Modular Spray Hood Assembly for Simultaneous Planting and Drift Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural spray containment systems are cumbersome, difficult to transport, and require separate operations for spraying and planting, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs due to weather conditions and terrain challenges.
Innovation Solution
A modular agricultural spray containment device with a spray hood assembly and support arm that can rotate independently to clear obstacles and maintain the spray pattern, allowing for simultaneous planting and spraying, reducing drift and waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If large spray containment structures are used to cover entire rows or arrays of sprayers, then spray drift is reduced, but the structures become too large to be used in combined planting/spraying operations and require separate operations
Solution Approach 1:
The spray containment system is divided into multiple individual spray hoods, each covering a single sprayer or small group of sprayers. Each hood is independently mounted on the corresponding planter unit, allowing the containment function to be distributed across multiple small units rather than requiring one large structure. This segmentation enables combined planting/spraying operations while maintaining drift reduction effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray hoods are designed to extend vertically upward from the sprayers rather than horizontally across the entire row. By containing spray in the vertical dimension through upward-extending hoods, the system achieves drift containment without requiring large horizontal footprints that would interfere with combined operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If individual spray hoods are fixedly attached to a support boom to form an integrated structure, then spray containment is achieved, but the structure becomes large and awkward to transport and operate
Solution Approach 1:
Each spray hood is designed as an independent, self-contained unit that can be attached to and detached from individual planter units without requiring a large support boom structure. This segmentation allows each hood to be transported and operated independently, greatly improving ease of operation and transport compared to integrated boom-mounted systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray hoods are designed with universal mounting capabilities that allow them to be attached to various planter and sprayer configurations without requiring specialized support structures. The hoods can be mounted directly to planter units or sprayer booms, providing multi-functional adaptability that eliminates the need for large dedicated support booms.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If spray application is performed as a separate operation from planting to use large spray containment structures, then drift is reduced, but the timing of application is impacted and time and fuel are increased
Solution Approach 1:
The spray containment hoods are designed to be mounted directly on planter units, enabling simultaneous planting and spraying operations. By merging the containment function with the planter rather than requiring separate boom structures, the system allows both operations to occur together in a single pass, eliminating the time loss associated with sequential operations while maintaining drift reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray hoods are pre-mounted on the planter units before field operations begin. This preliminary configuration allows the containment structure to be in place and ready immediately when planting and spraying operations start, enabling simultaneous operations without requiring additional setup time or separate operational passes.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If large spray containment structures are used, then spray drift is reduced, but the structures are onerous to transport and maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The containment system is segmented into multiple small, identical hood units rather than one large structure. Each hood is lightweight and compact, making them much easier to transport, handle, and maintain. The modular nature allows individual hoods to be replaced or repaired without affecting the entire system, greatly reducing maintenance burden compared to large integrated structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The individual spray hoods are designed as simple, lightweight structures that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. Rather than investing in expensive, complex large-scale containment structures, the system uses multiple simple, affordable hood units that are economical to produce and replace, reducing both manufacturing complexity and long-term maintenance costs.
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 flexible and efficient application of agricultural products across uneven terrain and varying weather conditions, reducing time, fuel consumption, and maintaining spray effectiveness while allowing for single-trip planting and spraying operations.
Implementation Method 1
The hinged attachment fitting may further include a biasing spring to provide a restoring torque and to return the top plate to a horizontal position after an upward rotation.
Data Source
AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods for containing the plume of a sprayed agricultural compound applied to a crop field are disclosed. In particular, the plume of the sprayed agricultural compound may be contained within a spray hood assembly attached to an agricultural vehicle or device such as a planter unit. Each spray hood assembly may be situated behind an individual planter unit, and multiple spray hood assemblies may be combined to form an agricultural spray containment system.