DEVICE FOR DISPENSING A SPRAYING AGENT

Abstract

A device for dispensing a spraying agent, e.g., a plant protection agent, includes a mixing unit for mixing two active agents to form a spraying agent, at least one of the active agents being suppliable to the mixing unit under pressure via a throttle unit, the throttle unit including a feed channel and a discharge channel that are fluidically connectable to each other via at least one throttle channel depending on a position of a throttle element of the throttle unit that is movably situated relative to the feed channel the discharge channel for setting a flow rate of the at least one active agent to be supplied to the mixing unit, the at least one throttle channel being situated at the throttle element and having a fixed channel cross section for keeping the through-flowing flow rate of the at least one active agent constant.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A device comprising: a throttle that includes a feed channel and a discharge channel that are fluidically connectable to each other via at least one throttle channel depending on a position of a movable part of the throttle; a mixer; wherein: the mixer is configured to mix two active agents to form a spraying agent; at least one of the active agents is suppliable to the mixer under pressure via the throttle at a flow rate that is set by movement of the movable part relative to the feed channel and the discharge channel; the at least one throttle channel is situated at the movable part and has a fixed channel cross section for keeping a through-flowing flow rate of the at least one of the active agents constant.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one throttle channel includes at least two throttle channels that each is situated at the movable part and has a constant channel cross section.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the feed channel and the discharge channel are simultaneously fluidically connectable to each other via one or more of the at least two throttle channels, depending on the position of the movable part.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein the throttle channels include different channel cross sections.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the throttle channels include different channel diameters.

22. The device of claim 17, wherein each of the at least one throttle channel is designed as a bore.

23. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one throttle channel: extends in an arc-shaped manner around a rotation axis of the movable part or linearly along a movement direction of the movable part; and/or is arranged in a circular manner around the rotation axis of the movable part or linearly along the movement direction of the movable part.

24. The device of claim 17, wherein the movement of the movable part is a rotational movement around a rotation axis of the movable part or a translational movement transverse to a flow direction of the active agent through the at least one throttle channel.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the rotation axis of the movable part runs outside the at least one throttle channel.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the rotation axis of the movable part runs essentially in parallel to the flow direction of the active agent through at least one throttle channel.

27. The device of claim 17, further comprising a feed and a discharge that have essentially the same design as each other, wherein the feed channel is situated at the feed and the discharge channel is situated at the discharge.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the feed, the movable part and the discharge are respective disks that are situated adjacent and parallel to one another.

29. The device of claim 28, wherein the disks are circular.

30. The device of claim 27, wherein each of at least one of the feed and the discharge is flexibly situated against the movable part; and the movable part includes at least one projection on a surface facing the feed and/or the discharge, by which the movable part is guidably supported in a groove of the feed and/or a groove of the discharge element.

31. The device of claim 27, wherein: each of at least one of the feed and the discharge is flexibly situated against the movable part; and the movable part includes a groove on a surface facing the feed by which the movable part is guidably supported at at least one projection of the feed.

32. The device of claim 27, wherein: each of at least one of the feed and the discharge is flexibly situated against the movable part; and the movable part includes a groove on a surface facing the discharge by which the movable part is guidably supported at at least one projection of the discharge.

33. The device of claim 17, wherein the movable part is manually movable by a user.

34. The device of claim 33, wherein the throttle is a hand valve.

35. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one active agent is a plant protection agent.

36. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one active agent is a plant protection agent concentrate.

37. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one active agent is a carrier fluid.

38. The device of claim 17, wherein the at least one active agent is water.

39. A method comprising: supplying to a mixer at least one of two active agents that are to be mixed by the mixer to form a spraying agent, wherein: the supplying is performed under pressure via a throttle; the throttle includes a feed channel and a discharge channel that are fluidically connectable to each other via at least one throttle channel depending on a position of a movable part of the throttle; the supplying is at a flow rate that is set by movement of the movable part of the throttle relative to the feed channel and the discharge channel; the at least one throttle channel is situated at the movable part and has a fixed channel cross section for keeping the flow rate of the supplying constant; and dispensing the spraying agent.

