Plant treatment device
By designing a plant treatment device that uses a heating system and discharge device to heat liquid for spraying weeds, the environmental hazards of herbicides in existing technologies are solved, achieving efficient, automated, and precise weed removal while protecting crops and the environment.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- CONTINENTAL REIFEN DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
- Filing Date
- 2024-09-19
- Publication Date
- 2026-04-17
AI Technical Summary
Existing technologies that use herbicides and pesticides to treat weeds are harmful to the environment and make it difficult to achieve efficient, automated, and precise weed removal.
A plant treatment device was designed, comprising a heating system, a cooling system, and an exhaust device. It heats liquid and sprays it onto weeds at constant pressure and temperature, using high-temperature water as an eco-friendly pesticide. The heating system and controller maintain constant system pressure and temperature.
It achieves environmentally friendly weed removal, improves treatment efficiency and accuracy, reduces the impact on crops, and lowers the use of chemicals.
Smart Images
Figure CN121889029A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to a plant treatment apparatus for treating plants. Background Technology
[0002] Cultivated plants are typically sown across large fields using agricultural machinery and harvested after reaching maturity. Between sowing and harvesting, the plants are in a growth phase and require nutrients, which they absorb from the soil. To ensure maximum nutrient supply during this phase, one measure is to remove unwanted plants (also known as weeds) so they do not further deplete the soil of nutrients, thus causing nutrient deficiency in the cultivated plants. The conventional method used for this is to apply herbicides or pesticides to the field and, consequently, to the cultivated plants. However, this method has been criticized due to increased social environmental awareness, as it can damage the environment and may be absorbed by humans through the cultivated plants. Summary of the Invention
[0003] The purpose of this invention is to provide a relatively environmentally friendly and / or cost-effective and / or highly automated and / or precise device for removing or suppressing weeds.
[0004] This objective is achieved by a plant treatment apparatus according to the invention. The plant treatment apparatus has at least one heating device for heating a liquid from an initial temperature to a final temperature and at least one discharging device for distributing the heated liquid onto the plants. The heating device has a cooling system and at least one heating element. The cooling system supplies the liquid. The heating element heats the liquid to the final temperature. The discharging device has at least one valve and a piping system for supplying the liquid to the valve. The piping system is designed such that the heated liquid can circulate and be supplied to the discharging device. In the event of a pressure drop in the heating system, the cooling system supplies the liquid to achieve a substantially constant pressure in the heating system. The heating element of the heating system heats the liquid so that the liquid has a substantially constant temperature.
[0005] The heating device heats a liquid (particularly water) from an initial temperature to a final temperature. The initial temperature of the liquid is typically ambient temperature or another temperature at which the liquid is supplied. Alternatively, if insulation is present, for example, the initial temperature may be higher or lower than ambient temperature. The final temperature is preferably between 90°C and 105°C. In particular, the final temperature falls within the range where the protein structure of the plant is disrupted or at least damaged, for example, at least at 60°C.
[0006] The applied liquid is preferably water, especially water heated to a high temperature. This also provides an ecologically sustainable form of weed killer that protects crops and their environment from the effects of pesticides and / or herbicides and / or plant protectants.
[0007] However, liquids are not limited to water. Instead, they can include all common agricultural liquids and weed control methods.
[0008] A discharge device is used to distribute liquid onto weeds. The discharge device consists of at least one valve and a piping system through which liquid can flow into and out of the at least one valve. By circulating the liquid through the piping system, a substantially constant temperature is achieved at each valve.
[0009] In heated systems, a substantially constant pressure is maintained to ensure uniform spray distribution. Removing liquid from the pipeline system causes a pressure drop. For example, if multiple valves are opened simultaneously and a substantially constant pressure is not present in the system, not enough heated liquid will be sprayed onto the weeds, resulting in the weeds not being destroyed.
