Chemical tank equipped with a water flow generator

Abstract

To provide a chemical liquid tank with a water flow generator capable of suitably stirring a chemical liquid and enhancing stirring efficiency regardless of the performance of the water flow generator.SOLUTION: A chemical liquid tank 6 is provided with a water flow generator 14, which agitates a chemical liquid contained in the chemical liquid tank by generating a water flow, where a protrusion 23 protruding upward is provided on either the left or right side in a view centered on a water flow A advancing straight from a water flow generation unit 50 of the water flow generator 14 on a tank bottom surface of the chemical liquid tank 6, so as to form a swirling flow B around the protrusion 23.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 6

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a chemical liquid tank equipped with a water flow generating device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, a known chemical tank equipped with a water current generating device that generates a water current to agitate the chemical solution is described in the following Patent Document 1. The chemical tank described in Patent Document 1 is mounted on a speed sprayer, and the water current generating device, referred to as an agitator in Patent Document 1, is configured such that a rotating shaft with a vane wheel at its tip penetrates the tank side wall and is supported by the shaft, a flow guide cover is provided around the vane wheel at an appropriate distance from the inner surface of the tank side wall, and a straightening member is provided at the front opening of the flow guide cover.

[0003] In a liquid medicine tank equipped with this water flow generating device, when the drive source rotates the rotating shaft and the impeller, the liquid medicine flows into the flow guide cover from the rear of the impeller, and the rotation of the impeller causes the liquid medicine to be gradually pushed out from the front opening of the flow guide cover, generating a flow of the liquid medicine, i.e., a water flow. This generated water flow reaches the opposing wall of the tank and flows back, effectively stirring the liquid medicine throughout the entire liquid medicine tank. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Application Publication No. 2-104870 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Here, as described in Patent Document 1, when a chemical tank is mounted on a speed sprayer, the shape of the chemical tank becomes complex due to the need to balance the positions of the equipment and parts of the machine, and in Patent Document 1, convex portions that protrude inward are provided on both sides of the bottom surface of the chemical tank to ensure clearance with the tire housing. In this way, unevenness is often provided on the bottom surface of the tank to ensure clearance with structures and parts below the chemical tank.

[0006] However, as in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the convex parts on the bottom surface of the tank can obstruct the water flow generated by the water flow generating device, making it difficult to stir the chemical solution and reducing the stirring efficiency.

[0007] Furthermore, when the tank capacity becomes large, the mixing efficiency can be improved by improving the performance of the water flow generating device, but due to space limitations, it is not easy to improve performance.

[0008] The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and aims to properly stir the chemical solution in a chemical solution tank equipped with a water flow generating device, and to improve the stirring efficiency regardless of the performance of the water flow generating device. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] The present invention is characterized in that a chemical liquid tank (6) equipped with a water current generating device (14) that generates a water current to agitate the chemical liquid contained therein, and that the tank bottom surface is provided with a protrusion (23) that protrudes upward, the protrusion (23) being provided on either the left or right side of a water current (A) that flows straight from the water current generating device (14), and a swirling current (B) that swirls around the protrusion (23) is formed from the downstream side of the water current (A) that flows straight from the water current generating device (14).

[0010] According to the chemical solution tank (6) equipped with such a water flow generating device (14), a swirling flow (B) swirling around the protrusion (23) is formed downstream of the water flow (A) generated from the water flow generating device (14) and proceeding straight, so that the chemical solution can be suitably stirred by this swirling flow (B) and the stirring efficiency can be improved regardless of the performance of the water flow generating device (14).

[0011] Here, if the tank bottom surface around the protrusion (23) is provided with upwardly sloping inclined surfaces (27-30) along the swirling flow (B), a three-dimensional swirling flow (B) is formed by the upwardly sloping inclined surfaces (27-30), thereby producing a three-dimensional mixing effect and further improving the mixing efficiency.

[0012] In addition, if a step portion (36) is formed in the tank bottom around the protrusion (23) adjacent to the water flow generating section (50) where the water flow (A) of the water flow generating device (14) is generated, with the tank bottom surface where the swirling flow (B) terminates being the upper surface (31), the swirling flow (B) is guided to flow from the step portion (36) into the vicinity of the water flow generating section (50), so that the medicine that is prone to settling can be more suitably agitated and the agitation efficiency can be improved.

