Description:Field of the invention
[001] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an agriculture apparatus and particularly to a multipurpose agricultural apparatus for protecting crops by performing various tasks such as spraying pesticides, and spreading fertilizers.
Description of Related Art
[002] In an agriculture sector, insects are largely responsible for agricultural crop destruction. Insecticides or pesticides have been formulated in order to protect the agricultural crop from the insects, wherein the pesticides have been applied to the agricultural crop with the help of various sprayers.
[003] In one conventional approach, hand sprayer equipment has been used to spray the pesticides. Such equipment consists of a hand pump that is operated by a user. Also, such equipment is very cost-effective. However, the use of such equipment can cause lung or skin related problems as the user needs to operate the hand pump manually. Moreover, such equipment can cause severe backache as the farmer needs to carry the whole equipment on a back which usually weighs around 27kg to 30kg. Further, such equipment can take a longer time to spray pesticides as the pressure is applied through the hand pump.
[004] In another conventional approach, a boom sprayer has been used which is mounted on a vehicle. Such sprayer is operated by an automatic pump that can reduce chances of causing lung or skin-related problems. However, such approach is very expensive and consumes a lot of fuel that cannot be affordable by middle-class farmers.
[005] In yet another conventional approach, drone sprayers have been introduced for pesticide spraying. However, such sprayers require skilled farmers to operate agricultural drones. Moreover, such approach also requires a lot of effort to train the farmers in activating the drones, which is a time-consuming process.
[006] There is thus a need for an advanced and more-effective multipurpose agricultural apparatus that can administer the drawbacks faced by the conventional approaches.
SUMMARY
[007] Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide a multipurpose agricultural apparatus. The apparatus comprising: a frame. The frame comprises: a handle attached at a back portion of the frame, to be held by an operator to move the apparatus. The frame further comprises: wheels to generate a rotary motion for enabling a movement of the apparatus. The frame further comprises: switches disposed on the frame of the apparatus, and operated by the operator for activating or deactivating a motor and a sprayer pump. The motor is attached at a bottom of the frame, and activated to rotate a spreader disc attached with the motor to spread fertilizer stored in a fertilizer container onto a field. The sprayer pump is placed in a first compartment of the frame, and activated to force pesticides stored in a pesticide container to spray nozzles through a pipe such that the spray nozzles are adapted to spray a pre-determined quantity of the pesticides onto crops of the field.
[008] Embodiments of the present invention may provide a number of advantages depending on its particular configuration. First, embodiments of the present application may provide a multipurpose agricultural apparatus that may reduce a workload of farmers by providing both fertilizer spreader and pesticide sprayer in the apparatus.
[009] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a multipurpose agricultural apparatus that eliminates a need to carry a pesticide sprayer tank and a fertilizer bag on a back of a farmer.
[0010] Next, embodiments of the present application may provide a multipurpose agricultural apparatus that may be provided with additional extensions to save crops from damage when the apparatus passes over a field during operation.
[0011] These and other advantages will be apparent from the present application of the embodiments described herein.
[0012] The preceding is a simplified summary to provide an understanding of some embodiments of the present invention. This summary is neither an extensive nor exhaustive overview of the present invention and its various embodiments. The summary presents selected concepts of the embodiments of the present invention in a simplified form as an introduction to the more detailed description presented below. As will be appreciated, other embodiments of the present invention are possible utilizing, alone or in combination, one or more of the features set forth above or described in detail below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] The above and still further features and advantages of embodiments of the present invention will become apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of embodiments thereof, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and wherein:
[0014] FIG. 1A illustrates a multipurpose agricultural apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the multipurpose agricultural apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0016] FIG. 1C illustrates a bottom view of the multipurpose agricultural apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 1D illustrates a side view of the multipurpose agricultural apparatus, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and
[0018] FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method of operating the multipurpose agricultural apparatus, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] The headings used herein are for organizational purposes only and are not meant to be used to limit the scope of the description or the claims. As used throughout this application, the word "may" is used in a permissive sense (i.e., meaning having the potential to), rather than the mandatory sense (i.e., meaning must). Similarly, the words “include”, “including”, and “includes” mean including but not limited to. To facilitate understanding, like reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate like elements common to the figures. Optional portions of the figures may be illustrated using dashed or dotted lines, unless the context of usage indicates otherwise.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0020] The following description includes the preferred best mode of one embodiment of the present invention. It will be clear from this description of the invention that the invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments but that the invention also includes a variety of modifications and embodiments thereto. Therefore, the present description should be seen as illustrative and not limiting. While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, it should be understood, that there is no intention to limit the invention to the specific form disclosed, but, on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the claims.
