraft upon the release of said coupling means and said first means.

Claim 8

A spraying apparatus for spraying a fluid, said spraying apparatus being adapted for connection to an aircraft having a fuselage and a landing gear, said spraying apparatus comprising: a tank for containing the fluid to be sprayed; first means operable when the aircraft is in flight for releasably coupling the tank to the aircraft with the tank being adjacent and beneath the fuselage; a spray boom having at least one opening through which the fluid can be discharged; means for interconnecting the spray boom and the tank with the spray boom projecting laterally outwardly of the tank along a path having a horizontal component and with said spray boom being in fluid communication with the tank so that said spray boom can dispense the fluid; at least one boom support coupled to the spray boom; coupling means other than said first means for releasably attaching the boom support to the aircraft so that the boom support an at least assist in supporting the spray boom, said coupling means being releasable with the aircraft in flight; and at least said tank and said spray boom being releasable from the aircraft upon the release of said coupling means and said first means.

Claim 9

A spraying apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said boom support includes an elongated boom support member attached to said boom at a location remote from said tank and to said coupling means, said coupling means being inboard of said location.

Claim 10

A spraying apparatus for spraying a fluid, said spraying apparatus being adapted for connection to an aircraft having a fuselage and a landing gear, said spraying apparatus comprising: a tank for containing the fluid to be sprayed; first means operable by the pilot of the aircraft from the cockpit of the aircraft for releasably coupling the tank to the aircraft; a spray boom having at least one opening through which the fluid can be discharged; means for interconnecting the spray boom and the tank so that the spray boom can receive the fluid from the tank, said spray boom projecting outwardly of the tank along a path having a horizontal component; at least one boom support coupled to the spray boom; coupling means automatically releasable upon the release of said first means for releasably attaching the boom support to the aircraft so that the boom support assists in supporting the spray boom; and at least said tank and said spray boom being releasable from the aircraft upon the release of said first means and said coupling means.

Claim 11

A spraying apparatus for spraying a fluid, said spraying apparatus being adapted for connection to an aircraft having a fuselage and a landing gear, said spraying apparatus comprising: a tank for containing the fluid to be sprayed; first means operable by the pilot of the aircraft from the cockpit of the aircraft for releasably coupling the tank to the aircraft; a spray boom having at least one opening through which the fluid can be discharged; means for interconnecting the spray boom and the tank so that the spray boom can receive the fluid from the tank, said spray boom projecting outwardly of the tank along a path having a horizontal component; at least one boom support coupled to the spray boom; coupling means automatically releasable upon the release of said first means for releasably attaching the boom support to the aircraft so that the boom support assists in supporting the spray boom; and at least said tank and said spray boom being releasable from the aircraft upon the release of said first means and said coupling means.

Claim 12

A spraying apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein said boom support includes an elongated boom support member attached to said boom at a location remote from said tank and to said coupling means, said coupling means being inboard of said location, said coupling means includes a projection coupled to one of said aircraft and said boom support member and means defining a recess, said recess defining means being coupled to the other of said coupling means and said aircraft, said projection being receivable within said recess and being freely withdrawable therefrom in a generally vertical direction.

Claim 13

A spraying apparatus for spraying a fluid, said spraying apparatus being adapted for connection to an aircraft having a fuselage and and a landing gear, said spraying apparatus comprising: a tank for containing the fluid to be sprayed; first means for releasably coupling the tank to the aircraft with at least a portion of the tank being generally between the landing gear; a spray boom having at least one opening through which the fluid can be discharged; means for interconnecting the spray boom and the tank so that the spray boom can receive the fluid from the tank, said spray boom projecting outwardly of the tank; pump means for pumping the fluid from the tank to the spray boom and through the opening whereby the fluid can be distributed; at least one boom support coupled to the spray boom; coupling means for releasably attaching the boom support to the aircraft so that the boom support can support the spray boom against forces tending to pivot the boom downwardly; at least said tank and said spray boom being releasable from the aircraft upon the release of said coupling means and said first means; and said coupling means including means for resisting movement of the boom support generally laterally away from the aircraft and means for permitting downward movement of the boom support at all times.

Claim 14

A spraying apparatus for spraying a fluid, said spraying apparatus being adapted for connection to an aircraft having a fuselage and and a landing gear, said spraying apparatus comprising: a tank for containing the fluid to be sprayed; first means for releasably coupling the tank to the aircraft with at least a portion of the tank being generally between the landing gear; a spray boom having at least one opening through which the fluid can be discharged; means for interconnecting the spray boom and the tank so that the spray boom can receive the fluid from the tank, said spray boom projecting outwardly of the tank; pump means for pumping the fluid from the tank to the spray boom and through the opening whereby the fluid can be distributed; at least one boom support coupled to the spray boom; coupling means for releasably attaching the boom support to the aircraft so that the boom support can support the spray boom against forces tending to pivot the boom downwardly; at least said tank and said spray boom being releasable from the aircraft upon the release of said coupling means and said first means; and said coupling means including means for resisting movement of the boom support generally laterally away from the aircraft and means for permitting downward movement of the boom support at all times.

Claim 15

A spraying apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said coupling means includes a projection coupled to one of said aircraft and said boom support and means defining a recess, said recess defining means being coupled to the other of said coupling means and said aircraft, said projection being receivable within said recess and being freely withdrawable therefrom in a generally vertical direction.