Flexible Apron Weed Killer with Integrated Hot Water Channels
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices for destroying weeds using hot water face high water consumption and energy requirements, and are limited in speed and adaptability to uneven surfaces, making effective weed destruction inefficient and laborious.
Innovation Solution
A device with flexible aprons that can adapt to uneven surfaces, featuring hot water channels at the bottom for efficient thermal insulation and a control unit with a camera to detect weeds and adjust hot water supply, allowing for high-speed movement and targeted application of hot water.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hot water is sprayed using known devices, then weed destruction is achieved, but water consumption and energy requirements become excessively high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible aprons made of thin film material that are dragged along the ground surface. These aprons have hot water channels integrated into their structure, allowing hot water to be applied directly to weeds through the film material. This approach reduces water consumption compared to traditional spray methods while maintaining effective weed destruction, as the flexible film creates intimate contact with the ground and delivers hot water precisely where needed.
2Productivity
If the device moves at high speed, then productivity increases, but weed destruction effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes dynamically flexible aprons that can adapt their shape and contact pressure with the ground surface as the device moves. The flexibility of the aprons allows them to maintain effective contact with weeds regardless of the device's speed, enabling high-speed operation without compromising weed destruction effectiveness. The dynamic adaptation of the flexible film ensures consistent performance across varying speeds.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the device operates on uneven ground, then adaptability improves, but weed destruction effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible aprons made of thin film material that are dragged along the ground surface. These aprons have hot water channels integrated into their structure, allowing hot water to be applied directly to weeds through the film material. This approach reduces water consumption compared to traditional spray methods while maintaining effective weed destruction, as the flexible film creates intimate contact with the ground and delivers hot water precisely where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes dynamically flexible aprons that can adapt their shape and contact pressure with the ground surface as the device moves. The flexibility of the aprons allows them to maintain effective contact with weeds regardless of the device's speed, enabling high-speed operation without compromising weed destruction effectiveness. The dynamic adaptation of the flexible film ensures consistent performance across varying speeds.
4Loss of energy
If hot water channels open at the underside of the apron, then thermal insulation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates hot water channels directly into the flexible apron structure itself. The aprons are made of thin film material with channels formed within or on the film, allowing hot water to flow through and be applied to the ground. This integration approach provides thermal insulation by keeping the hot water contained within the flexible structure while minimizing overall device complexity, as the apron serves both as the delivery mechanism and the insulating structure.
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
Enables effective weed destruction at higher speeds and efficient water use, even on uneven surfaces, by adapting to terrain and optimizing hot water application based on weed presence.
Implementation Method 1
the aprons (7) are flexible (=bendable)
Implementation Method 2
at least one hot water channel (13) opens into the underside of this lower end section (7a) of the apron, which rests on the ground (12) with its lower end section (7a). This provides advantageous thermal insulation for the applied hot water
Implementation Method 3
a boiler (3) for heating water
Implementation Method 4
an application device (14) for applying hot water to weeds to be destroyed
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~8
AI summary
A device for destroying weeds comprises a boiler (3) for heating water and an application device for applying hot water to the weeds to be destroyed, which is movable in a direction of travel (14) over a surface (12) containing the weeds to be destroyed. The application device has at least one flexible skirt (7) which is suspended at an upper end from a support structure (8) of the device and, in the operating state of the device, rests with a lower end section (7a) on the surface (12), wherein at least one hot water channel (13) opens at the underside of this lower end section (7a) of the skirt (7).