The ExactApply intelligent spray nozzle system from John Deere was awarded a Special Mention in the Sima 2017 Innovation Awards.
The system significantly increases the flexibility and accuracy of spray applications. It uniquely features six nozzles on a rotating turret and two electrically operated liquid valves, and ExactApply can manually switch between two nozzles and independently control both the spray pressure and the flow rate at the nozzle.
The nozzles control the flow rate by using a pulse width modulation (PWM) system that offers three times the pulsing frequency of conventional systems, enabling a much wider range of variation in spraying speed and application rate. This allows the system to vary the forward speed from 10 to 30km/hr at a constant spraying pressure, or vary the output from 100 to 300 lit/ha at a constant spraying speed.
In addition, ExactApply is able to adjust the relationship between the nozzle flow rate and spraying pressure to apply a less drift-prone droplet spectrum than would otherwise be possible – ideal for buffer zones or changing weather conditions.
ExactApply also increases application accuracy when spraying in curves; the flow rate at each individual nozzle can be adjusted automatically to apply less spray liquid through the nozzles on the inside of the curve and more on the outside.
All the nozzles are also equipped with an individual LED light to improve night-time operations and a blockage detection system to indicate interruptions to the liquid flow. Combined with a warning message on the cab display, this makes checking nozzles significantly easier for the operator.
For more information visit: www.johndeere.co.uk.
