Agitator and mixer for spray solutions for agricultural drones

Abstract

The present invention relates to an agitator and mixer for spray solutions installed on drones used in agriculture, either by adaptation or factory assembly, for spraying substances, such as fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides and other agricultural chemicals. The agitator and mixer is mounted in a protective case (1 and 2) that does not interfere with the drone aerodynamics and has its own batteries (14) that do not interfere with the power consumption of other mechanisms of the drone. In addition, the rotation speed and direction control system associated with a U-shaped agitator blade (5) allows the drone of the present invention to provide the most suitable mixing conditions for the type of spray solution to be sprayed.

Description

[0001] “AGITATOR AND MIXER OF BROTH FOR AGRICULTURAL DRONES.

[0002] Technical Field

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to a spray agitator and mixer installed on drones used in agriculture to spray substances such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and other agricultural chemicals.

[0004] Description of the State of the Art

[0005]

[0002] In agriculture, sprays are used—mixtures of substances such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, and other agricultural chemicals, diluted in water for application to crops. When sprayed on plants, sprays provide nutrients, protection against pests and diseases, weed control, among other purposes.

[0006]

[0003] A good practice when preparing and spraying sprays is to thoroughly agitate the spray tanks and apply the spray immediately after preparation. Additionally, some spray equipment has continuous agitation systems to maintain spray homogeneity during application.

[0007]

[0004] In general, drones used in agriculture for spraying do not have continuous agitation systems to maintain spray homogeneity during application. Unlike ground-based spraying equipment, such as tractor-mounted sprayers, drones have limited agitation capabilities due to size and weight constraints.

[0008]

[0005] The inventors of the present invention propose a spray agitator and mixer installed on drones, by adaptation or factory construction, which provide technical advantages and greater efficiency in the homogenization of sprays during application in relation to the drones known and disclosed in the prior art, which will be presented below.

[0006] Document CN212309455U, filed on April 26, 2020, discloses a drone for agricultural use with an agitation structure with anti-foaming teeth to improve the quality of the liquid that will be sprayed by the drone. According to the document, for energy saving, a time relay causes the motor to be activated intermittently and a level relay stops the motor from operating when the level of the medication in the medication tank falls below a set value.

[0009]

[0007] Document CN109619069A, filed on 11 / 26 / 2018, shows a complex mechanical system to take advantage of the air flow from the propellers to move the stirring blades installed in the liquid storage tank, leaving the liquid uniformly mixed.

[0010]

[0008] Document CN213109802U, filed on 10 / 14 / 2020, presents as a pesticide homogenization solution the installation of a motor in the lower part of the tank with a rod that penetrates the tank and, on this rod, sets of blades are fixed.

[0011]

[0009] Document CN217864760U, filed on 05 / 07 / 2022, presents as a homogenization solution a structure of agitation shafts and rods that, using the imbalance caused by weights connected to the rods, will naturally agitate the liquid with the movement of these rods due to the movement of the drone, which according to the document will always be tilted or shaking during flight.

[0012]

[0010] Document CN219382821 U, filed on 02 / 10 / 2023, shows a mechanical agitation system that uses a type of wind vane that, with the movement of the drone's body, rotates an agitation assembly installed inside the tank of liquid to be sprayed.

[0013]

[0011] Document CN219821758U, filed on 03 / 20 / 2023, presents a solution similar to CN213109802U with the installation of a motor in the upper part of the tank, with a rod that penetrates the tank and, on this rod, sets of blades are fixed.

[0014]

[0012] The above solutions demonstrate in common the need to save energy used to drive the drone's propeller motors, opting for mechanical solutions or controlling the operation of the agitation motor. The agitation means of these drones, although it can be inferred that they solve the problem of keeping the liquid homogeneous, do not mention the solutions to the problems that the present invention aims to solve.

[0015] Technical Solution

[0016]

[0013] The inventors of the present invention realized the need to install an agitator and mixer in agricultural drones that does not interfere with the drone's energy consumption, the need for an agitator and mixer that meets the variety of spray solutions, different in terms of their characteristics to maintain their viscosity, concentration of active ingredients, particle size and suspensions, pH and chemical stability. In addition, an agitator and mixer that does not interfere with the drone's aerodynamics and ensures adequate ventilation of the components installed in the protective box of the agitator and spray solution mixer for agricultural drones.