[0013] In addition, if part of the power transmission part that constitutes the pesticide spraying vehicle (100) is inserted into the protrusion (23), the vertical space can be effectively utilized, which is effective for pesticide spraying vehicles (100) with low vehicle height, such as speed sprayers.

[0014] Furthermore, if the tank bottom has an inclined surface (37) that slopes downward toward the drain outlet (39), the chemical liquid in the chemical tank (6) can be easily drained. Effect of the Invention

[0015] Thus, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a chemical tank equipped with a water flow generating device that can suitably stir the chemical solution and improve the stirring efficiency regardless of the performance of the water flow generating device. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1]1 is a side view of a speed sprayer equipped with a chemical tank according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] 2 is a perspective view of the liquid chemical tank in FIG. 1, as viewed from the front and diagonally upward to the left. [Diagram 3] 3 is a cutaway perspective view of the liquid chemical tank shown in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is a cutaway perspective view of the liquid chemical tank shown in FIG. 3, as viewed obliquely from above on the right. [Diagram 5] 4 is a cutaway side view of the liquid chemical tank shown in FIG. 3, seen from the right side. [Figure 6] 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a water flow and a swirling flow generated from a water flow generating portion of a water flow generating device in the chemical liquid tank shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 7] 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a water flow generated from a water flow generating portion of the water flow generating device in the chemical liquid tank shown in FIG. 4 and a water flow guided from a step portion to the water flow generating portion. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0017] A preferred embodiment of a liquid medicine tank equipped with a water flow generating device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view of a speed sprayer equipped with a liquid medicine tank according to the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the liquid medicine tank as viewed from the front and diagonally upward from the left, Fig. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of the liquid medicine tank shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of the liquid medicine tank shown in Fig. 3 as viewed from diagonally upward from the right, Fig. 5 is a cutaway side view of the liquid medicine tank shown in Fig. 3 as viewed from the right side, Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing a water flow and a swirling flow generated from a water flow generating part of the water flow generating device in the liquid medicine tank shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing a water flow generated from a water flow generating part of the water flow generating device in the liquid medicine tank shown in Fig. 4 and a water flow led from a step part to the water flow generating part, and the speed sprayer of this embodiment sprays liquid medicine while traveling in a field such as an orchard or farmland. In the following description, the terms "front," "rear," "left," and "right" are directions based on the speed sprayer.

[0018] As shown in Fig. 1, the speed sprayer 100 is provided with a vehicle body (vehicle frame) 1, with left and right front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3 that can rotate, and on the drivable vehicle body 1, from the front to the rear, there are arranged a driver's seat 5 where a driver sits and drives the vehicle using a steering wheel 4 and performs operations such as spraying the liquid, a liquid tank 6 that contains and stores the liquid, an engine room 7 that contains an engine and a spray pump, a spray head 8 that sprays the liquid pressure-fed from the liquid tank 6 around the vehicle body by driving the spray pump, a blower 9 that draws in air from the rear of the vehicle body and sends it to the spray head 8, and a blower cover 10 that covers the blower 9. In the spray head 8 forward of the blower 9, a plurality of spray nozzles 11 are spaced apart in an arc shape with the vehicle body's fore-and-aft direction as the axis so that the liquid is sprayed upward and to the side by the air blown from the blower 9.

[0019] As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the liquid medicine tank 6 is substantially semicylindrical in shape with an internal space S, and is provided with a cap 12 for opening and closing a liquid medicine inlet at substantially the center of the upper portion as shown in Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the bottom of the liquid medicine tank 6 slopes upward from substantially the center in the front-rear direction to the front end portion 16 of the liquid medicine tank 6 at substantially the center position 60 in the left-right direction toward the left side portion 26, and further slopes upward via steps 24, 25 toward the left side portion 26, and also slopes upward from substantially the center in the front-rear direction to the rear end portion 15 of the liquid medicine tank 6 at substantially the center position 60 in the left-right direction (described in detail later).

[0020] A water current generating device 14 for generating a water current is attached to the right side of the liquid chemical tank 6 approximately at the center in the left-right direction and on the rear end portion 15 side.