[0010] A cold-temperature system is used to continuously (i.e., constantly) feed liquid into a hot-temperature system to compensate for pressure drops in the hot-temperature system. The cold-temperature system can be any type of storage tank; in particular, water can be stored in or made available for use in this tank. For example, it can be a tank resistant to liquids other than water. Preferably, the cold-temperature system is connected to the hot-temperature system via pipelines, particularly pipelines made of elastic materials.
[0011] The heating device in the thermal system is used to heat the liquid in the pipeline system, so that the liquid has a substantially constant temperature. The temperature of the liquid downstream of the heating device corresponds to the final temperature, with a tolerance / deviation preferably of + / - 3°C.
[0012] Preferably, a warming system is provided between the cold and hot temperature systems. Liquid from the cold system is heated from its initial temperature to an intermediate temperature in the warming system before being fed into the hot temperature system. If there is a large temperature difference between the initial and final temperatures and / or if there is a large liquid loss in the hot temperature system, excessive temperature drop may occur in the hot temperature system when liquid is fed from the cold system. The warming system preheats the liquid so that the temperature in the hot temperature system does not drop or drops only to a relatively small extent.
[0013] Preferably, the heating system includes a heating device that heats the liquid to an intermediate temperature between the initial temperature and the final temperature. The intermediate temperature is preferably between 80°C and 95°C. Alternatively, the intermediate temperature may have a tolerance / deviation of up to + / - 15°C.
[0014] Preferably, the additional heating device for the heating system is a fuel-powered instantaneous water heater, particularly a diesel-fueled instantaneous water heater. Alternatively, the fuel can be gasoline or any type of gas, such as hydrogen, LNG, or LPG. However, the heating device is not limited to fuel-powered instantaneous water heaters. Instead, it can also involve electric heating elements.
[0015] Preferably, the heating device of the thermal system is an electric reheater.
[0016] Preferably, energy is supplied to the electric reheater via a generator and / or a permanent power source. The generator can be a fuel-powered generator, preferably operating with diesel and / or gasoline and / or gas. Alternatively, the generator can be driven via the output shaft of the agricultural machinery or a mechanical drive to generate electricity. The permanent power source can be provided, for example, via the power grid, particularly when the device is used in a greenhouse. Alternatively, the permanent power source can be provided via the high-voltage electrical system of electrified agricultural machinery, particularly electrified tractors.
[0017] Preferably, the liquid can be discharged via at least one valve located in the discharge device in short-interval series and / or parallel connections. To spray the weeds with sufficiently hot liquid while the device moves at an appropriate speed, preferably over cultivated land, corresponding valves positioned one after the other in the direction of movement open one after another in time, spraying the liquid onto the weeds. If relatively large weeds are present, multiple valves can be opened in parallel and / or series.
[0018] Preferably, a first temperature and / or a second temperature and / or a final temperature can be set. For this purpose, the operator can set parameters, for example, for the heating device. Alternatively, the system can automatically adjust the temperature.
[0019] Preferably, the cooling and / or warming and / or heating systems are installed on the agricultural machinery. For example, the individual systems or combinations thereof can be assembled into the agricultural machinery as modules. In this case, the modules can be connected to the agricultural machinery by means of cables and / or pipelines to be supplied with energy. Alternatively, the device can be used in greenhouses or other facilities for plant cultivation.
[0020] Preferably, the cold temperature system, warm temperature system, and / or hot temperature system have pumps that generate substantially constant pressure. The pump in the cold temperature system is, for example, a suction pump. The pump can be, for example, a circulation pump and operates on the principle of a flow pump and / or a positive displacement pump. Preferably, the warm temperature system and / or hot temperature system have a circulation pump. The circulation pump is, for example, a flow pump and / or a positive displacement pump. It is used to allow liquid to circulate from the hot temperature system back to the hot temperature system via piping and valves.
[0021] Preferably, a controller is provided that controls the feeding of liquid into the heating system to maintain a substantially constant pressure and / or controls the heating device to maintain a substantially constant temperature of the liquid in the heating system. The controller may be, for example, a control circuit. Attached Figure Description
[0022] Further advantages and features will become clear from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0023] Figure 1 A schematic structure of a plant treatment device with a heating device and a discharge device is shown;
[0024] Figure 2 As shown Figure 1 The schematic structure shown is of a plant treatment device with an additional heating system.
