Agricultural Sprayer Boom Pendulum Stabilization

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing surface application arrangements on vehicles, such as moving liquid distribution devices and crop protection machines, experience rolling and oscillating movements due to uneven terrain and changes in direction, leading to instability and inability to maintain a constant distance over the surface, especially at higher speeds.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a surface application arrangement with hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders that stabilize the linkage relative to the vehicle, allowing for parallel distribution over the entire working width, even at higher speeds, by absorbing and compensating for lateral movements and terrain changes, using a combination of hydraulic cylinders for resistance and pneumatic cylinders for flexibility and impulse absorption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of moving object

If the linkage width is increased to cover larger areas, then the working width is improved, but the rolling and oscillating movements are amplified, causing the ends to touch the ground or crop at higher speeds

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking widthVSAvoidlinkage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of moving objectVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The linkage is divided into multiple sections (main linkage frame and side linkage frames) that can be independently controlled and adjusted. This segmentation allows each section to be stabilized individually, preventing the amplification of rolling and oscillating movements across the entire wide structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pendulum device with adjustable pendulum and linkage sections provides dynamic adaptation capabilities. The system can actively adjust the position and orientation of linkage sections to compensate for rolling and oscillating movements, maintaining stability despite the large working width.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the working speed is increased to improve productivity, then the application efficiency is improved, but the rolling and oscillating movements cause the linkage to deviate from constant distance over the surface

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking speedVSAvoidapplication precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors the position and orientation of the linkage sections and adjusts the pendulum device and hydraulic cylinders in real-time to compensate for movements caused by high-speed operation, maintaining constant distance over the surface despite increased working speed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

Hydraulic cylinders are used to actively control and stabilize the linkage sections, providing the force necessary to counteract rolling and oscillating movements at high speeds. The pneumatic suspension system absorbs vibrations and shocks, allowing stable operation at speeds up to 20 km/h while maintaining application precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Adaptability or versatility

If changes in direction are made to navigate terrain, then the adaptability is improved, but rolling and pendulum movements of the linkage are generated, preventing constant distance guidance

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveterrain adaptabilityVSAvoidlinkage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The pendulum device with adjustable sections provides dynamic adaptation to terrain changes and direction changes. The system can actively adjust during turns and on slopes to maintain linkage stability and constant distance guidance, unlike rigid fixed structures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters (position, orientation, height) of the pendulum and linkage sections in response to terrain and direction changes, allowing the linkage to adapt to various working conditions while maintaining stability through active control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables safe and stable application at speeds up to 12 km/h or more, even on hilly terrain, with minimal swaying or rolling, and allows for tight curves and uneven ground conditions without compromising linkage alignment, ensuring efficient and precise surface coverage.

Implementation Method 1

the pneumatic cylinder, the property of which is fine or allow slight movements due to the medium air, within the pendulum device a stable operation of the linkage is only possible. Impulses from lateral rolling movements of the vehicle are permitted, but due to the inertia of the pneumatic cylinder, they have almost no or no effect on the linkage alignment in relation to the terrain

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompressibility of air: Compression

Implementation Method 2

between the pendulum mount / pendulum device and the pendulum, two hydraulic cylinders are arranged, these hydraulic cylinders being able to pivot the pendulum together with the main linkage frame connected via the mount about the first pivot point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 3

a pneumatic cylinder with its first side on the pendulum and its second Side is arranged on the main linkage frame, wherein the pneumatic cylinder allows pivoting of the main linkage frame relative to the pendulum about the second pivot point

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic pressure: Gas Compressor

Implementation Method 4

Impulses from lateral rolling movements of the vehicle are permitted, but due to the inertia of the pneumatic cylinder, they have almost no or no effect on the linkage alignment in relation to the terrain

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInertia: Inertia

Data Source

PatentEP3141114B1Agricultural sprayer and method
Publication Date: 2018.08.15 HERBERT DAMMANN
  • EP3141114B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3141114B1 patent drawingFigure 2~4
  • EP3141114B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A surface application arrangement (1) on a vehicle (0), namely a mobile liquid distribution device, self-propelled or trailed field sprayer, plant protection equipment or industrial spraying machine, with a plurality of application arrangements arranged side by side on a boom provided perpendicular to the working direction, wherein the application arrangements are controllable and can apply liquids and/or applyable solids, seeds, fertilizers and/or salts, wherein the boom (2) is divided into at least three boom sections, namely a main boom frame (21) and a side boom frame (22, 23) arranged on each side of the main boom frame (21), the boom (2) is connected to the vehicle via a pendulum device (3), wherein the pendulum device (3) has a pendulum (31) in a pendulum receptacle for the pendulum (31) arranged in the vertical direction with a bearing of the pendulum (31) in a first pivot point (4),The pendulum (31) is mounted at the first pivot point (4) and can be adjusted, deflected, and/or pivoted perpendicular to the working direction, and the pendulum (31) has a second pivot point (5) with a bearing and receptacle for the main linkage frame (21), wherein the main linkage frame (21) is mounted at the second pivot point (5) and can be adjusted, deflected, and/or pivoted perpendicular to the working direction, wherein two hydraulic cylinders (6) are arranged between the pendulum receptacle/pendulum device (3) and the pendulum (31), wherein these hydraulic cylinders (6) can pivot the pendulum (31) together with the main linkage frame (21) connected via the receptacle about the first pivot point (4), and a pneumatic cylinder (7) is arranged with its first side on the pendulum (31) and its second side on the main linkage frame (21), wherein the pneumatic cylinder (7) enables the main linkage frame (21) to pivot relative to the pendulum (31) about the second pivot point (5) enablesprevented, permitted and/or made more difficult. Furthermore, the invention relates to an area application control method with the area application arrangement (1) according to the invention.