Electric Boom Actuation for Lightweight Mobile Field Irrigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile field irrigation apparatuses face challenges in achieving a long operating range due to the need for heavy hydraulic actuators in boom structures, which increase weight and load, limiting their mobility and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus employs electrical linear actuators powered by on-board electrical storage to manipulate boom sections, eliminating the need for hydraulic systems and reducing weight, allowing for a lightweight design that can operate at slow speeds for extended distances.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If hydraulic actuators are used to manipulate boom sections, then the boom structure can be manipulated, but the weight and load on the apparatus increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces hydraulic actuators with electrical linear actuators to manipulate the boom sections. This substitution eliminates the need for heavy hydraulic systems while maintaining the ability to extend and retract the boom sections, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and apparatus weight.
2Ease of operation
If hydraulic systems are used for driving boom sections, then the boom sections can be manipulated, but the apparatus complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes electrical linear actuators for hydraulic systems, thereby eliminating complex hydraulic pumps, reservoirs, hoses, and control valves. The electrical actuators provide a simpler, more integrated solution that maintains boom manipulation capability while reducing overall system complexity.
3Ease of operation
If heavy hydraulic actuators are used, then the boom structure can be manipulated, but the mobility of the apparatus is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By replacing heavy hydraulic actuators with lighter electrical linear actuators, the patent reduces the overall weight of the apparatus. This weight reduction directly improves mobility and allows the apparatus to move more freely across the field while maintaining the capability to manipulate boom sections for irrigation operations.
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
This design achieves a lightweight, electrically powered irrigation apparatus with reduced loads on the boom structure, enabling long-range operation without the use of hydraulics, thus enhancing mobility and operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
A first electrical linear actuator is rotatably attached at one end to the first boom section, to provide for the turning of the first boom section relative to the frame
Implementation Method 2
a on-board electrical storage 6 for storing electrical power
Implementation Method 3
electrically driven wheels or belts for moving the apparatus across a field
Implementation Method 4
a reel drive for the rotation of the reel
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3a~3c
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mobile, electrically powered field irrigation apparatus (1), comprising an on-board electrical storage (6) for storing electrical power, a frame (10) including: a) electrically driven wheels (12) or belts for moving the apparatus (1) across a field (F) in a field (F) irrigation mode of the apparatus (1), b) a reel (50) supported for rotation about an axis (51'), c) a flexible conduit (70) wound up on the reel (50) and configured for supplying irrigation water from a remote irrigation water supply (RIWS) to a plurality of irrigation water outlets (104), d) a reel drive (D1) for the rotation of said reel (50), and e) an electric drive (D2) for driving the electrically driven wheels (12) or belts in the field irrigation mode of the apparatus (1), at a ground speed of the apparatus (1) not exceeding 2 km/h at maximum, preferably not exceeding 1 km/h at maximum. Specifically, a boom structure (100) is coupled to the frame (10) and includes a first elongated boom section (110), a second elongated boom section (130) and, optionally, a central boom section (120) between the first and boom second sections (110, 130), each first and second boom section (110, 130) being turnable relative to the frame (10) between a first position adjacent a respective side of the frame (10) and a second, operative position extending out-wards away from the frame (10). The plurality of water outlets (104) are mounted to the first and second boom sections (110, 130) along a length thereof. A first electrical linear actuator (201) is rotatably attached at one end (220) to the first boom section (110), to provide for the turning of the first boom section (110) relative to the frame (10), and a second electrical linear actuator (202) is rotatably attached at one end (220) to the second boom section (130), to provide for the turning of the second boom section (130) relative to the frame (10), and the electrical linear actuators (201, 202) are electrically connected to said electrical storage (6) to be powered by stored electrical power, the electrical storage (6) preferably being mounted to the frame (10) or to the boom structure (100).