Spray Bar Pivot Control with Dynamic Lever Damping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large movements of spray bars in agricultural sprayers, especially with longer booms, lead to reduced spraying precision and increased shock forces, which conventional cushion supports fail to adequately absorb.
Innovation Solution
A device incorporating a movable stop, lever, energy storage mechanism, and shock absorber provides dynamic damping and shock absorption, allowing controlled movement of the spray bar and reducing moments about the axis, with adjustable counterforce and pivot axis positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the spray bar is supported by an intermediate cushion support or resilient pad, then the spray bar can pivot smoothly, but the movement precision deteriorates and shock forces increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention transforms the static cushion support into a dynamic system with a movable stop that actively follows the beam's motion. The stop moves along the beam to continuously adjust the cushioning force, providing both smooth operation and precise positioning by dynamically adapting to the beam's position and velocity
Solution Approach 2:
The movable stop acts as an intermediary between the beam and the fixed structure. Instead of directly supporting the beam with a static cushion, the stop mediates the interaction by moving with the beam and providing controlled resistance, thereby achieving both smooth motion and precision
2Object-affected harmful factors
If shock absorbent pads are used to cushion the spray bar, then some shock forces are reduced, but the cushioning effect becomes insufficient for large booms
Solution Approach 1:
The movable stop creates a dynamic cushioning system where the effective cushioning distance and force are continuously adjusted based on the beam's position and velocity. This dynamic adaptation provides reliable shock absorption for large booms that static pads cannot handle
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of cushioning force from a fixed value (static pad) to a variable value that depends on the beam's position and motion state. The movable stop's position along the beam determines the lever arm length, thereby dynamically changing the mechanical advantage and cushioning force
3Area of moving object
If the spray bar is made longer to increase coverage, then the spraying area is improved, but the pivoting movements become larger and less precise
Solution Approach 1:
The movable stop serves as an intermediary that provides position-dependent support to the long beam. By moving along the beam, it creates a distributed support system that reduces the beam's tendency to pivot excessively, thereby maintaining precision even with increased length for greater coverage area
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
This solution effectively cushions and stabilizes the spray bar, reducing unwanted movements and maintaining precision, even with long boom structures, by using a compact and cost-effective combination of levers, springs, and shock absorbers.
Implementation Method 1
The hold-down force on the beam may be applied mechanically, e.g., by spiral springs, plate springs or disk springs
Implementation Method 2
A lever, energy storage device and/or shock absorber is used to provide dynamic dampening and shock absorption
Implementation Method 3
A shock absorber is provided to prevent the energy storing mechanism, e.g., a spring, and with it the spray bar from becoming unstable
Implementation Method 4
A lever, energy storage device and/or shock absorber is used to provide dynamic dampening and shock absorption
Implementation Method 5
If the stop is formed on a two-legged lever, the required counterforce can be influenced through the choice of the length of the legs
Data Source
AI summary
A beam (16) such as a spray bar of an agricultural sprayer (10) is pivotable about an axis (22) into an operating position. In the operating position, the bar is in contact with a stop (28) located on a two-legged lever (30), one leg (42) of which is acted upon by the beam (16) and the other leg (44) of which is acted upon by a energy storing mechanism (34).