DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MIXING A FIRST AND A SECOND AGROCHEMICAL COMPONENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to an apparatus for mixing a first (8) and a second agrochemical component (6). The apparatus comprises at least one first vessel (4) for accommodating the first component (8) and one second vessel (5) for accommodating the second component (6), the first (4) and the second vessel (5) being delimited with respect to one another by a connecting region such that the connecting region, in a closed basic state, does not permit a passage of compounds from the second into the first vessel and, in an open state, permits the passage of compounds. Here, the connecting region has a predetermined breaking point (7) formed such that it is intact in the closed basic state and such that it breaks open, causing the connecting region to adopt the open state, when a pressure above a certain threshold pressure is applied. Here, the second vessel has a fluid inlet (1) through which a pressurized fluid is introducible such that pressure can be applied to the predetermined breaking point (7) by the introducible fluid. The invention also relates to a system and a method for mixing a first (8) and a second agrochemical component (6).

Claims

1. An apparatus for mixing a first agrochemical component and a second agrochemical component, the apparatus comprising: at least one first vessel for accommodating the first component, and at least one second vessel for accommodating the second component, wherein: the first vessel and the second vessel are delimited with respect to one another by a connecting region such that the connecting region, in a closed basic state, does not permit a passage of compounds from the second vessel into the first vessel and, in an open state, permits the passage of compounds, the connecting region has a predetermined breaking point formed such that it is intact in the closed basic state and such that it breaks open, causing the connecting region to adopt the open state, when a pressure above a certain threshold pressure is applied, and the second vessel has a fluid inlet through which a pressurized fluid is introducible such that pressure can be applied to the predetermined breaking point by the introducible fluid.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the second vessel is at least partially accommodated by the first vessel.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the second vessel has an elongate form, the fluid inlet being arranged at one end in a longitudinal direction, and the predetermined breaking point being arranged at the opposite end of the second vessel.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: a wall of the second vessel has, in the region of the predetermined breaking point, a reduced wall thickness in relation to the surrounding area.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: when the threshold pressure is reached, a pressure difference between the first vessel and the second vessel amounts to at least 150 mbar.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the fluid inlet of the second vessel has a coupling unit.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the coupling unit has a valve.

8. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein: the coupling unit comprises a diaphragm.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein: the diaphragm has at least one aperture which is formed such that the introducible fluid can be diverted at least partially in the direction of a wall of the second vessel.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: the first vessel has an extraction opening.

11. A system for mixing a first agrochemical component and a second agrochemical component, the system comprising: at least one apparatus according to claim 1; an introduction apparatus by means of which fluid is introducible via the fluid inlet of the apparatus; an extraction apparatus by means of which a mixture of the first agrochemical component and the second agrochemical component can be extracted from the first vessel; and a control unit by means of which at least one parameter for the introduction of the fluid can be controlled.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein: the parameter for the introduction of the fluid comprises a magnitude of the pressure applied to the introducible fluid, a duration, a point in time, a flow speed and/or a fluid volume.

13. A method for mixing a first agrochemical component and a second agrochemical component, the method comprising: providing at least one first vessel for accommodating the first component and a second vessel for accommodating the second component, wherein the first vessel and the second vessel are delimited with respect to one another by a connecting region such that the connecting region, in a closed basic state, does not permit a passage of compounds from the second vessel into the first vessel and, in an open state, permits the passage of compounds; the connecting region has a predetermined breaking point formed such that it is intact in the closed basic state and such that it breaks open, causing the connecting region to adopt the open state, when a pressure above a certain threshold pressure is applied; and introducing a fluid into the second vessel through a fluid inlet of the second vessel such that pressure is applied to the predetermined breaking point by the introduced fluid.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein: at least one of the first component and the second component is in the form of a powder, granulate or liquid.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein: the introduced fluid is a liquid, the liquid comprising at least one of water and an alcohol.

Description

[0056] The invention will now be discussed on the basis of examples with reference to the drawings.

[0057] FIG. 1 shows an example of the apparatus according to the invention,

[0058] FIG. 2 shows enlarged views of the inlet region of the apparatus according to the invention and of a diaphragm used therein,

[0059] FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C show the basic construction of further examples of the apparatus according to the invention, and

[0060] FIG. 4 shows an example of the system according to the invention.

[0061] A first example of the apparatus according to the invention, and the method according to the invention, will be discussed with reference to FIG. 1.

[0062] The apparatus comprises a first vessel 4 and a second vessel 5. Here, a first component 8, for example a main constituent 8 of a mixture to be realized, is situated in the first vessel 4. The first vessel 4 has an extraction opening 9 and a further opening 3, which is designed as a receptacle for a second vessel 5 which projects into the first vessel 4.