[0017]

[0014] The proposed technical solutions are related to the autonomy of the agitator and mixture mixer that uses its own battery, with control of the rotation speed and direction of rotation of the agitation blade and a U-shaped blade generating tangential flows keeping the mixture in constant agitation.

[0018]

[0015] The agitation paddle is sized to fit through the spray tank's filler neck, facilitating its adaptation to any agricultural drone. The U-shaped paddle with rounded edges prevents the formation of a funnel, or vortex, within the liquid. This funnel generates an airflow from outside the tank into the tank, and this excess air causes foaming and air entrainment in the spray pump, which is typically located at the bottom. By solving these problems—that is, with agitation and mixing at the correct speed, rotation direction, and tangential flow—the U-shaped paddle with rounded edges allows for greater yield and utilization of the spray's active ingredients.

[0019]

[0016] The agitator and mixer protection box with air inlets at the front of the base of the protection box and air outlets on the lid and at the back of the base of the protection box and a small fan, known in the art as a cooler, improves aerodynamics and air circulation inside the protection box, ensuring good cooling of the agitator components.

[0020] Advantageous Effects

[0021]

[0017] The agitator and mixer for agricultural drones of the present invention presents the following advantageous effects in relation to the drones of the state of the art: a) The agitator and mixer components are assembled in a separate protective box, being fixed to the drone in the upper part of the tank, requiring only three holes in the tank, one for the passage of the paddle rod and two for fixing the protective box; b) It simplifies the shape of the agitation elements, by using the U-shaped agitation paddle with rounded edges, maintaining a mixture and agitation suitable for the various types of syrups;c) It does not interfere with the energy consumption of the other drone mechanisms, such as sprinkler pumps and propeller motors, as lithium-ion batteries, also known as 12V-5200mAh Li-ion batteries, are installed in the protective box, with autonomy of approximately three hours of operation, depending on the load programmed by the operator, in a space dedicated to their safe accommodation; d) Unlike the motors in documents CN219821758U and CN213109802U, the use of the stepper motor, the drive associated with a pulse controller, allows the control of the rotation speed and direction of rotation for improved agitation and mixing of the syrup and economical use of the lithium-ion battery; e) The protective box has an aerodynamic design so as not to interfere with the flight of the drone and ventilation of the internal components of the agitator and mixer protective box through air inlets and outlets and a cooler that reinforces this air flow inside;f) Easy access to the agitator and mixer components, through a lid attached to the base of the protective box by a pivoting hinge and safety lock; g) Secure attachment of the agitator and mixer to the drone with a sealing piece designed to be installed inside the tank, having a sealing ring and retainer for the passage of the rod shaft.;

[0022]

[0018] The detailed description supported by the figures will make it clearer how the functional improvements of the agitator and mixer for agricultural drones provide the advantageous effects listed above.

[0023] Brief Description of the Figure

[0024]

[0019] Figure 1 is a perspective representation of the agitator and mixer for agricultural drones.

[0025]

[0020] Figure 2 is a photo of the detail of the stirring paddle inside the syrup tank.

[0026]

[0021] Figure 3 is a photo of the detail of the pivot hinge of the lid and the air inlets at the front of the agitator and mixer of slurries for agricultural drones.

[0022] Figure 4 is a perspective representation of the detail of the safety lock and the air outlets of the lid and the rear of the agitator and mixer of slurries for agricultural drones.

[0027]

[0023] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional representation to show the components of the agitator and mixer for agricultural drones.

[0028]

[0024] Figure 6 is an exploded representation of the coupling of the stirring and mixing paddle to the stepper motor.

[0029] Detailed Description

[0030]

[0025] The present invention reveals the agitator and mixer of solutions for agricultural drones, consisting of a protective box formed by the base (1) and lid (2) coupled by a pivoting hinge (3) and safety lock (4) of the lid (2) and a U-shaped stirring paddle (5) with rounded edges and rod (6), as shown in figure 1.