[0021] The water current generating device 14 includes a rotating shaft 17 that penetrates the rear end 15 of the chemical tank 6, is journaled, and extends toward the front end 16 of the chemical tank 6, a propeller 19 having a plurality of stirring blades 18 fixed to the tip of the rotating shaft 17, and a rotational driving force transmitting means for transmitting the rotational driving force from the engine to the rotating shaft 17. The propeller 19 and the rotating shaft 17 constitute a water current generating section 50 that generates a water current by rotation.

[0022] The bottom surface of the tank 6 below the propeller 19 is a horizontal surface 20 that is horizontal from the rear end 15 to the front end 16 of the liquid tank 6.

[0023] A stepped portion 21 that is slightly convex upward is provided continuously from the rear end to the front end of the left end of the horizontal surface 20, and a flat surface 22 that is narrow in the left-right direction is formed on the upper surface of the stepped portion 21.

[0024] At the left end of the flat surface 22, forward of the left side of the front part of the propeller 19, a protrusion 23 is formed which protrudes upward and bulges leftward and forward. The upper surface of the protrusion 23 is located slightly above the rotating propeller 19 (see FIG. 5). On the left side away from the protrusion 23, steps 24, 25 are provided which extend from the rear end 15 to the front end 16 of the chemical tank 6 and are located above the lower left end of the protrusion 23 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). The upper surface of the upper step 25 extends leftward at an upward gradient and is connected to the lower end of the left side part 26 of the chemical tank 6.

[0025] Around the protrusion 23 from the front end 16 side of the chemical tank 6, upwardly sloping inclined surfaces 27, 28, 29, 30 and a flat surface 31 are provided between the lower end of the protrusion 23 and the lower end of the front end 16 of the chemical tank 6, the lower end of the lower step portion 24, and the lower end of the rear end 15 of the chemical tank 6.

[0026] The inclined surface 27 is formed in a generally L-shape in plan view, with the flat surface 22 side being the upstream side. The inclined surface 27 is connected to the left end of the flat surface 22 with an upward gradient, and the downstream end 32 of the inclined surface 27 extends between the position of the lower end near the boundary between the left side portion 26 side of the projection 23 and the front end 16 side, and the position of the lower end of the lower step portion 24. The downstream end 32 of the inclined surface 27 is connected to the lower end of the projection 23 at a position 51 closer to the front end portion 16 than the position 52 connected to the lower end of the lower step portion 24.

[0027] The inclined surface 28 is connected to the inclined surface 27 with an upward gradient, and is formed in a generally triangular shape in a plan view. The upstream end of the inclined surface 28 is connected to the downstream end 32 of the inclined surface 27, and the downstream end 33 of the inclined surface 28 extends between the position of the lower end of the boundary between the left side portion 26 side of the projection 23 and the rear end 15 side, and the position of the lower end of the lower-stage step portion 24 on the rear end 15 side from the above-mentioned connection position 52. The connection position 53 of the inclined surface 28 with the lower end of the lower-stage step portion 24 is located slightly above the connection position 52 of the inclined surface 27 with the lower end of the lower-stage step portion 24 (see Figures 4 and 5), and the connection position 54 of the inclined surface 28 with the lower end of the projection 23 is located above the connection position 53 of the inclined surface 28 with the lower end of the lower-stage step portion 24.

[0028] The inclined surface 29 is connected to the inclined surface 28 with an upward gradient, and is formed in a substantially triangular shape facing in the opposite direction to the inclined surface 28 in a plan view. The upstream end of the inclined surface 29 is connected to the downstream end 33 of the inclined surface 28, and the downstream end 34 of the inclined surface 29 extends between the lower end position on the right side of the left end of the projection 23 and a position near the lower end of the lower step portion 24 at the rear end portion 15. The left side portion 26 side of the inclined surface 29 is connected to the lower end of the lower step portion 24, and the connecting position 55 with the lower end of the lower step portion 24 is located at a gradual upward incline from the connecting position 53 with the downstream end 33 of the inclined surface 28 toward the rear end portion 15 (see FIGS. 4 and 5). Furthermore, connection position 57 with the lower end of protrusion 23 of downstream end 34 is located above connection position 56 with the lower end of rear end 15 of downstream end 34 of inclined surface 29 (see Figures 3 and 5), and connection position 57 with the lower end of protrusion 23 of downstream end 34 is located above connection position 54 with the lower end of protrusion 23 of downstream end 33.

