Agricultural Sprayer Carrier Dynamics for Uniform Crop Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing field crop spray apparatuses face challenges in maintaining a uniform distance from crops due to ground undulations, leading to uneven liquid distribution caused by the carrier's movement and resistance from the crop.
Innovation Solution
A hingeable coupling section allows the carrier to be connected to the agricultural sprayer, enabling it to move freely and maintain a consistent distance from the crop, with optional spring connection and a vertically oriented blade to prevent wind interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the carrier is rigidly connected to the agricultural sprayer, then the structure is simple and stable, but the sprayer cannot maintain uniform distance from the crop during ground undulations
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling section enables the carrier to pivot dynamically around a transverse axis, allowing the sprayer to adapt its position relative to the crop as ground undulations occur. This dynamic connection replaces a rigid fixed connection, enabling the sprayer to maintain more uniform distance from the crop surface while being attached to the agricultural sprayer.
Solution Approach 2:
The hingeable coupling section changes the positional parameter of the carrier relative to the agricultural sprayer, allowing angular movement that adjusts the sprayer's height and orientation. This parameter change enables adaptation to varying ground conditions while maintaining structural connection.
2Manufacturing precision
If the carrier is made movable to accommodate ground undulations, then uniform sprayer distance is maintained, but the connection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coupling section provides a controlled degree of freedom through hinging, allowing the carrier to move vertically and angularly in response to ground undulations. This dynamic movement capability enables the sprayer to maintain more consistent distance from the crop surface without requiring complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection system is segmented into the coupling section and the carrier, with the coupling section serving as an intermediate element that provides pivotal movement. This segmentation allows independent optimization of the connection mechanism while maintaining overall system functionality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the blade is positioned only underneath the frame, then the structure is simple, but wind can adversely affect the spraying process
Solution Approach 1:
The blade is extended vertically upward from its traditional horizontal position underneath the frame, adding a vertical dimension to the blade configuration. This vertical extension creates a windbreak that protects the spray area from lateral wind currents, reducing the harmful effects of wind on spray distribution.
Solution Approach 2:
The vertically extended blade acts as an intermediary structure between the wind and the spray area, physically blocking and redirecting wind flow. This intermediate element protects the spraying process from adverse wind conditions without requiring complex active wind control systems.
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
The solution ensures uniform liquid distribution over crops by maintaining a consistent sprayer distance during carrier movement, improving the spraying process by reducing wind impact and accommodating ground undulations.
Implementation Method 1
the carrier is connected to the coupling section by means of a spring
Implementation Method 2
the blade is located partly underneath the frame and, seen in the direction of movement during use, it is located partly in front of the frame. During use the blade thus has an essentially vertical part that obstructs the wind and prevents the wind from adversely affecting the spraying process.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~5
Figure 4~6
AI summary
A field crop spray apparatus 1 comprises a carrier 3 which, after being coupled to an agricultural sprayer, extends in essence horizontally and at right angles to the direction of movement of the agricultural sprayer. A number of elastic parallellogram-shaped frames 5 are connected to the under-side of the carrier. At the under-side of the frames is attached a blade 7 that drags over the crop during use and runs parallel to the carrier 3. Sprays 9 are attached to the frames 5 between the blade 7 and the carrier 3. The field crop spray apparatus 1 further includes one or more coupling sections for coupling to a spray boom of an agricultural sprayer. The carrier 3 is then connected to the agricultural sprayer by means of a coupling section 11 hingeable around an axis 10 extending transversely to the direction of movement 6 of the agricultural sprayer.