REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR NEBULIZER

Description

1 / 10 REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR NEBULIZER Technical sector

[001] The present invention belongs to the technological sector of machines and equipment for combating endemic diseases, more specifically it refers to a remote control system for a nebulizer comprising at least one remote control for activation and operation control, interconnected to an aerosol insecticide nebulizer mounted on a platform for pickup trucks for the control of pests such as mosquitoes, flies, cockroaches and other insects. The system allows control of the nebulizer remotely, without the operator needing to move. State of the art

[002] Pest control and eradication is a process of great importance to society, as it prevents the proliferation of unwanted animals that can compromise public health, cause diseases, or harm crops and agricultural production. To assist in this process, the use of nebulizing equipment is common, responsible for dispersing chemical agents that act in the elimination of these animals. Nebulizers allow these agents to be spread over a larger area, creating a mist composed of fine droplets, and increasing the potential for drift, spreading the product over a larger space.

[003] In general, nebulizer equipment operates mechanically and manually, requiring the operator to move to the equipment to turn it on and control it manually. Although this method is effective for the equipment's operation, it often occurs in adverse conditions for workers, such as high temperatures, exposure to intense sunlight, long journeys, and the constant need for movement.

[004] To mitigate these challenges, some remote control systems for nebulizers have been developed, allowing the equipment to be activated and controlled remotely, with the aim of facilitating the product application process. Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 5 / 23 2 / 10

[005] Patent document CN220359990 discloses a remotely controlled intelligent pesticide spraying vehicle containing a solvent-pesticide mixing tank, where this mixture is directed to a nozzle for spraying. The vehicle's movement and the spraying of the mixture are controlled remotely. A limitation of this type of system is that it only allows control of one solution tank attached to the equipment, making it impossible for the equipment to expel different solutions / mixtures. Another drawback is that the system does not include sensor or valve management that would allow precise control of the liquid flow attached to the equipment.

[006] The Clarke company's "Remote Control Station model 1800E OHV" equipment describes a wired remote control for operating a nebulizer. The remote control allows for equipment startup and includes lights to indicate pump flow and fan status. However, this technology has the limitation of being a wired control, limiting its versatility due to the necessary cabling, and, like the patent document cited earlier, it does not allow for simultaneous control of different reservoirs nor does it provide valve control for flow management.

[007] The “Smartflow II” system, also from Clarke, describes a microcomputer for controlling a spraying system. The equipment allows controlling and regulating the activation of an electric motor / pump in a spraying system, allowing for changes and control of spray speed and flow. It also issues alerts when abnormal conditions are detected. This system features wireless control, operating remotely from the equipment, and allows for valve management to control the flow. However, a limitation of this technology, like the previous ones, is its control limit to only one storage tank and, furthermore, it does not offer the possibility of implementing agitation or cleaning systems. Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 6 / 23 3 / 10

[008] These drawbacks limit the versatility of the system, making it impossible to use in nebulizers with two or more fluid tanks. New features and purpose of the invention

[009] The present invention aims to provide a remote control system for a nebulizer that effectively solves the limitations of the prior art mentioned above.

[010] The control system comprises a wireless remote control interconnected via a wireless communication network to a nebulizer unit. Said nebulizer unit has independent hydraulic and pneumatic systems controlled through an electronic system consisting of a control box, flow, pressure and rotation control sensors, relay, actuator, solenoid valves and electric pump. All elements are directly connected to the control box and can be electronically activated.

[011] The system control features a display that allows for verification of the equipment's operating parameters, adjustment, and remote control. It allows the operator, from inside the vehicle in which the equipment is being transported, to activate and control the nebulizer without having to move or be exposed to adverse environmental conditions. Advantages and technical effects of the invention

[012] The remote control system for nebulizers, the subject of the present invention, results in the following advantages and achieves the following technical effects over prior art nebulizer control systems: - Prior art nebulizer control systems only allow the control of nebulizer equipment composed of a single storage tank, without the possibility of activating different solutions / mixtures during equipment operation, thus restricting their versatility. This is solved by the present invention through a control system interconnected to a set of solenoid valves and sensors that allow the activation of different solution tanks coupled together. Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 7 / 23 4 / 10 to the nebulizer equipment, being able to switch the operating mode according to need; and - Priory-of-the-art nebulizer control systems do not offer remote control of the device's mixture agitation system, requiring the operator to move to the equipment. This is solved by the present invention through an electronic system with a control box directly connected to a solenoid valve responsible for the agitator; thus, the operator controls the solution mixing from their remote control. List of attached drawings

