Pest Control Vehicle With Gravity-Aligned Spray Ducts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Plants growing on inclined ground require precise alignment of chemical liquid injection portions to ensure uniform spraying, which is challenging due to differing positional relationships between the pest control vehicle and the plants compared to flat ground.

Innovation Solution

The pest control vehicle is equipped with chemical liquid ducts and injection portions that can rotate relative to the vehicle body, supported by a rotation axis, and adjustable slide mechanisms to maintain optimal alignment with spray targets, along with inclined vehicle body surfaces to prevent contact and ensure uniform spraying.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the pest control vehicle travels on inclined ground, then the vehicle can access and treat plants on slopes, but the positional relationship between the nozzle units and plants becomes inappropriate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to travel on inclined groundVSAvoidpositional relationship between nozzle and plant
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The chemical liquid ducts are made rotatable relative to the vehicle body about a front-back direction as a rotation axis. This dynamic adjustment allows the ducts to rotate under their own weight when on inclined ground, automatically maintaining the vertical orientation and appropriate positional relationship with plants regardless of the vehicle's inclination angle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation support portion introduces a new rotational degree of freedom (rotation about front-back axis) to the chemical liquid duct system. This additional dimensional movement allows the ducts to compensate for ground inclination by rotating in the vertical plane, thereby maintaining proper spray alignment with plants even when the vehicle body is tilted.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Stability of the object's composition

If the chemical liquid ducts are fixed to the vehicle body, then the structure is simple and stable, but the positional relationship with plants cannot be maintained on inclined ground

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidability to adapt to inclined ground
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The chemical liquid ducts are supported by a rotation support portion that allows them to rotate relative to the vehicle body. This dynamic capability enables the ducts to adapt their orientation to inclined ground conditions while maintaining structural stability through the supported rotation mechanism rather than fixed attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The rotation support portion is designed so that the chemical liquid ducts can rotate under their own weight when the vehicle is on inclined ground. This self-adjusting mechanism automatically maintains the vertical orientation of the ducts without requiring external actuators or complex control systems, achieving adaptability through passive gravitational action.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Stability of the object's composition

If the rotation axis is positioned at the center of the chemical liquid duct, then the structure is balanced, but the ducts cannot rotate under their own weight on inclined ground

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural balanceVSAvoidautomatic rotation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The rotation axis is deliberately positioned above the center of gravity of the chemical liquid ducts in the up-down direction. This creates an unbalanced configuration where the ducts' own weight generates a rotational moment about the axis, enabling them to automatically rotate and align vertically when the vehicle is on inclined ground, rather than remaining in a fixed balanced position.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

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 vehicle maintains appropriate positional relationships between chemical liquid injection portions and plants on inclined ground, ensuring uniform spraying and minimizing contact with plants, even when traveling on uneven terrain.

Implementation Method 1

the chemical liquid ducts can rotate under own weight of the chemical liquid ducts

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4082336B1Pest control vehicle
Publication Date: 2025.09.24 YANMAR HLDG CO LTD
  • EP4082336B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4082336B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4082336B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[Problem] To provide a pest control vehicle that can appropriately maintain a positional relationship between chemical liquid injection portions and a spray target object even when spraying chemical liquid while traveling on an inclined ground. [Solution] A pest control vehicle 1 includes a vehicle body 10, crawler traveling portions, chemical liquid ducts 61, chemical liquid injection portions 63, and rotation support portions 40. The crawler traveling portions allow the vehicle body 10 to travel. The chemical liquid ducts 61 are attached to the vehicle body 10 and are disposed to extend in the up-down direction, and the chemical liquid for pest control flows through the chemical liquid ducts 61. The chemical liquid injection portions 63 are connected to the chemical liquid ducts 61, and the plurality of chemical liquid injection portions 63 are arranged side by side in the up-down direction. The rotation support portion 40 supports the chemical liquid duct 61 and allows the chemical liquid duct 61 to be attached to the vehicle body 10 such that the chemical liquid duct 61 can rotate relative to the vehicle body 10 about a front-back direction as a rotation axis.