JP2012126216A - Apparatus for spraying chemical - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an apparatus for spraying a chemical, which can make moderate its spray volume of a chemical while preventing the increase of the number of components, and can spray the chemical uniformly in conjunction with the flight speed of an unmanned helicopter while expanding the range of the flight speed.SOLUTION: The apparatus 5 for spraying the chemical is mounted on the unmanned helicopter 1 and aerially sprays the chemical. The apparatus includes: tanks 51L and 51R in which the chemical is stored; pumps 52L and 52R for feeding by pressure the chemical in both of the tanks 51L and 51R; and mist nozzles 55C, 55L and 55R for spraying the chemical fed by pressure with the pumps 52L and 52R in mist.

Description

  The present invention relates to a drug spraying device that is mounted on an unmanned helicopter and sprays a drug in the air.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a technique of a drug spraying device that is mounted on an unmanned helicopter and sprays a drug (chemical solution) in the air is known. As such a chemical spraying device, a nozzle type chemical spraying device (for example, refer to Patent Document 1) for spraying chemical liquid using a nozzle and an atomizer type chemical spraying device (for example, spraying chemical liquid using an atomizer) Patent Document 2) is known.

JP 2000-198495 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-138071

  A conventional nozzle-type drug spraying device is configured to pump a chemical solution in a tank to one or a plurality of nozzles by a pump and discharge the liquid from each nozzle. Thereby, at the time of the flight of the unmanned helicopter, the drug solution is sprayed from the drug spraying device in a mist state. When a worker performs a spraying operation using a nozzle type drug spraying device, in order to spray the chemical solution uniformly, when the flight speed of the unmanned helicopter is increased for reasons such as shortening the work time, the discharge from the pump When the pressure is increased to increase the discharge rate of the chemical solution, and the flight speed of the unmanned helicopter is slowed down due to the approach of the unmanned helicopter to the field edge, etc., the discharge pressure from the pump is lowered to reduce the discharge rate of the chemical solution I have to deal with it.

  However, the unmanned helicopter is configured to change the flight speed by changing the engine speed, and the nozzle-type drug spraying device controls the discharge pressure from the pump by adjusting the speed of the pressure regulating valve or the pump shaft. Because it is a configuration that changes, the means for adjusting the flying speed of the unmanned helicopter and the discharge pressure of the pump are different, and it was difficult for the operator to increase or decrease the spraying amount of the chemical solution to the appropriate amount in conjunction with the flying speed of the unmanned helicopter . In other words, the range of flight speeds of unmanned helicopters that allow the amount of chemicals to be sprayed to an appropriate amount is narrow, and workers can only carry out spraying of chemicals with the unmanned helicopters flying at a substantially constant speed. It was.

  Also, even if the operator can cope with reducing the discharge pressure from the pump and reducing the discharge amount of the chemical liquid when the flight speed of the unmanned helicopter is slowed as described above, However, since the spray area of the chemical solution is narrowed and the particle size when the chemical solution is discharged from the nozzle is increased, the chemical solution cannot be uniformly sprayed.

  On the other hand, a conventional atomizer type chemical spraying device is configured to rotate a disk at a high speed, discharge the chemical liquid onto the disk, and spray the chemical liquid after forming a fine mist. Therefore, when the unmanned helicopter flies, a mist-like chemical solution is sprayed from the drug spraying device. When spraying using an atomizer type chemical spraying device, the operator can operate the pump for discharging the chemical toward the disc at a low pressure. Thus, when the flight speed of the unmanned helicopter is slowed down, the chemical solution can be uniformly distributed over a wide area while reducing the discharge amount of the chemical solution. In other words, the range of flight speed of unmanned helicopters that can achieve an appropriate amount of chemical solution spray is wider than that of the nozzle method, and the operator can arbitrarily change the flight speed of the unmanned helicopter to perform the spray operation of the chemical solution. I was able to.

  However, since the atomizer type medicine spraying device includes a motor for driving the disk, a plurality of disks, and the like, there is a problem that the number of parts in the medicine spraying device increases and the cost increases.