[013] In order that the present invention may be fully understood and put into practice by any technician in this technological sector, it is described in a clear, precise and sufficient manner, based on the attached drawings, listed below, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the control system: Figure 1 - diagram illustrating the system of the present invention; Figure 2 - diagram illustrating the hydraulic and pneumatic connections of the nebulizer equipment; Figure 3 illustrates the HMI display of the invention; and Figure 4 illustrates the HMI display of the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[014] Figure 1 illustrates the nebulizer equipment control system of the present invention comprising a human-machine interface - HMI (1), which may be a remote control or similar device containing wireless communication technology, such as Bluetooth or similar, connected to the electronic system of a nebulizer equipment (N), preferably of the vehicle-mounted type.

[015] Said nebulizing equipment (N) can be exemplified by the equipment disclosed in patent document BR 10 2024 017363 5, an aerosol insecticide nebulizing equipment on a platform for pickup trucks that Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 8 / 23 5 / 10 has means for selecting and / or nebulizing adulticides, larvicides, or cleaning fluid. The nebulizer comprises a self-contained airflow unit consisting of a low-power combustion engine with a fuel tank that drives a blower for atomizing the insecticide at the atomizing nozzle; a multiple reservoir assembly comprising a larvicide reservoir, an adulticide reservoir, and a cleaning fluid reservoir mounted in a housing; a hydraulic circuit comprising a directional valve for larvicide / cleaning, adulticide / cleaning; an electric pump; a shut-off / release valve for larvicide, adulticide, return, flow control, directional valve, junction, and duct; In addition, it has an agitation system comprising a directional agitation valve; a tube, a cap, and a relief valve.

[016] The HMI (1) of the invention connects directly via Bluetooth to a control box (2) electronically connected to the elements that make up the nebulizer's electronic system (N) and responsible for sending the activation command to the devices. The nebulizer (N) is composed of two independent power supply systems: a pneumatic system consisting of an air blower for air flow and a hydraulic system for the flow of insecticide product. Through the HMI (1) the operator controls both systems simultaneously.

[017] The HMI (1) consists of a remote control with wireless communication technology and containing an interface that allows the activation of all the nebulizer's electronic devices, such as, for example, display (11), activation buttons (12) and navigation (13), or it may consist of a touchscreen, controlling at least the activation of the motor (M), activation of the tanks (T1, T2 and TL) and allowing the reading of signals sent by the sensors through a display or similar element. The first tank (T1) is responsible for storing larvicide; the second tank (T2) for storing adulticide; and the cleaning tank (TL) for the cleaning fluid. Through the HMI (1), commands are sent to the control box (2) and then control signals are emitted to the system elements. Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 9 / 23 6 / 10

[018] The control box (2) is directly connected to at least one pressure sensor (3), to the combustion engine actuator / choke (4), a flow sensor (5), a starting relay (6), directional solenoid valves (71, 72 and 73), locking / releasing solenoid valves (74, 75, 77), RPM revolutions per minute sensor (8) and a PWM controller (91) connected to the electric motor pump (9).

[019] In addition to the electronic sensors, the system has a mechanically operated control valve (76).

[020] Figure 1 illustrates the nebulizer control system (N) and the interconnections between the devices. The HMI (1) is connected via wireless communication technology to the control box (2), which is directly connected to all the electronic devices in the system, allowing the sending of pulses for activation and deactivation. The control box (2) is connected to a pressure sensor (3) that preferably operates in a range between 0 and 1 bar, and is physically located between the air compressor of the nebulizer air blower (N) and the agitation solenoid valve (71), for detecting the air pressure, which is reported through the HMI (1). The air blower has a combustion engine (M) connected to a starting relay (6) and an actuator / choke (4), both interconnected to the control box (2). The relay (6) receives signals from the box (2) to turn the engine (M) on and off.This box (2) sends signals to the actuator (4) so ​​that the engine can function, and, through the RPM sensor (8), cable connected to the ignition coil of the engine (M), receives the RPM signal from the engine (M) and transmits it to the HMI (1) so that it can be displayed.

