WO2021170790A1 - Modular ventilator - Google Patents

Modular ventilator Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2021170790A1
WO2021170790A1 PCT/EP2021/054810 EP2021054810W WO2021170790A1 WO 2021170790 A1 WO2021170790 A1 WO 2021170790A1 EP 2021054810 W EP2021054810 W EP 2021054810W WO 2021170790 A1 WO2021170790 A1 WO 2021170790A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ventilator
modular
modules
gas flow
housing
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2021/054810
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Marc Guy POLLEUNIS
Original Assignee
Agrofrost Nv
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 Agrofrost Nv filed Critical Agrofrost Nv
Publication of WO2021170790A1 publication Critical patent/WO2021170790A1/en

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Classifications

    • 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
    • A01M21/00—Apparatus for the destruction of unwanted vegetation, e.g. weeds
    • A01M21/04—Apparatus for destruction by steam, chemicals, burning, or electricity

Definitions

  • the technical field relates to ventilators configured for generating a gas flow, as well as a method for manufacturing such ventilators.
  • the technical field also relates to apparatus and methods making use of such ventilators, in particular apparatus and methods for treating crops, more specifically combatting undesired crops by means of thermal treatment with a gas flow generated by a ventilator and heated to a suitable temperature for combatting undesired crops.
  • Ventilators that are used in apparatus where a gas flow, or air flow, has to be generated over a certain length, and where the length of the corresponding length of the ventilator has to be adjusted as a function of for example the type of apparatus, deal with the problem that it is difficult to guarantee a desired distribution of the generated air flow over the entire length of the ventilator with such a variation of the length of the ventilator, independently from the specific length of the ventilator.
  • length means here the largest distance of a section of the air flow, transversal with respect to the direction of the generated airflow. It is clear that this differs from the distance over which the generated air flow is blown from the outlet opening to a certain point located at this distance from the outlet opening and where the generated air flow is to be blown to.
  • problems arise upon a change of their length to also realize this desired distribution of the generated air flow with a similar configuration.
  • a method and an apparatus for thermally combatting crops is known from WO2019/115820, where a ventilator is disposed between the burner and the outlet channel of an outlet opening so that the ventilator, during operation, draws the heated gas from the burner and discharges it to the exhaust channel and exhibits thereby a flame extinguishing action.
  • a ventilator is disposed between the burner and the outlet channel of an outlet opening so that the ventilator, during operation, draws the heated gas from the burner and discharges it to the exhaust channel and exhibits thereby a flame extinguishing action.
  • the ventilator is not disposed between the burner and the exhaust channel, but upstream with respect to the burner, so that the risk of open flames reduces. This is particularly relevant for an apparatus which is meant to be disposed on or at a vehicle, where there is the need of an apparatus with a width varying according to the desired application.
  • a ventilator comprising a rotor configured to rotate about a central axis of rotation and a housing disposed around the rotor, the modulator comprising two or more ventilator modules, said ventilator modules comprising:
  • a rotor comprising a central axis of rotation and multiple blades configured to rotate about the central axis of rotation for generating a gas flow
  • a housing disposed around the rotor comprising: an inlet opening for supplying a gas flow to the rotor; and an outlet opening for discharging a gas flow generated by the rotor, wherein the central axes of rotation of the two or more ventilator modules are aligned with the central axis of rotation of the modular ventilator; and wherein the housing of the modular ventilator comprises a common housing configured to form the housing of two or more of the ventilator modules.
  • the length of the modular ventilator may be adjusted in a simple manner by adjusting the number of ventilator modules. This allows for such a modular ventilator to be applied in a simple manner in applications where a ventilator with a similar action, but with a variation in the required length of the ventilator.
  • a modular ventilator is provided, wherein:
  • the respective ventilator modules extend over a certain length according to the direction of the axis of rotation of the ventilator module
  • the ventilator is configured so that the length of the ventilator is determined according to the central axis of rotation as a function of the length of the two or more ventilator modules of the ventilator.
  • This allows for the desired length of the modular ventilator to be determined in a simple manner by means of the employed ventilator modules.
  • a modular ventilator is provided, the length of the ventilator being configured by determining the number of ventilator modules.
  • This allows for different variants of the modular ventilator to be manufactured based on the ventilator modules in a simple, modular manner. In this way, a large variety of modular ventilator modules may be manufactured by making use of ventilator modules having a limited variation. Preferably, only one or two different types of ventilator modules are used to assemble such modular ventilators with different lengths.
  • a modular ventilator is provided, the modular ventilator having a common drive, configured to drive two or more of the ventilator modules. [12] In this way, a simple drive of the modular ventilator may be realized.
  • a modular ventilator comprising blades which are separate with regard to the blades of the rotors of adjacent ventilator modules.
  • the length of the modular ventilator may be adjusted at will, without having a large impact on the efficiency and distribution of the generated air flow by the individual modules.
  • the use of a common housing allows for an efficient manufacturing and alignment of the ventilator modules, wherein the modularity may be maintained.
  • the generated airflow of each of the ventilator modules maintains therein the desired and/or expected characteristics regardless of variation in the total length of the modular ventilator.
  • a modular ventilator wherein nearby ventilator modules comprise inlet openings and/or outlet openings separated by their housing, respectively. [17] In this way, a distribution of the drawn in and generated gas flow is realized in a robust and reliable manner for each of the ventilator modules, and the distribution of the generated air flow is affected less by a variation of the length of the modular ventilator since the ventilator modules each keep exhibiting a separate and predictable action for their part of the length of the ventilator, independent from the number of ventilator modules.
  • a modular ventilator comprising:
  • At least one common outlet opening comprising a sequence of multiple outlet openings of nearby ventilator modules configured to blow a gas flow in a same flow direction;
  • At least one separate outlet opening comprising a separate outlet opening of a ventilator module configured to blow a gas flow in a particular flow direction.
  • a modular ventilator is provided, one or more of the ventilator modules being of the following type:
  • an apparatus for combatting undesired crops by means of a heated gas flow, comprising a modular ventilator for generating a gas flow according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein:
  • the apparatus further comprises a burner configured to heat a gas flow supplied to the modular ventilator;
  • the modular ventilator comprises one or more outlet openings configured to guide the heated gas flow to the crops to be combatted.
  • the apparatus is configured to be moved according to a particular direction of movement during operation along undesired crops, and wherein the axis of rotation of the modular ventilator extends transversally with respect to this direction of movement, and wherein the length of the modular ventilator is determined as a function of the desired width of the apparatus transverse with respect to the direction of movement.
  • an apparatus comprising a wall, the wall comprising an opening connecting to at least one outlet opening of the modular ventilator so that the heated gas flow is guided through the opening to the crops to be combatted, and wherein the wall is configured so that:
  • the wall is heated by the heated gas flow after it was guided from the at least one outlet opening to the crops to be combatted.
  • the crops are located at the ground under the apparatus and the plate extends substantially parallel to the ground during operation of the apparatus.
  • the plate is then preferably positioned at such level above the ground, that contact with at least a part of the crops to be combatted is still possible.
  • the ventilator and the burner are positioned above this place, so that this plate may be brought as close as possible to the crop to be combatted.
  • an apparatus wherein the wall further comprises a recirculation opening, configured to form a passage to an inlet opening of the burner and/or the modular ventilator so that at least a portion of the heated gas flow may be supplied back to the burner and/or the modular ventilator after it was guided from the at least one outlet opening to the crops to be combatted.
  • an apparatus comprising one or more flexible elements configured to:
  • a method for producing a modular ventilator according to the first aspect characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:
  • housing of the modular ventilator comprising a common housing configured to form the housing of two or more of the ventilator modules.
  • FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a modular ventilator in a assembled view in a partially opened state
  • Figure 2 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 , in an exploded view, in a partially opened state as well;
  • FIG. 3 to 5 show a top view, a bottom view and a side view of the embodiment in the state of Figure 1 , respectively;
  • Figure 6 shows a similar perspective view in a different orientation than Figure 1 ;
  • FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of a lid for the housing of the embodiment of Figure 1 in a similar perspective view as Figure 1 ;
  • FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of embodiment of an apparatus for combatting undesired crops with a modular ventilator similar to the embodiment of Figure 1 ;
  • Figure 9 shows a side view of the embodiment of Figure 8.
  • FIG. 10 shows a cross section according to the line X-X in Figure 8.
  • Figure 11 shows an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 8.
  • FIG. 12 shows a bottom view of the embodiment of Figure 8.
  • FIG. 13 to 16 show variant embodiments of a modular ventilator in a top view similar to that of Figure 3.
  • FIG. 1 and Figure 2 show an embodiment of a modular ventilator 100.
  • the modular ventilator 100 according to the embodiment comprises a rotor 120 configured to rotate about a central axis of rotation 110.
  • this is realized according to the embodiment by means of a elongated central drive axis 152, which is supported rotatably by means of a suitable bearing 114 in a suitable manner to a housing 130 or frame.
  • a suitable bearing 114 is depicted to keep the Figures clear, it is clear that according to such an exemplary embodiment a similar bearing 114 may be present at both sides of such a central elongated drive axis 152, as for example depicted in the view of Figure 3.
  • any suitable bearing of the central drive axis 152 is possible, for example in or at the housing 130 or any suitable frame, or for example by means of a suitable bearing of a drive coupled to the central drive axis 152, ... . It is therein clear that the central axis of rotation 110 forms the central pivot axis or longitudinal axis for the rotor 120 of the ventilator 100.
  • Figure 1 and Figure 2 show schematically an exploded view and an assembled view of the modular ventilator in a partially opened state, wherein a part of the housing 130 is not depicted to make a partial view on the inside of the housing 130 possible as a function of a clear view of the various parts of the embodiment modular ventilator 100.
  • These additional parts of the housing 130 will be depicted and described in more detail using following Figures and corresponding description.
  • the depicted embodiment of the modular ventilator 100 comprises five ventilator modules 200. It is clear that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein the modular ventilator 100 comprises a different suitable number of ventilator modules 200, however, the modular ventilator 100 comprises preferably two or more, for example three, four, five, six, seven, ... ventilator modules 200. As described in more detail further on, the individual ventilator modules 200 of the modular ventilator 100 are disposed aligned, or in other words, two or more ventilator modules 200 of the modular ventilator 100 comprise each a central axis of rotation 210 which is aligned with the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100.
  • each of the ventilator modules 200 comprise a rotor 220.
  • Each rotor 220 of such a ventilator module 200 comprises a central axis of rotation 210 and multiple blades 222.
  • the rotor 220 comprises blades 222, also vanes or wings, which extend radially, it is however clear that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein the blades 222 extend in any suitable manner, wherein they are generally configured to rotate about the central axis of rotation 210 for generating a gas flow.
  • the gas flow generated by the rotor 220 of the ventilator module 220 is supplied to the rotor 220 via an inlet opening 232 in a housing 230 of the ventilator module 200 disposed around the rotor 220.
  • the gas flow generated by the rotor 220 of the ventilator module 200 is then discharged via an outlet opening 234 of the ventilator module 200.
  • the axes of rotation 210 of the ventilator modules 200 are aligned with the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100. In other words, the axes of rotation 210 of the ventilator modules 200 substantially coincide with the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100.
  • the ventilator modules 200 are disposed next to each other in the direction of the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100.