40. A method comprising: setting a constant flow rate of an active agent being conducted to a mixer for dispensing a spraying agent, the setting being performed using a throttle, wherein: the throttle includes a movable part, at least one throttle channel, a feed channel, and a discharge channel that is fluidically connectable to the feed channel via the at least one throttle channel depending on a position of the movable part; the movable part is movably situated relative to the feed channel and the discharge channel for the setting of the constant flow rate; the at least one throttle channel is situated at the movable part and has a fixed channel cross section that keeps the flow rate constant.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a device for dispensing a spraying agent, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0037] FIGS. 2-4 show a schematic representation of an example embodiment of the throttle unit from FIG. 1, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of an example embodiment of a throttle unit, including a locking device, according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

[0039] FIGS. 6 and 7 show schematic representations of example embodiments of throttle units including an elongated throttle channel, according to example embodiments of the present invention.

[0040] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of a method according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0041] In the following description of advantageous example embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals are used for the elements which are illustrated in the various figures and have similar functions, a repeated description of these elements being dispensed with.

[0042] FIG. 1 shows a device for dispensing a spraying agent, or a spraying device according to the present invention which, in its totality, is provided with reference numeral 10.

[0043] Spraying device 10 includes a mixing unit 12, a throttle unit 14, and a throttle valve 16. Spraying device 10 furthermore includes a tank 18, in which a first active agent 20 is situated, as well as a tank 22, in which a second active agent 24 is situated. First active agent 20 is designed as a plant protection agent concentration 20, and second active agent 24 is designed as a carrier fluid 24, namely water 24.

[0044] First active agent 20 and second active agent 24 can be supplied to mixing unit 12 under pressure via supply lines 26, the pressure being able to be generated via a pressure unit 28 in each case. Mixing unit 12, in turn, is designed to mix the two active agents 20, 24 to form a spraying agent 30.

[0045] Throttle unit 14 is situated upstream from mixing unit 12 between tank 18 and mixing unit 12. Throttle unit 14 includes a feed channel 32 and a discharge channel 34, which are fluidically connectable to each other via one of four throttle channels 36a, b, c, d in each case for the purpose of setting a flow rate of first active agent 20 to be supplied to mixing unit 12. Feed channel 32 is situated at a feed element 33, and discharge channel 34 is situated at a discharge element 35. Throttle channels 36a, b, c, d are situated at a throttle element 38 that is movably situated relative to feed channel 32 or feed element 33 and discharge channel 34 or discharge element 35, which each has a fixed channel cross section. The channel cross sections are different, which is apparent from the following figures. The fluidic connection or the selection of throttle channels 36a, b, c, d, and thus the flow rate, takes place depending on a position of throttle element 38. Starting at a certain overpressure, which depends on selected throttle channel 36a, b, c, d, the through-flowing flow rate of first active agent 20 can be kept always constant independently of the pressure using throttle unit 14. Throttle element 38 is designed to be manually movable by a user, for which reason throttle unit 14 is designed as a hand valve 14.

[0046] Throttle valve 16 is designed as a pipe constriction. However, it would also be entirely conceivable to provide another throttle unit instead of throttle valve 16, but with a different number of throttle channels and/or different channel cross sections. Accordingly, second active agent 24 can be supplied to mixing unit 12 under pressure via fixed throttle valve 16, the constant flow rate being invariable in contrast to throttle unit 14.

[0047] Consequently, depending on the desired mixing ratio of spraying agent 30, i.e., that of first active agent 20 or plant protection agent concentrate 20, to second active agent 24, or water 24, throttle element 38 and thus particular throttle channel 36a, b, c, d are positioned accordingly, so that the corresponding flow rate of plant protection agent concentrate 20 is supplied to mixing unit 12 in the ratio to water 24. Throttle unit 14 and throttle valve 16 as well as the pressures at which active agents 20, 24 are supplied to mixing unit 12 are to be matched to each other to obtain the desired mixing ratio.