[021] For hydraulic flow control, the system has: directional valves (72 and 73), a flow sensor (5), solenoid valves (74, 75 and 77), and an electric motor pump (9). All elements are connected to the control box (2) and interconnected by pipes / hoses that allow the transport of the product contained in the tanks to the product outlet pipe (TS).

[022] The flow sensor (5) is located next to the hose / pipe connecting tanks (T1 and T2) and the product outlet pipe (TS), more Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 10 / 23 7 / 10 precisely, between the solenoid valves (74, 75 and 77) and the product outlet pipe (TS). The sensor (5) sends hydraulic flow detection and volume signals to the control box (2), which transmits them to the HMI (1). The sensor (5) preferably operates in a range between 50 ml / min and 3,800 ml / min and is responsible for sending a signal to the box (2) when the chemical product in the tank runs out, issuing an alert along with the HMI (1) to the operator.

[023] In conjunction with the flow sensor (5), for hydraulic feed control, the system has directional solenoid valves (72) and (73) connected to the outlet piping of the first tank (T1) and second tank (T2), respectively. These valves (72 and 73) allow directing whether the chemicals will be transported to the cleaning tank (TL) or to the product outlet pipe (TS). The control box (2) sends opening and closing signals to the valves from commands activated on the HMI (1).

[024] Furthermore, the system has four other valves, namely the tank (T1) solenoid shut-off valve (74), tank (T2) solenoid shut-off valve (75), tank (T2) mechanical flow control valve (76) and tank (T2) return solenoid shut-off valve (77). The four valves (74, 75, 76 and 77) are located between the electric motor pump (9) and the product outlet pipe (TS). The tank (T1) shut-off valve (74) controls the product outlet from tank (T1) after passing through the electric motor pump (9).Similarly, valves (75, 76 and 77) control the product output from tank (T2) after passing through the electric motor pump (9), however, after passing through valve (75) the flow has two paths, part of the product is directed to the control valve (76), regulating the product flow and directing it to the product outlet pipe (TS), and another part is directed to valve (77) which allows the product to return to tank (T2) if activated by the operator.

[025] The mechanical control valve (76) is of the needle type and regulates the passage of liquid to the nozzle, coming only from the tank (T2). Manual actuation of the needle selector allows release (counterclockwise rotation) or Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 11 / 23 8 / 10 closing (clockwise rotation) of the liquid passage.

[026] The electronic system has connection terminals (BB) exemplified in figure 1 by terminal blocks, to assist in the connection between the wires and the devices of the circuit.

[027] Figure 2 illustrates the hydraulic and pneumatic power supply systems present in a nebulizer equipment.

[028] The hydraulic system has three tanks: the first tank (T1), the second tank (T2), the cleaning tank (TL), and filters (F), all connected to each other via pipes / hoses for the flow of insecticide products. The flow is moved by the electric motor pump (9) and directed to the product outlet pipe (TS) of the nebulizer (N) to be expelled. This entire system is managed by the HMI (1), through the solenoid valves (72), (73), (74), (75), and (77), the control valve (76), and the flow sensor (5).

[029] Saita electric motor pump (9) is directly connected to a PWM controller (91) which allows controlling the speed or power of the motor pump by adjusting the amount of energy supplied to the motor.

[030] The arrangement of the solenoid valves (74, 75 and 77) prevents the mixing of chemicals in the hydraulic feed system, in this way, the solenoid valves cannot be activated simultaneously, ensuring that the products in the pipes or tank are not contaminated.

[031] The pneumatic system consists of the first tank (T1), the second tank (T2), combustion engine (M) coupled to the compressor (C) and filter (F).

[032] The pneumatic system works as follows: the combustion engine (M) is activated via relay (6) and used to drive the air compressor (C) generating compressed air. This compressed air is directed to the product outlet pipe (TS), and can be partially directed to agitate the mixtures in tanks (T1), (T2), or expelled entirely through the product outlet pipe (TS). The portion of the compressed air flow directed to agitate the products in the tanks is controlled by the agitation solenoid valve (71), a three-way valve, which determines whether the product in tank (T1) Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 12 / 23 9 / 10 or (T2) will be moved. The portion of the compressed air flow that is directed to the product outlet pipe (TS) will be mixed with the product originating from the hydraulic system, and ejected at the desired location. The control system manages the pneumatic feed through the agitation solenoid (71), pressure sensor (3), actuator (4) and relay (6).