[0029] The inclined surface 30 is connected to the inclined surface 29 with an upward gradient, and is formed in a substantially triangular shape facing in the opposite direction to the inclined surface 29 in a plan view. The upstream end of the inclined surface 30 is connected to the downstream end 34 of the inclined surface 29, and the downstream end 35 of the inclined surface 30 extends between the lower end position (see FIG. 3) of the protrusion 23 at the substantially center in the left-right direction on the rear end 15 side and the lower end position of the rear end 15 opposite to this position. A connecting position 58 (see FIG. 3) of the downstream end 35 of the inclined surface 30 with the lower end of the protrusion 23 is located above a connecting position 57 of the downstream end 34 of the inclined surface 29 with the lower end of the protrusion 23, and a connecting position 59 (see FIG. 3) of the downstream end 35 of the inclined surface 30 with the lower end of the rear end 15 is located above a connecting position 56 of the downstream end 34 of the inclined surface 29 with the lower end of the rear end 15. The downstream end 35 of the inclined surface 30 is horizontal.

[0030] The flat surface 31 is horizontally connected to the downstream end 35 of the inclined surface 30, and is connected to the rear end 15 and the lower end of the projection 23. A step 36 with the flat surface 31 as the upper surface is formed on the rear end 15 side of the projection 23 and to the left of the water flow generating section 50 (see Figures 3 and 4). The lower end of this step 36 is adjacent to the left end of the flat surface 22 (see Figure 4).

[0031] The inside (lower side) of this step portion 36 is open outward from the rear end portion 15, and the inside (lower side) of the protrusion 23 connected to the inside of the step portion 36 is left as space, and part of the power transmission portion that constitutes the speed sprayer 100 and transmits power from the engine is inserted into this protrusion 23.

[0032] Further, at the right end of the horizontal surface 20 of the tank bottom, an inclined groove 37 is provided as an inclined surface that inclines from the rear end 15 to the front end 16 toward the right side 40. The width of the inclined groove 37 gradually increases from the rear end 15 toward the front end 16 toward the right side 40, and therefore the right end of the front end of the inclined groove 37 is located at the lowest position. A horizontal surface 38 is connected to the right end of the lowest front end of the inclined groove 37, and a drain port 39 is connected to the right end of the horizontal surface 38.

[0033] With the speed sprayer 100 configured in this manner, as shown in FIG. 1, while the vehicle is driven by the engine, the engine operates the spray pump to supply the chemical liquid from the chemical tank 6 to the spray nozzle 11 in the spray head 8, and the chemical liquid is sprayed from the spray nozzle 11. At the same time, the engine operates the blower 9, which sucks in air from the rear and sprays the airflow radially outward from around the spray nozzle 11, thereby diffusing the sprayed chemical liquid around the vehicle body and ensuring that the chemical liquid is sprayed appropriately.

[0034] According to the chemical liquid tank 6 of this embodiment, referring to Figures 3 to 5, when the water flow generating device 14 is driven and the rotating shaft 17 and the propeller 19 rotate, a water flow is generated from the water flow generating section 50 which includes the propeller 19 and the rotating shaft 17.

[0035] The generated water flow travels straight as shown by arrow A in Figures 6 and 7, and this straight flow A uses the protrusion 23 as a guide to pass beside the protrusion 23 and travels straight while being prevented from branching off, and then a swirling flow B is formed which passes through the inclined surfaces 27-30 and flat surface 31 around the protrusion 23.

[0036] Then, as shown in Figure 7, the terminal end of the swirling flow B is guided (falls) from the step portion 36 to flow into the vicinity of the water flow generating portion 50 as indicated by arrow C, and the water flow from the water flow generating portion 50 circulates while stirring the chemical solution.

[0037] Thus, according to this embodiment, a swirling flow B swirling around the protrusion 23 is formed downstream of the straight flow A generated from the water flow generating device 14, and this swirling flow B can effectively stir the chemical solution, thereby improving the stirring efficiency regardless of the performance of the water flow generating device 14.

[0038] In addition, the bottom surface of the tank around the protrusion 23 has upwardly sloping inclined surfaces 27-30 along the swirling flow B, so that the upwardly sloping inclined surfaces 27-30 form a three-dimensional swirling flow B, which produces a three-dimensional mixing effect, thereby further improving the mixing efficiency.

