For more information: Scott Allen 0475 943 338 Email: scott@centralagequipment.com.au Vaughan Habner 0427 873 075 Email: vaughan@cumminsag.com.au vaughan@cumminsag.com.au Mark Dickinson 0427 641 435 Email: mark@cumminsag.com.au Jarrad Manners 0438 994 612 Email: jarrad@cumminsag.com.au
RUBICON – Innovation and evolution The RUBICON establishes a new class in self-propelled sprayers. Designed to meet the productivity demands of large scale farmers, the seamless integration of capacity and ease of operation delivers hectare-eating performance to conquer everyday spraying tasks with ease. The RUBICON 9000 takes efficiency and productivity to a whole new level. Increased tank capacity not only improves productivity, but the timeliness of applications as well. Time and timing can both be critical factors for spraying, especially on large paddocks. RUBICON’s class-leading capacity reduces travelling and filling down-time, so you can keep spraying and finish sooner.
1000 Hectares Per Day RUBICON has the power, torque, tank and fuel capacity to work effortlessly all day. The 48.5 m HARDI PARAGON AL boom represents a 35% increase in work rate over a comparable 36 m boom. Superior boom height management, including AutoHeight and Auto Terrain, keeps the nozzles at their optimum spray height across the full width of the boom and a wider range of operating conditions. Working together, these features allow RUBICON to spray at up to 35 km/h and achieve a work rate of 170 ha/hr – comfortably covering over 1,000 hectares per day.
Engine Power
RUBICON is powered by Cummins – the most advanced engine technology to deliver power and reliability when you need it. Cummins engines run quieter, burn leaner and cleaner, and they are the industry leader in providing power to hydrostatic transmissions. The Cummins® 8.9L QSL 9 Tier 3A engine delivers up to 370 Hp (276 kW) and features fully Integrated Electronic Controls, providing seamless integration of all components to optimize engine performance.
A Commanding View
A better view of the boom from the cab not only contributes to comfort, but to the quality of the productivity. The operator has a commanding view over the boom from the driver’s seat which makes spraying easier and safer. The RUBICON cab is a special workplace and every detail counts – including the synchronised movement of the arm rest console to provide improved ergonomics, the unsurpassed visibility of the boom, clean air, and responsible sound and vibration levels. With superior comfort and the best view in the business, RUBICON makes spraying enjoyable and efficient.
Boom Centre
RUBICON redefines boom stability: Revolutionary boom suspension system allows independent stiffness control settings on the springs and rams fixed to either side of the centre frame. The boom remains stable under the harshest operating conditions. The wide centre frame provides excellent on-road visibility. Spring tension holds the centre frame in the middle position while the hydraulic damper absorbs energy from the boom movement. A hydraulic actuator operated from the cab exerts more or less pressure on the spring to change the resistance.
High clearance
The RUBICON provides a high 180 cm clearance in a clean and unobstructed under-body. This high clearance with its streamlined design prevents damage to tall crops during late season applications. Comfort is important to the operator who has to spend long hours behind the wheel. RUBICON’s combination of large tires and triple-support airbag suspension is the key to its superb ride and driver comfort, which is paramount to keeping fatigue at bay. The high clearance chassis also has an All-Wheel Steering option to help prevent unnecessary crop damage when turning on headlands.
Track width adjustment
The RUBICON axle track width can be infinitely adjusted, on-the-run, from 3 m to 4 m providing the ultimate flexibility for different applications and improved productivity.
On road transport and spraying
To suit varying field conditions
To match the track width of other machinery
Set up for control traffic farming
To match row crop row spacing
The OverRide suspension is integrated into each wheel console and moves in and out with the wheel track width. Externally accessed PUKS are easily adjusted to take up play that may develop over time through changing the axle track.
