Segmented Spray Hood for Crop Row Herbicide Application
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spray hood assemblies are not effective in enclosing undesired foliage to ensure that agricultural chemicals are deposited only on the intended areas, as they often fail to prevent the chemicals from being blown away or contacting adjacent desired plants, especially when dealing with mature crops.
Innovation Solution
The spray hood assembly features a design with a tapered front portion and a rear portion, a channel for enclosing foliage, and a closure sheet system, along with spray nozzles and retention plates, allowing for efficient spraying of herbicides between crop rows while preventing the chemicals from reaching adjacent plants. The assembly is mounted on a frame that can be moved over the crops, ensuring targeted application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If spray hood assemblies are used to enclose undesired foliage, then herbicide deposition accuracy is improved, but the assembly becomes entangled with mature crops
Solution Approach 1:
The spray hood assembly is divided into multiple segments including a front section, rear section, and side sections that can independently move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the hood to conform to the contours of mature crops without entanglement while maintaining effective enclosure for targeted herbicide application.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray hood assembly incorporates dynamic elements such as movable side sections and adjustable height mechanisms that allow the structure to adapt its configuration in real-time. This dynamic capability enables the hood to navigate through mature crops smoothly without becoming entangled, while still maintaining effective enclosure for precise herbicide deposition.
2Reliability
If the spray hood is designed to enclose foliage effectively, then chemical retention is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray hood utilizes flexible shell structures made from durable, weather-resistant materials that can conform to foliage shapes while maintaining effective enclosure. These flexible shells provide reliable chemical retention without requiring complex rigid frameworks or multiple mechanical components, thus maintaining simplicity while ensuring chemical containment.
3Area of stationary object
If the spray hood is moved over mature crops, then coverage area is improved, but the risk of entanglement and damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spray hood assembly is divided into multiple segments including a front section, rear section, and side sections that can independently move relative to each other. This segmentation allows the hood to conform to the contours of mature crops without entanglement while maintaining effective enclosure for targeted herbicide application.
Solution Approach 2:
The spray hood assembly incorporates adjustable parameters such as height, width, and shape that can be modified based on crop maturity and field conditions. This adaptability allows the hood to effectively cover larger areas with mature crops while adjusting its configuration to avoid entanglement and minimize damage risk.
Data Source
AI summary
Spray hood assemblies may be adapted to be moved over undesired foliage so as to temporarily enclose them when liquids (e.g., agricultural chemicals such as herbicide) are sprayed. The spray hood assemblies may assist in ensuring that a high percentage of the sprayed liquids are deposited where they are intended to be sprayed rather than being blown away or onto adjacent desired plants.