Rotating Nozzle Selector for Constant Spray Rate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional agricultural sprayers face challenges in maintaining a constant spray application rate due to changes in vehicle speed, as increasing pressure to adjust flow rate affects spray quality and requires specialized nozzle constructions.
Innovation Solution
A novel spray head nozzle arrangement with a manifold body and a rotating nozzle selector disk that automatically switches between standard nozzles to maintain a constant spray rate, allowing different spray rates to be achieved by rotating the disk and adjusting the motor-controlled nozzle selection based on vehicle speed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If pressure is increased to adjust flow rate, then flow rate increases, but spray quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the nozzle orifice geometry variable rather than fixed. The orifice shape and size can dynamically change in response to vehicle speed changes, allowing the system to adjust flow rate while maintaining optimal spray quality characteristics at each operating condition.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements parameter changes by modifying the orifice geometry parameters (shape, size) based on operating conditions. Instead of changing only pressure to control flow rate, the system changes both geometric parameters and pressure to maintain spray quality while achieving variable flow rates.
2Quantity of substance
If pressure is increased to double flow rate, then flow rate doubles, but pressure must increase by factor of four
Solution Approach 1:
The variable orifice geometry allows the system to achieve flow rate changes without proportional pressure increases. By adjusting the orifice shape and size dynamically, the system can double flow rate with much smaller pressure changes compared to fixed orifice systems where pressure must increase by a factor of four.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes orifice geometric parameters to achieve flow rate control. This parameter change approach allows for more efficient flow control where flow rate can be adjusted without the squared pressure relationship that characterizes fixed orifice systems.
3Productivity
If variable spray rate is achieved by changing pressure, then spray rate varies, but spray quality characteristics change negatively
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts orifice geometry to maintain optimal spray quality across different operating conditions. The movable components within the nozzle allow real-time optimization of spray characteristics while achieving variable spray rates.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs parameter changes in the orifice geometry to decouple spray rate control from spray quality degradation. By independently adjusting geometric parameters, the system maintains consistent spray quality characteristics while achieving the desired variable spray rates.
4Manufacturing precision
If specialized nozzle construction is used to maintain constant pressure, then spray quality is maintained, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic nozzle design with movable components that can be actuated by simple mechanisms such as springs, diaphragms, or small motors. This dynamic approach maintains spray quality without requiring overly complex specialized constructions.
Solution Approach 2:
The nozzle design incorporates multi-functional elements that serve both flow control and spray quality maintenance functions. The same movable orifice mechanism that controls spray rate also maintains optimal spray characteristics, reducing the need for separate specialized components.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural sprayer includes a spray boom equipped with a plurality of spray heads, with each head having a body defining a cavity located in fluid communication with a fluid inlet and an array of four outlets leading to four nozzles respectively having different flow rates. A nozzle-select control member is mounted for rotation in the cavity and includes a fluid passage arrangement for establishing fluid connections between the inlet and different ones or combinations of the four nozzles as the control member is rotated among preselected discrete positions by an electric stepper motor, with the stepper motor being controlled in response to vehicle speed so that the spray tip capacity decreases for effecting a constant application rate as the vehicle speed decreases from a maximum permitted speed.