  Therefore, in view of the problem, the present invention expands the range of the flight speed of an unmanned helicopter capable of setting the amount of medicine to be distributed while suppressing an increase in the number of parts, and the flight speed is adjusted within the range. Provided is a drug spraying device capable of uniformly spraying a chemical solution in conjunction with each other.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is as described above. Next, means for solving the problem will be described.

  That is, in claim 1, a drug spraying device mounted on an unmanned helicopter and spraying drugs in the air, a tank for storing drugs, a pump for pumping drugs in the tank, and pumped by the pump And a mist nozzle for spraying the medicine in a mist form.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the mist nozzle has a cylindrical nozzle main body, a pipe that is inserted through the nozzle main body to distribute the medicine from the pump, and one opening in the nozzle main body. A nozzle member that is disposed and connected to the pipe, and a blower that is provided on the other opening side of the nozzle body and sends wind toward the one opening through the nozzle body, and The medicine sprayed from the nozzle member through the pipe is dispersed and atomized by blowing air from the blower and then sprayed from one opening of the nozzle body.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the mist nozzle is disposed vertically below the fuselage of the unmanned helicopter.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the left and right booms extending from the left and right outer sides of the unmanned helicopter body are provided, and the mist nozzles are attached to the booms.

  As effects of the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  According to the invention of claim 1, the range of the flight speed of the unmanned helicopter capable of setting the amount of the medicine to be distributed while suppressing the increase in the number of parts is expanded and linked to the flight speed within the range. And a chemical | medical solution can be sprayed uniformly.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, the mist nozzle has a simple structure and the number of parts can be reduced.

  According to the invention of claim 3, even if the discharge pressure from the pump is changed and the discharge amount of the medicine is changed, the particle size of the medicine discharged from the central mist nozzle is not changed. In addition, the central mist nozzle is not easily affected by the wind of the main rotor of the unmanned helicopter. Therefore, the medicine can be uniformly distributed in a desired region.

  According to the invention of claim 4, even when the discharge pressure from the pump is changed and the discharge amount of the medicine is changed, the particle size of the medicine discharged from the left and right mist nozzles is not changed. Therefore, the medicine can be uniformly distributed over a wider area.

Left side view of an unmanned helicopter. Front view of an unmanned helicopter. The front view of a chemical spraying apparatus. Sectional drawing of a mist nozzle.

  Below, the whole structure of the unmanned helicopter 1 equipped with the medicine spraying device 5 according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the unmanned helicopter 1, the main rotor 3 is provided on the upper part of the airframe and can be driven to rotate by an engine mounted on the airframe. The main rotor 3 is configured to be able to change the rotation speed and the inclination (hereinafter referred to as “pitch angle”) formed between the blade surface of the main rotor 3 and the rotation shaft 3 a of the main rotor 3. .

  The main rotor 3 changes the altitude and flight speed of the aircraft by changing the pitch angle to increase or decrease the magnitude of lift applied to the aircraft. Further, the main rotor 3 periodically changes the pitch angle from the maximum to the minimum, thereby tilting the rotational surface of the main rotor 3 in the front-rear direction or the left-right direction, and changing the direction of lift applied to the airframe, Move the aircraft back and forth or left and right.

  A tail rotor 4 is provided at the rear of the machine body and can be driven to rotate by the engine. The tail rotor 4 is configured to be able to change the rotation speed and the inclination formed between the blade surface of the tail rotor 4 and the rotation axis of the tail rotor 4.

  The tail rotor 4 changes the magnitude of the force that counteracts the reaction torque (force to rotate the machine body in the direction opposite to the direction in which the main rotor 3 rotates) acting on the machine body by the rotation of the main rotor 3. The aircraft is turned right or left, or the direction of the nose is held in a substantially constant direction.

  And the chemical spraying apparatus 5 which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention is provided in the right-and-left both sides and lower part of the body. The medicine spraying device 5 is a device for spraying a liquid medicine (hereinafter referred to as “medical solution”) in the air from the unmanned helicopter 1 in flight toward a field or the like.

