A new test-bench for the inspection and the adjustment of the sprayers employed in the mediterranea tree cultures

The present study relates about the structural characteristics of a trailed test bench prototype suitably designed for the adjustment of the sprayers used for expanded canopy fruit-growing. This test bench is equipped with a droplets intercepting patternator, that can be folded on the bottom of a road trailer during the transfers, through manually operated hydraulic systems. Furthermore the test bench is equipped with a computerized measure system realized by a measure bench, a computer and an ad hoc software. Preliminary tests of useful effectiveness were carried out with the still droplets intercepting patternator, through surveys of some fluid dynamic characteristics, very important for the evaluation of the transversal patterns of distribution produced by air assisted sprayers (air-convection or pneumatic sprayers). On the ground of the obtained results, the patternator is suitable for the evaluation of the transverse patterns of distribution produced by sprayers at present used for treatments to tree cultures 3.5 m high.