Sprayer Shield With Flexible Skirt Prevents Liquid Accumulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing protective shields for nozzles in band sprayers often suffer from liquid accumulation on their edges, leading to unwanted spray distribution outside the target area, potentially damaging crops or vegetation.
Innovation Solution
A shield design featuring a hood and a flexible skirt with an inner and outer membrane that surrounds the nozzle arrangement, preventing liquid from collecting on the outer surface by maintaining a gap between the membranes and allowing the skirt to deform around obstacles, while stiffening ribs ensure the skirt's shape and longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a single membrane shield is used, then the shield structure is simple, but liquid accumulates on the outer surface and transfers to non-target areas
Solution Approach 1:
The shield membrane is divided into an inner membrane and an outer membrane, creating a dual-layer structure. The inner membrane contains the spray liquid while the outer membrane protects against external contact, preventing liquid transfer to non-target areas while maintaining structural functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The inner membrane is nested within the outer membrane structure. The inner membrane is positioned inside the shield cavity while the outer membrane forms the external boundary, creating a nested configuration that isolates liquid containment from external environmental interactions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the skirt is made flexible to deform around obstacles, then the shield adapts to terrain and crops, but the skirt loses structural stability and shape
Solution Approach 1:
The skirt is constructed from flexible membrane material that can deform and conform to irregular terrain and crop configurations. This flexibility allows the shield to adapt to varying field conditions while maintaining its protective function through the membrane's inherent elastic properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The skirt transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic flexible structure that can change shape in response to external conditions. The membrane material allows continuous adaptation to terrain variations and crop positions while maintaining structural integrity through controlled deformation.
3Manufacturing precision
If the inner membrane extends close to the target area, then spray coverage is improved, but the inner membrane contacts the ground and wears out quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The membrane system is segmented into inner and outer layers with distinct functional roles. The inner membrane can be optimized for spray coverage and positioning close to the target area, while the outer membrane provides protective durability and ground contact resistance, allowing each layer to specialize in its primary function.
Solution Approach 2:
The outer membrane acts as an intermediary protective layer between the inner membrane and the external environment. It shields the inner membrane from direct ground contact, abrasion, and environmental damage, thereby extending the inner membrane's service life while maintaining spray targeting precision.
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
Effectively prevents liquid from reaching non-target areas, reducing waste and environmental contamination, and allows for precise targeting with minimal damage to crops or vegetation, with the ability to quickly replace worn skirts.
Implementation Method 1
The shield comprises a hood at an upper portion of the shield and a flexible skirt at a lower portion of shield. The shield surrounds the nozzle arrangement and the spray pattern allowing liquid to be sprayed onto the target area or band through an opening at the bottom of the shield. The skirt comprises an inner membrane and an outer membrane which encircle the opening.
Implementation Method 2
The inner membrane may extend downwards towards the target area or band and the outer membrane may extend downwards towards the target area or band and outwardly from the centre of the skirt at an angle. The advantage of this is that there may not be much clearance between the target area or band and the bottom of the shield and a distance is kept between the inner and outer membranes so they are not in contact with each other.
Implementation Method 3
The outer membrane may comprise stiffening ribs. This means the skirt can quickly return to shape after contacting the ground or objects in its path and maintain the necessary gap between the inner and outer membranes. One of the stiffening ribs may extend around the circumference of the lowermost part of the outer membrane and further stiffening ribs may be spaced around the circumference of the outer membrane and may extend upwards from the lowermost part of the outer membrane.
Implementation Method 4
The skirt may be made of an elastomer or equally flexible material. This has the advantage of allowing the outer membrane to deform if it comes into contact with hard objects, such as stones, or even the stems of trees or bush crops, which avoids them being sprayed.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 1A
Figure 2
AI summary
A sprayer for spraying liquid onto a target area or band, the sprayer comprising a shield (10) and a nozzle arrangement for spraying liquid in a spray pattern. The shield (10) comprises a hood (12) at an upper portion of the shield (10) and a flexible skirt (14) at a lower portion of shield (10). The shield (10) surrounds the nozzle arrangement and the spray pattern allowing liquid to be sprayed onto the target area or band through an opening at the bottom of the shield (10). The skirt (14) comprises an inner membrane (40) and an outer membrane (42) which encircle the opening.