[0031]

[0026] In figure 2 we identify the U-shaped stirring paddle (5) and the rod (6) whose dimensions allow it to be inserted or removed from inside the syrup tank (7) through the filling mouth (8) of the syrup tank (7).

[0032]

[0027] In figure 3 we identify the pivoting hinge (3) of the lid (2) and the air inlets (9) at the front of the agitator and mixer of solutions for agricultural drones.

[0033]

[0028] In figure 4 we identify the air outlets (10) on the lid (2) and on the back of the base (1) of the protection box and the safety lock (4) of the lid (2) with quick-release closure.

[0034]

[0029] Figure 5 shows the components inside the protective box of the agitator and mixer for agricultural drones. To obtain agitation or mixing with rotation suitable for the solution to be sprayed, by adjusting the rotation speed and direction of rotation, a stepper motor (12) with a pulse controller (11) and driver (15) are used, powered by the lithium-ion battery (14) with a battery charge level meter (16) for control by the drone operator. To ensure ventilation air flow of the components inside the protective box, the cooler (13) is installed near the stepper motor (12) to promote air circulation.

[0035]

[0030] Figure 6 shows the coupling of the U-shaped stirring paddle (5) and mixing to the stepper motor (12). The use of ABS plastic, also known chemically as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, in the manufacture of the U-shaped stirring paddle (5) and in the support (23) of the rubber retainer and the fixing screws of the agitator and mixer protection box to the drone, solves the chemical wear caused by the interaction of some types of syrup with these parts. To increase the mechanical strength of the connection of the rod (6) with the stepper motor (12), the 8 mm stainless steel shaft (17) was installed with a hole (18) through which the fixing screw of the rod (6) passes to the motor shaft (19), with the motor shaft (19) entering the inside of the 8 mm stainless steel shaft (17) of the rod (6). The screws and retainer are not shown in Figure 6.

[0036]

[0031] Figure 6 shows the tank's internal sealing solution that uses the paper or rubber gasket (20), with the rubber gasket being more suitable because the paper gasket absorbs less viscous solutions during use.

[0037]

[0032] Figure 6 shows three parts that are inside the protective box, the bearing (21), where the protective box is fixed to the drone, and the locking bushing (22), which also has a hole through which the screw passes through the hole (18) to fix the rod (6) on the motor shaft (19), and the stepper motor itself (12).

[0038]

[0033] The present invention has been described in terms of its features considered to be most expressive, however, certain variations and modifications will become apparent to a person skilled in the art from the present description and such variations and modifications are in no way limiting and are included in the scope of the present invention.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Agitator and mixer of solutions for agricultural drones with a blade installed inside the solution storage tank and external components for moving the stirring and mixing blade, characterized by a protective box formed by the base (1) and lid (2), with ventilation of the components inside the protective box by air routes (9) in the front of the base (1) and air outlets (10) in the rear parts of the base (1) and lid (2), reinforced by a cooler (13) installed near the stepper motor (12), and a U-shaped stirring blade (5) with rounded edges and rod (6) that are moved by the stepper motor (12) driven through the driver (15) by the pulse controller (11), powered by the lithium-ion battery (14) with a battery charge level meter (16), the rod (6) of the U-shaped stirring blade (5), with rounded edges, being coupled to the motor shaft (19) by the shaft stainless steel (17) of 8 mm that passes through the rubber seal installed on the support (23),the sealing gasket (20), the bearing with roller (21) and the locking bushing (22), which is crossed by the screw that passes through the hole (18) and locks the motor shaft (19) of the stepper motor (12) inside the 8 mm stainless steel shaft (17) of the rod (6)., 2. Agitator and mixer of solutions for agricultural drones according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling of the lid (2) to the base (1) is by means of a pivoting hinge (3) and a safety lock (4) with quick-release closure.

3. Agitator and mixer of slurries for agricultural drones according to claim 1, characterized in that the U-shaped stirring blade (5) with rounded edges and rod (6) with an 8 mm stainless steel shaft (17) is sized to be inserted into or removed from inside the slurry tank (7) through the slurry tank filling mouth (8).

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