Agricultural Spray Device Pressure and Pulse Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural spray devices face challenges in achieving high driving speeds during application without negatively impacting the droplet spectrum, leading to reduced application precision and yield, as high delivery pressures affect droplet drift and plant wetting.
Innovation Solution
Implementing simultaneous automatic control of supply pressure and opening/closing times of dispensing elements using pulse width modulation, with optional frequency modulation, to adapt application rates to driving speed without altering droplet spectrum or wetting properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high delivery pressure is used to increase application rate for high driving speeds, then productivity is improved, but droplet drift and wetting quality deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies pulse width modulation to create periodic opening and closing actions of the application elements. By controlling the duty cycle of these periodic pulses, the application rate is adjusted without requiring continuous high pressure, thus maintaining droplet quality while achieving high productivity through increased dispensing frequency and duration cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts both the supply pressure and the opening/closing timing of application elements in real-time based on driving speed and desired application rate. This dynamic coordination allows the system to maintain optimal pressure for droplet formation while varying the actual dispensing time to achieve the required application quantity at high speeds.
2Productivity
If delivery pressure is increased to maintain application quantity at high driving speeds, then productivity is improved, but droplet spectrum and drift characteristics worsen
Solution Approach 1:
By using periodic pulse signals to control application element operation, the system can achieve high application quantities through increased pulse frequency and duty cycle without maintaining continuously high pressure. This periodic action allows liquid to be dispensed in controlled bursts that maintain proper droplet formation while accumulating the required total application quantity for high-speed operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous supply pressure ready to dispense, but controls the actual useful action (dispensing) through periodic modulation. This ensures the system is always prepared to deliver liquid at optimal pressure conditions while the modulated continuity of actual dispensing achieves the required application quantity without sustained high-pressure exposure that would cause drift.
3Productivity
If pulse width modulation is used to control opening and closing times, then application rate is improved, but simultaneous pressure control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the control of supply pressure and application element timing into a single coordinated control system that simultaneously manages both parameters. By integrating these controls and coordinating their operation through a unified control logic, the system achieves sophisticated application rate control without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: it regulates supply pressure, controls application element timing, adjusts application rate, and maintains droplet quality all through a single multi-functional control unit. This universal approach consolidates what could be separate complex subsystems into one integrated controller.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for applying a spray liquid to an agricultural area by means of an agricultural sprayer, comprising the steps of: providing a spray liquid to be applied at one or more application elements of the agricultural sprayer, automatically controlling the supply pressure of the spray liquid at the one or more application elements during the application process by the agricultural sprayer, and automatically controlling the opening and closing times of the one or more application elements by means of pulse width modulation by the agricultural sprayer.