WO2020234014A1 - Unité de pulvérisation - Google Patents

Unité de pulvérisation Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO2020234014A1
WO2020234014A1 PCT/EP2020/062981 EP2020062981W WO2020234014A1 WO 2020234014 A1 WO2020234014 A1 WO 2020234014A1 EP 2020062981 W EP2020062981 W EP 2020062981W WO 2020234014 A1 WO2020234014 A1 WO 2020234014A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
blade
spray
blades
axle
edge channels
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2020/062981
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Andrew Charles Chapple
Malcolm Faers
Original Assignee
Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bayer Aktiengesellschaft filed Critical Bayer Aktiengesellschaft
Publication of WO2020234014A1 publication Critical patent/WO2020234014A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B05—SPRAYING OR ATOMISING IN GENERAL; APPLYING FLUENT MATERIALS TO SURFACES, IN GENERAL
    • B05B—SPRAYING APPARATUS; ATOMISING APPARATUS; NOZZLES
    • B05B3/00—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements
    • B05B3/02—Spraying or sprinkling apparatus with moving outlet elements or moving deflecting elements with rotating elements
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M7/00—Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
    • A01M7/005—Special arrangements or adaptations of the spraying or distributing parts, e.g. adaptations or mounting of the spray booms, mounting of the nozzles, protection shields
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01M—CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS; APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS
    • A01M7/00—Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass
    • A01M7/005—Special arrangements or adaptations of the spraying or distributing parts, e.g. adaptations or mounting of the spray booms, mounting of the nozzles, protection shields
    • A01M7/006—Mounting of the nozzles
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64D—EQUIPMENT FOR FITTING IN OR TO AIRCRAFT; FLIGHT SUITS; PARACHUTES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF POWER PLANTS OR PROPULSION TRANSMISSIONS IN AIRCRAFT
    • B64D1/00—Dropping, ejecting, releasing, or receiving articles, liquids, or the like, in flight
    • B64D1/16—Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid, or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting
    • B64D1/18—Dropping or releasing powdered, liquid, or gaseous matter, e.g. for fire-fighting by spraying, e.g. insecticides
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64U—UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64U10/00—Type of UAV
    • B64U10/10—Rotorcrafts
    • B64U10/13—Flying platforms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B64—AIRCRAFT; AVIATION; COSMONAUTICS
    • B64U—UNMANNED AERIAL VEHICLES [UAV]; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR
    • B64U30/00—Means for producing lift; Empennages; Arrangements thereof
    • B64U30/20—Rotors; Rotor supports

