Agricultural Spray Valve Unit with Passive Overflow Backup
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural sprayer systems face challenges in operational safety, drip protection, and detecting blockages or flow issues, which affect the precise application of fluids in agricultural fields.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural sprayer valve unit is designed with an electronically controlled control valve and a passive overflow valve in series, allowing for independent control of fluid flow based on pressure thresholds, ensuring drip protection and reliable detection of blockages through electrical loading analysis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an electronically controlled control valve is used to precisely control fluid flow, then application precision is improved, but operational safety and detection capability deteriorate due to dependency on electrical power
Solution Approach 1:
A passive overflow valve is introduced as an intermediary safety mechanism between the electronically controlled valve and the fluid supply system. This overflow valve provides a mechanical backup that operates independently of electrical power, ensuring operational safety and blockage detection capability even when the electronic control system fails or loses power.
2Manufacturing precision
If an electronically controlled control valve is used to precisely control fluid flow, then application precision is improved, but drip protection deteriorates due to potential electrical failures
Solution Approach 1:
The passive overflow valve serves as a mechanical intermediary that prevents harmful dripping by providing a pressure relief path. When the electronically controlled valve fails to close properly due to electrical issues, the overflow valve mechanically limits maximum pressure and prevents uncontrolled fluid discharge, thereby maintaining drip protection independent of electrical system reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If an electronically controlled control valve is used, then control capability is improved, but detection of blockages and flow issues deteriorates due to lack of passive monitoring mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The passive overflow valve acts as a detection intermediary that provides inherent monitoring capability. By observing the operation and pressure characteristics of the overflow valve, the system can detect blockages and flow issues without requiring additional active sensors, thus maintaining detection capability while preserving electronic control versatility.
4Reliability
If a passive overflow valve is added in series with the control valve, then operational safety and drip protection are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The valve system is segmented into two functionally distinct components: an electronically controlled control valve for precise flow regulation and a passive overflow valve for safety and monitoring. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function while maintaining overall system simplicity, as the overflow valve requires no additional control electronics or complex mechanisms.
5Use of energy by moving object
If the control valve is designed to maintain positions without electrical action, then energy consumption is reduced, but control precision may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve uses periodic electrical pulses to transition between positions rather than continuous power consumption. The valve maintains its position mechanically after actuation, consuming minimal energy. This periodic action approach reduces energy consumption while preserving control precision through precise pulse-timed actuation of the valve mechanism.
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 configuration enhances operational safety by preventing leaks and detecting blockages, ensuring precise fluid application and reducing energy consumption by allowing the control valve to assume open or closed positions without electrical action, maintaining reliability even during power outages.
Implementation Method 1
a valve position (in particular an open position or a closed position) can be maintained and/or changed via a holding magnet
Implementation Method 2
The overflow valve can be influenced by a pressure difference between a primary line and a secondary line of the agricultural sprayer valve unit
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to an agricultural spray valve unit (1). An electronically controlled control valve (6) and a passive overflow valve (5) serially connected in fluid communication are arranged in the agricultural spray valve unit (1) between a primary conduit (3) and a secondary (4) conduit. The agricultural spray valve unit (1) may be used for any agricultural spray valve device, in particular in connection with the discharge of a fluid such as water, fertiliser, an insecticide, a weedkiller and the like in agriculture or fruit or vegetable cultivation.