Tree Injection Shank with Radially Constricted Section
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing trunk injection devices for tree crop protection are fragile, complex, and require specialized training and equipment, limiting their use to small-scale applications and preventing efficient large-scale treatment by untrained personnel.
Innovation Solution
A tree injection apparatus with a shank having a radially constricted section and two radially enlarged sections, allowing for easy insertion into trees without pre-drilling, and a system for linking multiple devices for simultaneous treatment, enabling efficient and cost-effective delivery of crop protection solutions to multiple trees.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional trunk injection devices are used, then crop protection solutions can be delivered to trees, but the devices are fragile, complicated to install, and require specialized training
Solution Approach 1:
The injection device is divided into separate components: a shank for insertion, a head for solution delivery, and a barrier element. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the shank for easy insertion and the head for reliable solution containment, resolving the contradiction between ease of installation and device reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The device incorporates a self-forming cavity mechanism where the radially constricted section of the shank automatically creates a solution-containing cavity upon insertion, eliminating the need for pre-drilling or complex assembly by trained personnel. The barrier element self-seals against the tree surface, providing automatic solution containment without specialized installation knowledge
2Reliability
If conventional trunk injection devices are used, then single tree treatment is effective, but large-scale treatment is inefficient and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The device design with standardized shank dimensions and universal insertion mechanism allows the same device to be used across trees of various sizes and species. The radially constricted section geometry provides consistent performance regardless of tree type, enabling efficient large-scale treatment while maintaining reliable crop protection solution delivery
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple identical injection devices can be deployed simultaneously across an orchard, each performing the same function. The standardized design allows for mass production and rapid deployment, multiplying treatment throughput while maintaining the proven effectiveness of the injection mechanism
3Reliability
If pre-drilling is required for device insertion, then solution delivery is reliable, but installation time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier element is pre-positioned on the shank before insertion, and the radially constricted section is pre-formed to automatically create the solution cavity upon insertion. This preliminary preparation eliminates the need for time-consuming pre-drilling operations while ensuring reliable solution delivery from the moment of insertion
4Reliability
If complex devices are used, then solution containment is effective, but device fragility and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The solution containment function is extracted from a complex multi-component system and achieved through a simple barrier element that seals against the tree surface. The radially constricted section of the shank provides structural support and automatic cavity formation without requiring additional containment mechanisms, reducing device complexity while maintaining effective solution containment
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 apparatus allows for easy, cost-effective, and efficient delivery of crop protection solutions to multiple trees without specialized training, enabling large-scale treatment in orchards with minimal maintenance and labor, while maintaining structural integrity and preventing solution leakage.
Implementation Method 1
an output opening for delivering the solution, the output opening being (i) defined by the radially constricted section and (ii) in fluid communication with the input opening by a passageway defined by an interior of the shank
Implementation Method 2
a shank having a generally circumferential surface elongated along an axis and extending from the head to a pointed end opposite the head
Implementation Method 3
when installed in a tree, the radially constricted section, first radially enlarged section, and second radially enlarged section together form a chamber within the tree where a crop protection solution is injected and contained within for uptake by the tree
Data Source
AI summary
A method of making a tree injection device includes identifying a species specific depth at which phloem is located beneath a tree's bark and preparing a tree injection device. The tree injection device has a head defining an input opening for receiving the solution and a shank. A shank of the device has a radially constricted section positioned between a first radially enlarged section and a second radially enlarged section. An output opening for delivering the solution is defined by the radially constricted section and is formed at a distance from a collar substantially equal to the depth.