  Below, the structure of the chemical | medical agent spraying apparatus 5 is demonstrated using FIGS. 1-3.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the medicine spraying device 5 includes a pair of left and right tanks 51L and 51R, a pair of left and right pumps 52L and 52R, a frame 53, a pair of left and right booms 54L and 54R, a center mist nozzle 55C, and a pair of left and right mists. The nozzles 55L and 55R, the distribution pipe 56, a pair of left and right pipes 57L and 57R, a pair of left and right pipes 58L and 58R, and a pair of left and right pipes 59L and 59R are provided.

  The frame 53 is a member that fixes other parts constituting the medicine spraying device 5 to the machine body. The frame 53 is arranged from the front and rear center lower part of the airframe to the left side and the right side of the airframe, and is detachably attached to the airframe.

  The left and right tanks 51L and 51R are containers for storing a chemical solution. The left and right tanks 51 </ b> L and 51 </ b> R are disposed close to the left side and the right side of the airframe, and are detachably attached to the airframe via a frame 53.

  The left and right pumps 52L and 52R pump the chemical stored in the left and right tanks 51L and 51R, respectively. In the present embodiment, the pumps 52L and 52R are connected to the motors 33L and 33R, and can be driven by the motors 33L and 33R. The motors 33L and 33R are connected to the controller 31.

  One ends of left and right pipes 57L and 57R are connected to the bottoms of the left and right tanks 51L and 51R, respectively. On the other hand, the other ends of the left and right pipes 57L and 57R are connected to the suction ports of the left and right pumps 52L and 52R, respectively.

  One end of each of the left and right pipes 58L and 58R is connected to the discharge port of each of the left and right pumps 52L and 52R. On the other hand, the other ends of the left and right pipes 58L and 58R are connected to the upstream side of the distribution pipe 56, respectively.

  The distribution pipe 56 is a substantially H-type pipe having a merging pipe 56b and a supply side pipe 56a and a discharge side pipe 56c communicating with the merging pipe 56b. One end of the merging pipe 56b is connected to the midway part (merging point) of the supply side pipe 56a, and the other end of the merging pipe 56b is connected to the middle part (shunting point) of the discharge side pipe 56c.

  The other ends of the left and right pipes 58L and 58R are respectively connected to both ends of the supply side pipe 56a. In addition, one end of each of the left and right pipes 59L and 59R is connected to both ends of the discharge side pipe 56c. The left and right pipes 59L and 59R are attached to the left and right booms 54L and 54R, respectively.

  The left and right booms 54L and 54R are provided so as to extend horizontally from the frame 53 at the lower part of the machine body in the left-right direction and extend outward from the machine body. Each of the left and right booms 54L and 54R includes a rotation angle adjustment unit 50L and 50R in the middle in the longitudinal direction, and the rotation angle adjustment unit 50L and 50R causes the tip (outside end of the machine body) to be a horizontal base ( It is configured to be able to rotate in the vertical direction with respect to the inner end portion of the machine body.

  For example, when the unmanned helicopter 1 flies and the chemical spraying device 5 sprays the chemical liquid in the air, the left and right booms 54L and 54R are projected to the left and right outside of the fuselage, and the unmanned helicopter 1 When transported, the storage posture is set in a state along the side surface of the body by rotating in the upward direction of the body.

  The central mist nozzle 55C is attached to the lower left and right center of the frame 53 (vertically below the fuselage). The central mist nozzle 55C is connected to the middle part of the discharge side pipe 56c. Here, the discharge side pipe 56 c is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the frame 53.

  The left and right mist nozzles 55L and 55R are attached to the tip portions (outer end portions of the machine body) of the left and right booms 54L and 54R, respectively. Here, the left and right pipes 59L and 59R are arranged along the longitudinal direction of the left and right booms 54L and 54R, respectively, and the other ends of the left and right pipes 59L and 59R are connected to the left and right mist nozzles 55L and 55R, respectively. .

