Agricultural Sprayer Cleaning Quality Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing field sprayers lack a reliable method to determine and ensure the cleaning quality of the spray medium circuit and liquid container after the cleaning process, making it difficult to achieve the desired level of cleanliness.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system connected to a control unit in the field sprayer measures and displays the cleaning quality using traffic light colors (red, yellow, green) based on stored limit values for the active substance concentration, allowing for automated termination of the cleaning process and separation of the liquid tank using a flexible partition for clear water usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sensor system with control unit is added to measure and display cleaning quality, then the reliability of cleaning quality determination is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system continuously measures the concentration of active substance in the spray liquid and provides feedback to the control unit. The control unit compares measured values with stored limit values and displays cleaning quality status through a traffic light system (red/yellow/green). This feedback mechanism enables reliable monitoring and automated termination of cleaning processes, directly resolving the contradiction by providing dependable cleaning quality determination through systematic measurement and response.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-monitoring and self-assessment of cleaning quality through the sensor and control unit. The traffic light display automatically indicates cleaning status without requiring external inspection, and the system can autonomously terminate cleaning processes when quality thresholds are met, reducing the need for manual intervention while maintaining high reliability.
2Productivity
If the cleaning process is automated based on stored limit values, then the productivity is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Limit values for active substance concentration are pre-stored in the control unit's memory before cleaning operations begin. These predetermined thresholds enable the system to automatically determine when cleaning objectives are achieved without requiring complex real-time decision algorithms, thus improving cleaning process efficiency while keeping the control system relatively simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors changes in active substance concentration parameters in the spray liquid and automatically adjusts cleaning process duration based on these parameter changes. When the concentration reaches predefined threshold levels, the system automatically terminates the cleaning process, improving productivity through parameter-based automation without requiring complex control logic.
3Ease of operation
If the liquid tank is divided into separate areas using a flexible partition, then the ease of operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid tank is divided into separate functional areas using a flexible partition: one area for holding clear water and another for the spray agent mixture. This segmentation allows operators to independently manage clear water reserves and spray solution, improving ease of operation by preventing contamination and enabling separate filling and monitoring of different liquid types, while the flexible nature of the partition keeps structural complexity manageable.
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 reliable monitoring and achievement of desired cleaning quality by displaying the cleaning status and automating the process, ensuring effective cleaning of the spray agent circuit and container.
Implementation Method 1
A sensor (23, 24) for determining the concentration of the active agent or agents in the spray liquid is arranged in the lower area of the liquid tank (1)
Data Source
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AI summary
The device has a controlling and/or regulating unit (17) including storage unit in which program with various operations of the device is stored. The controlling and/or regulating unit is in a position to actuate a pesticide circle and/or a pesticide container (1) in such a way that the pesticide circle and/or pesticide container is cleaned by rinse with clear water in a cleaning operation. Sensors (23, 24) are arranged in lines of the pesticide circle and/or in a bottom portion of the pesticide container for determining concentration of drug or active agents in spraying liquid.