Agricultural Sprayer Nozzle Flow Control via Boom Deflection Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural sprayers face challenges in maintaining consistent application of agricultural products due to boom arm deflection during operation, leading to inconsistent product distribution across the field.
Innovation Solution
A system that includes a boom assembly with sensors to monitor movement and a computing system to adjust nozzle flow rates based on detected deflection, ensuring precise application by regulating the flow rates of outer and inner nozzle assemblies when the boom arm deviates from a predefined range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the boom arm is allowed to move freely during operation, then the ease of operation is improved, but the manufacturing precision of product application deteriorates due to inconsistent application
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs sensors to detect boom arm position and movement in real-time, feeding this data back to a controller that automatically adjusts nozzle flow rates to compensate for deflection, thereby maintaining consistent application rates without restricting boom arm movement
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts nozzle flow rates based on real-time boom arm position data, allowing the application system to adapt to changing boom arm conditions while maintaining consistent product distribution across the field
2Manufacturing precision
If sensors and control systems are added to monitor and adjust nozzle flow rates, then the manufacturing precision of product application is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it processes sensor data, calculates deflection compensation factors, and regulates multiple nozzle assemblies simultaneously, reducing the need for separate dedicated components for each function
Solution Approach 2:
The system combines the sensing, processing, and control functions into an integrated system where the controller receives data from multiple sensors and coordinates adjustment of multiple nozzles through a unified control algorithm, simplifying the overall system architecture
3Manufacturing precision
If the nozzle flow rates are regulated dynamically based on boom arm movement, then the manufacturing precision is improved, but the use of energy increases due to continuous monitoring and adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies full correction only when boom arm deflection exceeds certain thresholds, otherwise using proportional adjustments, thereby reducing the frequency and intensity of active corrections while maintaining application consistency
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural sprayer system is provided herein that can include a boom assembly having a frame and a boom arm operably coupled with the frame at one end portion thereof. Outer and inner nozzle assemblies can each be supported by the boom arm. The inner nozzle assembly is inboard of the outer nozzle assembly. A sensor can be operably coupled with the boom assembly and configured to capture data associated with the boom arm. A computing system can be communicatively coupled to the sensor. The computing system can be configured to calculate a boom arm movement from a default axis based on the data from the sensor and regulate the outer and inner nozzle assemblies at differing flow rates when the movement exceeds a predefined range.