Angled Discharge Orifice Spray Tip for Canopy Penetration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spray nozzles for agricultural applications often struggle to achieve complete coverage of crop canopies due to difficulties in penetrating the canopy with a downwardly directed spray pattern, and they can produce fine particles that are prone to undesirable drifting.
Innovation Solution
A spray tip design with a one-piece plastic body featuring a cylindrical chamber system, including a pre-orifice and horizontal chamber with angled discharge orifices, which directs the liquid spray outwardly from the vertical axis for improved canopy coverage without generating fine particles that drift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If a downwardly directed spray pattern is used to achieve complete crop coverage, then the spray can cover the crop canopy, but the spray has difficulty achieving good penetration of the crop canopy
Solution Approach 1:
The spray nozzle divides the single downward spray stream into multiple discrete spray streams through multiple discharge orifices arranged in a circular pattern. This segmentation allows the spray to penetrate through gaps in the crop canopy more effectively while still achieving complete coverage, as each individual stream can pass through different portions of the canopy structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single downward-directed spray (one-dimensional vertical pattern) to a multi-directional spray pattern with streams directed at angles to the vertical axis. This dimensional change enables the spray to penetrate horizontally through the crop canopy while maintaining downward coverage, solving the penetration problem.
2Manufacturing precision
If nozzles produce extremely fine liquid particles for thorough coverage, then the spray distribution is improved, but the discharging spray is subject to undesirable drifting
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameters of the spray by using larger discharge orifices and directing them at angles rather than straight down. This produces coarser liquid particles that are less susceptible to drift while still achieving complete crop coverage through the angular distribution pattern. The parameter change in orifice size and spray angle directly addresses the drift issue.
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 design ensures a controlled, efficient liquid spray distribution for complete crop coverage, reducing drift and enhancing agricultural spraying efficacy while being economical to manufacture.
Implementation Method 1
a spray tip design with a one-piece plastic body featuring a cylindrical chamber system, including a pre-orifice and horizontal chamber with angled discharge orifices, which directs the liquid spray outwardly from the vertical axis
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A spray tip for discharging a controlled liquid spray distribution is provided. The spray tip includes a spray tip body having an inlet end for connection to a pressurized liquid supply. The spray tip body includes a first fluid chamber having a first longitudinal axis and a second fluid chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid chamber and having a second longitudinal axis that extends transversely relative to the first longitudinal axis. A pair of discharge orifices are formed in the spray tip body. Each discharge orifice has a downstream side with a deflector surface for directing liquid discharging from the chamber. Each discharge orifice intersects the second fluid chamber adjacent a respective end thereof so as to define a pocket extending downstream of the deflector surface.