Rotating Drum Weather Protection Module for Cherry Trees
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rain/hail protection systems for fruit trees are complex, require substantial manpower to change configurations, and obstruct access for fruit picking and tree care due to their cumbersome design and footprint, leading to reduced operational efficiency and fruit quality.
Innovation Solution
A protection module with a rotating drum system that uses guiding assemblies and tensioning wires to quickly switch between covering and non-covering configurations, allowing easy movement and installation, and is designed to be sturdy, compact, and accessible, featuring a support structure with uprights, a drum, and covering elements that can be wound or unwound for rapid deployment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional covering systems with tie rods and ground anchors are used, then protection against rain and hail is provided, but the systems obstruct access for fruit picking and tree care operations
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into multiple uprights positioned at different locations, with covering elements that can be independently deployed and retracted between each upright and the trees. This segmentation allows operators to access trees between the uprights while maintaining protection coverage.
Solution Approach 2:
The covering elements are made dynamically deployable and retractable through drum mechanisms and guiding assemblies, transitioning from a static obstructive structure to a dynamic system that can be positioned out of the way during operations and deployed only when protection is needed.
2Productivity
If covering sheets are left in extended position for the whole season, then manpower operations are minimized, but the constant presence of plastic sheets reduces UV rays and carbon dioxide circulation leading to lower fruit quality
Solution Approach 1:
The covering elements are deployed periodically only when adverse weather conditions are forecast or occur, rather than remaining extended continuously. The drum and guiding assembly mechanisms enable quick deployment and retraction, allowing the system to provide protection during critical periods while maintaining quality growth conditions during favorable weather.
3Adaptability or versatility
If complex tie rod systems are used to move covering sheets, then protection configuration can be changed, but the construction complexity and footprint increase, making it difficult to access trees
Solution Approach 1:
The complex tie rod systems and ground anchors are removed entirely from the design. Instead, the covering elements are attached to uprights that are anchored to the ground at strategic positions, with the covering elements themselves serving as the tensioning and positioning mechanism through the drum and guiding assembly system.
Solution Approach 2:
The covering elements utilize flexible plastic sheets that can be easily deployed and retracted through the drum mechanisms, replacing rigid tie rod systems. The flexibility of the sheets allows them to conform to the trees while being manipulated through simple drum rotation and guiding assemblies.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a protection module (1) for the total or partial protection of a row of fruit trees and to a protection system comprising a plurality of these modules. According to the invention, the protection module comprises a first upright (11) and a second upright (12) that can be anchored to the ground so as to be spaced along a reference direction (101) corresponding to the direction along which said row develops. The protection module comprises a drum supported by uprights so as to occupy a position over the trees of said row. The protection module further comprises drive means (250) configured to rotate the drum in both possible directions of rotation; at least one first covering element (20A) and at least one second covering element (20B) are fixed to the drum (30) for winding around, or unwinding from, the drum according to its direction of rotation. According to the invention, the protection module comprises a first guiding assembly (31) and a second guiding assembly (32) supported respectively by the first upright (11) and by the second upright (12); these guiding assemblies (31,32) are operatively connected to the covering elements (20A, 20B) to guide them, during the rotation of the drum (30), between a first reference position and a second reference position, on opposite sides with respect to a vertical reference plane (PV) containing the longitudinal axis (200) of said drum (30). These reference positions are characteristic, respectively, of a "non-covering" condition and of a "covering" condition of the fruit trees of the row.