Spray Boom Section With Convergent Airflows for Uniform Leaf Coverage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spraying systems for plant protection products, such as those used in vineyards, fail to distribute droplets evenly over the entire surface of the plant, including the underside of leaves, and can lead to environmental pollution due to uncontrolled droplet dispersion, especially in areas with sparse vegetation.
Innovation Solution
A spray boom section with diffusers generating convergent airflows that channel and incorporate the product jet, creating turbulence to distribute droplets homogeneously on plant surfaces, while minimizing drift and environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If projected jets with nozzles are used to spray product under pressure, then droplets are generated and directed towards the plant target, but droplet distribution over the entire surface of the target plant is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
A wind shield is introduced as an intermediary element between the nozzle and the plant target. The wind shield generates a controlled airflow that acts as a mediator to distribute droplets more uniformly across the entire plant surface, including areas that would otherwise be missed by direct projection. This intermediary airflow ensures comprehensive coverage without requiring changes to the nozzle itself.
2Speed
If pneumatic systems with high-speed airflow are used to transport and penetrate droplets into vegetation, then rapid transport and penetration are achieved, but pesticide is propelled over long distances in areas with little vegetation, polluting the environment
Solution Approach 1:
The wind shield creates a localized airflow field specifically at the target area rather than generating high-speed airflow over the entire spray path. The airflow is concentrated and directed only where vegetation is present, maintaining effective droplet transport speed at the target while preventing uncontrolled drift in areas without vegetation. This localizes the beneficial effect while containing the harmful potential.
3Speed
If air-assisted sprayers with high-volume airflow are used to transport droplets to plants, then rapid transport is ensured, but product distribution over the entire surface of the target plant is uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The wind shield serves as a controlled intermediary that receives the high-speed airflow from the air-assisted sprayer and redistributes it in a more uniform pattern across the plant surface. The wind shield's structure modulates the airflow, creating eddies and turbulence that enhance droplet deposition on leaves, stems, and other plant surfaces, achieving both rapid transport and uniform distribution.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple airflows are generated in air-jet systems to shape propellant airflow and move foliage, then foliage is parted and droplets are collected, but significant power is required to generate the multiple airflows
Solution Approach 1:
The wind shield combines the functions of propellant airflow shaping and foliage movement into a single integrated structure. Instead of requiring separate airflow systems for each function, the wind shield's geometry and positioning allow it to perform both tasks using the same airflow, significantly reducing the total power required while maintaining effective droplet delivery and foliage management.
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
The solution ensures efficient deposition of plant protection products on both sides of leaves and within the plant, reducing waste and environmental pollution by controlling droplet spread and penetration, even in sparse vegetation.
Implementation Method 1
creating turbulence to distribute droplets homogeneously on plant surfaces
Implementation Method 2
two diffusers, each configured to be supplied with a gaseous fluid such as air and each configured to generate, at the diffuser outlet, a diffused airflow propagating towards the plant target
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
The invention relates in particular to a section (10) of a boom (1) for spraying a product onto a plant target (5), the section (10) of the boom (1) comprising: • at least one spraying element (101) which is configured to be fluidically supplied with product and to generate a jet of product (200) propagating towards the plant target (5) along a median spraying axis (201); • two diffusers (301a, 301b) which are each configured to be supplied with a gaseous fluid such as air and are each configured to generate, at the diffuser outlet (301a, 301b), a diffused air flow (400a, 400b) propagating towards the plant target (5) in a diffused air flow direction, the spraying element being located between the two diffusers (301a, 301b), the section (10) of the boom (1) being configured so that each of the diffused air flows (400) intersects the median spraying axis (201). The invention also relates to a spray boom and to an agricultural sprayer incorporating this boom section, as well as to a method using such a boom.