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a spray unit, and to a vehicle having one or more of the spray units.
  • the general background of this invention is the application of herbicides and pesticides to crops.
  • the spray liquid must be atomised. This is typically done using hydraulic nozzles. A more sophisticated approach is to use spinning discs. Both approaches require specific pumps, pipes, electric motors.
  • the vehicle spraying the herbicide/pesticide is a drone or unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV)
  • UAV unmanned aerial vehicle
  • a spray unit comprising:
  • the axle is configured to rotate about an axis that extends in a longitudinal direction of the axle.
  • the body is connected to the axle.
  • the body is configured to receive liquid from a liquid reservoir.
  • Each blade of the plurality of blades is connected to the body.
  • Each blade of the plurality of blades has a longitudinal axis that extends in a generally radial direction with respect to the axis of the axle.
  • the plurality of blades are angularly spaced radially one from the other around the axis of the axle.
  • Each blade of the plurality of blades comprises a central channel that extends in the longitudinal axis direction of the blade.
  • the central channel is configured to receive liquid from the liquid reservoir via the body.
  • Each blade of the plurality of blades comprises one or more edge channels that extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction of the blade.
  • the one or more edge channels are connected to the central channel, and the one or more edge channels are configured to receive liquid from the central channel.
  • Each edge channel of the one or more edge channels has an open end that is distal to an end connected to the central channel.
  • a rotational spray unit that has a number of rotor blades, where liquid runs within the blades and exits the trailing edges of the blades, thereby efficiently forming liquid droplets as the spray unit rotates.
  • the rotor blades of the spray unit can be configured to provide a downwash of air to entrain the droplets that generated from liquid emitted from the blades as they rotate, and can thus force the droplets into the crop, thereby increasing the efficiency of spraying.
  • the rotor blades of the spray unit can be configured to provide lift, and can augment and/or replace the lift providing normal rotor blades of a UAV, thereby reducing weight of the UAV, that can then fly for longer and/or carry a greater load.
  • the blades in being connected to the body can be connected in a rotational manner, such that if required the angle of attack of the all the blades can be changed to provide lift and the angle of attack can be altered cyclically, analogously to that for a helicopter, in order to provide directed forward motion and/or turning motion without having to move the axle.
  • the axle is configured to receive liquid from the liquid reservoir and communicate that liquid to the body.
  • the blades are equally angularly spaced one from the other.
  • the spray unit is configured to generate aerodynamic lift due to rotation of the body about the axis of the axle.
  • each blade has a shape configured to generate aerodynamic lift.
  • the spray unit is configured such that liquid is emitted from the one or more edge channels for each of the plurality of blades in the form of droplets.
  • the one or more edge channels of a blade comprises a plurality of edge channels, and wherein the central channel and the plurality of edge channels for a blade are configured such that a quantity of liquid flowing down each of the edge channels per unit time is substantially the same.
  • the central channel and the plurality of edge channels for a blade are configured such that the quantity of liquid flowing down each of the edge channels per unit time is substantially the same during rotation of the body about the axis of the axle.
  • the one or more edge channels extend away from the central channel in a direction opposite to an intended rotation direction of the body.
  • the one or more edge channels of each blade extend to a trailing edge of each blade.
  • the trailing edge of each blade comprises at least one portion having serrations and/or extrusions.
  • the trailing edge being formed in this way assists in droplet formation and at the same time limits small droplet production and enables the size distribution to be controlled by the the size and/or shape of the serrations and/or extrusions.
  • a spray vehicle comprising one or more spray units according to the first aspect.
  • the spray vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle.
  • the one or more spray units form one or more rotor blade units for the UAV.
  • the spray vehicle is a land vehicle.
  • Fig. 1 shows a schematic set up of an example of a spray unit
  • Fig. 2 shows a schematic set up of an example of a vehicle comprises a spray unit
  • Fig. 3 shows a representation of parts of an exemplar spray unit.
  • Fig. 1 shows an example of a spray unit 10.
  • the spray unit has an axle 20, a body 30, and a plurality of blades 40.
  • the axle is configured to rotate about an axis that extends in a longitudinal direction of the axle.
  • the body is connected to the axle.
  • the body is configured to receive liquid from a liquid reservoir 50.
  • Each blade of the plurality of blades is connected to the body.
  • Each blade of the plurality of blades has a longitudinal axis that extends in a generally radial direction with respect to the axis of the axle.
  • the plurality of blades are angularly spaced radially one from the other around the axis of the axle.
  • Each blade of the plurality of blades comprises a central channel 60 that extends in the longitudinal axis direction of the blade.
  • the central channel is configured to receive liquid from the liquid reservoir via the body.
  • Each blade of the plurality of blades comprises one or more edge channels 70 that extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis direction of the blade.
  • the one or more edge channels are connected to the central channel.
  • the one or more edge channels are configured to receive liquid from the central channel.
  • Each edge channel of the one or more edge channels has an open end that is distal to an end connected to the central channel.
  • the axle is configured to receive liquid from the liquid reservoir and communicate that liquid to the body.
  • the blades are equally angularly spaced one from the other.
  • the spray unit is configured to generate aerodynamic lift due to rotation of the body about the axis of the axle.