  • the total length 140 of the modular ventilator in the direction of the axis of rotation 110 is, according to the depicted exemplary embodiment, determined by the sum of the lengths 240 according to the axis of rotation 210 of the individual ventilator modules 200 which are disposed axially next to each other as depicted. It is clear that in this way the total length 140 of the ventilator 100 according to the central axis 110 is determined as a function of the length 240 of the multiple ventilator modules 200 of the ventilator 100.
  • the desired length 130 of the modular ventilator 100 may be determined by for example varying the number of ventilator modules 200.
  • the entire length 140 of the modular ventilator is thus determined as, or in function of, a multiple of the length 240 of the ventilator modules 200 which the modular ventilator 100 comprises.
  • the modular ventilator 100 does not necessarily have to comprise all identical ventilator modules 200 and similar to that one depicted in the exemplary embodiment and may comprise a number of ventilator modules 200 having an equal length 240 and/or one or more ventilator modules 200 of which the length 240 differs from the length 240 of the other ventilator modules 200.
  • the depicted embodiment comprises four ventilator modules 202 which are similar, as well as a fifth ventilator module 204 which differs from these four other ventilator modules by for example a different orientation of its rotor 220, as well as a different length 240, ... .
  • the total length 140 of the modular ventilator 100 is according to such embodiments larger than or equal to the sum of the lengths 240 of the ventilator modules 200.
  • the length of the modular ventilator 100 is substantially equal to the length of the rotor 120 in the direction of the central axis of rotation 110.
  • the length of the rotor 120 of the modular ventilator 100 is, as depicted, determined by the sum of the lengths 240 of the rotors 240 of the ventilator modules 200.
  • the drive 150 of the modular ventilator 100 comprises one single drive axis 152 substantially extending over the entire length 140 of the modular ventilator 100.
  • the drive 250 of the respective ventilator modules 200 is then according to the depicted exemplary embodiment comprised thus formed by this common drive axis 152 of the drive 150 of the modular ventilator 100.
  • a common drive 150 comprises a common actuator 154 configured to drive the drive axis 152 in a suitable manner.
  • the actuator 154 comprises for example a suitable hydraulic actuator, it is however clear that alternative embodiments with any suitable actuator are possible, such as for example an electric actuator such as for example a suitable electromotor, a mechanical actuator, such as for example a suitable belt drive, ... .
  • the depicted exemplary embodiment comprises in this way a common drive 150 for all ventilator modules 200. It is furthermore clear that the drive axes 252 of the respective ventilator modules 200 exist of the part of the common drive axis 152 which extends at the level of the respective ventilator module 200. In other words, the drive axes 252 of the ventilator modules 200 connect to each other in a direction of the central axis of rotation 210 and form in this way together the drive axis 152 with the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100.
  • the drive axis 152 of the modular ventilator 100 consists of a one-part axis extending over the entire length 140 of the modular ventilator 100, it is clear that alternative exemplary embodiments are possible.
  • the drive axis 152 of the modular ventilator 100 may for example comprise an axis having multiple segments coupled to each other.
  • one segment per ventilator module 200 may be provided, wherein the ventilator modules 200 for example every drive axis 252 of a ventilator 200 forms an individual segment of the drive axis 152 of the modular ventilator 100, and wherein the drive axes 152 of adjacently disposed ventilator modules 200 are coupled in a suitable manner to each other, for example by means of a suitable permanent or removable connection, such as for example a welded connection, a connection with suitable connection element or coupling element, ... .
  • a suitable permanent or removable connection such as for example a welded connection, a connection with suitable connection element or coupling element, ... .
  • the rotors 220 of the individual ventilator modules 200 may be regarded as separate, to that extent that the blades 222 of the ventilator modules 200 disposed on the common drive axis 152, 252 are separate.
  • the individual rotors 220 of the individual ventilator modules 200 comprise blades 222 which are separate with respect to the blades 222 of the rotors 220 of adjacent ventilator modules 200.
  • the individual rotors 220 of the ventilator modules 200 comprise a common drive axis
  • the set of blades 222 of the rotor 200 of the ventilator modules 200 comprises six blades 222 which are evenly disposed about axis of rotation 210 and extend radially from the central drive axis 252. According to the depicted exemplary embodiment, these blades 222 are also disposed on circular attachment plate 224 extending transversally with respect to the axis of rotation 210, which forms a unit together with the set of six blades 222 which is disposed for each rotor 220 of the ventilator modules 200 on the common drive axis 152.
  • the rotor modules 200 also comprise individual drive axes 152, which are for example connected to each other in a suitable manner, so that they may be driven by a common drive 150, or wherein the set of blades 222 of the ventilator modules 200 comprise a different suitable form, orientation, ... .
  • the depicted exemplary embodiment in which individual sets of blades 222 for the rotor modules 200 are combined with a common drive axis 152 ensures a simple and robust embodiment of the modular ventilator 100, since a common drive may be realized in a simple manner by the common drive axis 152, and wherein for example the number of bearing points may be limited to both ends of the common drive axis 152.
  • Adjusting the length of such a common drive axis 152 as a function of the desired length of the modular ventilator 100 is moreover a simple operation.
  • the sets of the blades 222 may then, as in the depicted exemplary embodiment, be disposed individually at the desired position on the drive axis 152.
  • the set of blades 222 of a ventilator module 200 is grouped by means of the circular attachment plate 224, it is however clear that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein the blades 222 of a ventilator module 200 may be attached in a suitable manner as a set.
  • the modular ventilator 100 comprises a common housing 132.
  • the housing 130 of the modular ventilator 100 is configured to form the housing 230 of two or more of the ventilator modules 200.
  • the housing 132 of the four identical ventilator modules 202 which are depicted at the left side in this view, form such a common housing 132, forming the housing 230 of these four ventilator modules 202.
  • the housing 130 of the modular ventilator 100 comprises also an embodiment of a separate modular housing 136 for the separate ventilator module, in the view depicted at the right.
  • ventilator modules 200 comprise a common housing and/or all ventilator modules 200 comprise a individual modular housing. It is clear that still further embodiments are possible in which any suitable combination of ventilator modules having a common and/or individual housing is present.
  • the modular ventilator 100 as depicted in Figures 1 to 12 comprises several individual inlet openings 232 and outlet opening 234 for the ventilator modules 200.
  • nearby ventilator modules 200 comprise inlet openings 232 and/or outlet openings 234 separated by their housing 230, respectively.
  • the common housing 132 comprises five inlet openings 232 for the five ventilator modules 202 of this common housing 132, as well as for the fifth adjacent ventilator module 204.
  • These inlet openings 232 are formed by an axial inlet opening about the central axis of rotation 210 which is disposed in a wall of the housing 230 disposed transversally with respect to the central axis of rotation 210.
  • This means for the four ventilator modules 202 this means for the four ventilator modules 202 an inlet opening 232 in the right wall 2302 of the housing 230 in the state as depicted in Figures 1 and 2.
  • the opposite left wall 2304 of the housing 230 of an adjacent ventilator module 200 comprises according to the depicted exemplary embodiment no such inlet opening 232.
  • Only the rightmost ventilator module 204 also comprises an inlet opening 232 which is disposed in the transverse wall opposite of the transverse wall having the inlet opening of the nearby ventilator module.
  • the inlet opening 232 of the respective ventilator modules is disposed in the respective ventilator modules in any suitable orientation and or in any suitable housing 230 of the ventilator module.
  • the inlet opening of the nearby ventilator modules 200 are disposed separated from each other, this means in a separate part of the housing 130 of the modular ventilator 100. In this way, a consistent operation of the individual ventilator modules 200 may be guaranteed, regardless of their variation in number and the corresponding variation in length of the modular ventilator 100.
  • the common housing 232 comprises a radial passage 233 to axial inlet openings 232 connected to the inlet opening 232.
  • the housing 230 of the ventilator modules 200 each comprise a transverse wall 2302 in which the inlet opening 232 is disposed an opposite transverse wall 2304 in which no inlet opening is disposed, wherein these transverse walls 2302, 2304 are disposed transversally with respect to the central axis of rotation 210. It is furthermore also clear that opposing transverse walls of ventilator modules located next to each other, are disposed at a certain minimum distance of each other, for example in the range of 5% up to 50% of the length 240 of the respective ventilator module 200.
  • the embodiment of the housing 230 if the depicted ventilator modules 200 comprises furthermore a rotor casing 2306 disposed about the rotor 220 and extend axially between both transverse walls 2302, 2304, and surrounding the rotor 220 of the ventilator module 200 at least partially.
  • An outlet opening 234 is disposed in these rotor casings 2306 and between the transverse walls 2302, 2304 for the ventilator modules 202, as may be seen. It is clear, for example from Figures 1 - 12, that also these outlet openings 234 of adjacent ventilator modules 200 are separated from each other by the housing 230 of the rotor modules 200.
  • the separation between two nearby outlet openings 234 is formed by means of the transverse walls 2302, 2304 of the housing 230 of the rotor modules 202, it is however clear that alternative embodiments are possible, in which the outlet openings 234 are at least partly separated from nearby outlet openings 234 of nearby ventilator modules 200.
  • the outlet openings 234 are disposed aligned in the direction of the central axis of rotation 110. This means that the outlet openings 234 form together a sequence of elongate outlet openings 234 extending in the direction of the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100.
  • a common elongate outlet opening 236 is formed in this way for these four ventilator modules 202 consisting of the sequence of these outlet openings 234 of these ventilator modules 202 and extended over the aggregation of the lengths 240 of these ventilator modules 202, which means in this embodiment four times the length 240 of these ventilator modules 202.
  • the common outlet opening 236 extending over the length of multiple ventilator modules 202 generates a gas flow over substantially the entire length 146 of this common outlet opening 236. It is therein furthermore also clear that this gas flow generated by these ventilator modules 202 of the modular ventilator is blown from this common outlet opening 236 in a same discharge direction 347.
  • the length 146 of such a common discharge flow opening 236 may be determined by means of selecting the desired number of ventilator modules 202 of which the outlet openings 234 together form the common outlet opening 236. As described in more detail further on, this means in the orientation depicted in Figures 1 and 2 a downward discharge direction 237, transverse with respect to the direction of the central axis of rotation 110.
  • the depicted exemplary embodiment also comprises a separate ventilator module 204 having a separate outlet opening 238 configured to blow the generated gas flow of this separate ventilator module 204 in a different discharge direction 239, which is directed to the side in the depicted exemplary embodiment of Figure 8, substantially according to the direction of the central axis of rotation 110.
  • a separate ventilator module 204 having a separate outlet opening 238 configured to blow the generated gas flow of this separate ventilator module 204 in a different discharge direction 239, which is directed to the side in the depicted exemplary embodiment of Figure 8, substantially according to the direction of the central axis of rotation 110.
  • the ventilator modules 200 are of the centrifugal ventilator type, in which the gas flow is guided past an axial central inlet opening 232 in the housing towards the rotor 220, which accelerates the gas flow and forces it radially further from the central axis of rotation 110 to a radial eccentrical outlet opening 234 where the generated air flow is blown out.
  • the advantageous of the depicted type of ventilator module 200 is that both the housing and the rotor keep functioning particularly robustly and reliably, even under conditions where the risk exists that for example contamination, such as dust, crop material, branches, ... may be present in the drawn gas flow.
