Rinsing system to help Minimise drip damage

In addition to a sophisticated nozzle control system that can automatically maintain even spray coverage across a range of working speeds, Knight Farm Machinery has developed a novel rinsing system to minimise any environment impact from crop protection chemicals.

The Active Rinse supplies fresh water to key parts of a Knight sprayer’s plumbing to shift spray solution and actively clean components even as the machine is spraying.

The new system meets an urgent need, says Brian Knight: “The NSTS sprayer testing scheme continues to report leakage and dripping from the spray boom as a leading fault.

“We believe our new system, which can clean and flush the sprayer at the end of each tank load, will help prolong the life of sprayer components and reduce any environmental impact of leaks and drips.”

The system can also save time with its ability to rinse the tank as each spraying job comes towards an end by introducing a measured flow of clean water to flush the sprayer tank, with application rate adjusted accordingly.

There is also an optional air flushing system that evacuates all liquid from pipes and spraylines.

When filling for the next job, it automatically fills the on-board clean water reservoir before diverting excess flow into the main tank, and in dual agitation mode, the tank contents are continually circulated to help incorporate powders and other harder-to-mix formulations.

Knight’s Vario Select nozzle control system involves a set of four at each position along the spray boom, a gyroscope to measure changes in boom speed over the ground, and a controller that automatically switches each of the four nozzles on and off.

The system can be used to conveniently switch between different nozzle tip designs for pesticide and liquid fertiliser applications; and with different size tips fitted to maintain the required application rate when the sprayer operates across a range of speeds – on hilly ground, for example.

Turn compensation – when the outer boom speeds up and the inner boom slows down – is also catered for to maintain even coverage, and the system can operate in patch spraying mode, switching nozzles on and off, or between different application rates, according to a preprepared application map.

Nozzle tip selection advice for different spraying situations is also available via the controller.

SPRAY FOR TODAY: Knight Farm Machinery sprayers, far left, can have a new multi-function rinsing system installed and, left, the Vario Select quad-nozzle body allows flexible manual or automatic spray tip switching.