[0039] In addition, adjacent to the water flow generating section 50 where the straight flow A of the water flow generating device 14 is generated, a step section 36 is formed in the bottom surface of the tank around the protrusion 23, with the tank bottom surface where the terminal end of the swirling flow B reaches being the upper surface 31. Therefore, the swirling flow B is guided to flow from the step section 36 into the vicinity of the water flow generating section 50, so that the drug that is prone to settling can be more effectively agitated and the agitation efficiency can be improved.

[0040] In addition, since a part of the power transmission unit constituting the speed sprayer 100 is inserted within the protrusion 23, the space in the vertical direction can be effectively utilized, which is effective for a speed sprayer 100 with a low vehicle height.

[0041] In addition, the tank bottom surface is provided with an inclined groove 37 as a downwardly inclined surface toward a drain outlet 39, so that the chemical liquid in the chemical tank 6 can be easily drained.

[0042] Although the present invention has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and for example, in the above embodiment, the protrusion 23 is provided on the left side of the straight flow A that advances straight from the water flow generating device 14, but it is also possible to provide it on the right side. In this case, it is preferable to move the water flow generating device 14 to the left.

[0043] In the above embodiment, the projection 23 is provided with the upwardly sloping inclined surfaces 27-30, which is considered to be particularly suitable, but the flat surface 31 connected to the inclined surface 30 may also be an inclined surface, and various gradients may be adopted for the upward gradient of each inclined surface. The inclined surfaces may not be connected in a broken line, but may be an upwardly sloping surface around the projection 23. Furthermore, part or all of the broken line inclined surface or slope with an upward gradient around the projection 23 may be a flat surface. When the entire surface around the projection 23 is made flat in this way, the step portion 36 will be eliminated.

[0044] In addition, in the above embodiment, a water flow is generated from a water flow generating unit 50 equipped with a rotating shaft 17 and a propeller 19, but the water flow generating device may be a jet water flow generating device, the water flow generating unit may be made to protrude into the chemical tank 6 as a jet flow outlet, and a jet water flow may be generated from the jet flow outlet and rotated around the protrusion 23 to agitate the chemical solution.

[0045] In the above embodiment, the application to the self-propelled speed sprayer 100 is described as being particularly suitable, but the present invention can be applied to, for example, a self-propelled boom sprayer or other chemical spraying vehicle. Furthermore, the present invention can also be applied to a tow-type speed sprayer towed by a tractor or the like, or a chemical spraying vehicle such as a boom sprayer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0046] 6...chemical solution tank, 14...water flow generating device, 23...protrusion, 27-30...inclined surface, 31...flat surface (upper surface), 36...step portion, 37...inclined surface, 39...drain outlet, 50...water flow generating portion, 100...speed sprayer (chemical spraying vehicle), A...straight flow, B...swirling flow.

Claims

1. A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) that generates a water flow and agitates the chemical solution contained therein, A protrusion (23) protruding upward from the bottom surface of the tank is provided, The projection (23) is provided on either the left or right side of the water flow (A) that flows straight from the water flow generating device (14), A swirling flow (B) swirling around the protrusion (23) is formed from the downstream side of the water flow (A) proceeding straight from the water flow generating device (14), A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14), characterized in that the tank bottom surface around the protrusion (23) is provided with an upwardly sloping surface (27-30) along the swirling flow (B).

2. A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) as described in claim 1, characterized in that a step portion (36) is formed adjacent to a water flow generating section (50) of the water flow generating device (14) where the water flow (A) is generated, the step portion (36) having an upper surface (31) as the tank bottom surface around the protrusion (23) where the terminal end of the swirling flow (B) reaches.

3. A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a part of a power transmission part constituting a chemical spraying vehicle (100) is inserted into the protrusion (23).

4. A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) that generates a water flow and agitates the chemical solution contained therein, A protrusion (23) protruding upward from the bottom surface of the tank is provided, The projection (23) is provided on either the left or right side of the water flow (A) that flows straight from the water flow generating device (14), A swirling flow (B) swirling around the protrusion (23) is formed from the downstream side of the water flow (A) proceeding straight from the water flow generating device (14), A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14), characterized in that a part of the power transmission part constituting a chemical spraying vehicle (100) is inserted into the protrusion (23).

5. A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) as described in any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the bottom surface of the tank has a downwardly sloping surface (37) toward a drain outlet (39).

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