[0021] In any embodiment described herein, the open-ended terms "comprising", "comprises”, and the like (which are synonymous with "including", "having” and "characterized by") may be replaced by the respective partially closed phrases "consisting essentially of", “consists essentially of", and the like or the respective closed phrases "consisting of", "consists of”, the like.
[0022] As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” designate both the singular and the plural, unless expressly stated to designate the singular only.
[0023] FIG. 1 illustrates a multipurpose agricultural apparatus 100 (hereinafter referred to as the apparatus 100), according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 100 may be designed to reduce a workload of farmers by providing both fertilizer spreader and pesticide sprayer in the apparatus 100. The apparatus 100 may comprise a frame 102 that may be designed to provide support to a first set of components such as a handle 104, an extendable arm 106, wheels 108a-108d (hereinafter referred to as the wheels 108).
[0024] The frame 102 may be made up of any material such as, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, wood, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material of the frame 102, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0025] Further, the handle 104 may be attached at a front portion of the frame 102, in an embodiment of the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, the handle 104 may be attached at a back portion of the frame 102. In an embodiment of the present invention, the handle 104 may be held by an operator to move the apparatus 100 in a direction selected from one of, a forward direction, a backward direction, or a combination thereof. In an embodiment of the present invention, the operator may be, for example, a farmer, a land owner, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any operator.
[0026] In an embodiment of the present invention, a movement of the apparatus 100 may depend on a position of the handle 104 in the frame 102. As an example, the operator moves the apparatus 100 in the forward direction, if the handle 104 may be attached at the front portion of the frame 102. In another example, the operator moves the apparatus 100 in the backward direction, if the handle 104 may be attached at the back portion of the frame 102. The handle 104 may be made up of a material such as, but not limited to, steel, aluminum, metal, plastic, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the handle 104, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies. Further, the handle 104 may be structured in any shape such as, but not limited to, a U-shaped handle, a C-shaped handle, a Y-shaped handle and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any shape for the handle 104, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0027] In an embodiment of the present invention, the extendable arm 106 may be provided to save crops from damage when the apparatus 100 passes over a field during operation. In an embodiment of the present invention, the extendable arm 106 may be attached with the wheels 108 that may be used to carry whole assembly of the frame 102 and move the apparatus 100 from a first place to a second place. The wheels 108 may be used to generate a rotary motion for enabling a movement of the apparatus 100. The wheels 108 may be designed to hold tires, in an embodiment of the present invention. In such embodiment of the present invention, the tires of front wheels 108a-108b may be 360-degree rotation tires that may enable an easy turn and movement of the apparatus 100 in the field, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0028] In an embodiment of the present invention, the frame 102 may be segregated into a first compartment 110 and a second compartment 112. Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may comprise a compartment handle 114 that may be provided to be held by the operator to open and/or close the first compartment 110.