  • the blades of the rotor and the shape of the housing allow to undergo such contamination without unacceptable deformations. Additionally, accumulation of such contamination in the housing 230 is prevented and it causes such contamination to be forced in the direction of and through the outlet opening 234 as well.
  • such a modular ventilator 100 may be manufactured simply by providing two or more of said ventilator modules 200, wherein the central axes of rotation 210 of the two or more ventilator modules 200 are aligned with the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100.
  • FIGS 8- 12 show different views of an apparatus 10 for combatting undesired crops by means of a heated gas flow 20.
  • the apparatus 10 comprises a modular ventilator 100 for generating a gas flow similar to that described above. Similar elements are referred to with similar references and function in a similar manner as described above. It is clear in the depicted embodiment that the housing 130 of the modular ventilator 100 is now in a closed state, wherein the removable lid 134 is attached to complete the common housing 132 of the four ventilator modules 202 having a common housing 132. It is clear that this removable lid 134 completes the rotor casing and the transverse walls of the housings 230 of these ventilator modules.
  • the housing 130 comprises a completion of the housing 230 of the individual ventilator module 204. It is clear that his housing differs in shape and outlet opening 230 from the housings 230 of the other ventilator modules 202. Similar to that known from for example WO2019/115820, the apparatus 10 comprises furthermore a burner 30 configured to heat a gas flow 22 being supplied to the modular ventilator 100. Although alternative embodiments are possible in which the burner is disposed downstream of the ventilator 100, it is, as known from WO2019/115820, advantageous to dispose the burner upstream of the ventilator 100 so that the ventilator 100 exhibits a flame extinguishing action reducing the risk of fire while combatting undesired crops or plants, such as for example weed.
  • the burner, the ventilator, the outlet opening and the outlet channel and their relative position, as well as their action as known from WO 2019/115820 are hereby incorporated by reference.
  • a modular ventilator 100 in an apparatus 10 for combatting undesired crops is advantageous since such apparatus 10 have to generate a heated air flow 20 heating a particular strip of crops to be combatted.
  • Such an apparatus is for example attached on or to a suitable vehicle which moves the apparatus 10 according to a certain direction of movement D, as schematically indicated by arrow D.
  • the modular ventilator 100 according to the depicted embodiment comprises on the one hand a common outlet opening 236 guiding the heated air flow 20 downwards, in other words downwards to the crops at the ground surface beneath the common outlet opening 236 of the ventilator modules 202.
  • the discharge direction 237 of the heated air flow 20 from these common outlet openings 236 is thus, in the depicted state, directed downwards, preferably under an angle in the range of 90° +/- 20°, preferably 90° +/- 5° with respect to the ground surface.
  • This ground surface may for example be a ground surface between two rows of fruit trees, vines, a pavement, an unpaved path, ... where undesired plants such as weed or grass have to be combatted.
  • the width of the strip of the ground surface to be treated will sometimes vary, this means the distance according to the width direction W along the ground surface and transverse with respect to the direction of movement D as indicated by arrow W.
  • this width W will have to be adjusted to the distance between two nearby rows of vines, in an orchard to the distance between two rows of trees, on a pavement, an unpaved road, a sidewalk of a street, ... the desired width will maybe also correspond to the width of the pavement, the road, a lane, a gutter, ... .
  • a modular ventilator 100 as described above offers the advantage to adjust the width of the apparatus 10 in a simple manner in function of the desired application by means of adjusting the length 140 of the modular ventilator 100 based on for example the number of disposed ventilator modules 200. In this way, a large variation of apparatus 100 may be manufactured, by means of a more limited variation in the employed ventilator modules 200.
  • the effective action of the modular ventilator 100 will not be subject to adjusting its length as described above.
  • the common outlet opening 236 now comprises a sequence of outlet openings 234 extending along the direction of the axis of rotation 110 of two, three, four, five, six or more ventilator modules 200, each of the outlet opening 234 of these ventilator modules 200 will keep generating a desired gas flow having the desired discharge and the desired flow rate for optimally combatting the crops over the full width W.
  • the apparatus 10 is configured to be moved along undesired crops in action according to a certain direction of movement D.
  • the axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100 of the apparatus 10 extends therein transversally with respect to this direction of movement D.
  • the length 140 of the modular ventilator 100 may be determined in a simple manner in function of the desired width W of the apparatus 10 transversally with respect to the direction of movement D. As described above, determining the length 140 may occur by means of selecting the desired number of ventilator modules 200 which are disposed next to each other according to the direction of the axis of rotation 110.
  • the length 146 of the common outlet opening 236 according to the direction of the axis of rotation 110, forming part of the length 140 of the ventilator 100, or according to alternative embodiments corresponds to the length 140 of the ventilator 100, may be determined by selecting the desired number of ventilator modules 200.
  • the depicted embodiment also comprises a fifth ventilator module 204 comprising a different outlet opening 238 from the four other ventilator modules 202 of the modular ventilator 100 of the apparatus.
  • this ventilator module 204 comprises an outlet opening 238 blowing the heated gas flow 20 coming from this ventilator module 200 sideways, transversally with respect to the drive direction D, according to the discharge direction 239 from a side of the apparatus 10 via a separate discharge channel 260.
  • This allows for example to treat undesired crops between tree trunks, vines, at the edge of a pavement, ... located next to the apparatus 10 while transporting the apparatus according to the direction of movement 10.
  • This allows for an efficient and flexible treatment of the undesired crops in proximity of such hard to reach places when the apparatus 10 is for example disposed on a suitable vehicle.
  • each ventilator module 200 connected to or being part of the outlet opening 234 may comprise a suitable discharge channel for supplying the heated gas flow 20 according to a desired direction to the crops to be combatted.
  • the embodiment depicted in the Figures is more an embodiment suitable for attachment to a vehicle, it is clear that variants are also possible which are executed portable or transportable by an operator.
  • a suitable burner 30 may be employed, for example making use of a burner coupled to a controller, for example by means of a suitable temperature sensor and/or a controllable valve, pressure controller, ... for the gas supply, so that the controller may automatically control the burner 30 at a desired temperature.
  • a temperature of 385°C is chosen, since this causes an efficient combat of most crops, with a reduced risk of self-ignition, embodiments are however possible in which the temperature is variable between 150°C and 400°C wherein the operator may control the temperature of the heated ambient air depending on the conditions and the crop to be combatted.
  • the ventilator 200 is preferably configured to reach a rotational speed at which the pressure of the supplied gas flow, or in other words the supplied air flow, is raised by at least 0.05 bar, preferably in the range of 0.1 to 2 bar.
  • the ventilator 200 is furthermore preferably configured to bring the flow rate of the generated gas flow, or in other words the generated air flow 20, to a value in the range of 0.3 m 3 /s up to and including 7 m 3 /s.
  • a sensor operably connected with the controller which is disposed in the gas flow generated by the ventilator and configured to monitor the pressure and/or discharge of the gas flow generated by the ventilator.
  • the controller is configured to only activate the burner 30 if the pressure or the discharge of the gas flow generated by the ventilator 100 is larger than a determined threshold value.
  • the controller is additionally preferably configured to deactivate the burner again if the pressure and/or the discharge of the gas flow generated by the ventilator 100 is smaller than the determined threshold value.
  • the gas flow 20 generated by the ventilator 100 comprises mainly ambient air, it is however clear that the gas flow may also comprise other gases, such as for example combustion gases from the burner 30.
  • the burner 30 may be executed as any type suitable gas burner, such as for example a gas burner operable on propane, however according to alternative embodiments any other type gas burner making use of a suitable gaseous fuel, such as for example butane, natural gas, etc. may be employed. However, other types of burners operable to combust a liquid or solid fuel are possible as well.
  • the burner 30 comprises preferably a gas burner disposed in the housing 40 of the apparatus 10. The embodiment of this gas burner 30 functions preferably similarly to the gas burner known from BE1024480 and/or BE2019/5617, which are incorporated by reference herein.
  • the burner 30 comprises a housing 40 for a combustion chamber to which ambient air 24 is supplied via suitable inlet openings 48 as for example depicted and where the supplied gas, for example propane gas, is burnt by the burner 30 in order to raise the temperature of the ambient air to a desired value.
  • the supplied gas for example propane gas
  • heated ambient air 24 is in this way supplied to the modular ventilator 100 as a gas flow 22 by the burner 30.
  • a recirculation of the gas flow 26 may for example be implemented by supplying at least part of the heated gas flow 20 which was blown by the ventilator 100 to the crops to be combatted via for example a recirculation opening 46 in the housing 40 of the combustion chamber of the burner 30 to be in this way reheated and added to the gas flow 22 which is supplied to the modular ventilator 100.
  • the recirculation opening 46 also functions as outlet opening 48 of the housing 40 of the burner 30 for supplying the gas flow to the burner 30 and then to the inlet openings 232 of the ventilator 100. It is clear that other variant embodiments are possible in which the apparatus 10 comprises a burner 30 configured to heat a gas flow 22 which is supplied to the modular ventilator 100.
  • the apparatus 10 comprises preferably a wall 42 which may contact the crops to be combatted and which may be heated by the heated gas flow 20 after being blown from at least one of the outlet openings 234 of the modular ventilator.
  • this wall consists of a substantially horizontal wall 42, which is for example executed as a suitable metal plate, which is for example part of or disposed on the housing 40 of the apparatus 10.
  • the wall 42 forms according to the depicted embodiment a lower wall of the apparatus 10 on top of which for example the modular ventilator 100 and/or the burner 30 are disposed.
  • the wall 42 comprises thereby an opening 44 connecting to the common outlet opening 236 of the modular ventilator 100 so that the heated gas flow 20 is guided to the crops to be combatted through this opening 44.
  • the wall 42 is preferably disposed at a distance from the ground surface sufficiently small so that contact of the wall 42 with the crops to be combatted is possible.
  • the wall 42 is held for example at a distance of 2 cm to 50 cm, preferably 5 cm to 25 cm, for example 15 cm +/- 5 cm from the ground surface.
  • the wall 42 which is for example manufactured from a suitable metal, such as for example steal, is heated by the heated gas flow 20 after it was guided from the common outlet opening 236 to the crops to be combatted.
  • the wall 42 furthermore preferably comprises a recirculation opening 46.
  • This recirculation opening 46 forms a passage 46 to the inlet opening of the burner 30 and then the modular ventilator 100 so that at least part of the heated gas flow 20 may be guided back to the burner 30 and the modular ventilator 100 after it was guided from the common outlet opening 236 to the crops to be combatted.
  • it is advantageous to limit this gas flow beneath the wall 42 for example by means of the downward edges around the walls 42 as depicted. According to the depicted embodiment, hooks are disposed on these downward edges for attaching flexible elements 60, as only schematically depicted in Figure 10.
  • These flexible elements may be disposed around the wall 42 as a kind of shield to be able to limit the gas flow beneath the wall 42 at least partially.
  • These flexible elements 60 may for example be a suitable flap or cloth, however also semi closed elements, such as for example a collection of chains or a fabric or curtain manufactured from metal rings or fibers, ... .
  • Such flexible elements are advantageous because they may limit the heated gas flow 20 at the level of the apparatus 10, but may also be heated by the heated gas flow 20.
