Crop Row Application Units With Flexible Guides for Precise Fluid Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Challenges exist in controlling fluid applications, such as fertilizers and chemicals, between rows of agricultural plants, leading to inefficiencies and waste due to improper placement and orientation of fluid outlets.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of application units with flexible members and plant contacting mechanisms that adjust the orientation of fluid outlets based on plant proximity, ensuring precise application to the rhizosphere or base regions of plants, using feelers, linkage systems, and biasing elements to maintain equidistance from plant rows.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional sprayers and sidedress bars are used for fluid application between rows, then the equipment can cover large areas, but the precision of fluid placement is poor leading to waste and inefficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The implement is divided into multiple independent row units, each with its own application unit featuring flexible members and fluid outlets. This segmentation allows each row unit to independently adjust and precisely apply fluid to the correct location between rows, eliminating waste from misapplication while maintaining the ability to cover large areas through multiple coordinated units.
Solution Approach 2:
The application units incorporate flexible members that can dynamically adjust their position and orientation based on the actual spacing and position of plant rows. This dynamic adaptation ensures that fluid outlets remain correctly positioned relative to the rows even when row spacing varies, maintaining precision without requiring rigid fixed-geometry equipment.
2Manufacturing precision
If fixed-position fluid outlets are used, then the device structure is simple, but the application accuracy varies when row spacing changes
Solution Approach 1:
The application units incorporate flexible members that can dynamically adjust their position and orientation based on the actual spacing and position of plant rows. This dynamic adaptation ensures that fluid outlets remain correctly positioned relative to the rows even when row spacing varies, maintaining precision without requiring rigid fixed-geometry equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible members allow the application unit to change its geometric parameters (position, orientation, spacing) in response to varying row conditions. This parameter adaptation enables the system to maintain manufacturing precision across different field conditions without requiring completely different equipment for each scenario.
3Productivity
If fluid application is applied between rows without precise control, then the operation is simple, but nutrient distribution is uneven affecting crop growth
Solution Approach 1:
The flexible members are designed to automatically self-adjust their position and orientation by contacting or sensing the plant rows themselves. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for complex external control systems or manual adjustment, maintaining ease of operation while achieving precise nutrient distribution through the automatic adaptation to row configuration.
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
Achieves precise and efficient application of fluids to agricultural plants, reducing waste and costs by ensuring accurate placement and orientation of fluid outlets, thereby optimizing nutrient distribution.
Implementation Method 1
a first plurality of flexible members coupled to the frame in operation such that the first plurality of flexible members guide a lateral position of the frame to be approximately equidistant from the two rows of plants based upon whether at least one flexible member of the first plurality of flexible members contacts one or more plants of the two rows of plants
Implementation Method 2
a biasing element coupled to the linkage member in operation such that the biasing element biases an angular position of the linkage member
Data Source
AI summary
Implements include application units for placement of fluid applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, an application unit includes a frame to be positioned in operation between two rows of plants and a plurality of flexible members coupled to the frame in operation such that the plurality of flexible members guide a lateral position of the frame to be approximately equidistant from the two rows of plants based upon whether at least one flexible member of the plurality of flexible members contacts one or more plants of the two rows of plants. The plurality of flexible members include a plurality of fluid outlets for spraying crop input in close proximity to the rows of plants.