  The central mist nozzle 55C and the left and right mist nozzles 55L and 55R include blowers 72, 72, and 72 (see FIG. 4). The blowers 72, 72, 72 are provided with motors 34, 34, 34, and can be driven by the motors 34, 34, 34. The motors 34, 34, 34 are connected to the controller 31. The number of the left and right mist nozzles 55L and 55R is not limited to this embodiment, and a plurality of mist nozzles 55L and 55R may be provided on each of the left and right sides.

  In addition to the motors 33L and 33R of the pumps 52L and 52R described above, and the motors 34, 34 and 34 provided in the blowers 72, 72 and 72 of the central mist nozzle 55C and the left and right mist nozzles 55L and 55R, the controller 31 includes The receiver 32, the engine speed and the control means 36 for the main rotor 3 and tail rotor 4 are connected.

  When a sprayer (operator) remotely controls the unmanned helicopter 1 and the medicine sprayer 5, when an operation signal is transmitted as a radio wave from the transmitter 37 carried by the sprayer, the receiver 32 transmits the radio wave. It is received, converted into an operation signal, and transmitted to the controller 31. Based on the operation signal, the controller 31 transmits a control signal to the motors 33L, 33R, the motors 34, 34, 34, or the control means 36 to perform respective controls.

  Specifically, the spraying amount (discharge amount) of the chemical liquid can be changed to an appropriate amount by adjusting the rotation speed of the motors 33L and 33R of the pumps 52L and 52R using the transmitter 37 by the spraying operator. It is possible. The rotation speed of the motors 33L and 33R can be controlled by the controller 31 so as to be changed according to the engine rotation speed of the unmanned helicopter 1. That is, it is possible to adjust the spray amount of the chemical solution to an appropriate amount according to the flying speed of the unmanned helicopter 1. Thus, the chemical spraying device 5 can distribute the chemical liquid uniformly by manually or automatically setting the spraying amount of the chemical liquid to an appropriate amount.

  In addition, the particle size and spray area of the chemical sprayed from the central mist nozzle 55C and the left and right mist nozzles 55L and 55R are adjusted by adjusting the rotation speed of the motors 34, 34, and 34 of the blowers 72, 72, and 72. It can be changed arbitrarily.

  Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the central mist nozzle 55C will be described with reference to FIG. The left and right mist nozzles 55L and 55R have the same configuration as that of the central mist nozzle 55C, and thus the description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the central mist nozzle 55 </ b> C includes a nozzle body 71, a blower 72, a nozzle member 73, and a pipe 74. A part of the blower 72, the nozzle member 73, and the pipe 74 is accommodated in the nozzle body 71.

  The nozzle body 71 is a substantially cylindrical member whose axial direction is the vertical direction. The nozzle body 71 is formed such that the lower part is narrowed compared to the upper part, the inner diameter gradually decreases from the middle part in the vertical direction toward the lower side, and the lower opening has a smaller diameter than the upper opening. ing.

  The blower 72 includes a motor 34 and blades 35, and is configured to be able to send wind by rotating the blades 35 by driving the motor 34. In the present embodiment, the blower 72 is configured by integrating the motor 34 and the blades 35. The blower 72 is disposed inside the upper end of the nozzle body 71 and is attached to the nozzle body 71.

  The nozzle member 73 is a member that discharges the chemical liquid into fine particles. The nozzle member 73 is arranged at the axial center (center portion) inside the lower end of the nozzle body 71 so that the discharge section for discharging the chemical solution faces downward and faces the lower opening of the nozzle body 71. It is supported by the main body 71.

  The pipe 74 is composed of a hose or a steel pipe. The pipe 74 is inserted into an opening formed in the middle of the side surface of the nozzle body 71, and one side extends upward from the opening to the outside of the nozzle body 71, and the other side is downward in the nozzle body 71. It is extended toward. One end of the pipe 74 is connected to the substantially lower left and right center of the discharge side pipe 56 c, and the other end is connected to the nozzle member 73. A connection portion of the piping 74 with the nozzle member 73 is fixed to the inner surface of the nozzle main body 71 via the support body 75 so that the axis of the nozzle member 73 coincides with the axis of the nozzle main body 71.

