Agricultural Sprayer Boom Hinge Rake Angle Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional agricultural sprayers face challenges in efficiently configuring their boom structures for optimal operation, transport, and shipping, particularly in meeting governmental regulations regarding height and width restrictions.
Innovation Solution
The agricultural sprayer incorporates a sophisticated hinge assembly with spherical joints and an actuator assembly, allowing the boom frames to be pivotally coupled and adjustable between operating, transport, and shipping configurations, thereby optimizing visibility and compliance with regulatory dimensions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the boom frames are configured for wide spacing in operating mode, then spraying coverage is improved, but visibility for the operator deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The boom structure is designed to be dynamically reconfigurable between operating and transport configurations. The movable boom frames can be shifted from a widely spaced operating position to a folded transport position, allowing the system to adapt its geometry based on operational requirements versus transport requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the boom structure is designed to meet shipping height and width restrictions, then regulatory compliance is improved, but operational flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The boom structure is divided into multiple independently movable boom frames that can be repositioned relative to each other. This segmentation allows the overall boom width to be reduced for shipping by folding frames inward, while maintaining the capability to extend to full operating width when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The boom frames are designed to move not only laterally but also vertically through the hinge assembly mechanism. This multi-dimensional movement capability allows the boom to be folded both inward for width reduction and downward for height reduction, providing multiple degrees of freedom for achieving compact shipping dimensions.
3Length of moving object
If the boom frames are folded inward for transport, then width is reduced, but operator visibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The boom structure transitions from a static wide configuration to a dynamic folded configuration for transport. The movable boom frames are repositioned inward along the longitudinal axis, reducing the overall width while maintaining structural integrity through the hinge assembly connection points.
Data Source
AI summary
A spray boom assembly includes a first boom frame and a second boom frame pivotally coupled via a hinge assembly to the first boom frame about a pivot axis. The spray boom also includes an actuator assembly for pivoting the second boom frame relative to the first boom frame. The hinge assembly includes a first joint location, a second joint location, a third joint location, a fourth joint location, and a fifth joint location. A first end of the actuator assembly is coupled to the hinge assembly at the fourth joint location and a second end thereof is coupled to the first boom frame at a sixth joint location. A spherical joint is located at at least three of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth joint locations.