New COMMANDER trailed series builds on functional design
First impressions new product are a little like the first sighting of an iceberg on the ocean. Whilst 90% of the iceberg is below the surface, it is only the visible portion that forms the initial impression of its substance. Intensive design work and testing has taken place before the introduction of the new HARDI COMMANDER trailed sprayer. The new COMMANDER represents HARDI's greatest ever investment in product development.
Six patents are currently pending in relation to the development of the COMMANDER and the product represents 4 years' of engineering investment and effort.
Furthermore, comprehensive service and production technical documentation has been developed prior to delivery of the first new COMMANDERs to customers in Europe, Australia and North America - to ensure the best product with the best ser-vice.
Totally new development
HARDI has developed a totally new construction and design for the chassis, tank and liquid system. At the start of the project, the development team focussed on four key areas for the end user; these were capacity, user friendliness, precision and safety.
Functional design
All the elements of the sprayer are integrated into the sprayer design and divided into work and spray zones. In the design of the work zone, user friendliness and safety have been given top priority. All the operating handles for water filling, chemical filling and the safety locker are within reach of the operator. An example of the functional design is the ergonomically, correctly placed SmartValve operation handles that con-trol all the sprayer functions. All the hoses and connections are hidden underneath lockers and panels, so the end user only sees the most essential parts, which are grouped together for ease of operation.
The tank has been designed to reduce excessive internal surging of the spray liquid, which ensures that driver comfort and safety are not compromised. The sloping sides and deep sump, together with the new bottom suction system, ensure the tank can be fully emptied even on hillsides.
SafeTrack trapeze steering system. Precise and safe
The patented SafeTrack steering system is designed in such a way that steering and tracking with the rear wheels takes place through a special trapeze steering system, instead of a conventional drawbar tracking system.
The SafeTrack steering system gives the following advantages:
• The turning radius is reduced to 6 metres, resulting in improved manoeuvring possibilities and less crop damage in turnings, etc.
• Dynamic electronic stability control – the computer system constantly monitors sprayer stability during steering movements and can intervene, if necessary. This gives far better stability compared to steering drawbar designs.
• The trapeze steering system has a geometric shape allowing more space for a larger tank and thereby more capacity, in addition to greater flexibility in the choice of track width from 1.5 m to 2.25 m.
• A further advantage of the trapeze steering system is that because the drawbar does not move, this provides greater space for a larger and well designed operat-ing zone at the front part of the sprayer.
The new COMMANDER series is available with hydraulically adjustable suspension, where the pressure can be pre-set, thereby obtaining the optimal balance between boom movements, comfort and stable driving.
New LookAhead pressure regulation
The pressure regulation valve is a completely new development and comprises very large capacity with an extremely fast response and regulation time.
The system has some unique advantages ensuring more precise application of plant protection chemicals under variable driving conditions.
The electronics have a built-in memory function, so that various working patterns can be mapped and the system quickly adapted to the correct application volume after turnings, wedges, or refilling, etc. For example, the sprayer operator will see that the pressure regulation will "look for" the correct application settings whilst turning on a headland, and LookAhead will instantly re-adjust the application rate before re-entering the crop.
New filter system – EasyClean suction filter
Traditionally the suction filter, together with the nozzles, has been a service-demanding component on the sprayer. On the new COMMANDER the capacity of the new filter has been increased by more than 100%. In addition the EasyClean suc-tion filter contains a number of user-friendly features to provide increased safety, for instance an easy and comfortable one-handed grip of the filter – avoiding any possi-bility for error in operation.
The filter element is fixed to the lid when opened – making the filter easy to maintain in-field. When opening the filter, a valve automatically shuts-off the connection to the bottom suction in the tank. The bottom suction ensures fewer residues in the system and easier priming of the pump. With the EasyClean suction filter there is no risk that the plant protection chemical will come into contact with the operator or the environ-ment.
When the filter is removed, a dirt trap at the base of the filter will automatically unfold – in this way any foreign bodies remain in the filter and cannot fall down into the filter housing. If needed, the housing can be completely drained via a drain valve in the bottom.
For very safe and convenient monitoring of the filter condition a vacuum gauge has been fitted in a position that is visible from the tractor seat.
In recognition of this development, HARDI has been awarded a Silver Medal at SIMA 2005 for the new EasyClean suction filter.
New CycloneFilter
The pressure filter is a further development of the HARDI self-cleaning filter, and fea-tures larger dimensions and increased capacity. The liquid rotates around the filter element, reducing the need for service thanks to the self-cleaning function.
Access to the filter housing is easy and there is no waste when inspecting the filter element. The filter has 3 settings – normal operation; closed (for cleaning); and a "turbo" function that increases the flow through the filter and flushes it clean.
New ChemFiller
There are increasing demands concerning safety and capacity when handling and filling plant protection chemicals. The new ChemFiller is an integrated part of the new COMMANDER sprayer, and its capacity is three times faster than any other system.
The ChemFiller is lowered from the left side of the sprayer to the required working height and works with a Vortex - a rotating liquid current - where larger quantities of powder agents are quickly dissolved and sucked up into the tank. The suction in the ChemFiller is driven by an injector system. When the ChemFiller is opened, the lid is used as a working table and provides further safety when handling plant protection chemicals.
Comprehensive boom range
Three boom types are available: DELTA from 18 to 28 metre, FORCE from 24 to 36 metre and TWIN FORCE air assisted from 18 to 30 metre. All boom types are of a three-dimensional construction with an over-centre lock and feature a number of dampening systems in central mounting area. Altogether they ensure a stable con-struction whilst minimising boom movements.
Sprayer computers
The new COMMANDER is available with two alternative "Easy to use" sprayer com-puters - the HC 5500, which is an advanced computer that is used, for instance, when the sprayer is equipped with SafeTrack, and the more cost effective HC 2500. Both computers are modular and developed with user friendly, logical menus and functions.
