Ground Treatment Apparatus With Modular Fluid Containers

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soil treatment devices are not effective enough in loosening soil, particularly in soils with lawn growth, where improved aeration and irrigation are needed for better root growth and soil care, especially when pipes for lawn air conditioning systems are laid close to the surface.

Innovation Solution

A soil treatment device with multiple fluid containers, each connected to an injection element, allows for selective fluid release and blockage, improving pressure build-up and soil loosening by using a compact design with pre-assembled injection units and a control system for efficient fluid injection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If a single fluid container is used to supply multiple injection elements, then the piping complexity is reduced, but the pressure build-up in the injection elements is insufficient and slower

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepiping complexityVSAvoidpressure build-up speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single fluid container system into multiple separate fluid containers, with each container dedicated to a specific injection element. This segmentation allows each injection element to receive fluid independently, enabling faster and more effective pressure build-up in each needle, while the overall system remains coordinated through the control unit that manages all containers and injection elements systematically

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If multiple fluid containers are used with separate piping for each injection element, then the pressure build-up is improved and accelerated, but the piping complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure build-up speedVSAvoidpiping complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple fluid containers, their respective piping systems, outlet valves, and injection elements into integrated injection units. Each injection unit is designed as a self-contained module where the fluid container is in direct fluid connection with its assigned injection element, minimizing unnecessary piping while maintaining the benefits of multiple containers. The control unit coordinates all modules to work together as a unified system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If a compact design with pre-assembled injection units is used, then the device efficiency is enhanced, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice efficiencyVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the soil treatment device into multiple identical or similar injection units, each comprising a fluid container, outlet valve, and injection element assembly. This modular segmentation allows for standardized manufacturing of individual units that can be produced efficiently and then assembled into the complete device, reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining compactness and efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The injection units are designed as pre-assembled modules before integration into the complete device. Each unit is prepared in advance with its fluid container, valve, and injection element already connected and configured, which simplifies the final assembly process and enhances device efficiency by ensuring proper configuration is achieved during modular assembly rather than during final system integration

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary 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 device achieves more effective soil loosening and aeration, promoting lawn growth by improving drainage and root spread, while reducing the complexity of piping and enhancing the compactness and efficiency of the fluid injection process.

Implementation Method 1

The fluid container (106) is in fluid connection with at least one injection element (58), with which the fluid container (106) is in a fluid connection that can be selectively released or blocked

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure: Pressure Increase

Implementation Method 2

The needle-shaped injection elements, for example, are used to inject a fluid into the ground. The effect of the fluid, in particular a compressed gas or compressed gas mixture, especially compressed air (in this case it is referred to as aeration), loosens and thereby improves aeration and irrigation of the soil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAeration: Aeration

Data Source

PatentEP3432699B1Ground treatment apparatus
Publication Date: 2023.11.01 NOVOKRAFT AG
  • EP3432699B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3432699B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3432699B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a ground treatment apparatus for loosening ground, in particular for ground (12) having grass, especially the ground (12) of sports or recreation facilities, comprising a supporting device (24), a holding device (60) held thereon and having a plurality of injection elements (58), a fluid-providing device (40), which has a fluid connection to the injection elements (58), and a reciprocating device (100), by means of which the injection elements (58) can be inserted into the ground (12) and pulled out of the ground. According to the invention, in order to provide such a ground treatment apparatus that enables better loosening of the ground, the ground treatment apparatus (10) comprises a plurality of fluid containers (106), which have a fluid connection to the fluid-providing device (40) for loading with fluid, and a valve device having a plurality of outlet valves (114), wherein each fluid container (106) has a fluid connection to at least one injection element (58), which fluid connection can be selectively opened or closed by means of an associated outlet valve (114), and that the ground treatment apparatus (10) comprises a control device (54), which controls the outlet valves (114) in order to open the respective fluid connections when the injection elements (58) are inserted in the ground (12).