[0029] The apparatus 100 may further comprise switches 116a-116b (hereinafter collectively referred to as the switches 116 and hereinafter individually referred to as the switch 116) that may be disposed on the frame 102 of the apparatus 100, and operated by the operator for activating or deactivating a motor 130 (as shown in FIG. 1C) and a sprayer pump 136 (as shown in FIG. 1D). The switches 116 may be of any type such as, but not limited to, push-button switches, limit switches, magnetic switches, pressure switches, pull-chain switches, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the switches 116 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0030] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may comprise a vertical pipe 118 that may be attached on a front top side of the frame 102. Further, the apparatus 100 may comprise a horizontal pipe 120 that may be removably connected to a second end of the vertical pipe 118. In an embodiment of the present invention, the vertical pipe 118 and the horizontal pipe 120 may be composed of a material such as, but not limited to, steel, iron, aluminum, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the vertical pipe 118 and the horizontal pipe 120, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0031] The horizontal pipe 120 may comprise spray nozzles 122a-122n (hereinafter referred to as the nozzles 122) that may be adapted to spray a pre-determined quantity of pesticides into the field. In an embodiment of the present invention, the nozzles 122 may be of any pattern such as, but not limited to, a flat fan, a solid stream, a full cone, a hollow cone, mist, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the pattern of the nozzles 122, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0032] The apparatus 100 may comprise a rotor 124 that may be disposed in between the vertical pipe 118 and the horizontal pipe 120, in an embodiment of the present invention. The rotor 124 may be provided to enable a rotation of the nozzles 122 in multiple directions, in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] FIG. 1B illustrates a side view of the apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 100 may comprise a fertilizer container 126 and a pesticide container 128, in an embodiment of the present invention. The fertilizer container 126 may be provided in the first compartment 110 of the frame 102, in an embodiment of the present invention. The fertilizer container 126 may be composed of a material such as, but not limited to, a plastic material, a polyvinyl chloride material, a polycarbonate material, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the fertilizer container 126, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0034] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the pesticide container 128 may be a water tank that may be placed in the second compartment 112 for storing the pesticides. The pesticides may be liquid pesticides. The pesticide container 128 may be composed of any non-metal material such as, but not limited to, plastic, high density polyethylene material, and alike to avoid spillage of the pesticides from the pesticide container 128. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the material for the pesticide container 128, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0035] FIG. 1C illustrates a bottom view of the apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus 100 may comprise the motor 130, a spreader disc 132, and a dispenser 134. In an embodiment of the present invention, the motor 130 may be installed at a bottom of the frame 102, and may be activated to rotate the spreader disc 132 to spread the fertilizer stored in the fertilizer container 126 onto the field. The motor 130 may be activated upon activation of on one of, the switches 116 of the apparatus 100, in an embodiment of the present invention. The motor 130 may be, but not limited to, a compressor motor, a 3-phase motor, a squirrel cage motor, an induction motor, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the motor 130 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0036] Further, in an embodiment of the present invention, the spreader disc 132 may be connected to the motor 130. The spreader disc 132 may be capable to receive the fertilizer through the dispenser 134 and may further spread the fertilizer onto the field, in an embodiment of the present invention. The spreader disc 132 may be, but not limited to, a double disc fertilizer spreader, a single disc fertilizer spreader, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the spreader disc 132 including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0037] The dispenser 134 may be provided at the bottom of the frame 102, and may be attached to the bottom of the fertilizer container 126 to drop the fertilizer onto the spreader disc 132 from the fertilizer container 126.
[0038] FIG. 1D illustrates a side view of the apparatus 100, according to another embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus 100 may comprise a sprayer pump 136 that may be provided in the first compartment 110 of the frame 102, in an embodiment of the present invention. The sprayer pump 136 may be activated to force the pesticides from the pesticide container 128 to the nozzles 122 through a pipe 138, so that the nozzles 122 may further spray the pesticides in crops of the field. In an embodiment of the present invention, the sprayer pump 136 may be activated to increase a pressure of the pesticides in the pesticide container 128 upon activation of one of, the switches 116. The sprayer pump 136 may be, for example, but not limited to, a centrifugal diaphragm, a roller, a transfer, a piston, an irrigation injection and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the sprayer pump 136, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0039] The pipe 138 may be of any shape such as, but not limited to, a tubular structure, a hollow structure, and alike. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any shape of the pipe 138, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0040] The apparatus 100 may further comprise a battery 140 placed in the second compartment 112 of the frame 102, in an embodiment of the present invention. The battery 140 may be capable to supply power to the motor 130 and the sprayer pump 136 upon activation of the switch 116 by the operator. The battery 140 may be, but not limited to, a lithium-ion battery, a Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery, and so forth. Embodiments of the present invention are intended to include or otherwise cover any type of the battery 140, including known, related art, and/or later developed technologies.
