Retractable Drop Apparatus for Agricultural Sprayer Boom
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Large sprayer systems used in agriculture and manufacturing face challenges with maneuverability and storage due to their extensive boom assemblies, which have a wide wingspan and are cumbersome to transport and fold.
Innovation Solution
The sprayer system incorporates a retractable drop apparatus with a linkage assembly that can be repositioned between a retracted and extended position, allowing the spray devices to be raised and lowered vertically, and a folding mechanism for the boom assembly to reduce the overall dimensions, along with a hose and elbow configuration to route fluid efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If large boom assemblies are used to cover wide areas, then fluid application coverage is improved, but maneuverability and storage become difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The boom assembly is divided into multiple sections that can be folded relative to each other. Each section can be independently positioned, allowing the overall structure to be collapsed into a compact configuration for transport and storage while maintaining full span capability for application work.
Solution Approach 2:
The boom assembly incorporates movable joints and articulation points that allow dynamic reconfiguration between extended working position and compact storage position. This dynamic capability enables the structure to adapt its form factor based on operational requirements versus transport constraints.
2Manufacturing precision
If drop apparatuses are extended to lower spray devices, then ground-level application precision is improved, but transport dimensions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The drop apparatus is designed with telescopic or nested components that allow the spray device mounting structure to be retracted into the boom assembly during transport. The drop mechanism can be stored within the boom structure, reducing overall vertical dimension while maintaining full extension capability during application operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The drop apparatus incorporates movable components that can extend and retract along the boom structure. This dynamic capability allows the system to achieve low spray device positioning for precise ground-level application while collapsing to compact dimensions for efficient transport and storage.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The sprayer system (110) associated with a work vehicle (100) having a boom (130, 132, 134) and a fluid source (112) may include a spray device (120) configured to selectively apply a fluid from the fluid source (112) on the work vehicle (100) to an agricultural crop. The sprayer system (110) may further include a drop apparatus (170) having a linkage assembly (300) with a top portion coupled to the boom (130, 132, 134) and a bottom portion coupled to the spray device (120). The linkage assembly (300) may be selectively repositionable between a retracted position and an extended position to raise and lower the spray device (120) relative to the boom (130, 132, 134) along an upright reference axis.