Trailed Tank Mixing Assembly for Spraying Plant Protection Products
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trailed tanks for spraying plant protection and fertilizing products pose health hazards to operators due to direct handling of chemicals, require ineffective mixing systems, lead to wear and maintenance issues in hydraulic systems, and have non-homogeneous geometries that can damage plants and disrupt operation.
Innovation Solution
A trailed tank design with a homogeneous geometric arrangement, optimized space usage, and a mixing assembly for in-line injection of products, eliminating the need for manual mixing and reducing operator exposure, featuring a separate volume for washing water and a pumping system that only contacts the liquid, minimizing wear and maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual mixing of plant protection products with liquid in the reservoir is used, then the operator can directly handle and mix the products, but the operator is directly exposed to health hazards and the mixing is ineffective and not long-lasting
Solution Approach 1:
The mixing operation is extracted from the reservoir and performed externally in a separate mixing container. The operator mixes the plant protection product with liquid outside the reservoir, then transfers the mixture through a filter into the reservoir. This extraction eliminates direct exposure hazards while maintaining mixing effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
A filter acts as an intermediary between the mixing container and the reservoir. The filter receives the mixed solution from the container and transfers it to the reservoir, preventing direct contact between the operator and the plant protection product in the reservoir while ensuring proper mixing.
2Stability of the object's composition
If stirring systems are installed in the reservoir to maintain homogeneity, then the compound remains homogeneous and products don't deposit, but the system requires frequent maintenance and cleaning due to continuous contact with plant protection products
Solution Approach 1:
The stirring system is extracted from the reservoir and relocated to the mixing container. The magnetic stirring bar and magnet assembly are positioned in the mixing container where they can maintain homogeneity during the mixing phase without requiring continuous operation during spraying, thereby reducing wear and maintenance needs.
Solution Approach 2:
Mixing and stirring are performed in advance in the mixing container before the solution is transferred to the reservoir. This preliminary mixing action ensures homogeneity is achieved during the mixing phase, eliminating the need for continuous stirring during storage and spraying operations.
3Ease of repair
If a second reservoir for washing water is provided, then cleaning of components can be performed, but the overall device complexity increases and space optimization is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The washing function is merged with the existing reservoir system. The reservoir can serve dual purposes: storing the plant protection solution and providing washing water for cleaning components. This eliminates the need for a separate second reservoir while maintaining cleaning capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The reservoir is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as a storage container for the plant protection solution and as a source of washing water. The pump system can draw water from the reservoir for both spraying operations and cleaning components, reducing overall system complexity.
4Volume of moving object
If non-homogeneous geometric shapes are used in the reservoir design, then space can be utilized, but the protrusions can impact and damage plant species and jeopardize the integrity of mixing assemblies
Solution Approach 1:
The reservoir and mixing container are segmented into separate functional units. The mixing container with its geometric features is separated from the reservoir, allowing the mixing container to have optimized geometry for space utilization while the reservoir maintains a simpler, more homogeneous shape that reduces risk to plants and assembly integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
A filter acts as an intermediary component between the mixing container and the reservoir. This filter system allows for proper separation and protection, ensuring that geometric features in the mixing container do not directly impact the reservoir or cause damage to plants during operation.
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 reduces operator exposure, eliminates the need for stirring systems, minimizes maintenance, and ensures safer, more efficient operation with reduced risk of product deposition and damage to plants, while optimizing space and reducing maintenance costs.
Implementation Method 1
a pumping system which is fluid-dynamically connected to the reservoir, to the mixing assembly and to the spraying assembly
Implementation Method 2
a mixing assembly which mixes the liquid with at least one plant protection and/or fertilizing product
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The trailed tank (1) for the spraying of plant protection and fertilizing products comprises: - a base frame (2); - movement means (3), associated with the base frame (2) and adapted to move the base frame (2) onto the ground; - a reservoir (4) associated with the base frame (2) and defining a first volume (5) for containing a liquid (6); - a mixing assembly (9) associated with the base frame (2) and housed in a second volume (10), the mixing assembly (9) being adapted to mix the liquid (6) with at least one plant protection and/or fertilizing product (11) to obtain a product to be sprinkled (12); - a spraying assembly (16) of the product to be sprinkled (12) which is associated with the base frame (2); - a hydraulic circuit (17), fluid-dynamically connected to the reservoir (4), to the mixing assembly (9) and to the spraying assembly (16); - an opening/closing element (13) of the second volume (10), which is movable between an opening configuration, wherein the second volume (10) is open for the access to the mixing assembly (9), and a closing configuration, wherein the second volume (10) is closed; wherein the reservoir (4) and the opening/closing element (13) in the closure configuration define an overall upper surface (15) of substantially convex conformation.