[0063] For the purposes of the present description, “in the first vessel 4” means that a component or an element of the apparatus is situated within the cavity formed by the first vessel 4, wherein this excludes the space occupied by the second vessel 5.

[0064] In the example illustrated, the second vessel 5 is integrally connected to the first vessel 4. In a further example, the opening 3 is designed such that the connection between the first 4 and the second vessel 5 is detachable. In particular, the first vessel 4 can in this case be reused after use, for example by being refilled with the first component 8 and a new second vessel 5 being inserted in fluid-tight fashion into the opening 3.

[0065] In this example, the second vessel 5 is designed as a cartridge 5 and has a substantially cylindrical form. At that end which projects out of the first vessel 4 in an axial direction, there is provided a coupling unit 1 which is in particular arranged so as to be easily accessible to a user from the outside. At this end, the second vessel 5 is closed by means of a diaphragm 2, which is designed as part of a valve device which permits the passage of a fluid only when a higher pressure prevails outside the second vessel 5 than inside the latter. In a closed basic state, the wall of the second vessel 5, in particular that part of the second vessel 5 which projects into the first vessel 4, is closed, and a passage of material from the second 5 into the first vessel 4 is not possible.

[0066] A second component 6 is situated in the second vessel 5. The first component 8 and the second component 6 may be present in different forms. They may in particular be in liquid or solid, for example powder or granulate, form. Furthermore, the components 6, 8 may be present in different forms in relation to one another. For example, the second component 6 may be provided as a granulate, and the first component 8 may be provided in liquid form.

[0067] The second vessel 5 furthermore has a predetermined breaking point 7 at a position which is situated within the first vessel 4, in this case at that axial end of the second vessel 5 which is situated in the first vessel 4. In the example illustrated, this is a region in which the wall thickness of the second vessel 5 is locally reduced. The predetermined breaking point 7 may be formed in different ways that are known per se, for example by means of a weakening of the wall in the region by means of other methods and modifications of the wall material. Furthermore, the predetermined breaking point 7 may assume different forms, for example a region weakened in punctiform fashion, by means of a circular or elongate region, or by means of multiple intersecting elongate regions.

[0068] The predetermined breaking point 7 is formed such that it breaks open when a pressure above a certain threshold pressure is applied. A connecting region between the second 5 and the first vessel 4 is formed, in which material can pass between the vessels 4, 5. The predetermined breaking point 7 is in particular formed such that the opening that is formed has a reproducible and predetermined shape, for example in the form of a circular opening, the form and size of which are substantially predictable. In a further example, the predetermined breaking point 7 may be formed such that, as it breaks open, a major part of that wall of the second vessel 5 which projects into the first vessel 4 is opened, for example in order to produce as large as possible an opening for the rapid release of the second component 6 into the first vessel 4.

[0069] If a fluid, for example water, is conducted at adequate pressure into the cartridges from the outside via the coupling unit, then pressure is also applied to the predetermined breaking point 7. Here, if the threshold pressure is exceeded, the predetermined breaking point 7 breaks open. The fluid passes through the second vessel 5 and is forced through the broken-open connecting region into the first vessel 4. Here, the second component 6 is also flushed out of the second vessel 5 and passes into the first vessel 4. In this way, the first 8 and the second component 6 are merged, wherein the point in time for this is predefined by the introduction of the fluid from the outside.

[0070] In further examples, multiple vessels formed in the manner of the second vessel 5 are provided, which may each have separate coupling units or else coupling units which are common to several of said vessels. In this way, it is possible for multiple different components to be merged and mixed with the first component 8 or with the mixture that has formed in the first vessel 4.

[0071] In a further example, the first vessel 4 comprises a dosing pump. By means of this dosing pump, in an agitation mode, the material situated in the first vessel 4 can be reliably mixed. For this purpose, the dosing pump can for example circulate the content of the first vessel 4 such that mixing takes place.

[0072] In the example, it is furthermore the case that the interior of the second vessel 5 is flushed and washed out as a result of the fluid being introduced. This takes place by virtue of the fluid being introduced with such a speed that, in terms of fluid mechanics, the second component 6 passes together with the fluid into the first vessel 4. Provision may furthermore be made for the interior of the second vessel 5 to be flushed and cleaned by virtue of the fluid being introduced in a manner specifically suited to this purpose.

[0073] With reference to FIG. 2, enlarged views of the inlet region of the apparatus according to the invention and of a diaphragm 2 used therein will be discussed.