  Below, the operation | movement aspect of the chemical | medical agent spraying apparatus 5 is demonstrated.

  When the spraying operator remotely operates the medicine spraying device 5 to spray the chemical solution using the transmitter 37, the controller 31 uses the motors 33L and 33R of the pumps 52L and 52R and the motors 34 and 34 of the blowers 72, 72, and 72. -Drive 34.

  When the motors 33L and 33R are driven, the chemicals stored in the left and right tanks 51L and 51R are sucked through the left and right pipes 57L and 57R by the left and right pumps 52L and 52R. Then, the chemical liquid is pumped toward the distribution pipe 56 through the left and right pipes 58L and 58R by the left and right pumps 52L and 52R.

  The chemical solution that has been pressure-fed to the distribution pipe 56 through the left and right pipes 58L and 58R once joins at the junction of the distribution pipe 56, and then is a central mist nozzle attached to the substantially lower left and right center of the discharge side pipe 56c. The left mist nozzle 55L attached to the tip of the boom 54L on the left side of the machine body through the pipes 59L and 59R and the right side of the machine body It is supplied to the right mist nozzle 55R attached to the tip of the boom 54R.

  The chemical liquid pressure-fed through the discharge side pipe 56c in the central mist nozzle 55C and the chemical liquid pressure-fed through the pipes 59L and 59R in the left and right mist nozzles 55L and 55R are injected through the pipes 74, 74, and 74 through the nozzle member 73. -It flows to 73 * 73 and it ejects to the exterior from this nozzle member 73 * 73 * 73. At this time, the wind generated by the rotation of the blades 35, 35, 35 driven by the motors 34, 34, 34 of the blowers 72, 72, 72 is moved from the upper side to the lower side in the nozzle bodies 71, 71, 71. That is, it flows toward the side where the nozzle members 73, 73, 73 are present, passes through the side of the nozzle members 73, 73, 73, and flows out from the lower openings of the nozzle bodies 71, 71, 71 to the outside.

  Therefore, the chemical liquid is atomized by the discharge from the nozzle members 73, 73, 73 and the wind sent from the blowers 72, 72, 72, and from the lower openings of the nozzle bodies 71, 71, 71. It will be sprayed to the outside. As a result, the medicinal solution is atomized by the central mist nozzle 55C and the left and right mist nozzles 55L and 55R, and then travels downward from the medicine spraying device 5 attached to the unmanned helicopter 1 in flight. Will be sprayed.

  Here, as described above, the lower portion of the nozzle body 71, 71, 71 is narrowed, and the flow area of the flow path of the wind sent from the blowers 72, 72, 72 is set so that the downstream side becomes smaller than the upstream side. Thus, it is possible to generate a high-speed air flow during blowing. Thereby, a turbulent airflow is generated in the outer peripheral part of the nozzle member 73, 73, 73, and the atomization of the chemical liquid can be promoted.

  As described above, the drug spraying device 5 according to one embodiment of the present invention is a drug spraying device 5 that is mounted on the unmanned helicopter 1 and sprays a chemical solution (medicine) in the air, and tanks 51L and 51R that store the chemical solution. And pumps 52L and 52R that pump the chemicals in the tanks 51L and 51R, and mist nozzles 55C, 55L, and 55R that spray the chemicals fed by the pumps 52L and 52R in a mist form. .

  With this configuration, the chemical solution is sprayed after being atomized by the mist nozzles 55C, 55L, and 55R, and the sprayed chemical solution is more than the chemical solution sprayed from the conventional nozzle type chemical spraying device. It atomizes finely. Further, the discharge pressure from the pumps 52L and 52R can be reduced. Therefore, for example, when the flight speed of the unmanned helicopter 1 is slowed, the chemical liquid can be uniformly distributed over a wide area while reducing the discharge amount of the chemical liquid. That is, compared with the conventional nozzle-type drug spraying device, the range of the flying speed of the unmanned helicopter 1 capable of setting the spraying amount of the chemical liquid to an appropriate amount is expanded, and the chemical liquid is linked to the flight speed within the range. Can be dispersed evenly.

