SUMMARY

The exemplary sprayer apparatus and systems described herein may be configured to retrofit an elongate boom (e.g., an elongate boom used and/or towed by a tractor) for use with a plurality of spray hoods. The spray hoods may be configured to direct sprayed liquids towards a ground surface while minimizing drift of the sprayed liquids. The elongate booms may not be configured to use or hold spray hoods thereon, and thus, the sprayer apparatus and systems described herein may be configured to adapt, or retrofit, the elongate booms such that the spray hoods of the apparatus and systems may be used on the elongate booms. To perform such functionality, the sprayer apparatus may include mounting apparatus, extension members, spray booms, etc. to retrofit, or modify, the elongate booms such that the elongate booms can support the spray hoods. The exemplary sprayer apparatus and/or systems may be described as being part of a kit configured to retrofit the elongate booms. In other words, the elements, components, and/or portions of the exemplary sprayer apparatus and/or systems may be combined into a package that may be used to increase the functionality of elongate booms (e.g., by adding spray hoods to the booms, which minimize drift of liquids sprayed thereby).

The exemplary sprayer apparatus described herein may be for use with an elongate boom to spray a liquid onto foliage on a ground surface. The sprayer apparatus may include a spray boom, a spray hood coupled to the spray boom, and an extension member extending from a spray hood region to a mount end region. The spray hood region of the extension member may be coupled to the spray boom. The sprayer apparatus may also include a mounting apparatus couplable to the elongate boom and couplable to the mount end region of the extension member to support the spray boom and the spray hood above the ground surface. The mounting apparatus may be configured to allow the extension member to be decoupled from the mounting apparatus while the mounting apparatus is coupled to the elongate boom.

In one or more embodiments, the mounting apparatus may include a first support member and a second support member. The first support member may be couplable to a first portion of the elongate boom and the second support member may be couplable to a second portion of the elongate boom. In at least one embodiment, the mounting apparatus may include an attachment apparatus configured to secure the mount end region of the extension member to the mounting apparatus. In at least one embodiment, the mounting apparatus may define an attachment aperture configured to receive a portion of the mount end region of the extension member to couple the mounting apparatus to the mount end region of the extension member.

In one or more embodiments, the sprayer apparatus may further include a spray nozzle coupled to the spray hood. In one or more embodiments, the sprayer apparatus may further include a spray hose coupled to the spray hood.

In one or more embodiments, the elongate boom and the spray boom may be substantially parallel when the mounting apparatus is coupled to the elongate boom and the mount end region of the extension member. In at least one embodiment, the extension member may be substantially straight. In at least one embodiment, the extension member may define at least one curve. In at least one embodiment, the mounting apparatus may be configured to be coupled to an elongate boom defined by a square cross-section. In at least one embodiment, the mounting apparatus may be configured to be coupled to an elongate boom defined by a round cross-section. In at least one embodiment, the mounting apparatus may be configured to be coupled to an extension member defined by a round cross-section. In one or more embodiments, the sprayer apparatus may further include a coupling apparatus configured to couple an extension member defined by a round cross-section to a spray boom defined by a square cross-section.

In one or more embodiments, the sprayer apparatus may further include a plurality of additional spray hoods coupled to the spray boom. In at least one embodiment, the sprayer apparatus may include a plurality of additional spray hoods coupled to the spray boom and the spray hood and plurality of additional spray hoods may be coupled to each other along an axis defined by the spray boom. The spray hood and plurality of additional spray hoods may define an outer surface and an inner surface and the inner surface may define a channel extending from a first end to a second end of the axis, e.g., within which liquid may be sprayed.

An exemplary system described herein may be for use in retrofitting sprayer apparatus to a plurality of different elongate booms. The system may include a spray boom, a spray hood coupled to the spray boom, and an extension member extending from a spray hood region to a mount end region. The spray hood region of the extension member may be coupled to the spray boom. The system may also include a plurality of different mounting apparatuses and each mounting apparatus of the plurality of different mounting apparatuses may be configured to be coupled to an elongate boom of the plurality of different elongate booms. Further, each mounting apparatus may be configured to be coupled to the mount end region of the extension member to support the spray boom and the spray hood above a ground surface. Still further, each mounting apparatus of the plurality of different mounting apparatuses may be configured to allow the extension member to be decoupled therefrom while being coupled to the elongate boom of the plurality of different elongate booms.

In at least one embodiment, the system may further include a plurality of additional extension members. Each additional extension member of the plurality of different extension members may be configured to be coupled to at least one mounting apparatus of the plurality of different mounting apparatuses. Further, each additional extension member of the plurality of different extension members and the extension member may be different from one another (e.g., different shapes, different sizes, etc.).

In one or more embodiments, at least one extension member of the plurality of different extension members may be straight and/or at least one extension member of the plurality of different extension members may define at least one curve.

In one or more embodiments, at least one mounting apparatus of the plurality of mounting apparatuses includes a first support member and a second support member. The first support member may be couplable to a first portion of at least one elongate boom of the plurality of different elongate booms and the second support member may be couplable to a second portion of the at least one elongate boom of the plurality of different elongate booms.

In one or more embodiments, the system includes a plurality of additional spray hoods coupled to the spray boom. The spray hood and the plurality of additional spray hoods may extend from a first end to a second end along an axis defined by the spray boom and may define an outer surface and an inner surface. The inner surface may define a channel extending from the first end to the second end.

The above summary is not intended to describe each embodiment or every implementation of the present disclosure. A more complete understanding will become apparent and appreciated by referring to the following detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