[0074] To securely close the second vessel 5 in the direction of the coupling unit 1, the diaphragm 2 is arranged such that it is tensioned and, by means of said tension, closes an opening in the direction of the coupling unit 1. For this purpose, the diaphragm 2 may for example be clamped between the second vessel 5 and a coupling cover 11, and close an opening formed in the latter. The diaphragm 2 has apertures 10 through which the fed fluid can be introduced from the coupling into the second vessel 5 if the pressure on the side of the coupling outside the second vessel 5 is higher than that within the second vessel 5. In particular, a minimum pressure is provided which must be exceeded in order that the fluid can pass the diaphragm 2. Said minimum pressure is, in the example, thus lower than the threshold pressure required for the breaking-open of the predetermined breaking point 7. In this case, it amounts to 80% of the threshold pressure. In further examples, the minimum pressure for the opening of the valve amounts to at least 50%, at least 80% or at least 90% of the threshold pressure.

[0075] The apertures 10 in the diaphragm 2 are, in the example, designed and arranged such that the fluid, when it passes through the apertures 10, is diverted in targeted fashion towards the inner walls of the second vessel 5, in order to realize cleaning and flushing there. In particular, a situation is avoided in which material that has accumulated on the inner wall of the second vessel 5 is not flushed into the first vessel 4.

[0076] With reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C, the basic construction of further examples of the apparatus according to the invention will be discussed.

[0077] The examples encompass in each case a first 4 and a second vessel 5, which are connected to one another such that they are, at least at a predetermined breaking point 7, separated from one another only by the wall in which the predetermined breaking point 7 is formed. The first vessel 4 has an extraction opening 9. The second vessel 5 has a coupling unit 1, through which a pressurized fluid can be introduced.

[0078] In the situation illustrated in FIG. 3A, the first 4 and the second vessel 5 adjoin one another in the region of a relatively large wall surface in which the predetermined breaking point 7 is formed. In the situation illustrated in FIG. 3B, the two vessels 4, 5 are connected to one another at a small surface, such that the predetermined breaking point 7 occupies substantially the entire region in which said vessels are directly adjacent to one another. In the situation illustrated in FIG. 3C, it is finally the case that the second vessel 5 is arranged almost entirely in the interior of the first vessel 4, and only the coupling unit 1 projects out of said first vessel.

[0079] In further examples, other arrangements of the vessels 4, 5 relative to one another are possible.

[0080] An example of the system according to the invention will be discussed with reference to FIG. 4.

[0081] Here, an apparatus according to the invention having a first vessel 4 and a second vessel 5 is provided, as already described above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The first vessel has an extraction opening 9, and the second vessel 5 has a predetermined breaking point 7 and a coupling unit 1.

[0082] In the system, an introduction apparatus 12 is coupled to the coupling unit 1. Furthermore, an extraction apparatus 13 is coupled to the extraction opening 9. The coupling to the introduction apparatus 12 and to the extraction apparatus 13 is realized by means of lines through which compounds, in particular a fluid, can be conducted. Furthermore, a fluid flow with solid components may also be conducted through the lines.

[0083] Furthermore, a control unit 14 is provided which is coupled to the apparatus, to the introduction apparatus 12 and to the extraction apparatus 13. Said control unit controls the operation of the system and in particular controls the introduction of a fluid from the introduction apparatus 12 into the second vessel 5. For example, the duration and/or the point in time of the introduction of the fluid can be controlled, and furthermore, the flow speed, the fed fluid volume and/or the pressure applied to the fluid can be predefined.

[0084] Here, an interface may also be provided, by which the control unit 14 can be operated by a user, for example through the inputting of particular values or by actuation and triggering of a program for controlling the system.

[0085] The pressurized fluid fed through the introduction apparatus 12 may for example be water. Furthermore, use may be made of an alcohol or some other liquid, and of a mixture of different liquids. Alternatively or in addition, a gas, for example air, may be introduced and pressurized.

[0086] In the example, the extraction apparatus 13 comprises a unit for dispensing a mixture, which mixture is extracted from the first vessel 4 after the mixing of the main constituent 8 with the second component 6.

LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS

[0087] 1 Coupling unit; fluid inlet [0088] 2 Diaphragm [0089] 3 Opening (first vessel) [0090] 4 First vessel [0091] 5 Second vessel; cartridge [0092] 6 Second component [0093] 7 Predetermined breaking point [0094] 8 First component; main constituent [0095] 9 Extraction opening [0096] 10 Aperture [0097] 11 Coupling cover [0098] 12 Introduction apparatus [0099] 13 Extraction apparatus [0100] 14 Control unit