  In addition, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the conventional atomizer type medicine spraying device. That is, the medicine spraying device 5 expands the range of the flight speed of the unmanned helicopter 1 capable of setting the spraying amount of the chemical liquid to an appropriate amount while suppressing the increase in the number of parts, and interlocks with the flight speed within the range. And a chemical | medical solution can be sprayed uniformly. As a result, it becomes possible to easily adjust the spraying amount of the chemical solution to an appropriate amount in conjunction with the flight speed of the unmanned helicopter 1, and the spraying operator can shift the unmanned helicopter 1 in a wider range according to the spraying situation, It is possible to improve the workability when spraying the medicine.

  As described above, in the medicine spraying device 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the mist nozzles 55C, 55L, and 55R are inserted into the cylindrical nozzle body 71 and the nozzle body 71, and the pumps 52L and 52R are inserted. A pipe 74 through which the chemical solution from the nozzle circulates, a nozzle member 73 that is disposed in the nozzle body 71 so as to face one opening thereof, and is connected to the pipe 74, and the other opening side of the nozzle body 71. A blower 72 that sends wind toward the one opening through the nozzle body 71, and the chemical liquid ejected from the nozzle member 73 via the pipe 74 is blown from the blower 72. It sprays from one opening of the said nozzle body 71 after making it disperse- atomize.

  By comprising in this way, the mist nozzle 55C * 55L * 55R can be made into a simple structure, and the reduction of the number of parts can be aimed at.

  As described above, in the medicine spraying device 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the mist nozzle 55C is disposed vertically below the body of the unmanned helicopter 1.

  With this configuration, even when the discharge pressure from the pumps 52L and 52R is changed and the discharge amount of the medicine is changed, the particle size of the medicine discharged from the central mist nozzle 55C is changed. It will not be done. Further, the central mist nozzle 55C is not easily affected by the wind of the main rotor 3 of the unmanned helicopter 1. Therefore, the medicine can be uniformly distributed in a desired region.

  As described above, the medicine spraying device 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes the left and right booms 54L and 54R extending from the body of the unmanned helicopter 1 to the left and right outer sides, and the mist nozzles 55L and 55R are provided. These are attached to the booms 54L and 54R.

  With this configuration, even when the discharge pressure from the pumps 52L and 52R is changed and the discharge amount of the drug is changed, the particle size of the drug discharged from the left and right mist nozzles 55L and 55R is changed. Will not be changed. Therefore, the medicine can be uniformly distributed over a wider area.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Unmanned helicopter 5 Drug distribution apparatus 51L / 51R Tank 52L / 52R Pump 54L / 54R Boom 55C / 55L / 55R Mist nozzle 71 Nozzle body 72 Blower 73 Spout member 74 Piping

Claims (4)

A drug sprayer that is mounted on an unmanned helicopter and sprays drugs in the air,
A tank for storing medicine,
A pump for pumping the medicine in the tank;
A mist nozzle that sprays the medicine pumped by the pump in a mist form,
A medicine spraying device characterized by that. The mist nozzle is
A cylindrical nozzle body;
A pipe that is inserted through the nozzle body and distributes the medicine from the pump;
A nozzle member arranged to face one of the openings in the nozzle body and connected to the pipe,
A blower that is provided on the other opening side of the nozzle body and sends air toward the one opening through the nozzle body;
The medicine sprayed from the nozzle member through the pipe is sprayed from one opening of the nozzle body after being dispersed and atomized by blowing from the blower.
The drug spraying device according to claim 1. The mist nozzle is
Arranged vertically below the unmanned helicopter fuselage,
The drug spraying device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that Comprising left and right booms extending laterally outward from the unmanned helicopter fuselage,
The mist nozzle is
Attached to each boom;
The medicine spraying device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein

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