[0041] FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method 200 of operating the apparatus 100, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0042] At step 202, the apparatus 100 may be moved by the operator by using the handle 104 in one of the forward direction or the backward direction to generate the rotary motion by the wheels 108.
[0043] At step 204, the apparatus 100 may be provided with the switches 116 that may be activated by the operator to run the motor 130 and the sprayer pump 136.
[0044] At step 206, the apparatus 100 may be provided with the dispenser 134 utilized to drop the fertilizer stored in the fertilizer container 126 on the spreader disc 132 upon activation of the motor 130. The spreader disc 132 may further spread the fertilizer onto the field.
[0045] At step 208, the apparatus 100 may be provided with the pipe 138 utilized to transfer the pesticides from the pesticide container 128 to the nozzles 122 upon activation of the sprayer pump 136. The nozzles 122 may further spray the pesticides on the crops.
[0046] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and various embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0047] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope the invention is defined in the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements within substantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.
, Claims:I/We Claim:
1. A multipurpose agricultural apparatus (100), the apparatus (100) comprising:
a frame (102), wherein the frame (102) comprises:
a handle (104) attached at a back portion of the frame (102), to be held by an operator to move the apparatus (100);
wheels (108a-108d) to generate a rotary motion for enabling a movement of the apparatus (100);
switches (116a-116b) disposed on the frame (102) of the apparatus (100), and operated by the operator for activating or deactivating a motor (130) and a sprayer pump (136),
wherein the motor (130) is attached at a bottom of the frame (102), and is activated to rotate a spreader disc (132) attached with the motor (130) to spread fertilizer stored in a fertilizer container (126) onto a field,
wherein the sprayer pump (136) is placed in a first compartment (110) of the frame (102), and activated to force pesticides stored in a pesticide container (128) to spray nozzles (122a-122n) through a pipe (138) such that the spray nozzles (122a-122n) are adapted to spray a pre-determined quantity of the pesticides onto crops of the field.
2. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising an extendable arm (106) attached with the wheels (108a-108d), and provided to save crops from damage when the apparatus (100) passes over the field during operation.
3. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a compartment handle (114) to be held by the operator to open and/or close the first compartment (110) of the frame (102).
4. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a vertical pipe (118) attached on a front top side of the frame (102).
5. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 4, comprising a horizontal pipe (120) connected to the vertical pipe (118), wherein the horizontal pipe (120) comprises the spray nozzles (122a-122n).
6. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 5, comprising a rotor (124) disposed in between the vertical pipe (118) and the horizontal pipe (120) to enable a rotation of the spray nozzles (122a-122n) in multiple directions.
7. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fertilizer container (126) is provided in the first compartment (110) of the frame (102).
8. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pesticide container (128) is placed in a second compartment (112) of the frame (102).
9. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a dispenser (134) provided at the bottom of the frame (102), and attached to a bottom of the fertilizer container (126) to drop the fertilizer onto the spreader disc (132) from the fertilizer container (126).
10. The apparatus (100) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a battery (140) placed in a second compartment (112) of the frame (102), and capable to supply power to the motor (130) and the sprayer pump (136).
Date: 15 July, 2022
Place: Noida
Nainsi Rastogi
Patent Agent (IN/PA-2372)
Agent for the Applicant