  • these flexible elements also allow for contact with the crops to be combatted, whereby they may also impart thermal damage to the crops to be combatted apart from mechanical damage and therefore increase the effectiveness of the apparatus.
  • FIG. 13 to 16 illustrate alternative embodiments, as well as a corresponding alternative method for manufacturing such a modular ventilator 100, for example for use in an apparatus 10 similar to that described above.
  • the views show a top view similar to that in Figure 3.
  • the modular ventilator 100 comprises two ventilator modules 200 disposed next to each other and comprising as depicted similar to Figure 3 a radial passage 233 to an inlet opening, to then blow the generated air flow via an outlet opening directed downwards.
  • each of the ventilator modules comprises an own separate housing and an own rotor.
  • the length of the ventilator modules 240 is for example 12.5 cm.
  • the length 140 of the modular ventilator 100 will be twice the length of the ventilator modules 240, this means 25 cm. It is clear that, for example similar to what is described above with regard to the ventilator modules comprising a common downward directed outlet opening, both downward directed outlet openings of the ventilator modules 200 of the embodiment of Figure 13 form such a common downward directed outlet opening distributing the desired generated gas flow in a desired manner over the length of the modular ventilator 140 as well.
  • Figure 14 shows an embodiment having similar ventilator modules 200 having a length 240 of 12.5 cm such as in Figure 13, however here four ventilator modules 200 are disposed next to and connected to each other, similar to those in Figure 13. It is clear that in this way a modular ventilator 100 having a length 140 of 100 cm is formed, i.e. four times the length 240 of the ventilator modules 200 comprising each their own housing, connecting to the housing of the nearby ventilator modules 200. In manufacturing, four rotors for each of the ventilator modules 200 are disposed on a drive axis aligned with the axis of rotation 110.
  • FIG 15 shows a variant having six ventilator modules 200 to realize for example a modular ventilator 100 having a length of 75 cm.
  • Figure 16 shows schematically that further variants are possible in which any other suitable number of ventilator modules 200 may be employed, such as for example eight for a length 140 of 100 cm, 10 for a length of 125 cm, ... . It is thereby clear, as described above, that the desired air flow is generated by each of the ventilator modules 200 regardless of the width of the modular ventilator 100. This allows furthermore to use the same dimensions for the ventilator modules 200 every time, even if the width increases. This is advantageous, since, in known ventilators, the diameter typically increases substantially at a larger length.
  • Limiting the dimensions of the ventilator is for example advantageous in use in an apparatus 10 such as described above in an environment in which a limited height of the apparatus 10 is advantageous, such as for example in a vineyard, an orchard, ... where low hanging branches are present under which the apparatus 10 has to be employed for combatting undesired crops.
  • the housing was depicted as manufactured from a suitable plate material, for example suitable metal plates, such as steel plates, ... it is according to variant embodiments possible to manufacture the housing and the rotors of the ventilator modules and/or other portions of the housing of the apparatus completely or partly as a molded structure, for example molded from a suitable metals such as for example aluminum or cast iron. Aluminum is therein advantageous due to its low weight.
  • housings may for example be employed for the ventilator modules which differ slightly depending on their position.
  • ventilator modules 200 may be disposed at the outer ends according to the direction of the longitudinal axis 100, this means in the depicted view at the left and/or right, configure as end piece ventilator modules 200 and comprising for example a suitable support for the drive axis. There between may then, depending on the desired numberof ventilator modules, a suitable numberof middle part ventilator modules 200 be disposed, which for example do not comprise support.
  • a common drive axis may drive the individual ventilator modules disposed next to each other, and that thereby only the length of this drive axis has to be adjusted to the desired length of the modular ventilator 100, which is a simple operation. Additionally it is easier to estimate the required driving power for such a modular ventilator 100 at increasing length of the modular ventilator, and remains in a surprising manner lower than the increase of the required driving power of known ventilators 100 at a similarly increasing length.

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Abstract

A modular ventilator (100) is described of which the central axes of rotation (210) of two or more ventilator modules (200) are aligned with the central axis of rotation (110) of the modular ventilator (100).

Description

MODULAR VENTILATOR
TECHNICAL FIELD [01] The technical field relates to ventilators configured for generating a gas flow, as well as a method for manufacturing such ventilators. The technical field also relates to apparatus and methods making use of such ventilators, in particular apparatus and methods for treating crops, more specifically combatting undesired crops by means of thermal treatment with a gas flow generated by a ventilator and heated to a suitable temperature for combatting undesired crops.
STATE OF THE ART
[02] Ventilators that are used in apparatus where a gas flow, or air flow, has to be generated over a certain length, and where the length of the corresponding length of the ventilator has to be adjusted as a function of for example the type of apparatus, deal with the problem that it is difficult to guarantee a desired distribution of the generated air flow over the entire length of the ventilator with such a variation of the length of the ventilator, independently from the specific length of the ventilator. Thus, length means here the largest distance of a section of the air flow, transversal with respect to the direction of the generated airflow. It is clear that this differs from the distance over which the generated air flow is blown from the outlet opening to a certain point located at this distance from the outlet opening and where the generated air flow is to be blown to. In other words, for ventilators with a certain length and configured to generate a desired distribution of the generated air flow over their length, problems arise upon a change of their length to also realize this desired distribution of the generated air flow with a similar configuration.
[03] Furthermore, a method and an apparatus for thermally combatting crops is known from WO2019/115820, where a ventilator is disposed between the burner and the outlet channel of an outlet opening so that the ventilator, during operation, draws the heated gas from the burner and discharges it to the exhaust channel and exhibits thereby a flame extinguishing action. Although such an embodiment is advantageous since a high discharge may be obtained in an efficient manner, the need remains also here for a more efficient and more robust apparatus which may be produced in a more flexible manner. [04] Furthermore, there is also still the need for the safety of apparatus wherein the ventilator is not disposed between the burner and the exhaust channel, but upstream with respect to the burner, so that the risk of open flames reduces. This is particularly relevant for an apparatus which is meant to be disposed on or at a vehicle, where there is the need of an apparatus with a width varying according to the desired application.
SUMMARY [05] For this purpose, according to the invention a ventilator is provided comprising a rotor configured to rotate about a central axis of rotation and a housing disposed around the rotor, the modulator comprising two or more ventilator modules, said ventilator modules comprising:
- a rotor comprising a central axis of rotation and multiple blades configured to rotate about the central axis of rotation for generating a gas flow;
- a housing disposed around the rotor comprising: an inlet opening for supplying a gas flow to the rotor; and an outlet opening for discharging a gas flow generated by the rotor, wherein the central axes of rotation of the two or more ventilator modules are aligned with the central axis of rotation of the modular ventilator; and wherein the housing of the modular ventilator comprises a common housing configured to form the housing of two or more of the ventilator modules.
[06] In this way, the length of the modular ventilator may be adjusted in a simple manner by adjusting the number of ventilator modules. This allows for such a modular ventilator to be applied in a simple manner in applications where a ventilator with a similar action, but with a variation in the required length of the ventilator.
[07] According to an embodiment, a modular ventilator is provided, wherein:
- the respective ventilator modules extend over a certain length according to the direction of the axis of rotation of the ventilator module; and
- the ventilator is configured so that the length of the ventilator is determined according to the central axis of rotation as a function of the length of the two or more ventilator modules of the ventilator. [08] This allows for the desired length of the modular ventilator to be determined in a simple manner by means of the employed ventilator modules. [09] According to a further embodiment, a modular ventilator is provided, the length of the ventilator being configured by determining the number of ventilator modules. [10] This allows for different variants of the modular ventilator to be manufactured based on the ventilator modules in a simple, modular manner. In this way, a large variety of modular ventilator modules may be manufactured by making use of ventilator modules having a limited variation. Preferably, only one or two different types of ventilator modules are used to assemble such modular ventilators with different lengths.
[11] According to a further embodiment, a modular ventilator is provided, the modular ventilator having a common drive, configured to drive two or more of the ventilator modules. [12] In this way, a simple drive of the modular ventilator may be realized.
[13] According to a further embodiment, a modular ventilator is provided, the rotors of the ventilator modules comprising blades which are separate with regard to the blades of the rotors of adjacent ventilator modules.
[14] In this way, the length of the modular ventilator may be adjusted at will, without having a large impact on the efficiency and distribution of the generated air flow by the individual modules. [15] The use of a common housing allows for an efficient manufacturing and alignment of the ventilator modules, wherein the modularity may be maintained. The generated airflow of each of the ventilator modules maintains therein the desired and/or expected characteristics regardless of variation in the total length of the modular ventilator.
[16] According to a further embodiment, a modular ventilator is provided, wherein nearby ventilator modules comprise inlet openings and/or outlet openings separated by their housing, respectively. [17] In this way, a distribution of the drawn in and generated gas flow is realized in a robust and reliable manner for each of the ventilator modules, and the distribution of the generated air flow is affected less by a variation of the length of the modular ventilator since the ventilator modules each keep exhibiting a separate and predictable action for their part of the length of the ventilator, independent from the number of ventilator modules.
[18] According to a further embodiment, a modular ventilator is provided, the modular ventilator comprising:
- at least one common outlet opening comprising a sequence of multiple outlet openings of nearby ventilator modules configured to blow a gas flow in a same flow direction; and/or
- at least one separate outlet opening comprising a separate outlet opening of a ventilator module configured to blow a gas flow in a particular flow direction.
[19] This allows not only to adjust the desired length of the modular ventilator in a modular wat without thereby affecting the generated gas flow of the individual modules, but also to adjust the length and direction of the generated gas flows in a simple, reliable and robust manner.
[20] According to an advantageous embodiment, a modular ventilator is provided, one or more of the ventilator modules being of the following type:
- a centrifugal ventilator.
[21] This ensures a robust ventilator module that is resistant against contamination from, for example, dust, crop material, branches, ... .
[22] According to a second aspect, an apparatus is provided for combatting undesired crops by means of a heated gas flow, comprising a modular ventilator for generating a gas flow according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein:
- the apparatus further comprises a burner configured to heat a gas flow supplied to the modular ventilator; and
- the modular ventilator comprises one or more outlet openings configured to guide the heated gas flow to the crops to be combatted.
[23] This allows for such an apparatus to be manufactured and assembled in a simple and efficient manner. Such an apparatus also allows to realize a controlled distribution of the generated air flow of the different ventilator modules to the desired locations having crops to be combatted.
[24] According to an embodiment, the apparatus is configured to be moved according to a particular direction of movement during operation along undesired crops, and wherein the axis of rotation of the modular ventilator extends transversally with respect to this direction of movement, and wherein the length of the modular ventilator is determined as a function of the desired width of the apparatus transverse with respect to the direction of movement. [25] In this way, the desired spread of the generated air flow may be realized in a reliable manner, notwithstanding variations in the width, for example depending on the desired application of the apparatus.
[26] According to a further embodiment, an apparatus is provided comprising a wall, the wall comprising an opening connecting to at least one outlet opening of the modular ventilator so that the heated gas flow is guided through the opening to the crops to be combatted, and wherein the wall is configured so that:
- contact of the wall with the crops to be combatted is possible; and
- the wall is heated by the heated gas flow after it was guided from the at least one outlet opening to the crops to be combatted.