[0025] Figure 3 As shown Figure 2 The diagram shows a schematic structure of a plant treatment device with an additional controller. Detailed Implementation
[0026] Figure 1 A plant treatment device 10 is shown. The plant treatment device 10 is located, for example, on agricultural machinery, such as a tractor, and moves at a certain speed over an agricultural cultivated area 12. Crops 14 are planted on this cultivated area 12, and will grow for several months and be harvested when they reach the correct maturity. Weeds 16 also grow naturally among these crops, especially weeds that take nutrients from adjacent crops 14, resulting in crops 14 receiving less nutrition and thus providing lower crop yields.
[0027] The plant treatment device 10 has a heating device 18 and a discharge device 20.
[0028] The heating device 18 includes a cold heating system 22 and a hot heating system 24. These two systems are connected to each other by means of a pipeline 26 and are made of, for example, a flexible material (such as plastic). The cold heating system 22 is, for example, a storage tank in which water is stored. This water is transported to the hot heating system 24 via the pipeline 26 by means of a pump (not shown).
[0029] In the heating system 24, a liquid, for example at ambient temperature, is heated to a final temperature. This heating is caused by means of a first heating element 28, which is located in the heating system and is, for example, a diesel-powered instantaneous water heater. It heats the water from an initial temperature to a final temperature between 90°C and 105°C.
[0030] After the liquid has been heated to its final temperature, it is pumped into pipeline system 30 at a pressure of approximately 2 bar using an additional pump (not shown). Pipeline system 30 connects the heating system 24 to the discharge device 20 via feed and return lines. Pipeline system 30, with its feed and return lines, allows the heated liquid to circulate between the two systems, resulting in a nearly constant final temperature.
[0031] The discharge device 20 consists of multiple valves 32. The valves 32 of the discharge device 20 are arranged in parallel (i.e., side-by-side) multiple (e.g., six) valves in the direction of travel FR. Alternatively, such valve rows can be arranged in series (i.e., one after another) multiple (e.g., four) valve rows in the direction of travel FR. This allows the agricultural machinery to move at a limited speed over the cultivated land area 12, and, through appropriate valve design, ensures that weeds 16 can be sprayed multiple times and thus eradicated.
[0032] Figure 2 It shows having with Figure 1 The plant treatment device 10 described herein has a substantially similar structure to the plant treatment device 10. The difference in this exemplary embodiment lies in the structure of the heating device 18. In this case, a warming system 34 is provided between the cold heating system 22 and the hot heating system 24.
[0033] The heating system 34 heats the liquid in the cold system 22 from the initial temperature to an intermediate temperature. This intermediate temperature is between 80°C and 95°C.
[0034] Then, for example, by means of another pump, the liquid now at an intermediate temperature is fed into the heating system 24, which applies pressure to the warm or heated liquid as previously described. In the heating system 24, the liquid is then heated from the intermediate temperature to a final temperature, which, as previously described, is between 90°C and 105°C. This heating is caused by a second heating device 36, which is implemented, for example, in the form of an electric instantaneous water heater. This will allow the final temperature of the liquid to fluctuate by ±3°C.
[0035] Because the liquid is preheated by the warming system 34 upstream of the heating system 24, the temperature in the heating system 24 does not drop or drops only to a relatively small extent after the liquid sprayed by the discharge device 20 has been replenished. Therefore, the temperature in the heating system 24 can be kept more constant.
[0036] Figure 3 It shows having with Figure 2 The plant treatment device 10 described herein has a basically similar structure to the plant treatment device 10. The difference here is that the controller 38 is connected to the various systems of the heating device 18 in terms of signal technology.
