Adjustable Crop Shields for Row Crop Sprayer Canopy Deflection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing row crop sprayers face difficulties in effectively applying post-emergence herbicides between crop rows due to the overhang of crop canopies, which shields the ground and hinders herbicide application, and prior hooded sprayers are not adjustable to fit changing crop canopies.
Innovation Solution
A row crop sprayer with moveable crop shields that deflect the canopies of adjacent rows, allowing increased exposure of the ground between rows for herbicide application, featuring adjustable mechanisms to accommodate varying canopy widths and positions of spray nozzles for targeted herbicide distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If hooded sprayers are used to spray herbicide between crop rows, then herbicide application is enabled, but the device cannot adapt to changing crop canopy dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The crop shields are made movable rather than fixed, allowing them to adjust their position dynamically. The shields can be moved laterally along the spray booms to accommodate varying crop canopy widths and heights, enabling the sprayer to adapt to changing crop conditions throughout the growing season.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray system is divided into multiple independent spray booms, each equipped with its own adjustable crop shields and spray nozzles. This segmentation allows each boom to be independently adjusted to match the specific canopy dimensions of different crop rows, providing versatile adaptation without requiring complete system redesign.
2Ease of operation
If crop canopies are allowed to grow naturally, then crop development is optimal, but ground exposure between rows decreases making herbicide application difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The crop shields are positioned to preemptively deflect crop canopies away from the ground between rows before herbicide application occurs. This preliminary action prevents the canopies from completely shielding the ground, ensuring that the target area remains accessible for herbicide spraying while allowing crops to continue growing naturally.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable crop shields act as intermediary elements between the crop canopies and the spray nozzles. These shields temporarily redirect the canopies to expose the ground, creating a clear path for herbicide application without permanently interfering with crop growth or requiring changes to the crop itself.
3Manufacturing precision
If spray nozzles are positioned closer to crop rows for better coverage, then herbicide application precision improves, but risk of crop damage from overspray increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray system employs different nozzle types and spray patterns on opposite sides of each crop row. The inner nozzles (facing the crop row) use low-drift, low-volume spray patterns to minimize overspray onto the crop, while outer nozzles can use broader spray patterns for ground coverage. This localized differentiation of spray characteristics allows precise herbicide application close to crops without causing damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray nozzles are mounted on movable booms that can be dynamically adjusted in position and angle. This allows the nozzles to be positioned optimally close to the crop row for precise application while maintaining the ability to move away or adjust spray direction to avoid crop damage, providing real-time control over the trade-off between precision and crop safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A row crop sprayer for use in spraying a liquid herbicide onto the ground between crop rows. The sprayer includes structure for deflecting the canopies of the crop rows to expose the ground adjacent the crop rows.