Foldable Rear Boom Section for Agricultural Applicators

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wider agricultural product applicators face challenges in road-transportability due to the width of their rear booms or center sections, which are necessary to maintain consistent spacing between nozzles but hinder transportability.

Innovation Solution

A foldable rear boom section with a hinge assembly and actuator system that allows the boom to pivot from an extended position to a retracted position, reducing the overall width of the applicator for transport.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If the rear boom is made wide to maintain consistent nozzle spacing and cover the space between left and right boom arms, then product distribution coverage is improved, but road-transportability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveproduct distribution coverageVSAvoidroad-transportability

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rear boom is designed with foldable sections that can dynamically change width. The boom includes first and second foldable sections that can be pivoted between extended and retracted positions, allowing the structure to adapt its width based on operational versus transport requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rear boom is divided into multiple foldable sections (first foldable section and second foldable section) that can be independently pivoted. Each section includes tubes, hinge assemblies, and nozzles that can be folded relative to adjacent sections, enabling the boom to reduce overall width while maintaining nozzle coverage when extended.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the rear boom width is increased to ensure consistent spacing between nozzles, then manufacturing precision of nozzle spacing is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenozzle spacing consistencyVSAvoidrear boom structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The hinge assembly enables dynamic adjustment of tube positions to maintain consistent nozzle spacing. The pivot mechanism allows the second tube to rotate relative to the first tube, ensuring nozzles remain properly spaced regardless of the boom's fold state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The foldable sections are designed to nest together when retracted, with the second tube folding against the first tube. This nesting arrangement reduces overall width while maintaining a compact, organized structure that is easier to manage than a fully rigid wide boom.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS11477977B2Foldable rear boom section

Publication Date: 2022.10.25 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

A foldable rear boom section of an agricultural product applicator includes at least one first tube connected to a first end of a respective at least one second tube and a hinge assembly coupled to the first and second tubes and configured to pivot the second tube with respect to the first tube about a pivot axis. Further, a nozzle is connected to a second end of the second tube. Pivoting the first and second tubes about the pivot axis causes the foldable rear boom section and the nozzle to transition between an extended position and a retracted position.