[27] In this way, an even more efficient combatting of the crops is realized since not only thermal effects of the heated gas flow act on the crops, but also the mechanical and thermal impact of the heated wall which may contact the crops to be combatted.
[28] Typically, the crops are located at the ground under the apparatus and the plate extends substantially parallel to the ground during operation of the apparatus. The plate is then preferably positioned at such level above the ground, that contact with at least a part of the crops to be combatted is still possible. According to an embodiment, the ventilator and the burner are positioned above this place, so that this plate may be brought as close as possible to the crop to be combatted.
[29] According to a further embodiment, an apparatus is provided wherein the wall further comprises a recirculation opening, configured to form a passage to an inlet opening of the burner and/or the modular ventilator so that at least a portion of the heated gas flow may be supplied back to the burner and/or the modular ventilator after it was guided from the at least one outlet opening to the crops to be combatted.
[30] At least partially recirculating this heated gas flow causes a more efficient energy consumption in generating the heated air flow.
[31] According to a further embodiment, an apparatus is provided, the apparatus further comprising one or more flexible elements configured to:
- delimit the heated gas flow at the level of the apparatus;
- be heated by the heated gas flow; and/or
- allow for contact with the crops to be combatted.
[32] This allows for an efficient combatting of the crops to be combatted by delimiting the heated gas flow to a particular zone so that the heated gas flow may act optimally on the crops to be combatted, and to optimize the recirculation of the heated gas flow and/or the heating of the wall. On the other hand, mechanical contact with the crops to be combatted by flexible elements for example positioned in the heated gas flow and also heated there may give rise to a more efficient combatting of the crops as well.
[33] According to a third aspect, a method is provided for producing a modular ventilator according to the first aspect, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:
- providing two or more of said ventilator modules, wherein the central axes of rotation of the two or more ventilator modules are aligned with the central axis of rotation of the modular ventilator;
- providing said housing of the modular ventilator comprising a common housing configured to form the housing of two or more of the ventilator modules.
[34] This allows to produce in a simple and efficient manner a robust ventilator capable of producing a desired distribution of the generated gas flow at different lengths by positioning the individual ventilator modules along the length of the modular ventilator. It is clear that this allows for a similar method of manufacturing an apparatus according to the second aspect having a modular ventilator according to the first aspect as well.
[35] It is clear that numerous of variant embodiments, as well as combinations hereof are possible which fall under the scope as determined in the claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[36] Some exemplary embodiments are clarified by means of example using the following Figures:
- Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a modular ventilator in a assembled view in a partially opened state;
- Figure 2 shows the embodiment of Figure 1 , in an exploded view, in a partially opened state as well;
- Figures 3 to 5 show a top view, a bottom view and a side view of the embodiment in the state of Figure 1 , respectively;
- Figure 6 shows a similar perspective view in a different orientation than Figure 1 ;
- Figure 7 shows an embodiment of a lid for the housing of the embodiment of Figure 1 in a similar perspective view as Figure 1 ;
- Figure 8 shows a perspective view of embodiment of an apparatus for combatting undesired crops with a modular ventilator similar to the embodiment of Figure 1 ;
- Figure 9 shows a side view of the embodiment of Figure 8;
- Figure 10 shows a cross section according to the line X-X in Figure 8;
- Figure 11 shows an exploded view of the embodiment of Figure 8;
- Figure 12 shows a bottom view of the embodiment of Figure 8; and
- Figure 13 to 16 show variant embodiments of a modular ventilator in a top view similar to that of Figure 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[37] Figure 1 and Figure 2 show an embodiment of a modular ventilator 100. As may be seen, the modular ventilator 100 according to the embodiment comprises a rotor 120 configured to rotate about a central axis of rotation 110. As may be seen, this is realized according to the embodiment by means of a elongated central drive axis 152, which is supported rotatably by means of a suitable bearing 114 in a suitable manner to a housing 130 or frame. Although in Figures 1 and 2 only one bearing 114 is depicted to keep the Figures clear, it is clear that according to such an exemplary embodiment a similar bearing 114 may be present at both sides of such a central elongated drive axis 152, as for example depicted in the view of Figure 3. It is however clear that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein any suitable bearing of the central drive axis 152 is possible, for example in or at the housing 130 or any suitable frame, or for example by means of a suitable bearing of a drive coupled to the central drive axis 152, ... . It is therein clear that the central axis of rotation 110 forms the central pivot axis or longitudinal axis for the rotor 120 of the ventilator 100.
[38] Figure 1 and Figure 2 show schematically an exploded view and an assembled view of the modular ventilator in a partially opened state, wherein a part of the housing 130 is not depicted to make a partial view on the inside of the housing 130 possible as a function of a clear view of the various parts of the embodiment modular ventilator 100. These additional parts of the housing 130 will be depicted and described in more detail using following Figures and corresponding description.
[39] As may be seen, the depicted embodiment of the modular ventilator 100 comprises five ventilator modules 200. It is clear that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein the modular ventilator 100 comprises a different suitable number of ventilator modules 200, however, the modular ventilator 100 comprises preferably two or more, for example three, four, five, six, seven, ... ventilator modules 200. As described in more detail further on, the individual ventilator modules 200 of the modular ventilator 100 are disposed aligned, or in other words, two or more ventilator modules 200 of the modular ventilator 100 comprise each a central axis of rotation 210 which is aligned with the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100.
[40] As may be seen in the depicted embodiment of Figure 1 and Figure 2, and described in more detail further on, each of the ventilator modules 200 comprise a rotor 220. According to the depicted exemplary embodiment, this means that five rotors 220 of the five ventilator modules 200 are depicted. Each rotor 220 of such a ventilator module 200 comprises a central axis of rotation 210 and multiple blades 222. According to the depicted embodiment, the rotor 220 comprises blades 222, also vanes or wings, which extend radially, it is however clear that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein the blades 222 extend in any suitable manner, wherein they are generally configured to rotate about the central axis of rotation 210 for generating a gas flow.
[41] The gas flow generated by the rotor 220 of the ventilator module 220 is supplied to the rotor 220 via an inlet opening 232 in a housing 230 of the ventilator module 200 disposed around the rotor 220. The gas flow generated by the rotor 220 of the ventilator module 200 is then discharged via an outlet opening 234 of the ventilator module 200. [42] It is clear from Figure 2 that the axes of rotation 210 of the ventilator modules 200 are aligned with the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100. In other words, the axes of rotation 210 of the ventilator modules 200 substantially coincide with the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100. Additionally it is clear that the ventilator modules 200 are disposed next to each other in the direction of the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100. In other words, the total length 140 of the modular ventilator in the direction of the axis of rotation 110 is, according to the depicted exemplary embodiment, determined by the sum of the lengths 240 according to the axis of rotation 210 of the individual ventilator modules 200 which are disposed axially next to each other as depicted. It is clear that in this way the total length 140 of the ventilator 100 according to the central axis 110 is determined as a function of the length 240 of the multiple ventilator modules 200 of the ventilator 100. In other words, the desired length 130 of the modular ventilator 100 may be determined by for example varying the number of ventilator modules 200. According to a particular embodiment, the entire length 140 of the modular ventilator is thus determined as, or in function of, a multiple of the length 240 of the ventilator modules 200 which the modular ventilator 100 comprises. It is clear that the modular ventilator 100 does not necessarily have to comprise all identical ventilator modules 200 and similar to that one depicted in the exemplary embodiment and may comprise a number of ventilator modules 200 having an equal length 240 and/or one or more ventilator modules 200 of which the length 240 differs from the length 240 of the other ventilator modules 200.
[43] It is clear that alternative embodiments are possible wherein the ventilator modules 200 are not disposed immediately next to each other, but wherein for example in the direction of the axis of rotation 110 a certain distance exists between two adjacent ventilator modules. It is clear that in such case the total length 140 of the modular ventilator 100 will be larger than the sum of the lengths 240 of ventilator modules 200 comprised in it.
[44] It is furthermore clear, as for example depicted in Figure 1 and Figure 2 and clarified in more detail further on, that all ventilator modules 200 of which the modular ventilator 100 consists do not necessarily have to be identical. As may be seen, the depicted embodiment comprises four ventilator modules 202 which are similar, as well as a fifth ventilator module 204 which differs from these four other ventilator modules by for example a different orientation of its rotor 220, as well as a different length 240, ... . [45] In other words, the total length 140 of the modular ventilator 100 is according to such embodiments larger than or equal to the sum of the lengths 240 of the ventilator modules 200. As may be seen, the length of the modular ventilator 100 according to the depicted exemplary embodiment is substantially equal to the length of the rotor 120 in the direction of the central axis of rotation 110. The length of the rotor 120 of the modular ventilator 100 is, as depicted, determined by the sum of the lengths 240 of the rotors 240 of the ventilator modules 200. It is clear that, according to the depicted exemplary embodiment, the drive 150 of the modular ventilator 100 comprises one single drive axis 152 substantially extending over the entire length 140 of the modular ventilator 100. The drive 250 of the respective ventilator modules 200 is then according to the depicted exemplary embodiment comprised thus formed by this common drive axis 152 of the drive 150 of the modular ventilator 100. According to the depicted exemplary embodiment, as for example further described using the views of Figure 3 to Figure 12, such a common drive 150 comprises a common actuator 154 configured to drive the drive axis 152 in a suitable manner. According to the depicted exemplary embodiment, the actuator 154 comprises for example a suitable hydraulic actuator, it is however clear that alternative embodiments with any suitable actuator are possible, such as for example an electric actuator such as for example a suitable electromotor, a mechanical actuator, such as for example a suitable belt drive, ... .
[46] It is clear that the depicted exemplary embodiment comprises in this way a common drive 150 for all ventilator modules 200. It is furthermore clear that the drive axes 252 of the respective ventilator modules 200 exist of the part of the common drive axis 152 which extends at the level of the respective ventilator module 200. In other words, the drive axes 252 of the ventilator modules 200 connect to each other in a direction of the central axis of rotation 210 and form in this way together the drive axis 152 with the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100. Although according to the depicted exemplary embodiment, the drive axis 152 of the modular ventilator 100 consists of a one-part axis extending over the entire length 140 of the modular ventilator 100, it is clear that alternative exemplary embodiments are possible. The drive axis 152 of the modular ventilator 100 may for example comprise an axis having multiple segments coupled to each other. According to such an exemplary embodiment, for example one segment per ventilator module 200 may be provided, wherein the ventilator modules 200 for example every drive axis 252 of a ventilator 200 forms an individual segment of the drive axis 152 of the modular ventilator 100, and wherein the drive axes 152 of adjacently disposed ventilator modules 200 are coupled in a suitable manner to each other, for example by means of a suitable permanent or removable connection, such as for example a welded connection, a connection with suitable connection element or coupling element, ... . It is clear that also other variant exemplary embodiments are possible in which for example two or more of the ventilator modules 200, but not all ventilator modules comprise a common drive axis and/or a common drive, and/or in which the modular ventilator 100 comprises multiple drives 150 each respectively configured to drive one or more ventilator modules 200.
