48-Volt Agricultural Sprayer With Independent Air and Liquid Flow Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural sprayer machines suffer from mechanical transmissions that are bulky, inefficient, costly, and lack precise control over airflow rate, chemical flow rate, and direction, leading to inefficiencies and environmental waste.

Innovation Solution

The sprayer machine employs electric motors and independent control systems for blowers and nebulizer nozzles, eliminating mechanical transmission and enabling precise control over airflow, chemical flow, and direction, with an electronic control unit coordinating operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If a mechanical transmission system is used to connect the sprayer machine to the tractor, then the machine can be powered by the tractor's power take-off, but the transmission system becomes bulky, heavy, and inefficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower transmissionVSAvoidweight of transmission system
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical transmission system with an electrical power transmission system. Electric motors are mounted directly on the sprayer machine and powered through electrical connections from the tractor, eliminating the need for mechanical universal joints, shafts, and gear reducers. This substitution dramatically reduces the weight and complexity of the power transmission system while improving efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If a mechanical transmission system is used, then the sprayer machine can be operated, but the control over airflow rate, chemical flow rate, and direction is insufficiently precise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoidcomplexity of transmission system
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic control capabilities by equipping each blower with an independently controllable electric motor and each nozzle with independently controllable electric actuators. This allows real-time adjustment of airflow rates, chemical flow rates, and spray directions based on operational requirements, achieving precise control that mechanical systems cannot provide.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the inadequate mechanical control system with an electrical control system. Electric motors and actuators provide precise, programmable control over all operational parameters, eliminating the limitations of mechanical linkages and enabling independent adjustment of each blower and nozzle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If a mechanical transmission system is used, then the sprayer machine can function, but fuel consumption increases and chemical product is wasted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespraying efficiencyVSAvoidfuel consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables dynamic optimization of spraying operations through independent control of each blower and nozzle. The system can adjust airflow rates and chemical application rates in real-time to match actual crop needs, eliminating waste and improving productivity. Variable speed electric motors allow the system to operate at optimal efficiency levels rather than being locked into fixed mechanical ratios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This solution achieves precise spraying control, reduces weight and energy consumption, saves fuel and chemical product, and optimizes application to specific crop areas, enhancing efficiency and environmental sustainability.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of blowers (2), each driven by a respective electric motor (20)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic conversion: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

each blower (2) comprises an impeller (22), configured to produce an airflow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpeller rotation: Impeller

Implementation Method 3

each nebuliser nozzle (3) being equipped with a control solenoid valve (30), adapted to control the delivery of product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSolenoid actuation: Solenoid

Implementation Method 4

At the outlet end of the tubular casing (23), a diffuser (24) can be positioned, to improve the distribution of the outflow

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDiffusion: Diffusion

Data Source

PatentEP4663017A1Electrically actuated 48-volt DC agricultural sprayer with independent control of air and liquid flows
Publication Date: 2025.12.17 TECOMEC
  • EP4663017A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4663017A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4663017A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A 48-volt electric sprayer machine for agriculture, comprising: a plurality of blowers (2), each driven by a respective electric motor (20) and configured to produce an airflow; a plurality of nebuliser nozzles (3), each of which is positioned in such a way as to deliver a nebulised product in the airflow produced by the blowers (2); an electric pump (4), connected to the nebuliser nozzles (3) and adapted to supply a flow of product to the nebulisers (3); each blower (2) is equipped with an electronic controller (21), connected to the electric motor (20) and configured to control the actuation of the electric motor (20); each nebuliser nozzle (3) is equipped with a control solenoid valve (30), adapted to control the delivery of product; the pump (4) is driven by an electric motor (40), equipped with an electronic controller (41); the controllers (21) of the blowers (2), the control solenoid valves (30) and the controller (41) of the pump (4) are arranged to be connected with digital transmission to an electronic control unit (C), configured to control the independent actuation of each thereof, as a function of the conditions of use of the sprayer machine.