Bruin wireless joystick improves sprayer control

Four-wheel hydrostatic drive and steering, air suspension and adjustable axle track equips the Bruin for work in row crops in North America and eastern Europe. Credit: Equipment Technologies

The 15-function joystick mounted on the vehicle’s hydrostatic drive control stick connects to a terminal that displays key information on a large, back-lit colour screen, such as:

• application volume
• amount applied
• pressure
• area treated
• mix remaining
• working speed

This terminal also handles all sprayer hydraulic functions, including spray on-off, sequential section on-off, boom control and sprayer set-up. These functions can be manipulated using the wireless joystick and taken outside the cab for remote control during calibration and visual spray nozzle checks.

Equipment Technologies

The Bruin and its technologies are based on the latest-model Berthoud Raptor self-propelled sprayer launched last autumn – both companies are part of the Exel Industries group – but re-engineered to suit the particular requirements of row crop operations in North America and eastern Europe.

The larger of the two Bruin self-propelled sprayers from Equipment Technologies sports a 4,160-litre (1,100gal) tank. Credit: Equipment Technologies

Two sizes are available with liquid tanks of 2,650- and 4,160-litre (700 and 1,100gal) capacity and booms up to 36.5m (120ft) with the highest clearance of any rear-mounted design on the US market, according to Equipment Technologies.

Bruin sprayers

Three-speed hydrostatic four-wheel drive, multimode four-wheel steering and air suspension all round give the Bruin useful mobility and agility, while track width settings from 2m to 2.66m (79-105in) adapt it for road travel and field operations in different crops.

The drive system includes cruise control and an eco mode for road travel that enables the Bruin to run at 40kph (24mph) with just 1,700-1,800rpm on the clock. Bruin sprayers complement the mechanical two-wheel drive Apache sprayers built by Equipment Technologies.