Multi-Fluid Spray Nozzle Segregation and Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional agricultural spray systems require multiple passes and machines to apply different agricultural products, leading to inefficiencies and increased complexity, as they typically use a single nozzle for a single fluid at a time, necessitating fluid changes and multiple passes to avoid cross-contamination.
Innovation Solution
The development of a multi-fluid spray system with spray nozzles that can handle multiple working fluids independently or in combination, using a network of inlets, outlets, and control valves to segregate and route fluids, allowing for simultaneous or sequential application of different products through a single pass.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single nozzle is used for a single fluid at a time, then cross-contamination is avoided, but multiple passes and machines are required leading to reduced productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is segmented into multiple independent fluid paths (first fluid path, second fluid path, third fluid path) that are isolated from each other upstream of the control valve. Each path can handle a different agricultural product independently, allowing multiple products to be applied simultaneously without cross-contamination while maintaining the reliability of separate fluid handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray nozzle is designed as a multi-functional device that can handle multiple working fluids (agricultural products) through a single nozzle body. By incorporating multiple inlets, isolated fluid paths, and a control valve system, the nozzle can apply different products sequentially or simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple nozzles or multiple passes while maintaining product separation.
2Productivity
If multiple nozzles are used to apply different agricultural products simultaneously, then productivity increases, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple fluid handling capabilities into a single nozzle body. Instead of using separate nozzles for each agricultural product, the design combines multiple inlets, isolated fluid paths, and a control valve system within one nozzle, reducing the number of components while maintaining the ability to apply multiple products simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray nozzle is designed as a universal device that can handle multiple working fluids through a single nozzle body. By incorporating multiple inlets, isolated fluid paths, and a control valve system, the nozzle can apply different products sequentially or simultaneously, eliminating the need for multiple nozzles or multiple passes while maintaining product separation.
3Device complexity
If fluid paths are not isolated, then device complexity is reduced, but cross-contamination occurs reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle is segmented into multiple independent fluid paths (first fluid path, second fluid path, third fluid path) that are isolated from each other upstream of the control valve. Each path can handle a different agricultural product independently, allowing multiple products to be applied simultaneously without cross-contamination while maintaining the reliability of separate fluid handling.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An agricultural multi-fluid spray system (20) is disclosed. The system (20) comprising: a plurality of working fluid sources (24, 26); a plurality of lines (34, 36) carrying a plurality of working fluids from the plurality of working fluid sources (24, 26); and a first spray nozzle (30, 130, 230) having a plurality of inlets (48, 54, 148, 154) coupled to the plurality of lines (34, 36) and having a plurality of outlets (52, 58, 60, 104, 114) selectively coupled to the plurality of inlets (48, 54, 148, 154), the first spray nozzle (30, 130, 230) having at least one control valve (70, 78, 53, 170, 178) operatively positioned between the plurality of inlets (48, 54, 148, 154) and the plurality of outlets (52, 58, 60, 104, 114), the first spray nozzle (30, 130, 230) being configured to segregate the plurality of working fluids into a plurality of fluid paths (50, 56) within the first spray nozzle (30, 130, 230) upstream of the at least one control valve (70, 78, 53, 170, 178), the at least one control valve (70, 78, 53, 170, 178) being configured and controlled to selectively route the plurality of fluid paths (50, 56) to one or more of the plurality of outlets (52, 58, 60, 104, 114).