Rotatable Control Element for Adjustable Agricultural Sprayer Nozzle
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional fixed orifice nozzles in agricultural sprayers require significant pressure changes to adjust flow rates, which negatively impact spray quality by altering droplet size and spray angle, leading to inefficiencies in spray deposit and drift.
Innovation Solution
A sprayer nozzle apparatus with a rotatable control element that selectively communicates fluid to multiple supply paths, allowing for adjustable nozzle tips with varying geometries to maintain consistent application rates across different vehicle speeds without compromising spray quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If pressure is increased to double the flow rate, then flow rate is improved, but spray quality deteriorates due to changes in droplet size and spray angle
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between multiple nozzle connectors with different orifice geometries based on operating conditions. Instead of using a fixed nozzle design, the system adapts by selecting appropriate nozzles to maintain optimal spray quality across varying flow rate requirements, eliminating the need to compromise spray characteristics when increasing flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the geometric parameters of the orifice by providing multiple nozzle connectors with different orifice sizes and shapes. This allows the system to adjust the flow characteristics through geometric modification rather than relying solely on pressure changes, thereby maintaining spray quality while achieving desired flow rates.
2Productivity
If pressure is increased to maintain application rate at higher vehicle speeds, then productivity is improved, but spray deposit and drift performance worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects appropriate nozzle connectors based on vehicle speed and desired application rate. By having multiple nozzle options with different flow characteristics, the system can maintain optimal spray patterns and droplet sizes for deposit performance while adjusting overall application rate to match productivity requirements, avoiding the drift issues associated with high-pressure spraying.
Solution Approach 2:
The multi-nozzle connector system provides universal functionality to handle various operating conditions. Different nozzle connectors are designed for different flow rate and pressure conditions, allowing the system to universally address both productivity requirements and spray quality/drift concerns across the full range of operating conditions.
3Device complexity
If traditional fixed orifice nozzles are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different flow rate requirements worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The nozzle system is segmented into multiple independent nozzle connectors, each with specific orifice geometries optimized for particular flow rate ranges. This segmentation allows the system to provide adapted flow rate characteristics for different conditions while keeping each individual nozzle connector relatively simple in design.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple nozzle connectors with different orifice characteristics are combined into a single selectable system. By merging these different nozzle options into one integrated system with selective capability, the invention achieves both adaptability to various flow rate requirements and manageable device complexity through unified control.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sprayer nozzle apparatus (10) of an agricultural sprayer is disclosed. The sprayer nozzle apparatus (10) is adapted for receiving a fluid from a spray line of an agricultural sprayer. The sprayer nozzle apparatus (10) includes an apparatus housing (15). A control element (20) is rotatably coupled to the apparatus housing (15). A plurality of nozzle connectors (30, 30") having a plurality of supply paths (35, 35", 40, 40", 45, 45") are coupled to the apparatus housing (15). The control element (20) is configured to receive fluid from the spray line and selectively communicate fluid to at least one of the plurality of supply paths (35, 40, 45) of one of the plurality of nozzle connectors (30) in a first position and to at least one of the plurality of supply paths (35", 40", 45") of another of the plurality of nozzle connectors (30") in a second position.