  • each blade has a shape configured to generate aerodynamic lift.
  • the spray unit is configured such that liquid is emitted from the one or more edge channels for each of the plurality of blades in the form of droplets.
  • the one or more edge channels of a blade comprises a plurality of edge channels.
  • the central channel and the plurality of edge channels for a blade are configured such that a quantity of liquid flowing down each of the edge channels per unit time is substantially the same.
  • the central channel and the plurality of edge channels for a blade are configured such that the quantity of liquid flowing down each of the edge channels per unit time is substantially the same during rotation of the body about the axis of the axle.
  • the central channel for each blade is located within the blade.
  • the central channel can be completely within the blade, enabling the blade to have optimized aerodynamic upper and lower surfaces.
  • the central channel can is effect be a tube that runs along a surface of the blade, such as on the bottom surface.
  • the central channel can indeed run along the trailing edge of the blade, and have holes facing
  • the edge channels can be formed by the holes in the wall of the tube of the central channel and have a length substantially equal to a thickness of the tube, in at least one embodiment.
  • the one or more edge channels for a blade are located within the blade.
  • the one or more edge channels extend away from the central channel in a direction opposite to an intended rotation direction of the body.
  • the one or more edge channels of each blade extend to a trailing edge 80 of each blade.
  • the trailing edge of each blade comprises at least one portion having serrations 90 and/or extrusions 100.
  • the extrusions are solid.
  • the extrusions are hollow.
  • Fig. 2 shows an example of a spray vehicle 200 that has one or more spray units 10 as described with respect to Fig. 1.
  • the spray vehicle is an unmanned aerial vehicle.
  • the one or more spray units are configured to provide substantially all of the aerodynamic lift required for aerial operation of the UAV.
  • the one or more spray units form one or more rotor blade units for the UAV.
  • the UAV has no further rotor blade units in addition to the one or more spray units.
  • the spray vehicle is a land vehicle.
  • the spray units provide an effective and efficient manner to spray pesticide, insecticide, and herbicide, and where the spray unit can create a downwash of the required magnitude to entrain the spray droplets and force them into foliage as required.
  • the spray unit and vehicle having one or more spray units are now described in more detail with respect to specific embodiments, where reference is made to Fig. 3. This relates to a spray unit that also provides lift for a UAV that is spray a crop, but as described above the spray unit need not generate lift and can be used with a land based, non-flying vehicle.
  • the drone propellers are themselves used to atomise the liquid.
  • the label“A” signifies a spin direction of the blades, the axle of the rotor blade body by“B”, liquid flow for the blade from a reservoir by“C”.
  • a sheet of liquid that is funnelled to the blade is signified by“D”, channels at the trailing edge of the blade by ⁇ ”, flow to the edge channels by“F”, and the liquid drops are represented at“G”.
  • the propeller blades are made hollow, mounted on a disc body to which the spray liquid is fed.
  • the liquid is channelled into the hollowed out axis of the propeller blade, where one or more channels take the liquid out to the trailing edge of the blade. Centrifugal forces help in feeding the liquid through the blades as they spin, augmented if necessary by an appropriate pumping system.
  • the liquid flow can be turned on and off whilst the propellers spin, and the amount of liquid sprayed can vary for a constant rotation speed.
  • atomisation occurs through breakup of the spray liquid from the extension of the spray liquid ligaments caused by the momentum from the rotation of the blades.
  • the characteristics of spraying from the exit of each channel depend on the size and rotational speed of the propeller, and the position on the pitch of the blade, and the liquid flow rate. This will affect the droplet size distribution generated at that point on the trailing edge of the propeller. It has been found that the size of the central channel can be matched to required spraying characteristics. Thus, the channel can be wider or narrow as required, and can be restricted at one or more positions along its length, to in effect vary a divergence of the channel along its length in real time. Also, the side channels can be sized as required, and can also have variable constrictions. In this way, the amount of liquid reaching the trailing edge can be controlled by through variation of channel widths as required, such that for example larger amounts of liquid reach parts of the blade that are moving faster.
  • the trailing edge of the blade can be clean, serrated, or have extrusions (solid or hollow) to assist droplet formation whilst limiting small droplet production (satellites, etc.).
  • Droplets will have a tendency to be thrown outwards from the blade, like a spinning disc, so a proportion of the blade is clear of droplet generation so that the droplets produced are entrained by the airflow moving down from the rotor blades.
  • the atomisation points along the trailing edge are distributed both in distance from the centre of rotation and atomisation volume to deliver a uniform deposit of product on the target ( e.g ., any crop).
  • the width, angle, and curvature of the blades can be varied as a function of its radial distance from the centre of rotation to optimise both the atomisation of the spray liquid and the uniformity of the spray deposition on the target area.
  • Droplets can be generated by small propellers mounted underneath and between the main lift propellers. These small propellers can be used to generate not only the droplets, but a directed airflow by moving the motors on their axes. Thus, droplet generation, lift, and directional control are all obtained from one unit. Similarly, droplets can be generated from the main drive blades of gyrocopters and helicopters.
  • sets of rotor blades can be located outboard of the main structure of the UAV - thus for example, four rotor blades at extreme comers of a UAV can be used for lift, and manoeuvring of the UAV and also for spraying, with the main body of the UAV at a central position and where the rotor blade units are not directly above the body.