[0037] Through this data connection, the controller can activate the system so that in pipeline system 30, liquid is available at valve 32 at approximately constant pressure and temperature. The cold / warm system includes an expansion vessel that compensates for / suppresses pressure fluctuations via an integrated membrane. For example, in the event of a pressure drop due to the removal of a large amount of liquid, the speed of the pump (not shown) in the hot / warm system 24 or the warm / warm system 34 can be increased.
[0038] Since a large amount of liquid has been removed, it must be compensated for by liquid from the heating system 34. To prevent a drop in temperature, the second heating device 36 must heat the large amount of liquid for a short period of time, which requires a brief increase in the heating power of the second heating device 36.
[0039] The liquid removed from the heating system 34 must be compensated by liquid from the cooling system 22. For this purpose, a pump (not shown) is actuated to supply a defined amount of liquid to the heating system 34.
[0040] The above also applies to Figure 1 In the exemplary embodiment, although it is not necessary to perform the steps for the heating system 34.
[0041] List of reference numerals
[0042] 10 Plant Treatment Devices
[0043] 12 agricultural arable land
[0044] 14 crops
[0045] 16 Weeds
[0046] 18 heating devices
[0047] 20 emission devices
[0048] 22 Cooling and Temperature System
[0049] 24-hour heating system
[0050] 26 pipelines
[0051] 28 First heating device
[0052] 30 pipeline system
[0053] 32 valves
[0054] 34 heating system
[0055] 36 Second heating device
[0056] 38 controller
[0057] FR direction of travel.
Claims
1. A plant treatment device (10) for treating plants. wherein The plant treatment device (10) has at least one heating device (18) for heating the liquid from an initial temperature to a final temperature and at least one discharging device (20) for distributing the heated liquid onto the plants. The heating device (18) includes a cooling system (22) and at least one heating device (28). The cooling system (22) provides liquid. The heating device (28) heats the liquid to the final temperature. The discharge device (20) has at least one valve (32) and a pipeline system (30) for supplying liquid to the valve (32). Its features are, The pipeline system (30) is designed to allow the heated liquid from the heating device (18) to circulate within the pipeline system (30) and to be supplied to the discharge device (20), and In the event of a pressure drop in the hot temperature system (24), the cold temperature system (22) supplies the liquid to maintain a substantially constant pressure in the hot temperature system (24). The heating device (28, 36) of the thermal system (24) heats the liquid so that the liquid has a substantially constant temperature.
2. The plant treatment apparatus of claim 1, wherein A warming system (34) is provided between the cold temperature system (22) and the hot temperature system (24). Liquid from the cold temperature system (22) is heated from the initial temperature to the intermediate temperature in the warming system (34) and then fed into the hot temperature system (24).
3. The plant treatment apparatus of claim 2, wherein The heating system (34) has a heating device (28) that heats the liquid to an intermediate temperature between the initial temperature and the final temperature.
4. The plant treatment apparatus of claim 3, wherein The additional heating device (28) of the heating system (34) is a fuel-powered instantaneous water heater.
5. Plant treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The heating device (36) of the thermal system is an electric reheater.
6. The plant treatment apparatus of claim 5, wherein Energy is supplied to the electric reheater (36) via a generator and / or a permanent power source.
7. A plant treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, The liquid can be discharged in short-interval series and / or parallel manner via at least one valve located in the discharge device (20).
8. A plant treatment device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, c h a r a c t e r i s e d i n that It is possible to set a first temperature and / or a second temperature and / or the final temperature.
9. Plant treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The cold temperature system (22) and / or the warm temperature system (34) and / or the hot temperature system (24) are installed on the agricultural machinery.
10. Plant treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The cold temperature system (22) and / or the warm temperature system (34) have pumps that generate substantially constant pressure.
11. Plant treatment device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The heating system (34) and / or the thermal system (24) have a circulation pump.
12. The plant treatment device as described in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, A controller is provided that controls the feeding of liquid into the heating system (24) to maintain a substantially constant pressure and / or controls the heating device (28, 36) to maintain a substantially constant temperature of the liquid in the heating system (24).