Main tank / Rinse tank
RUBICON’s 9000 litre baffled stainless steel tank is integrated into the chassis. Baffles not only enhance the integrity of the tank structure, but also improves the handling and directional stability of the sprayer. Limiting the sloshing movement of fluid in the tank enhances braking performance and yaw stability, making the sprayer safer and more comfortable to drive. Three rotational tank rinse nozzles are fitted as standard and provide consistent tank flushing. A deep sump running the full length of the tank ensures total draining, easy cleaning and minimal residue. There is a sturdy ladder on the right hand side of the Main Tank which allows easy access to the lid. RUBICON’s 1000 litre diesel tank will fuel a whole day or night of spraying.
Steering
The RUBICON has a powerful load sensing hydraulic steering system which controls two large phasing cylinders, and is ideally suited to challenging operating conditions. The steering is precise, smooth and quiet with no vibration which makes spraying easy, safe and reduces operator fatigue.
OverRide suspension
OverRide Suspension is designed for heavy duty applications, for greater load carrying capacity and for incredibly smooth running. The suspension is fully independent, is integrated into each wheel console, and moves in and out with the wheel track width. Heavy duty shock absorbers dampen impulses from the suspension to improve the performance and ride.
Engine
RUBICON is driven by Cummins – highly advanced diesel engine technology that delivers power and reliability when you need it. Cummins engines run quieter, burn leaner and cleaner, and are the industry leader in providing power to hydrostatic transmissions.
4WD Hydrostatic transmission
The RUBICON 4WD hydrostatic transmission is the latest intelligent self-propelled sprayer drive management system from Danfoss – combining the highest levels of performance and operator comfort with reduced fuel consumption. A Danfoss 250 cc variable displacement axial piston pump minimises control and charge pump losses, to maximise available engine power. In addition the Danfoss H1 bent axis axial piston wheel motors are variable displacement and offer significant overall efficiency gains.
Cabin
A better view of the boom from the cab not only contributes to operator comfort but to the quality of the productivity. The operator has a commanding view over the boom from the driver’s seat which makes spraying easier and safer.
The RUBICON cab is a special workplace and every detail counts: including the synchronized movement of the arm rest console to provide improved ergonomics, to unsurpassed visibility of the boom, clean air and responsible sound and vibration levels.
With superior comfort and the best view in the business, RUBICON makes spraying enjoyable and efficient.
All Day Comfort
Operator comfort is essential for long spraying days. The new Panoramic cab is larger, spacious and uncluttered, with top level ergonomics and the industry’s best all-around operator visibility. The climate controlled, pressurized cab has active charcoal filtration that delivers high quality air which protects the operator from contaminants while spraying. The cab provides a quiet and stress-free relaxed environment, which is easy on conversations and mobile phone use.
Ground Control
The right side of the RUBICON houses the fluid pumps, control valves and the electronic valve sequencing control panel. The system’s efficient design minimizes the volume remaining once the tank is emptied, which makes rinsing and decontaminating fast and efficient. Fluid is driven by an 680 l/min ACE Centrifugal wet seal run dry centrifugal spray pump which is controlled by a hydraulic Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) valve. A 76 mm hydraulically operated rotary valve controls the suction source from the main tank, the rinse tank, or an external supply. On the pressure side a similar 50 mm hydraulically operated rotary valve controls the supply to the boom recirculation system & nozzles, to the chemical filler, to the main tank or for pressure empty. A dedicated hydraulic driven 82 l/min diaphragm pump with electric rotary control valve is used exclusively for clean water supply for the main tank, rinse nozzles, priming Ace pump or hand gun.
Tank control
The simple to operate electronic ground station control panel functions are duplicated in the cab and are used to sequence the rotary valves for suction, pressure and clean water supply. The correct operating positions are performed automatically and at the touch of a button.
Filling station
Designed to make loading safe, quick and easy, the combined mixing and transfer station is hydraulically lowered into position for refilling The filling station is a robust stainless steel construction and includes the Chemical Hopper, Direct Chemical Suction connection, Fast Fill connection, optional Multi-Stage Fast Fill Pump and Hand Gun. For safe operation, the 60 litre hopper is positioned 70 cm above the ground when lowered. When raised, the entire work station is tucked out of the way under the right hand side panel. Chemical can be sucked directly into the RUBICON or mixed through the hopper and transferred to the main tank. Batch mixes can be pumped directly into the tank or the system can be programmed to suck ina specific volume, using the electronic valve sequencing control panel.
