Multi-Nozzle Sprayer Boom with Selective Drift Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural field sprayers often spray wider edge areas than necessary when using drift-reducing nozzles, violating official regulations by applying a larger droplet spectrum than required, leading to inefficiencies and potential environmental impact.

Innovation Solution

A control device with a circuit arrangement for switching elements that activates different spray nozzles in various areas of the distributor linkage, using nozzles producing a larger droplet spectrum only in the outermost areas to minimize drift, while activating nozzles generating a required droplet spectrum in other areas, with the option to adjust the width of these areas based on regulations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If drift-reducing nozzles with coarse droplet spectrum are used across the entire distributor boom, then drift is reduced, but the sprayed edge area becomes significantly wider than necessary according to regulations

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedriftVSAvoidsprayed edge area
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The distributor boom is divided into multiple sections with different nozzle types. The outermost sections use drift-reducing nozzles with coarse droplet spectrum, while inner sections use nozzles producing the required droplet spectrum. This segmentation allows drift reduction at boundaries without unnecessarily expanding the sprayed edge area across the entire boom width.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different nozzle types are assigned to different locations along the distributor boom based on local requirements. Drift-reducing nozzles are specifically placed at outermost sections where drift is a concern, while standard nozzles are used in inner sections where regulatory drift reduction is less critical. This local differentiation optimizes both drift control and sprayed area coverage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If different types of spray nozzles are used across the distributor boom, then precise control of droplet spectra is achieved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedroplet spectrum controlVSAvoidnozzle configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses multi-nozzle heads that can accommodate different nozzle types (drift-reducing nozzles and standard nozzles) within a single universal mounting structure. Each multi-nozzle head contains multiple spray nozzles of different types, allowing the system to achieve precise droplet spectrum control across different sections without requiring completely separate nozzle systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP2567617B1Agricultural field spraying device with multi nozzle heads
Publication Date: 2020.04.01 AMAZONEN WERKE H DREYER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2567617B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2567617B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2567617B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The agricultural field spraying device (1) has distributor rods (4,7) with a fluid supply line extending transverse to driving direction. The fluid supply line is provided with connecting pieces for spray nozzles. Two different types of spray nozzles are arranged to which the fluid supply is connected and disconnected by remote-controlled circuit elements which are actuated by a controller. The controller has a circuit arrangement for the circuit elements for connection and disconnection of the fluid supply to the spray nozzles. An independent claim is included for a method for use of agricultural field spraying device for dispensing liquids for spraying of agricultural land in the peripheral area.