Recovery Panel Filter Grid Air Blowing Orifice

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural spraying systems face issues with plant waste accumulation in recovery tanks, leading to reduced liquid recovery capacity and potential overflow, which can contaminate the machine and require operator intervention, exposing them to health risks.

Innovation Solution

A recovery panel with a filter grid and air blowing orifices that sweep vegetable waste off the filter grid, allowing for automated waste evacuation without operator intervention, maintaining liquid flow and preventing contamination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a filter grid is installed in the recovery tank to retain vegetable waste, then the treatment liquid can flow through to the collection tank, but the filter grid accumulates plant waste which hinders liquid flow and can clog the suction circuit

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid flow through filter gridVSAvoidplant waste accumulation on filter grid
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the harmful plant waste from the filter grid surface using a dedicated air outlet that directs compressed air onto the filter grid, blowing the accumulated waste into a collection container. This separates the waste removal function from the filtration function, maintaining liquid flow while eliminating clogging hazards.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces compressed air as an intermediary substance to remove plant waste from the filter grid. The air acts as a mediator between the accumulated waste and the collection container, enabling waste removal without direct mechanical contact or operator intervention, thus preventing suction circuit clogging while maintaining filtration effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If an operator manually removes vegetable waste from the filter grid, then the filter grid remains clear for liquid flow, but the operator is exposed to recovered treatment liquid creating health risks

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefilter grid clearanceVSAvoidoperator exposure to treatment liquid
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service waste removal system where compressed air automatically blows plant waste from the filter grid into a collection container. This eliminates the need for operator intervention, allowing the system to maintain itself without exposing personnel to hazardous treatment liquids while ensuring continuous filter grid clearance for reliable liquid flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Compressed air serves as an intermediary that performs the dangerous task of waste removal from the filter grid, substituting human operators who would otherwise be exposed to treatment liquid. The air mediator transports waste safely into the collection container, maintaining filter clearance without health risks to personnel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Volume of stationary object

If the recovery tank volume is increased to accommodate plant waste, then overflow is prevented, but the suction of recovered treatment liquid is hindered and the tank may still overflow

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverecovery tank capacityVSAvoidliquid suction efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts plant waste from the recovery system by blowing it onto the filter grid surface and into a separate collection container using compressed air. This prevents waste accumulation in the recovery tank, maintaining full liquid suction efficiency and preventing overflow without requiring increased tank volume. The waste is removed from the liquid recovery pathway entirely.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

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 effectively manages plant waste accumulation, ensuring continuous liquid recovery and reducing operator exposure to treatment liquids, enhancing operational safety and efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

air diffusers are provided to produce an air flow which carries or blows the treatment liquid towards the plants to be treated

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAir flow: Convection

Implementation Method 2

at least one blowing orifice communicating with the air duct or an additional air duct and designed to produce a jet of air sweeping the upper surface of the filter grid, so as to blow on the vegetable waste retained on the upper surface of the filter grid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJet of air: Jet

Data Source

PatentEP3915365B1Recovery panel for agricultural spraying system
Publication Date: 2022.11.23 EXEL INDUSTRIES
  • EP3915365B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3915365B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3915365B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a recovery panel (10) comprising: - an air duct (13) including an air inlet orifice, - a recovery tray (15) including a recovery opening occupied, at least in part, by a filter grid (19) designed to retain plant waste on an upper surface (20) of the filter grid, - at least one blowing orifice (21) communicating with the air duct or an additional air duct and designed to produce a jet of air sweeping over the upper surface of the filter grid, so as to blow over the plant waste retained on the upper surface of the filter grid.