Reverse-Flow Rinsing for Spray Recovery Trays Clogged by Residue
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural spraying systems face issues with the accumulation of plant debris and viscous residues in collection trays, leading to overflow and hindered suction of treatment liquid, necessitating a solution to effectively remove both solid and liquid waste without manual cleaning.
Innovation Solution
A spraying system with a reverse flow rinsing function, utilizing a primary pump and a reverse rinsing circuit with non-return valves to circulate rinsing product through the collection tray orifices, overflowing waste and residues to the ground, combined with solid element retention devices like grids and filters, and a hydraulic distribution system to manage fluid flow direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If treatment liquid is sprayed onto plants using recovery panels with collection trays, then treatment liquid can be collected and re-sprayed, but plant debris and viscous residues accumulate in the collection trays, limiting collection volume and hindering suction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies reverse flow rinsing where rinsing liquid is introduced from below the collection tray and flows upward in the opposite direction of normal treatment liquid flow. This inverted flow direction enables effective removal of accumulated plant debris and viscous residues that block normal suction, restoring collection capacity without requiring manual cleaning intervention
2Ease of operation
If air diffusers are used to carry treatment liquid towards plants, then spray coverage is improved, but viscous or pasty liquid residues accumulate in the collection bin and cannot be removed by airflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs hydraulic reverse flow rinsing instead of pneumatic air diffusion for residue removal. Rinsing liquid is pumped through the collection tray from below, creating a powerful hydraulic flow that physically flushes out viscous and pasty residues which air diffusers cannot remove, thereby maintaining collection bin functionality
3Productivity
If collection trays are used to recover treatment liquid, then re-spraying efficiency is improved, but manual cleaning is required to remove accumulated waste and residues
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-cleaning functionality where the primary pump and reverse flow rinsing circuit automatically flush the collection trays during operation. The rinsing liquid circulated from below removes accumulated waste and residues without operator intervention, maintaining re-spraying efficiency while eliminating manual cleaning requirements
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
Efficiently removes accumulated waste and residues, preventing overflow and ensuring continuous operation by automating the cleaning process, maintaining system functionality without manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a reverse flow rinsing circuit configured to circulate rinsing product via at least one non-return valve to the lower orifices of the tank, in order to fill the recovery tanks from below and cause them to overflow
Implementation Method 2
circulate rinsing product via at least one non-return valve to the lower orifices of the tank
Implementation Method 3
a reverse flow is generated which allows the waste, residues and other items that may have accumulated in the collection bin to be disposed of, and which thus fall to the ground, carried away by the overflow flow
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a spraying system comprising a main tank (R1), a primary pump (P1), and a recovery pump (P2), treatment assemblies (T1,T2) comprising a plurality of spray nozzles (8) and a recovery panel (1), each recovery panel comprising a recovery wall (10), a recovery tray (2), and a bottom orifice (2b), the system comprising a primary pumping circuit (C1) which admits either treatment product or rinsing product depending on the position (E1,E2) of a first selection valve (V1), a recovery circuit (C2) connecting the bottom orifices to the main tank via the recovery pump, the system further comprising a reverse flow rinsing circuit (C4) configured to circulate rinsing product to the bottom orifices, in order to fill the recovery trays from below and make them overflow.