Multi-Strand Hose Trenching for Consistent Subsurface Irrigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The installation of sub-surface drip irrigation systems is labor-intensive and costly due to the lack of efficient machinery for installing multiple strands of hose evenly and consistently, leading to high labor costs and inconsistencies in line placement, especially over large areas like athletic fields.
Innovation Solution
A chassis-based apparatus with rotating trenching blade assemblies and trench filler-packers that dig parallel trenches and deposit and pack soil back into the trenches simultaneously, allowing for the accurate and efficient installation of multiple strands of hose below the terrain surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual installation methods are used, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but installation time and labor costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The installation apparatus is divided into multiple independent working units (trenching blade assemblies, hose guides, filler-packers) that can be attached to or removed from the chassis. Each unit performs a specific function, allowing the system to be customized for different installation requirements while maintaining high productivity through simultaneous multi-strand installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The chassis-based apparatus is designed to perform multiple functions: trenching, hose guidance, and soil filling/packing, all in one integrated system. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate manual operations for each task, significantly reducing installation time while managing complexity through functional integration.
2Productivity
If multiple strands of hose are installed simultaneously, then installation efficiency improves, but consistency in line placement becomes more difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus pre-positions multiple hose guides at predetermined spacing intervals on the chassis before installation begins. This preliminary arrangement ensures that when multiple strands are installed simultaneously, each hose is placed at the correct consistent spacing, eliminating the need for continuous measurement and adjustment during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The trenching blade assemblies and filler-packers are designed to automatically maintain consistent depth and spacing through their mechanical configuration. The apparatus self-regulates the installation parameters through its fixed geometric relationships between components, ensuring consistent line placement without requiring constant operator intervention for each strand.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional rotor irrigation systems are used, then installation cost is lower, but water efficiency and performance are inferior
Solution Approach 1:
The apparatus enables installation of subsurface drip irrigation systems at depths and spacings optimized for water efficiency, rather than the shallower, less efficient rotor system configurations. By changing the installation parameters (depth, spacing, coverage area) through mechanized precision installation, the system achieves superior water delivery efficiency while the per-acre installation cost becomes competitive due to reduced labor time.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for installing multiple strands of hose below a surface of terrain is provided. The apparatus comprises a chassis and rotating trenching blade assemblies connected to the chassis. The trenching blade assemblies are configured to dig parallel trenches when the apparatus is pulled along the terrain. Curved hose guides are connected to the chassis in trailing positions behind the trenching blades. Each hose guide receives hose from a hose reel on reel mounts connected to the chassis and deposits the hose into a trench dug by a trenching blade assembly. Trench fillers connected to the chassis trail the hose guides. Each trench filler is aligned with a respective hose guide and comprises a number of blades configured to push soil excavated from a trench back into the trench when the apparatus is pulled along the terrain.