Patent Application
20160183476
The present invention relates to plant service systems.
It is known that the delivery of a liquid spray to plants is possible by the use of spray device. Such sprays are typically created by combining compressed air and a liquid in order to generate an atomized spray. The generation of a fine spray, as is useful for non-toxic pesticide sprays, requires the release of compressed air at pressure levels which are typically higher than for coarse sprays. However, such spray devices are limited in mobility as they require a fixed connection to a remote air compressor. Alternatively, a high voltage power supply in connection with an air compressor may be locally connected to a spray device. However, the use of high voltage equipment in a wet environment, such as a greenhouse, increases the risk of electric shock, equipment damage, and other safety hazards.
The present invention is a system and corresponding components for providing a mobile plant service functionality.
According to the teachings of an embodiment of the present invention there is provided, a mobile plant service system for treating plants in a crop growing area comprising: (a) a transport device deployed for moving across the crop growing area; (b) a spraying apparatus mounted to the transport device for delivering an atomized liquid to the plants in the crop growing area, comprising: (i) a plurality of spray nozzles; (ii) a pressure vessel in fluid flow connection with the plurality of spray nozzles configured for storing compressed air at a storage pressure; (iii) a pressure regulating valve assembly in fluid flow connection with the pressure vessel; (iv) a receptacle containing a liquid in fluid flow connection with the spray nozzles; (c) a flow controller associated with the pressure regulating valve assembly; and (d) a rechargeable power supply deployed to provide power to the flow controller, wherein the flow controller is configured to actuate the pressure regulating valve assembly to allow the flow of a controlled release of compressed air to the plurality of spray nozzles at a spray out pressure.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the transport device is a gantry.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile plant service system for treating plants in a crop growing area further comprises a plurality of fans mounted to the gantry; wherein each of the fans has variable rotary speeds and directions of rotation, and wherein each of the fans is associated with a fan controller, and wherein the fan controller is configured to selectively actuate each of the fans to independently operate in a plurality of operational modes, and wherein each of the operational modes corresponds to at least one rotary speed and direction of rotation.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, each of the fans has variable blade angles, and wherein each of the operational modes corresponds to at least one rotary speed, direction of rotation, and blade angle.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile plant service system for treating plants in a crop growing area further comprises an actuator associated with the fan controller; wherein the actuator is configured to adjust a pointing angle of each of the fans.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the actuator is further configured to adjust a blade angle of each of the fans.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the flow controller and the fan controller are implemented as a single processing system having at least one processor.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the operation modes include: (i) a pest reduction mode, wherein any or all of the fans operate to create a suction air flow whereby pests in proximity of a fan are sucked into the blades of the fan; (ii) a plant stressing mode, wherein any or all of the fans operate at angles and speeds designed to stress a specified plant; and (iii) a pollination mode, wherein any or all of the fans operate at angles and speeds designed for artificial pollination of specified plants.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile plant service system for treating plants in a crop growing area further comprises a plurality of nets with a sieve opening size of at most 0.5 millimeters, wherein the nets are attached to the fans; and wherein the nets are configured to retain pests sucked into the fans when operating in the pest protection mode.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile plant service system for treating plants in a crop growing area further comprises a plurality of wheel assemblies mounted to the gantry, wherein each of the wheel assemblies comprises: (i) at least one wheel; (ii) a braking arrangement associated with the at least one wheel; (iii) a drive system associated with the at least one wheel; and (iv) a wheel controller associated with the braking arrangement and the drive system, wherein the at least one wheel is configured to operate along a profile disposed about the periphery of the crop growing area, and wherein the rechargeable power supply is deployed to provide power to the drive system, and wherein the wheel controller is configured to actuate the drive system to rotate the at least one wheel at an adjustable direction of rotation and to selectively operate the braking arrangement.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile plant service system for treating plants in a crop growing area further comprises a home station with a stationary charging arrangement; wherein the gantry has a home position in the home station, and wherein the stationary charging arrangement is configured to come into operative cooperation with the rechargeable power supply when the gantry is in the home position.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the home station further comprises a compressed air filling linkage associated with a mains voltage power supply; wherein the compressed air filling linkage is deployed for connection with the pressure vessel when the gantry is in the home position, and wherein the mains voltage power supply is an alternating current (AC) power supply configured to supply a voltage of at least 100 volts AC.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile plant service system for treating plants in a crop growing area further comprises a platform mounted to the gantry, wherein the platform extends along a majority of the gantry.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile plant service system for treating plants in a crop growing area further comprises a lifter mounted to the gantry; wherein the lifter is configured to lift growing troughs containing plants grown by hydroponics and/or aeroponics.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile plant service system for treating plants in a crop growing area further comprises at least one RFID reader mounted to the gantry and operable to transmit an interrogator signal and to receive an authentication signal, such that, wherein the at least one RFID reader passes over an RFID tag in a growing trough and transmits interrogator signals, authentication signals are generated, thereby indicating a position of the growing trough and a treatment type for the plants in the crop growing area.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the storage pressure is in a range from 5 atm to 12 atm.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the spray output pressure is in a range from 3 atm to 4 atm.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle is a reservoir containing a liquid; and wherein the reservoir is in fluid flow connection with the pressure vessel, and wherein the pressure vessel is further configured to pressurize the liquid in the reservoir.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the rechargeable power supply is a direct current (DC) power supply configured to supply a voltage of no more than 25 volts DC.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the mobile plant service system for treating plants in a crop growing area further comprises a pump associated with the rechargeable power supply and in fluid flow connection with the pressure vessel, wherein the flow controller is further configured to actuate the pump to pressurize the pressure vessel.
