Compact Boom Spray Nozzle Assembly for Damage-Free Folding
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural spray booms with large electronic check valves and associated wiring are prone to damaging contact during folding or pivoting, increasing downtime and repair needs due to their bulk and protrusion from the boom, and require complex construction and manufacturing.
Innovation Solution
The spray nozzle assemblies feature a compact design with electronically operated check valves mounted below the spray boom conduit, using a Y-shaped body to support nozzles and wiring, minimizing interference and damage during folding, and incorporating a turbine flow monitor for efficient operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If electronic check valves and associated wiring are incorporated into each spray nozzle assembly, then electronic control and monitoring of liquid spray is improved, but the footprint and bulk size of the spray nozzle assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic check valve is mounted within the hollow spray nozzle body, utilizing the internal cavity space. The valve body fits inside the nozzle housing, with the plunger moving within the hollow interior. This nesting arrangement incorporates the electronic control components within the existing nozzle structure, adding automated control functionality without increasing the external footprint of the spray nozzle assembly.
2Area of stationary object
If spray nozzle assemblies with check valves are positioned on a long spray boom, then spraying coverage is improved, but the assemblies may come into engaging and damaging contact during folding for transport
Solution Approach 1:
The spray nozzle is positioned within the hollow interior of the boom section, with the nozzle body extending into the boom's internal cavity. This nested configuration retracts the nozzle assemblies inside the boom structure during transport, preventing external contact and damage between adjacent nozzle assemblies when the boom is folded for storage or transport.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray nozzles are oriented to spray inward toward the center of the boom rather than outward. This dimensional reorientation changes the spray direction from radial outward to radial inward, allowing the nozzles to be positioned within the boom's hollow space without interfering with each other during folding operations, while still achieving effective crop coverage.
3Productivity
If multiple spray nozzles are incorporated into each assembly, then spraying efficiency is improved, but the bulk and size of each assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple spray nozzles are combined within a single hollow boom structure, with each nozzle mounted at different angular positions around the boom's circumference. The nozzles share common mounting infrastructure and utilize the shared hollow interior space, allowing multiple nozzles to be integrated into one compact assembly rather than requiring separate mounting structures for each nozzle.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray nozzles are arranged in a three-dimensional configuration around the hollow boom, utilizing angular and radial positioning within the circular cross-section. This spatial arrangement allows multiple nozzles to be packed into the available internal volume of the boom without increasing the external dimensions, achieving high spraying efficiency within a compact footprint.
Data Source
AI summary
A liquid spray boom for supporting a plurality of spray nozzle assemblies each having a compact design that enables transfer and storage of the spray boom with lesser tendency for damage. The spray nozzle assemblies each include a liquid inlet section and a pair of spray nozzle liquid supply and support legs extending from the liquid inlet section in forward transverse relation to the spray boom and at an acute angle to each other. A spray nozzle is removably mounted on each nozzle body liquid supply leg with a respective check valve disposed in rearward relation to the spray nozzle. The liquid inlet section, Y body, and supporting components for the spray nozzles and check valve are adapted for quick disconnect assembly and disassembly.