Liquid Fertilizer Drawback System with Reversible Pump

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Solution Overview

Problem

Liquid fertilizer systems face issues with fertilizer material being hazardous, causing erosion and degradation of machinery, wasting resources, and posing environmental risks due to leftover material in piping and conduits, which is not efficiently managed by existing technologies.

Innovation Solution

A liquid fertilizer drawback system utilizing a two-way, reversible pump and positive displacement pumps with valves to draw unused fertilizer back into a holding chamber, preventing waste and environmental hazards while maintaining equipment durability and safety.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If liquid fertilizer is used to replace dry fertilizer, then the ease of handling and uniform application is improved, but the hazard to people, animals, environment, and machinery increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of handling and applicationVSAvoidhazard to people, animals, environment, and machinery

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes the harmful leftover fertilizer from the distribution system by installing a drawback system with a pump and valve that actively pulls residual fertilizer back into the holding chamber, separating the beneficial liquid fertilizer application from the harmful residual waste

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful leftover fertilizer that would otherwise cause erosion and environmental damage into a beneficial resource by using the drawback system to recover it and return it to the holding chamber for reuse, transforming waste into valuable fertilizer material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Ease of operation

If liquid fertilizer is left in the piping and conduits, then the system operation is simplified, but the erosion and degradation of machinery and equipment occurs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem operation simplicityVSAvoidmachinery and equipment durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous protection of the machinery by maintaining a constant drawback operation that continuously removes fertilizer from the piping system, ensuring ongoing protection against erosion and degradation rather than periodic or manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Device complexity

If fertilizer material is left in the piping and conduits, then no additional drawing mechanism is needed, but the waste of fertilizer material increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem complexityVSAvoidfertilizer material waste

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent recovers fertilizer material that would otherwise be discarded in the piping system by installing a drawback mechanism that actively draws the fertilizer back into the holding chamber, transforming a discard scenario into a recovery and reuse scenario

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Device complexity

If fertilizer material remains in the distribution system, then the system structure is simpler, but the potential for harmful leakage to the environment increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem structureVSAvoidenvironmental contamination risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the environmental hazard by removing leftover fertilizer from the distribution system through the drawback mechanism, preventing potential leakage and contamination of the surrounding environment

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by proactively drawing back fertilizer before it can leak or escape from the distribution system, preventing environmental harm before it occurs rather than responding to contamination after the fact

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

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 system effectively reduces waste and environmental risks by recirculating unused fertilizer, enhancing equipment longevity, safety, and cost-effectiveness, while preventing caustic material from leaking and causing damage.

Implementation Method 1

A liquid fertilizer drawback system utilizes a two-way, reversible pump and positive displacement pumps with valves to draw unused fertilizer back into a holding chamber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPositive displacement:

Data Source

PatentUS20230165236A1Systems, methods, and apparatus for liquid fertilizer drawback

Publication Date: 2023.06.01 KINZE MFG INC

AI summary

A drawback system is used with a liquid fertilizer distribution system to be used with agricultural implements. The drawback system may include a two-way, reversible pump that allows liquid fertilizer material to be transported from a system source or toward a system source. The drawback system allows liquid fertilizer that is not applied to an agricultural field to be cleared from piping, conduits, and/or other components of a liquid fertilizer system and drawn back into a holding chamber. The drawback system may also comprise a positive displacement pump in communication with a plurality of valves wherein manipulation of the valves can control the direction of the flow of liquid fertilizer, either from or toward a system/fluid source.