According to a further feature of an embodiment of the present invention, the spraying apparatus is configured to generate spray with a liquid droplet size in a range from 8-50 microns.
The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The present invention is a system and corresponding components for providing a mobile plant service functionality.
The principles and operation of a system and corresponding components according to the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description.
The present invention is applicable to various techniques of crop growing, and is of particular value when applied to mechanized production-line-type growing areas in which plants are cultivated in containers, such as growing troughs or the like, which advance from a planting location to a harvesting location. The potential applications of the present invention should not be limited to the applications used for the purposes of illustrating the principles and operation of a system and corresponding components according to the present invention.
Referring now to the drawings,
Preferably, pressure regulating valve assembly 130 is configured to control the air flow to spray nozzles 122 from tank 124 when actuated by flow controller 140. Preferably, the air pressure of the compressed air that is delivered to the spray nozzles is selectively reduced by pressure regulating valve assembly 130 when actuated by flow controller 140. With reference to
According to certain preferred embodiments, the transport device is a gantry 200 which extends across the entire width of a crop growing area as depicted in
According to certain preferred embodiments, a plurality of fans 160 is mounted to gantry 200. Preferably each fan 160 is supplied power by rechargeable power supply 150. Preferably, each fan 160 is equipped with at least one motorized impeller with at least three impeller blades, more preferably at least five, and most preferably at least seven blades. The use of a relatively large number of blades has been found to improve the efficiency of the fan in functioning as a mechanical pest control device, effectively breaking up the bodies of insects that are drawn by airflow into the fans. Preferably, each motorized impeller is operable at various speeds as well as being operable in a clockwise direction of rotation and a counter clockwise direction of rotation to selectively provide blowing and suction. Preferably, the pitch angle of the impeller blades is adjustable, most preferably while the motorized impeller is rotating. An example of a fan with adjustable impeller blade pitch angle during impeller rotation is the “Variable Pitch Axial Fan” of Twin City Fan Companies Ltd. Clarage division. Varying the blowing and suction air flow generated by a fan can be achieved by adjusting the impeller rotational speed and the pitch angle of the impeller blades in any combination. The variable pitch angle of the impeller blades provides greater control of the airflow as well as a reduction in the power consumed by the fans. Preferably, each fan 160 has a dedicated fan controller 164 supplied power by rechargeable power supply 150 for providing control functionality to the motorized impellers of individual fans 160. Flow controller 140 and the fan controller(s) 164 may be implemented using a single processing system having one or more processor in order to provide control functionality by a single device for regulating the flow of liquid from spraying apparatus 120 and for providing coordinated control functionality to all fans. It is preferred that each fan 160 is mounted to gantry 200 via an adjustable mounting device in order to facilitate variable fan pointing angles. Types of adjustable mounting devices include, but are not limited to, pivot mountings and mountings with ball and socket joints. Preferably an actuator is associated with fan controller 164 and the adjustable mounting of each fan 160 in order to selectively control the pointing angle of individual fans 160. The impeller blade pitch angle of each fan may be adjusted manually or via an actuator associated with fan controller 164 and the impeller blades. The fans may be used for multiple purposes, including, but not limited to, distributing the atomized liquid to the plants, promoting pollination, stressing the plants to increase sustainability, and pest reduction. It is preferred that each fan 160 is equipped with at least one trap 162 configured to retain live insects which may get sucked through a fan by a fan's motorized impellers. Preferably, trap 162 is a netting of fine mesh with a sieve opening size in the range of 0.1-0.5 mm. It is preferred that the netting has a sock-like structure, with the open end of the netting attached to fan 160. The netting is preferably configured to inflate when provided air driven by fan 160. The netting preferably includes a structure to prevent the contents of the netting from escaping when the fan 160 is stopped or the airflow of fan 160 is reversed. The structure may be any suitable structure, including, but not limited to, flaps or the like configured to close over the open end and the folding of the netting when the netting is not inflated. Preferably, fan 160 includes a grill or the like for preventing the netting from being drawn into the blades of fan 160 when the airflow is reversed.