[47] According to the depicted exemplary embodiment of the rotor 120 of the modular ventilator, it is clear that the rotors 220 of the individual ventilator modules 200 may be regarded as separate, to that extent that the blades 222 of the ventilator modules 200 disposed on the common drive axis 152, 252 are separate. This means that according to such an embodiment, the individual rotors 220 of the individual ventilator modules 200 comprise blades 222 which are separate with respect to the blades 222 of the rotors 220 of adjacent ventilator modules 200. Or in other words, that in the direction of the central axis of rotation 110 there is a certain distance between the blades 222 of the rotors 220 of adjacent ventilator modules 200. In the depicted exemplary embodiments, wherein the individual rotors 220 of the ventilator modules 200 comprise a common drive axis, this means that as a function of the desired length of the modular ventilator 100 a desired number of sets of blades 222 is disposed on the common drive axis 152 at various locations along the central axis of rotation 110. According to the depicted exemplary embodiment, there are for example five sets of blades 222 disposed on the common central drive axis 152. It is clear that according to the depicted exemplary embodiment, the set of blades 222 of the rotor 200 of the ventilator modules 200, as depicted, comprises six blades 222 which are evenly disposed about axis of rotation 210 and extend radially from the central drive axis 252. According to the depicted exemplary embodiment, these blades 222 are also disposed on circular attachment plate 224 extending transversally with respect to the axis of rotation 210, which forms a unit together with the set of six blades 222 which is disposed for each rotor 220 of the ventilator modules 200 on the common drive axis 152. It is clear that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein for example the rotor modules 200 also comprise individual drive axes 152, which are for example connected to each other in a suitable manner, so that they may be driven by a common drive 150, or wherein the set of blades 222 of the ventilator modules 200 comprise a different suitable form, orientation, ... . However, the depicted exemplary embodiment in which individual sets of blades 222 for the rotor modules 200 are combined with a common drive axis 152 ensures a simple and robust embodiment of the modular ventilator 100, since a common drive may be realized in a simple manner by the common drive axis 152, and wherein for example the number of bearing points may be limited to both ends of the common drive axis 152. Adjusting the length of such a common drive axis 152 as a function of the desired length of the modular ventilator 100 is moreover a simple operation. The sets of the blades 222 may then, as in the depicted exemplary embodiment, be disposed individually at the desired position on the drive axis 152. As depicted, it is advantageous if the set of blades 222 of the rotor 220 of the ventilator modules 200 may be attached on the drive axis 152 as one unit. According to the depicted exemplary embodiment, the set of blades 222 of a ventilator module 200 is grouped by means of the circular attachment plate 224, it is however clear that alternative embodiments are possible, wherein the blades 222 of a ventilator module 200 may be attached in a suitable manner as a set.
[48] According to the depicted exemplary embodiment in Figure 1 and for example also in Figure 11 , the modular ventilator 100 comprises a common housing 132. This means that the housing 130 of the modular ventilator 100 is configured to form the housing 230 of two or more of the ventilator modules 200. According to the depicted exemplary embodiment of Figure 1 and 2, it is clear that the housing 132 of the four identical ventilator modules 202, which are depicted at the left side in this view, form such a common housing 132, forming the housing 230 of these four ventilator modules 202. As may be seen further on in more detail in Figures 3 - 12, the housing 130 of the modular ventilator 100 comprises also an embodiment of a separate modular housing 136 for the separate ventilator module, in the view depicted at the right. It is clear that alternative embodiments are possible, in which for example all ventilator modules 200 comprise a common housing and/or all ventilator modules 200 comprise a individual modular housing. It is clear that still further embodiments are possible in which any suitable combination of ventilator modules having a common and/or individual housing is present.
[49] It is furthermore clear that the modular ventilator 100 as depicted in Figures 1 to 12 comprises several individual inlet openings 232 and outlet opening 234 for the ventilator modules 200. This means, that, according to such an embodiment, nearby ventilator modules 200 comprise inlet openings 232 and/or outlet openings 234 separated by their housing 230, respectively. According to the depicted exemplary embodiment, the common housing 132 comprises five inlet openings 232 for the five ventilator modules 202 of this common housing 132, as well as for the fifth adjacent ventilator module 204. These inlet openings 232 are formed by an axial inlet opening about the central axis of rotation 210 which is disposed in a wall of the housing 230 disposed transversally with respect to the central axis of rotation 210. This means for the four ventilator modules 202 this means for the four ventilator modules 202 an inlet opening 232 in the right wall 2302 of the housing 230 in the state as depicted in Figures 1 and 2. The opposite left wall 2304 of the housing 230 of an adjacent ventilator module 200 comprises according to the depicted exemplary embodiment no such inlet opening 232. Only the rightmost ventilator module 204 also comprises an inlet opening 232 which is disposed in the transverse wall opposite of the transverse wall having the inlet opening of the nearby ventilator module. It is clear that alternative embodiments are possible, in which the inlet opening 232 of the respective ventilator modules is disposed in the respective ventilator modules in any suitable orientation and or in any suitable housing 230 of the ventilator module. Preferably the inlet opening of the nearby ventilator modules 200 are disposed separated from each other, this means in a separate part of the housing 130 of the modular ventilator 100. In this way, a consistent operation of the individual ventilator modules 200 may be guaranteed, regardless of their variation in number and the corresponding variation in length of the modular ventilator 100. As may be seen, the common housing 232 comprises a radial passage 233 to axial inlet openings 232 connected to the inlet opening 232. It is clear that according to the depicted exemplary embodiment the housing 230 of the ventilator modules 200 each comprise a transverse wall 2302 in which the inlet opening 232 is disposed an opposite transverse wall 2304 in which no inlet opening is disposed, wherein these transverse walls 2302, 2304 are disposed transversally with respect to the central axis of rotation 210. It is furthermore also clear that opposing transverse walls of ventilator modules located next to each other, are disposed at a certain minimum distance of each other, for example in the range of 5% up to 50% of the length 240 of the respective ventilator module 200. The embodiment of the housing 230 if the depicted ventilator modules 200 comprises furthermore a rotor casing 2306 disposed about the rotor 220 and extend axially between both transverse walls 2302, 2304, and surrounding the rotor 220 of the ventilator module 200 at least partially. An outlet opening 234 is disposed in these rotor casings 2306 and between the transverse walls 2302, 2304 for the ventilator modules 202, as may be seen. It is clear, for example from Figures 1 - 12, that also these outlet openings 234 of adjacent ventilator modules 200 are separated from each other by the housing 230 of the rotor modules 200. This also allows to realize the desired discharge of the gas flow distributed over the length of the modular ventilator 100 in a robust and reliable manner at a variation of the length of the modular ventilator 100. As may be seen, according to this embodiment the separation between two nearby outlet openings 234 is formed by means of the transverse walls 2302, 2304 of the housing 230 of the rotor modules 202, it is however clear that alternative embodiments are possible, in which the outlet openings 234 are at least partly separated from nearby outlet openings 234 of nearby ventilator modules 200.
[50] As may be seen in Figure 1 and Figure 2, the outlet openings 234 according to the depicted embodiment are disposed aligned in the direction of the central axis of rotation 110. This means that the outlet openings 234 form together a sequence of elongate outlet openings 234 extending in the direction of the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100. According to the depicted exemplary embodiment, a common elongate outlet opening 236 is formed in this way for these four ventilator modules 202 consisting of the sequence of these outlet openings 234 of these ventilator modules 202 and extended over the aggregation of the lengths 240 of these ventilator modules 202, which means in this embodiment four times the length 240 of these ventilator modules 202. It is clear that the common outlet opening 236 extending over the length of multiple ventilator modules 202 generates a gas flow over substantially the entire length 146 of this common outlet opening 236. It is therein furthermore also clear that this gas flow generated by these ventilator modules 202 of the modular ventilator is blown from this common outlet opening 236 in a same discharge direction 347. Similarly to what is described above with regard to the length 140 of the modular ventilator 100, also the length 146 of such a common discharge flow opening 236 may be determined by means of selecting the desired number of ventilator modules 202 of which the outlet openings 234 together form the common outlet opening 236. As described in more detail further on, this means in the orientation depicted in Figures 1 and 2 a downward discharge direction 237, transverse with respect to the direction of the central axis of rotation 110.
[51] As described in more detail further on, for example using Figure 8, the depicted exemplary embodiment also comprises a separate ventilator module 204 having a separate outlet opening 238 configured to blow the generated gas flow of this separate ventilator module 204 in a different discharge direction 239, which is directed to the side in the depicted exemplary embodiment of Figure 8, substantially according to the direction of the central axis of rotation 110. It is however clear that alternative embodiments are possible in which any suitable combination of such common outlet openings 236 of multiple ventilator modules 200 and/or separate outlet openings of separate ventilator modules 200 are possible; and/or according to the same and/or a different discharge direction are possible.
[52] It is furthermore possible that according to the depicted exemplary embodiment the ventilator modules 200 are of the centrifugal ventilator type, in which the gas flow is guided past an axial central inlet opening 232 in the housing towards the rotor 220, which accelerates the gas flow and forces it radially further from the central axis of rotation 110 to a radial eccentrical outlet opening 234 where the generated air flow is blown out. The advantageous of the depicted type of ventilator module 200 is that both the housing and the rotor keep functioning particularly robustly and reliably, even under conditions where the risk exists that for example contamination, such as dust, crop material, branches, ... may be present in the drawn gas flow. The blades of the rotor and the shape of the housing allow to undergo such contamination without unacceptable deformations. Additionally, accumulation of such contamination in the housing 230 is prevented and it causes such contamination to be forced in the direction of and through the outlet opening 234 as well.
[53] It is furthermore also clear that such a modular ventilator 100 may be manufactured simply by providing two or more of said ventilator modules 200, wherein the central axes of rotation 210 of the two or more ventilator modules 200 are aligned with the central axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100.
[54] Figures 8- 12 show different views of an apparatus 10 for combatting undesired crops by means of a heated gas flow 20. According to the depicted embodiment, the apparatus 10 comprises a modular ventilator 100 for generating a gas flow similar to that described above. Similar elements are referred to with similar references and function in a similar manner as described above. It is clear in the depicted embodiment that the housing 130 of the modular ventilator 100 is now in a closed state, wherein the removable lid 134 is attached to complete the common housing 132 of the four ventilator modules 202 having a common housing 132. It is clear that this removable lid 134 completes the rotor casing and the transverse walls of the housings 230 of these ventilator modules. Furthermore, the housing 130 comprises a completion of the housing 230 of the individual ventilator module 204. It is clear that his housing differs in shape and outlet opening 230 from the housings 230 of the other ventilator modules 202. Similar to that known from for example WO2019/115820, the apparatus 10 comprises furthermore a burner 30 configured to heat a gas flow 22 being supplied to the modular ventilator 100. Although alternative embodiments are possible in which the burner is disposed downstream of the ventilator 100, it is, as known from WO2019/115820, advantageous to dispose the burner upstream of the ventilator 100 so that the ventilator 100 exhibits a flame extinguishing action reducing the risk of fire while combatting undesired crops or plants, such as for example weed. The burner, the ventilator, the outlet opening and the outlet channel and their relative position, as well as their action as known from WO 2019/115820 are hereby incorporated by reference.
