Air Assist Spray Assembly for Aerial Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Aerial vehicles face challenges in uniformly distributing chemical agents over large areas due to wind interference and canopy barriers, leading to inefficient application and waste, as existing spray systems are not effectively designed for accurate targeting and penetration.
Innovation Solution
An air assist spray assembly for aerial vehicles, featuring a boom structure with electrostatic spray nozzles and an air curtain system, which includes a pressurized air passageway and manifold assembly to direct fine and coarse droplets efficiently onto vegetation, reducing drift and improving canopy penetration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If chemical agents are atomized for uniform distribution, then coverage uniformity is improved, but wind interference increases causing spray drift and misdeposition
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an air curtain as an intermediary medium between the spray nozzles and the environment. This air curtain acts as a protective barrier that shields the atomized chemical agents from wind interference, preventing spray drift while maintaining distribution uniformity. The air curtain is generated by air nozzles that create a controlled airflow environment around the spray area.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic principles by employing air nozzles to generate a pressurized air curtain. This air curtain is created by forcing air through specially designed nozzles that produce a coherent airflow barrier. The pneumatic system controls the air flow to match and counteract external wind forces, thereby protecting the spray pattern from disruption.
2Measurement precision
If fine spray droplets are used for uniform coverage, then deposition accuracy is improved, but canopy penetration capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs spray nozzles that generate droplets with varying sizes and characteristics tailored to specific application zones. Fine droplets are directed toward areas requiring precise deposition, while coarser droplets are used where canopy penetration is needed. The system creates locally optimized spray patterns that adapt to different spatial requirements within the treatment area.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray system is divided into multiple nozzles that can operate independently or in coordinated patterns. Each nozzle or group of nozzles can be configured to produce different droplet sizes, allowing the system to segment the spray into fine droplets for accurate deposition and coarser droplets for penetrating dense canopy structures. This segmentation enables simultaneous achievement of both precision and penetration.
3Device complexity
If conventional spray systems are used without air assistance, then device complexity is reduced, but spray targeting accuracy and penetration efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the spray delivery system with an air curtain generation system into a single integrated assembly. The air nozzles are positioned in close proximity to the chemical spray nozzles, allowing the two functions to work together synergistically. This merging creates a unified system where the air curtain and chemical spray are delivered simultaneously, improving targeting accuracy without requiring separate complex systems.
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
The air assist spray assembly enhances the accuracy and efficiency of chemical application by minimizing drift and ensuring uniform coverage, reducing the volume of chemicals needed and improving penetration through vegetation canopies.
Implementation Method 1
An air curtain system that includes an elongated air passageway positioned along at least one of the first elongated member and the second elongated member, the air curtain system configured to distribute pressurized air from the elongated air passageway
Implementation Method 2
The plurality of spray nozzles positioned along the first elongated member and the second elongated member, the plurality of spray nozzles configured to dispense spray droplets therefrom. At least one of the spray nozzles may be a rotary atomizer type spray nozzles or at least one of the spray nozzles is an electrostatic type spray nozzle.
Data Source
AI summary
An air assist spray assembly for an aerial vehicle as shown and described. The air assist spray assembly may include a boom structure having a plurality of spray nozzles configured to dispense fine and course spray droplet sizes. The spray nozzle may be an electrostatic type of nozzle. The boom structure may include an air curtain system that includes an elongated air passageway with a plurality of air nozzles. The air curtain system may include a front air curtain and/or a rear air curtain to assist with directing the spray of electrostatically charged fine and coarse droplets from the spray nozzles towards vegetation.