Pivotable Boom Control for Uniform Nozzle Spacing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Field sprayers with wide spray booms face challenges in maintaining uniform spacing of nozzles to the ground surface, especially on uneven terrain, leading to uneven coverage and increased drift due to air movements, and existing solutions like mechanical dampeners and tilt sensors are prone to measurement errors and angular velocity inaccuracies.
Innovation Solution
A device with a pivotable boom equipped with angular velocity and position sensors, and electromotive or electromagnetic actuators that provide precise control over the boom's position relative to the ground, using gyroscope measurements to determine absolute positions and compensate for disturbances, ensuring consistent spacing and reducing drift.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the spray boom is made longer to increase working width, then productivity increases, but the spacing uniformity of nozzles to the ground deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The spray boom is divided into multiple segments that can be independently controlled and adjusted. Each segment can be individually positioned to maintain uniform nozzle-to-ground spacing across the entire working width, resolving the spacing uniformity issue while preserving the increased productivity benefit of a longer boom.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray boom transitions from a static, rigid structure to a dynamic, actively controlled system. Sensors detect the actual spacing between nozzles and the ground in real-time, and actuators continuously adjust the boom position to maintain uniform spacing, enabling precise control over the entire working width.
2Manufacturing precision
If mechanical dampeners are used to control boom movement, then spacing control improves, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to torque transmission
Solution Approach 1:
The measurement function is extracted from the mechanical dampener system. Instead of using the dampener's mechanical position feedback, separate non-contact sensors (such as optical or electromagnetic sensors) are used to measure boom position and angular velocity, eliminating the measurement errors caused by torque transmission through mechanical components.
3Device complexity
If tilt sensors are used for position detection, then device complexity reduces, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to lateral accelerations
Solution Approach 1:
Mechanical tilt sensors are replaced with a sensor system that is insensitive to lateral accelerations. The patent uses sensors that measure position relative to the ground or use multiple sensors with signal processing to compensate for acceleration effects, providing accurate position detection without the limitations of simple tilt sensors.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the spray boom is raised higher to clear obstacles, then adaptability improves, but drift increases due to air movements
Solution Approach 1:
The spray boom is actively controlled to dynamically adjust its position and orientation in real-time. This enables the system to maintain optimal low height for minimizing drift while navigating uneven terrain and obstacles, as the active control can make rapid adjustments to keep the boom as low as possible while clearing obstacles.
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 solution enables precise maintenance of boom spacing over uneven terrain, reducing drift and ensuring even coverage by using sensors and actuators to adjust the boom's position accurately, independent of carrier vehicle movements.
Implementation Method 1
using gyroscope measurements to determine absolute positions and compensate for disturbances
Implementation Method 2
electromotive or electromagnetic actuators that provide precise control over the boom's position
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a device for spreading liquid and/or solid active agents as well as a method for controlling the device. The device comprises a carrier vehicle, at least one boom arranged pivotably about a rotation axis, and at least one sensor arrangement for detecting an angular velocity and/or an angular position of the boom about the rotation axis in relation to a reference plane. A control unit processes output signals of the sensor arrangements to control signals for an actuator for the purpose of pivoting the boom. Two actuators or a double acting actuator provide an actuating connection between the carrier vehicle and the pivotable boom, wherein the actuator has one active actuating side for each of the two pivoting directions of the boom, which active actuating side is electromagnetically or electromotively actuatable.