[55] The use of a modular ventilator 100 in an apparatus 10 for combatting undesired crops is advantageous since such apparatus 10 have to generate a heated air flow 20 heating a particular strip of crops to be combatted. Such an apparatus is for example attached on or to a suitable vehicle which moves the apparatus 10 according to a certain direction of movement D, as schematically indicated by arrow D. The modular ventilator 100 according to the depicted embodiment comprises on the one hand a common outlet opening 236 guiding the heated air flow 20 downwards, in other words downwards to the crops at the ground surface beneath the common outlet opening 236 of the ventilator modules 202. The discharge direction 237 of the heated air flow 20 from these common outlet openings 236 is thus, in the depicted state, directed downwards, preferably under an angle in the range of 90° +/- 20°, preferably 90° +/- 5° with respect to the ground surface. This ground surface may for example be a ground surface between two rows of fruit trees, vines, a pavement, an unpaved path, ... where undesired plants such as weed or grass have to be combatted. Depending on the desired application, the width of the strip of the ground surface to be treated will sometimes vary, this means the distance according to the width direction W along the ground surface and transverse with respect to the direction of movement D as indicated by arrow W. In a vineyard for example, this width W will have to be adjusted to the distance between two nearby rows of vines, in an orchard to the distance between two rows of trees, on a pavement, an unpaved road, a sidewalk of a street, ... the desired width will maybe also correspond to the width of the pavement, the road, a lane, a gutter, ... . It is clear that a modular ventilator 100 as described above offers the advantage to adjust the width of the apparatus 10 in a simple manner in function of the desired application by means of adjusting the length 140 of the modular ventilator 100 based on for example the number of disposed ventilator modules 200. In this way, a large variation of apparatus 100 may be manufactured, by means of a more limited variation in the employed ventilator modules 200. Furthermore, the effective action of the modular ventilator 100 will not be subject to adjusting its length as described above. For an embodiment, similar to that described above, if the common outlet opening 236 now comprises a sequence of outlet openings 234 extending along the direction of the axis of rotation 110 of two, three, four, five, six or more ventilator modules 200, each of the outlet opening 234 of these ventilator modules 200 will keep generating a desired gas flow having the desired discharge and the desired flow rate for optimally combatting the crops over the full width W. It is however clear that numerous variant embodiments are possible, wherein similar to that described above, the apparatus 10 is configured to be moved along undesired crops in action according to a certain direction of movement D. The axis of rotation 110 of the modular ventilator 100 of the apparatus 10 extends therein transversally with respect to this direction of movement D. In this way, the length 140 of the modular ventilator 100 may be determined in a simple manner in function of the desired width W of the apparatus 10 transversally with respect to the direction of movement D. As described above, determining the length 140 may occur by means of selecting the desired number of ventilator modules 200 which are disposed next to each other according to the direction of the axis of rotation 110. Similar to that described above for the length of the ventilator 100, as in the depicted embodiment the length 146 of the common outlet opening 236 according to the direction of the axis of rotation 110, forming part of the length 140 of the ventilator 100, or according to alternative embodiments corresponds to the length 140 of the ventilator 100, may be determined by selecting the desired number of ventilator modules 200.
[56] It is furthermore also clear that the depicted embodiment also comprises a fifth ventilator module 204 comprising a different outlet opening 238 from the four other ventilator modules 202 of the modular ventilator 100 of the apparatus. As may be seen, this ventilator module 204 comprises an outlet opening 238 blowing the heated gas flow 20 coming from this ventilator module 200 sideways, transversally with respect to the drive direction D, according to the discharge direction 239 from a side of the apparatus 10 via a separate discharge channel 260. This allows for example to treat undesired crops between tree trunks, vines, at the edge of a pavement, ... located next to the apparatus 10 while transporting the apparatus according to the direction of movement 10. This allows for an efficient and flexible treatment of the undesired crops in proximity of such hard to reach places when the apparatus 10 is for example disposed on a suitable vehicle.
[57] It is clear that alternative embodiments are possible in which a different suitable number of outlet openings and/or other suitable discharge directions are possible, as long as the modular ventilator 100 comprises one or more outlet openings configured to guide the heated gas flow 20 to the crops to be combatted. It is clear that the apparatus similar to that described in WO 2019/115820 and BE2019/5617 and for example similar to the embodiment depicted above, more specifically with regard to the outlet opening 238 of the discharge channel 260, it is clear that each ventilator module 200 connected to or being part of the outlet opening 234 may comprise a suitable discharge channel for supplying the heated gas flow 20 according to a desired direction to the crops to be combatted. Although the embodiment depicted in the Figures is more an embodiment suitable for attachment to a vehicle, it is clear that variants are also possible which are executed portable or transportable by an operator.
[58] Similar to that for example described in BE2019/5617 which is hereby incorporated by reference, a suitable burner 30 may be employed, for example making use of a burner coupled to a controller, for example by means of a suitable temperature sensor and/or a controllable valve, pressure controller, ... for the gas supply, so that the controller may automatically control the burner 30 at a desired temperature. Preferably a temperature of 385°C is chosen, since this causes an efficient combat of most crops, with a reduced risk of self-ignition, embodiments are however possible in which the temperature is variable between 150°C and 400°C wherein the operator may control the temperature of the heated ambient air depending on the conditions and the crop to be combatted.
[59] The ventilator 200 is preferably configured to reach a rotational speed at which the pressure of the supplied gas flow, or in other words the supplied air flow, is raised by at least 0.05 bar, preferably in the range of 0.1 to 2 bar. The ventilator 200 is furthermore preferably configured to bring the flow rate of the generated gas flow, or in other words the generated air flow 20, to a value in the range of 0.3 m3/s up to and including 7 m3/s.
[60] It is therein also advantageous to make use of for example, similar to that described in BE2019/5617, a sensor operably connected with the controller which is disposed in the gas flow generated by the ventilator and configured to monitor the pressure and/or discharge of the gas flow generated by the ventilator. Preferably, the controller is configured to only activate the burner 30 if the pressure or the discharge of the gas flow generated by the ventilator 100 is larger than a determined threshold value. The controller is additionally preferably configured to deactivate the burner again if the pressure and/or the discharge of the gas flow generated by the ventilator 100 is smaller than the determined threshold value.
[61] It is therein clear that the gas flow 20 generated by the ventilator 100 comprises mainly ambient air, it is however clear that the gas flow may also comprise other gases, such as for example combustion gases from the burner 30.
[62] The burner 30 may be executed as any type suitable gas burner, such as for example a gas burner operable on propane, however according to alternative embodiments any other type gas burner making use of a suitable gaseous fuel, such as for example butane, natural gas, etc. may be employed. However, other types of burners operable to combust a liquid or solid fuel are possible as well. However, the burner 30 comprises preferably a gas burner disposed in the housing 40 of the apparatus 10. The embodiment of this gas burner 30 functions preferably similarly to the gas burner known from BE1024480 and/or BE2019/5617, which are incorporated by reference herein. In other words, the burner 30 comprises a housing 40 for a combustion chamber to which ambient air 24 is supplied via suitable inlet openings 48 as for example depicted and where the supplied gas, for example propane gas, is burnt by the burner 30 in order to raise the temperature of the ambient air to a desired value.
[63] As may for example be seen in Figure 10, heated ambient air 24 is in this way supplied to the modular ventilator 100 as a gas flow 22 by the burner 30. According to the depicted embodiment, and as will be described in more detail further on, it is optionally also possible to heat further gas flows by means of the burner 30 in the combustion chamber and then supply to the modular ventilator 100 as gas flow 22. As depicted in Figure 10, a recirculation of the gas flow 26 may for example be implemented by supplying at least part of the heated gas flow 20 which was blown by the ventilator 100 to the crops to be combatted via for example a recirculation opening 46 in the housing 40 of the combustion chamber of the burner 30 to be in this way reheated and added to the gas flow 22 which is supplied to the modular ventilator 100. It is clear that herein the recirculation opening 46, according to the depicted embodiment also functions as outlet opening 48 of the housing 40 of the burner 30 for supplying the gas flow to the burner 30 and then to the inlet openings 232 of the ventilator 100. It is clear that other variant embodiments are possible in which the apparatus 10 comprises a burner 30 configured to heat a gas flow 22 which is supplied to the modular ventilator 100. [64] According to the depicted embodiment, the apparatus 10 comprises preferably a wall 42 which may contact the crops to be combatted and which may be heated by the heated gas flow 20 after being blown from at least one of the outlet openings 234 of the modular ventilator. According to the depicted embodiment, this wall consists of a substantially horizontal wall 42, which is for example executed as a suitable metal plate, which is for example part of or disposed on the housing 40 of the apparatus 10. As depicted, the wall 42 forms according to the depicted embodiment a lower wall of the apparatus 10 on top of which for example the modular ventilator 100 and/or the burner 30 are disposed. The wall 42 comprises thereby an opening 44 connecting to the common outlet opening 236 of the modular ventilator 100 so that the heated gas flow 20 is guided to the crops to be combatted through this opening 44. As may best be seen in the cross section of Figure 10, during operation of the apparatus 10 the wall 42 is preferably disposed at a distance from the ground surface sufficiently small so that contact of the wall 42 with the crops to be combatted is possible. Preferably, the wall 42 is held for example at a distance of 2 cm to 50 cm, preferably 5 cm to 25 cm, for example 15 cm +/- 5 cm from the ground surface. It is thereby clear, as for example depicted in Figure 10, that the wall 42, which is for example manufactured from a suitable metal, such as for example steal, is heated by the heated gas flow 20 after it was guided from the common outlet opening 236 to the crops to be combatted. As depicted, this means that the gas flow 26 located beneath this wall 42 and used for recirculation, also heats this wall 42 forming a wall of the combustion chamber of the burner 30 as well. According to the depicted embodiment, as may best be seen in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the wall 42 furthermore preferably comprises a recirculation opening 46. This recirculation opening 46 forms a passage 46 to the inlet opening of the burner 30 and then the modular ventilator 100 so that at least part of the heated gas flow 20 may be guided back to the burner 30 and the modular ventilator 100 after it was guided from the common outlet opening 236 to the crops to be combatted. To optimize the recirculation of this gas flow 26 and to maximize the portion of the residual heat in this gas flow, it is advantageous to limit this gas flow beneath the wall 42, for example by means of the downward edges around the walls 42 as depicted. According to the depicted embodiment, hooks are disposed on these downward edges for attaching flexible elements 60, as only schematically depicted in Figure 10. These flexible elements may be disposed around the wall 42 as a kind of shield to be able to limit the gas flow beneath the wall 42 at least partially. These flexible elements 60 may for example be a suitable flap or cloth, however also semi closed elements, such as for example a collection of chains or a fabric or curtain manufactured from metal rings or fibers, ... . Such flexible elements are advantageous because they may limit the heated gas flow 20 at the level of the apparatus 10, but may also be heated by the heated gas flow 20. Preferably, as depicted in Figure 10, these flexible elements also allow for contact with the crops to be combatted, whereby they may also impart thermal damage to the crops to be combatted apart from mechanical damage and therefore increase the effectiveness of the apparatus.
[65] It is clear that variant embodiments of the modular ventilator 100 and/or the apparatus 10 as described above are possible. Figures 13 to 16 illustrate alternative embodiments, as well as a corresponding alternative method for manufacturing such a modular ventilator 100, for example for use in an apparatus 10 similar to that described above. The views show a top view similar to that in Figure 3.
