Aircraft engineering technologies in farming!

The capacity of the mounted and trailed equipment for field spraying does not always match the farmers' needs. In order to solve this problem, the modern agricultural market offers the innovative Kverneland iXdrive self-propelled sprayer.

In summer 2016, Kverneland supplied the Russian market with a new iXdrive self-propelled sprayer. The first machine was sold in Krasnodar area. According to the manufacturers, this machine is easy to operate and maintain, it has a comfortable cab and is distinguished by its reliability, wear resistance and high capacity. The transport dimensions are 4 metres in height and 2.5 metres in width regardless of the boom length and the tank capacity.

The machines are equipped with aluminum booms up to 30 metres long and steel booms up to 40 metres long. The aluminum booms are manufactured in accordance with aircraft manufacturing technologies: they are robust and light at the same time. The booms can have five-, three- and single-nozzle holders. The nozzles are attached to the booms with the help of revolving anchors, therefore they can be easily shifted to reduce or increase the amount of the distributed solution. Located inside the booms, the revolving anchors, nozzles and pipelines are protected from occasional contact with the ground by the steel case. The booms are equipped with special highlighting for working during the night.

Depending on its modification, the Kverneland iXdrive can have a 1.3-, a 1.5- or a 1.7-metre clearance. This sprayer can be optionally equipped with hydraulic row width adjustment. The standard model features mechanical adjustment of the row width by levelling the jack within the range from 1.8 to 2.95 cm in 5-centimetre increments. It is important to note that optional models allow automatic hydraulic shifting between two pre-set width values by pushing the button inside the tractor cab.

The tank capacity can vary from 4.5 to 6,000 litres. The operational speed is up to 20 km/h; the transport speed is 40 km/h. The external turning radius is 5.9 metres.

‘One of the key advantages of the new self-propelled sprayer is its heavy-duty chassis with an optimal gravity center and axial weight distribution – 50/50', says Aleksey Shtern, Product Manager of the Russian office of Kverneland Group. ‘The balance is preserved regardless of the boom position and the tank fullness. Besides, this machine can turn on two wheels as well as on four wheels (“crab walk”). The ErgoDrive system ensures complete automation of the operational sequence on headland turns.’

The Kverneland self-propelled sprayer with an empty 5-thousand-litre tank weighs 10.8 tonnes, which is 1-2 tonnes less than machines of other brands. It is the lightest machine in its class.

Kverneland offers Russian farmers three models of the new iXdrive self-propelled sprayer: 4240, 5240 and 6240. The models differ in tank capacity, standard wheel size, operational row width, compatible boom combinations and number of sections.

The Kverneland iXdrive sparyer is also equipped with the GEOcontrol system which includes the following components:

- automatic section control for variable rate application of fertiliser or chemicals in accordance with field maps or sensor data;

- GPS-navigation facilitating operation during the night. The system allows saving from 5 to 10% of chemical pesticides.

The sprayer design also has a number of advantages: the cab is placed in the front and the booms are moved to the rear ensuring better visibility. The pressure inside the cabin guarantees outgoing air flow and precludes the possibility of penetration of chemicals inside the cab.