Landscapes

  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Pest Control & Pesticides (AREA)
  • Insects & Arthropods (AREA)
  • Wood Science & Technology (AREA)
  • Zoology (AREA)
  • Environmental Sciences (AREA)
  • Aviation & Aerospace Engineering (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Remote Sensing (AREA)
  • Special Spraying Apparatus (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)

Abstract

La présente invention concerne une unité de pulvérisation (10) comprenant un essieu (20), un corps (30) et une pluralité de pales (40). L'essieu est conçu pour tourner autour d'un axe qui s'étend dans le sens de la longueur de l'essieu. Le corps est relié à l'essieu. Le corps est conçu pour recevoir un liquide provenant d'un réservoir de liquide (50). La pluralité de pales est reliée au corps. Chaque pale de la pluralité de pales possède un axe longitudinal qui s'étend dans une direction généralement radiale par rapport à l'axe de l'essieu. La pluralité de pales sont angulairement espacées radialement les unes des autres autour de l'axe de l'essieu. Chaque pale de la pluralité de pales comprend un canal central (60) qui s'étend dans la direction d'axe longitudinal de la pale. Le canal central est conçu pour recevoir du liquide provenant du réservoir de liquide par l'intermédiaire du corps. Chaque pale de la pluralité de pales comprend un ou plusieurs canaux de bord (70) qui s'étendent dans une direction sensiblement perpendiculaire à la direction d'axe longitudinal de la pale. Le ou les canaux de bord sont reliés au canal central. Le ou les canaux de bord sont conçus pour recevoir du liquide provenant du canal central. Chacun des canaux de bord comporte une extrémité ouverte qui est distale par rapport à une extrémité reliée au canal central.
PCT/EP2020/062981 2019-05-22 2020-05-11 Unité de pulvérisation WO2020234014A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP19175900 2019-05-22
EP19175900.0 2019-05-22

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2020234014A1 true WO2020234014A1 (fr) 2020-11-26

Family

ID=66676196

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PCT/EP2020/062981 WO2020234014A1 (fr) 2019-05-22 2020-05-11 Unité de pulvérisation

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Country Link
WO (1) WO2020234014A1 (fr)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022033712A1 (fr) * 2020-08-12 2022-02-17 Airial Robotics GmbH Véhicule aérien sans pilote ayant au moins un rotor pour des opérations de pulvérisation agricole

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2954932A (en) * 1957-10-08 1960-10-04 Albano Alphonso Frank Aerial sprinkler
US3381922A (en) * 1961-01-18 1968-05-07 Laing Nikolaus Captive helicopter
GB1447369A (en) * 1973-02-13 1976-08-25 Johnson & Johnson Apparatus for producing a fluid-in-liquid dispersion
WO2017106376A1 (fr) * 2015-12-18 2017-06-22 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Traitements de pales d'hélice pour contrôle du son
WO2019130317A1 (fr) * 2017-12-31 2019-07-04 Centro De Innovacion Tecnologica Empresarial Y Social (Cites) S.A. Rotor de pulvérisation

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2954932A (en) * 1957-10-08 1960-10-04 Albano Alphonso Frank Aerial sprinkler
US3381922A (en) * 1961-01-18 1968-05-07 Laing Nikolaus Captive helicopter
GB1447369A (en) * 1973-02-13 1976-08-25 Johnson & Johnson Apparatus for producing a fluid-in-liquid dispersion
WO2017106376A1 (fr) * 2015-12-18 2017-06-22 Amazon Technologies, Inc. Traitements de pales d'hélice pour contrôle du son
WO2019130317A1 (fr) * 2017-12-31 2019-07-04 Centro De Innovacion Tecnologica Empresarial Y Social (Cites) S.A. Rotor de pulvérisation

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2022033712A1 (fr) * 2020-08-12 2022-02-17 Airial Robotics GmbH Véhicule aérien sans pilote ayant au moins un rotor pour des opérations de pulvérisation agricole

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