[033] The entire system is powered by batteries from the nebulizer equipment (N), however, it can be powered via cable from a power distribution network. Preferably the system operates with a voltage of 12V, however, it is not limited to this.

[034] Figure 3 illustrates the system's operation through the display (11) of the HMI (1), exemplifying operating options presented by the control system of the present invention. Through the system, the operator can verify the parameters and operation and the operating mode of the nebulizer (N). The Display (11) shows which tank is being used by the operator at the time of application, the operating mode of the nebulizer (N), indicates whether the agitation or tank cleaning options are activated, the usage time, and shows information regarding the operation performed, such as motor rotation (M), air pressure, and product flow rate. In addition, the HMI (1) displays alerts according to the signals sent by the sensors.

[035] The display layout (11) is programmable, so the menus and options can be changed according to the user's needs.

[036] Alerts are programmed together with the nebulizer control box (2), for example, when the flow sensor (3) detects that it is not being transported through the pipes / hoses, the display (11) shows an alert for lack of chemical product.

[037] The said HMI (1) can also display on its display (11) a “selection menu”, illustrated in figure 4, which presents the operating options for the nebulizer equipment (N). The operator can select the elements to be used for the operation.

[038] In this way, the system of the invention makes it possible for the operator to have Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 13 / 23 10 / 10 total control over the nebulizer (N) even from a distance, being able to use different insecticidal products according to the need, and perform equipment maintenance, such as tank agitation and cleaning.

[039] The information selected on the HMI (1) is sent directly to the nebulizer control box (2) and then the drive signals are sent to the electronic devices. Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 14 / 23

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIMS 1 - “REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEM FOR NEBULIZER” connected to a nebulizer (N) comprising a hydraulic system for product flow and a pneumatic system consisting of an air blower containing a combustion engine (M) coupled to a compressor (C) for compressed air flow, characterized in that the control system consists of an HMI (1) connected directly via wireless communication technology to the control box (2) of the nebulizer (N) electronically interconnected to: - a pressure sensor (3) disposed between the air compressor (C) of the nebulizer (N) and the agitation solenoid valve (71), for detecting air pressure, informed through the HMI (1); - an actuator / choke (4) connected to the combustion engine (M); wherein said box (2) receives from the actuator (4) the engine operating parameters; - a starting relay (6) connected to the combustion engine (M);where through signals emitted by the control box (2) the relay (6) is activated to turn the motor (M) on and off; - RPM sensor (8) that sends the RPM signal from the motor (M) to the box (2); - flow sensor (5), connected to the hose / pipe connecting the tanks (T1) (T2) and the product outlet pipe (TS) of the nebulizer (N), sending detection and volume signals of the hydraulic flow to the control box (2); - directional solenoid valves (72) and (73) connected to the outlet pipe of the first tank (T1) and second tank (T2), respectively; - tank (T1) blocking solenoid valve (74) connected to the hose / pipe connecting the electric pump (9) and the product outlet pipe (TS); - tank (T2) blocking solenoid valve (75) connected to the hose / pipe connecting the electric pump (9) and the product outlet pipe (TS); - mechanical control valve (76) of tank (T2) connected to Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 15 / 23; 2 / 2 hose / pipe connecting the electric pump (9) and the product outlet pipe (TS); - return shut-off solenoid valve (77) of the tank (T2) connected to the hose / pipe connecting the electric pump (9) and the product outlet pipe (TS); and - electric pump (9) connected to the hose / pipe connecting the tanks (T1 and T2) and the product outlet pipe (TS). 2 - “SYSTEM”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the HMI (1) is composed of a remote control containing a display (11), operating buttons (12) and navigation buttons (13). 3 - “SYSTEM”, according to claim 2, characterized by being the display (11) with touchscreen. 4 - “SYSTEM”, according to claim 1, characterized in that the control box (2) is interconnected to a PWM controller (91) connected to the electric pump (9). Petition 870240109539, dated 12 / 23 / 2024, page 16 / 23

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