Mobile Research Sprayer Hoist Reduces Chemical Waste
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current crop spraying systems are inefficient when applying different chemical formulations to multiple small research test plots, as they require flushing and wasting significant amounts of chemicals due to the long tubing lengths between chemical containers and the spray head, leading to increased costs and reduced efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A mobile platform with a treatment hoist system that allows for easy loading and unloading of treatment containers, featuring a lift assembly to position the containers close to the metering pumps and sprayer, reducing the length of treatment conveyance hoses and minimizing chemical waste by using quick-connect couplings to change containers without flushing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If long tubing is used to connect chemical containers to spray heads in mobile sprayers, then the system can spray large crops on several acres, but significant amounts of chemical are wasted during flushing when changing treatments
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the chemical delivery system into separate modules: chemical containers, conveyance hoses, metering pumps, and spray heads. This segmentation allows the chemical containers and hoses to be easily disconnected and replaced without flushing the entire system, reducing chemical waste when changing treatments while maintaining the ability to cover large areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses quick-connect couplings that enable dynamic reconfiguration of the chemical delivery system. Operators can quickly disconnect and reconnect chemical containers and hoses without complex procedures, allowing rapid treatment changes without extensive flushing, thus reducing chemical waste while maintaining operational flexibility for large-scale spraying.
2Device complexity
If chemical containers are positioned far from metering pumps in mobile sprayers, then the system structure is simplified, but the length of conveyance hoses increases chemical waste during treatment changes
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the chemical delivery function into portable chemical containers with integrated quick-connect couplings that can be positioned close to metering pumps on the spray boom. This modular approach reduces conveyance hose length and chemical waste while maintaining simplified overall system structure through standardized connection interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The system repositions chemical containers from the traditional rear-mounted location to the front spray boom area, changing the spatial dimension of the system layout. This dimensional change places containers closer to the point of application, reducing conveyance hose length and chemical waste during treatment changes while maintaining structural simplicity through standardized mounting interfaces.
3Productivity
If traditional mobile sprayer systems are used for research test plots, then large crops can be sprayed efficiently, but changing chemicals requires flushing lines which wastes 30-40 ounces of chemical per change
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-equips multiple chemical containers with quick-connect couplings and positions them for immediate attachment to metering pumps. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for flushing during chemical changes, as operators can simply disconnect one container and connect another, maintaining high spraying productivity while reducing chemical waste to minimal residual amounts in the hoses.
Solution Approach 2:
The system treats chemical conveyance hoses as disposable or easily replaceable components rather than permanent infrastructure. When changing chemicals, the system discards the residual chemical in the hoses by using quick-connect mechanisms that allow rapid container replacement without flushing, effectively recovering the valuable chemical that would otherwise be wasted and maintaining high productivity for research plot spraying.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for spraying objects in a field, wherein the system includes a treatment hoist connectable to a mobile platform main deck. The treatment hoist includes a treatment platform that is structured and operable to support and carry at least one treatment container, and at least one lift assembly. The lift assembly is structured and operable to lower the treatment platform to a loading position and raise the treatment platform to a dispensing position. In the loading position the treatment platform is lowered such that the treatment container(s) can be secured on the treatment platform in order to configure the system to dispense a desired solution, wherein the solution comprises at least one object treatment contained in treatment container(s). In the dispensing position the treatment platform is raised to a height above the objects in order for the system to dispense the solution onto the objects.