[66] According to the depicted embodiment of Figure 13, the modular ventilator 100 comprises two ventilator modules 200 disposed next to each other and comprising as depicted similar to Figure 3 a radial passage 233 to an inlet opening, to then blow the generated air flow via an outlet opening directed downwards. According to the depicted embodiment, each of the ventilator modules comprises an own separate housing and an own rotor. By attaching both housings of the ventilator modules 200 together and attaching the rotors of the ventilator modules 200 on a drive axis according to the axis of rotation 110, according to this embodiment a modular ventilator 100 is manufactured having a common discharge opening consisting of both downward directed discharge openings of the ventilator modules 200. In a specific embodiment, the length of the ventilator modules 240 is for example 12.5 cm. For the embodiment of the modular ventilator 100 as depicted in Figure 13, wherein two ventilator modules 200 are disposed next to each other, this means that the length 140 of the modular ventilator 100 will be twice the length of the ventilator modules 240, this means 25 cm. It is clear that, for example similar to what is described above with regard to the ventilator modules comprising a common downward directed outlet opening, both downward directed outlet openings of the ventilator modules 200 of the embodiment of Figure 13 form such a common downward directed outlet opening distributing the desired generated gas flow in a desired manner over the length of the modular ventilator 140 as well.
[67] Figure 14 shows an embodiment having similar ventilator modules 200 having a length 240 of 12.5 cm such as in Figure 13, however here four ventilator modules 200 are disposed next to and connected to each other, similar to those in Figure 13. It is clear that in this way a modular ventilator 100 having a length 140 of 100 cm is formed, i.e. four times the length 240 of the ventilator modules 200 comprising each their own housing, connecting to the housing of the nearby ventilator modules 200. In manufacturing, four rotors for each of the ventilator modules 200 are disposed on a drive axis aligned with the axis of rotation 110.
[68] Figure 15 shows a variant having six ventilator modules 200 to realize for example a modular ventilator 100 having a length of 75 cm. Figure 16 shows schematically that further variants are possible in which any other suitable number of ventilator modules 200 may be employed, such as for example eight for a length 140 of 100 cm, 10 for a length of 125 cm, ... . It is thereby clear, as described above, that the desired air flow is generated by each of the ventilator modules 200 regardless of the width of the modular ventilator 100. This allows furthermore to use the same dimensions for the ventilator modules 200 every time, even if the width increases. This is advantageous, since, in known ventilators, the diameter typically increases substantially at a larger length. Limiting the dimensions of the ventilator is for example advantageous in use in an apparatus 10 such as described above in an environment in which a limited height of the apparatus 10 is advantageous, such as for example in a vineyard, an orchard, ... where low hanging branches are present under which the apparatus 10 has to be employed for combatting undesired crops.
[69] Although in the embodiments described above the housing was depicted as manufactured from a suitable plate material, for example suitable metal plates, such as steel plates, ... it is according to variant embodiments possible to manufacture the housing and the rotors of the ventilator modules and/or other portions of the housing of the apparatus completely or partly as a molded structure, for example molded from a suitable metals such as for example aluminum or cast iron. Aluminum is therein advantageous due to its low weight.
[70] As may be seen in the depicted embodiment of Figures 13 to 16, housings may for example be employed for the ventilator modules which differ slightly depending on their position. For example, ventilator modules 200 may be disposed at the outer ends according to the direction of the longitudinal axis 100, this means in the depicted view at the left and/or right, configure as end piece ventilator modules 200 and comprising for example a suitable support for the drive axis. There between may then, depending on the desired numberof ventilator modules, a suitable numberof middle part ventilator modules 200 be disposed, which for example do not comprise support. It is furthermore clear that similar to what is described above, a common drive axis may drive the individual ventilator modules disposed next to each other, and that thereby only the length of this drive axis has to be adjusted to the desired length of the modular ventilator 100, which is a simple operation. Additionally it is easier to estimate the required driving power for such a modular ventilator 100 at increasing length of the modular ventilator, and remains in a surprising manner lower than the increase of the required driving power of known ventilators 100 at a similarly increasing length.
[71] It is clear that alternative embodiments exist for the lengths 240 of the ventilator modules 200 mentioned above, wherein it is clear that such a modular ventilator 100 may be manufactured having a width of for example 10 cm to 1 m or more wherein the desired air flow is generated as well as the distribution of this desired generated air flow over the length of the modular ventilator is guaranteed. The variation of the length of the modular ventilator is thereby as described above compensated by varying the numberof ventilator modules disposed next to each other. Additionally, it is furthermore clear that more variant embodiments are possible, wherein in a certain range of length of the modular ventilator, for example 10 cm up to and including 2 m, a particular type of ventilator modules, drive axis, drive, etc. is employed, and in another range of length, for example 2 m up to and including 5 m, for example another type of ventilator modules, drive axis, drive, etc. is employed, which are dimensioned larger.
[72] It is clear that apart from the embodiments described above numerous variant embodiments and further combination are possible without departing from the scope as determined by the claims.

Claims

1 . A modular ventilator (100) comprising a rotor (120) configured to rotate about a central axis of rotation (110) and a housing (130) disposed around the rotor (120), the modular ventilator (100) comprising two or more ventilator modules (200), said ventilator modules (200) comprising:
- a rotor (220) comprising a central axis of rotation (210) and multiple blades (222) configured to rotate about the central axis of rotation (210) for generating a gas flow;
- a housing (230) disposed around the rotor (220) comprising: an inlet opening (232) for supplying a gas flow to the rotor (220); and an outlet opening (234) for discharging a gas flow generated by the rotor (220),
CHARACTERIZED IN THAT the central axes of rotation (210) of the two or more ventilator modules (200) are aligned with the central axis of rotation (110) of the modular ventilator (100); and in that the housing (130) of the modular ventilator (100) comprises a common housing (132) configured to form the housing (230) of two or more of the ventilator modules (200).
2. A modular ventilator (100) according to claim 1 , wherein:
- the respective ventilator modules (200) extend over a certain length (240) according to the direction of the axis of rotation (210) of the ventilator module (200); and
- the ventilator (100) is configured so that the length (140) of the ventilator (100) is determined according to the central axis of rotation (110) as a function of the length (240) of the two or more ventilator modules (200) of the ventilator (100). 3. A modular ventilator (100) according to claim 2, the length (140) of the ventilator
(100) being configured by determining the number of the ventilator modules (200).
4. A modular ventilator (100) according to one or more of the previous claims, the modular ventilator (100) having a common drive (150), configured to drive two or more of the ventilator modules (200).
5. A modular ventilator (100) according to one or more of the previous claims, the rotors (220) of the ventilator modules (200) comprising blades (222) which are separate with regard to the blades (222) of the rotors (220) of adjacent ventilator modules (200).
6. A modular ventilator according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein nearby ventilator modules (200) comprise inlet openings (232) and/or outlet openings (234) separated by their housing (230), respectively.
7. A modular ventilator according to one or more of the previous claims, the modular ventilator (100) comprising:
- at least one common outlet opening (236) comprising a sequence of multiple outlet openings (234) of nearby ventilator modules (200) configured to blow a gas flow in a same flow direction (237); and/or
- at least one separate outlet opening (238) comprising a separate outlet opening (234) of a ventilator module (200) configured to blow a gas flow in a particular flow direction (239).
8. A modular ventilator according to one or more of the previous claims, one or more of the ventilator modules (200) being of the following type:
- a centrifugal ventilator.
9. An apparatus for combatting undesired crops by means of a heated gas flow (20), comprising a modular ventilator (100) for generating a gas flow according to one or more of the previous claims, wherein:
- the apparatus (10) further comprises a burner (30) configured to heat a gas flow (22) supplied to the modular ventilator (100); and
- the modular ventilator (100) comprises one or more outlet openings (234, 236, 238) configured to guide the heated gas flow (20) to the crops to be combatted.
10. An apparatus according to claim 9, the apparatus (10) configured to be moved according to a particular direction of movement (D) during operation along undesired crops, and wherein the axis of rotation (110) of the modular ventilator (100) extends transversally with respect to this direction of movement (D), and wherein the length (140) of the modular ventilator (100) is determined as a function of the desired width (W) of the apparatus (10) transverse with respect to the direction of movement (D).
11. Apparatus according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the apparatus (10) comprises a wall (42), the wall (42) comprising an opening (44) connecting to at least one outlet opening of the modular ventilator (100) so that the heated gas flow (20) is guided through the opening (44) to the crops to be combatted, and wherein the wall (42) is configured so that: - contact of the wall (42) with the crops to be combatted is possible; and
- the wall (42) is heated by the heated gas flow (20) after it was guided from the at least one outlet opening to the crops to be combatted.
12. An apparatus according to claim 11 , the wall (42) further comprising a recirculation opening (46), configured to form a passage to an inlet opening (48, 232) of the burner (30) and/or the modular ventilator (100) so that at least a portion of the heated gas flow (20) may be supplied back to the burner (30) and/or the modular ventilator (100) after it was guided from the at least one out let opening to the crops to be combatted.
13. An apparatus according to claim 10 or 11 , the apparatus (10) further comprising one or more flexible elements (60) configured to:
- delimit the heated gas flow (20) at the level of the apparatus (10);
- be heated by the heated gas flow (20); and/or
- allow for contact with the crops to be combatted.
14. Method for producing a modular ventilator (100) according to one or more of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps:
- providing two or more of said ventilator modules (200), wherein the central axes of rotation (210) of the two or more ventilator modules (200) are aligned with the central axis of rotation (110) of the modular ventilator (100); and
- providing said housing (130) of the modular ventilator (100) comprising a common housing (132) configured to form the housing (230) of two or more of the ventilator modules (200).
PCT/EP2021/054810 2020-02-27 2021-02-26 Modular ventilator WO2021170790A1 (en)

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Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3164927A (en) * 1963-01-15 1965-01-12 Joe S Holloway Flame thrower for cultivating purposes
US3970071A (en) * 1974-11-14 1976-07-20 Miller Russell A Surface heater and dryer
DE4100221A1 (en) * 1991-01-07 1992-07-09 Hermann Tremmel Destruction of weeds and vermin by electric heaters - towed through spaces into which hot air or vapour is blown between rows of cultivated plants
BE1024480A1 (en) 2016-08-08 2018-03-02 Agrofrost Nv Gas burner for strong air flow
WO2019115820A1 (en) 2017-12-15 2019-06-20 Agrofrost Nv A method and apparatus for controlling vegetation by means of a heated gas

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3164927A (en) * 1963-01-15 1965-01-12 Joe S Holloway Flame thrower for cultivating purposes
US3970071A (en) * 1974-11-14 1976-07-20 Miller Russell A Surface heater and dryer
DE4100221A1 (en) * 1991-01-07 1992-07-09 Hermann Tremmel Destruction of weeds and vermin by electric heaters - towed through spaces into which hot air or vapour is blown between rows of cultivated plants
BE1024480A1 (en) 2016-08-08 2018-03-02 Agrofrost Nv Gas burner for strong air flow
US20190203932A1 (en) * 2016-08-08 2019-07-04 Agrofrost, Naamloze Vennootschap Gas burner for strong air flow
WO2019115820A1 (en) 2017-12-15 2019-06-20 Agrofrost Nv A method and apparatus for controlling vegetation by means of a heated gas

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