HC 9600
RUBICON is fully ISOBUS compatible, meaning owners can choose to have their preferred precision farming platform installed for steering, control and data logging. The standard controller is the HARDI HC 9600 which can be used to display up to five precision farming functions simultaneously in a range of layouts and user interfaces. No other terminal currently offers this versatility. It is also one of the first to feature a capacitive touch screen. The touch-film is protected beneath the glass pane, making the technology ideal for tough, everyday usage. The terminal is fitted with an integral Tractor-ECU (TECU) to receive information from the RUBICON which is essential for precision farming applications.
HARDI Paragon Aluminium
With 30 years’ experience in optimising lighter, stronger and wider Pommier Aluminium boom set-ups we offer farmers real advantages in field performance, reliability and durability – as well as weight reduction. The wieght savings of aluminium and our speciliased know-how in setting up Pommier yaw dampening for Australian conditions mean the load and forces transferred to the centre during spraying are significantly reduced. Optional AutoHeight control sets a new benchmark in boom ride, maintaining a lower boom height which provides better drift control. A soft close feature protects the boom when folding.
AutoHeight boom control
AutoHeight provides stress-free boom height control as it maintains the correct nozzle operating height to improve application and reduce spray drift. AutoHeight uses ultrasonic sensors fitted to the boom centre and wings to control and maintain a preset height of the entire boom above the ground or crop. The sensors, developed for field conditions, are robust and precise. The proportional valve control of individual boom wing height corrections is smooth, even and automatic. AutoHeight maintains a preselected boom height from the ground or crop.
ActivAir
ActivAir is rapid nozzle on/off control system that uses RUBICON’s on-board air supply to instantaneously open and close the non-drip nozzles during spraying. Air pressure is distributed along the boom through 8mm tubing to electrically activate solenoid valves, then via 4mm tubing to each non-drip valve. When a solenoid is activated, air pressure opens the non-drip valves and the nozzles start spraying. When the solenoid is deactivated the non-drip valves are held closed under spring tension. ActivAir’s rapid nozzle control is fast and accurate, making it ideal for AutoSection control systems. The spray lines are divided into between 9 and 18 sections to ensure minimal overspray when AutoSection control is in operation. When the nozzles are off the fluid system continuously recirculates the spray mix through the boom tubes at high volume to ensure the boom is primed before spraying starts.
Lighting
If spraying has to be done at night, the job is made easier with RUBICON’s extensive lighting package. A rear access stairway light is activated from cabin roof to show the way along the platform. A forward-facing LED lightbar on the boom center and sidewards orientated lights will illuminate the route to and around the field to a distance of 150 m. Finally, under-boom blue cast lights provides a clear and non-invasive view of nozzle function and spray delivery along the full length of the boom.
Boom centre
RUBICON redefines boom stability: A revolutionary boom suspension system allows independent stiffness control settings on the springs and rams fixed to either side of the centre frame. The boom remains stable under the harshest operating conditions. Field trials were performed at speeds of up to 50 km/h (turns at up to 30 km/h) and the boom set to only 50 cm height without the boom touching the ground! Spring tension holds the centre frame in the middle position while the hydraulic damper absorbs energy from boom movements. A hydraulic actuator operated from the cab exerts more or less pressure on the spring to change the resistance. The wide centre frame provides excellent on road visibility.
Paralift
The ParaLift is extra wide and provides the basis for unbeatable boom stability. It is anchored to the chassis at 1.7 m centres and picks up the boom at 2.3 m width. The ParaLift’s width and torsional strength greatly exceeds the requirement for the widest booms currently available.
Two large ParaLift plunge cylinders with nitrogen accumulation provide the boom with vertical shock absorption and height control. The boom can be raised from 0.5 m to 2.7 m above the ground.
An air activated ParaLift locking system secures the boom into position for safe road transport.