According to certain preferred embodiments, fans 160 are configured to operate in several modes of operation, including, but not limited to, a pest reduction mode, a plant stressing mode, and a pollination mode. Each mode of operation is preferably characterized by operating parameters which may include, but are not limited to, at least one speed of rotation, a motorized impeller direction of rotation, an impeller blade pitch angle, and at least one fan pointing angle. Preferably, a pest reduction mode includes the steps of operating any or all of fans 160 at a speed and direction which generates a sufficient suction air flow whereby pests, such as insects or the like, in proximity of a fan are sucked into the blades of the fan. Pests which are sucked past the blades of the fan, and emerge alive or wholly intact, are trapped in net 162 of the fan. A preferred range of the speed of rotation for pest reduction is 2000-3200 rotations per minute (rpm). The range of speed as well as the adjustable impeller blade angle facilitates the reduction of pests of size in the range of 0.1-10 millimeters. Preferably, a pollination mode includes the steps of operating any or all of fans 160 at a rotational speed of up to 1000 rotations per minute (rpm), either in a reverse fan direction or with inversion of the blade pitch in order to create sufficient air flow towards the plants to transfer pollen. Preferably, a plant stressing mode includes the steps of operating any or all of fans 160 at a rotational speed of up to 3200 rotations per minute (rpm) in order to generate a more powerful airflow towards the plants, thereby increasing the sustainability and viability of the plants. While the adjustable fan settings seek to reduce the power consumed by fans 160, the use of rechargeable power supply 150 supply power to the devices mounted to gantry 200 necessitates the capability to recharge power supply 150 quickly and efficiently.
According to certain preferred embodiments, gantry 200 has one or more “home” positions where rechargeable power supply 150 can be recharged and tank 124 can be re-pressurized. With reference to
According to certain preferred embodiments, gantry 200 includes a platform 170 configured to transport objects. Objects to be transported may include, but are not limited to, tools, personnel, growing troughs, and mechanical equipment. Platform 170 preferably has a weight-carrying capacity of up to 1500 kilograms. It is preferred that platform 170 extends along the entire length of the gantry which overlies the crop growing area. Preferably, the length of platform 170 is at least 80% of the total length of the gantry. Preferably, a lifter 172 is attached to platform 170 for lifting and lowering the platform. Types of lifters may include, but are not limited to, hydraulic lifts, gear lifts, and scissor lifts, and may be manually operated or electrically actuated by power provided by rechargeable power supply 150. Positioning information about growing troughs is advantageous by virtue of the lifting and transporting of growing troughs.
According to certain preferred embodiments, gantry 200 includes at least one RFID reader 190. It is preferred that an RFID tag is placed in each growing trough in the crop growing area as well as the along the perimeter of the crop growing area along which gantry 200 is configured to operate. In such an embodiment, when gantry 200 passes over an RFID tag, RFID reader 190 transmits an interrogator signal and receives an authentication signal from the RFID tag. The authentication signals received by RFID reader 190 provide an indication as to the position of the growing troughs, as well as the treatment type for the plants in the growing troughs. The treatment type may include, but is not limited to, the liquid droplet size of the mist from spraying nozzles 122, fan 160 operation modes, pesticide solution type, and any combination thereof. This is of particular value when the crop growing area is subdivided into different regions for different plants, where the different plants may require different treatment types. Preferably, RFID reader 190 is associated with a control device, most preferably flow controller 140. Preferably RFID reader 190 is associated with a processor coupled to a data storage medium such as a memory with a database in order to match RFID tags with plant types and treatment types. The processor can be any number of computer processors including, but are not limited to, a microprocessor, an ASIC, a DSP, a state machine, and a microcontroller. Such processors include, or may be in communication with computer readable media, which stores program code or instruction sets that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform actions. Types of computer readable media include, but are not limited to, electronic, optical, magnetic, or other storage or transmission device capable of providing a processor with computer readable instructions. It is preferred that the RFID reader 190 and RFID tags are operable in the low frequency (LF) band which is between 30 kHz and 300 kHz.
Although the system described thus far has pertained to a spraying system 110 mounted to a gantry 200, where the spraying system 110 includes a pressure vessel 124, other embodiments are possible in which one, or more preferably two, long air pressure tanks 220 are used to provide the pressurized air to spray nozzles 122 as well as to form a structural component of gantry 200. In one preferred implementation of such an embodiment, as depicted in
Although the system described thus far has pertained to a spraying system 110 mounted to a single gantry 200 with wheels that move along the perimeter of a crop growing area to service an entire length of a growing area, optionally, a plurality of gantries 200 with mounted spraying systems 110 are deployed to move across a crop growing area, either together servicing the entire area with overlapping regions of coverage for use wherever needed, or by subdividing the crop growing area into a plurality of non-overlapping growing subsections with one gantry 200 deployed to move across each growing subsection. Each gantry preferably has its own “home location” for charging and refilling the air pressure tank.
Although the system described thus far has pertained to a spraying system 110 mounted to a gantry 200 with motorized wheel assemblies 210 mounted to gantry 200, other embodiments are possible in which the wheel assemblies do not include a motor. In such an embodiment, a plurality of cables driven by a motor may be connected to gantry 200 in order to push and pull gantry 200 along the suitably shaped profile.
It will be appreciated that all controller devices in the above descriptions may be housed in a single processor or housed individually in a distributed group of processors and/or processing systems. Any or all of the processing may be executed locally on system 10 or in combination may be executed remotely via wired or wireless network or via a cloud based system.
It will be appreciated that the above descriptions are intended only to serve as examples, and that many other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims.