[0048] FIGS. 2-4 show an example embodiment of a throttle unit 14 according to the present invention. Feed element 33, discharge element 35 and throttle element 38 are designed as circular disks and are situated adjacent and in parallel to each other. Throttle element 38 is rotatably supported around rotation axis 42 in movement direction 40. The movement of throttle element 38 is a purely rotational movement. Rotation axis 42 runs outside throttle channels 36a, b, c, d, so that throttle channels 36a, b, c, d are also rotatably movable around rotation axis 42. Moreover, rotation axis 42 of throttle element 38 runs essentially in parallel to flow direction 44 of the active agent through throttle channels 36a, b, c, d.

[0049] As is apparent in greater detail from the exploded drawing in FIG. 3, a fluidic connection of feed channel 32 to discharge channel 34 takes place via one of throttle channels 36a, b, c, d in flow direction 44 depending on the position of throttle element 38. Throttle channels 36a, b, c, d, designed as bores 36a, b, c, d, all have fixed channel cross sections, whereby the through-flowing flow rate is kept constant. The channel cross sections or diameters of throttle channels 36a, b, c, d are different, so that, depending on the desired quantitative ratio of plant protection agent concentrate 20 to water 24, corresponding throttle channel 36a, b, c, d (36a in the illustrated case) can be selected for the fluidic connection by rotating throttle element 38 in movement direction 40. Feed channel 32 and discharge channel 34 can be simultaneously fluidically connected via only one throttle channel 36a, b, c, d. However, it is also entirely conceivable to select the diameter and arrangement of channels 32, 34, 36a, b, c, d in such a way that feed channel 32 and discharge channel 34 are simultaneously fluidically connectable via two or even more throttle channels 36a, b, c, d.

[0050] A detailed view of elements 33, 35, 38 is illustrated in FIG. 4, from which it is apparent that throttle channels 36a, b, c, d are arranged circularly around rotation axis 42 of throttle element 38.

[0051] FIG. 5 shows another example embodiment of a throttle unit 14 according to the present invention, including a locking device of throttle element 38 in predefined positions, i.e., a locking device of throttle element 38 at predefined angles relative to feed element 33 and discharge element 35. For illustrative reasons, a detailed view is shown similarly to FIG. 4.

[0052] To be able to provide the locking device, feed element 33 and discharge element 35 are each flexibly situated or supported against throttle element 38 using a pressure spring (not illustrated). In addition, feed element 33 and discharge element 35 each have a circular groove 50 or channel 50 on a surface 48 facing throttle element 38, including four hemispherical indentations 52 evenly distributed in the circumferential direction. Accordingly, throttle element 38 includes four hemispherical projections 56 in each case on a surface 54 facing feed element 33 and discharge element 35. Similarly to hemispherical indentations 52, hemispherical projections 56 are evenly distributed in the circumferential direction. As a result, throttle element 38 is guidably supported and lockable in grooves 50 or indentations 52 of feed element 33 and discharge element 35 using projections 56. When throttle element 38 is rotated out of a locking position, the distance from feed element 33 and discharge element 35 increases in each case until the next locking position is reached, so that wear on contact surfaces 48, 54 is avoided. In addition, feed channel 33 and discharge channel 35 can be sealed using a sealing element, for example an O ring.

[0053] FIGS. 6 and 7 show two additional example embodiments of a throttle unit 14, including only one throttle channel 36. Throttle channel 36 has an elongated design and extends in an arc-shaped manner around rotation axis 42 of throttle element 38. Feed channel 32 of feed element 33 and discharge channel 34 of discharge element 35 are adapted accordingly. The flow rate of through-flowing active agent 20 is determined by an overlapping surface 58 between throttle channel 36 and feed channel 32 or discharge channel 34. The flow rate is thus continuously changeable or settable. As illustrated in FIG. 6, channels 32, 34, 36 can have a symmetrical design, so that a uniform elevation of overlapping surface 58 results for each angle unit. Alternatively, however, channels 32, 34, 36 can also have an asymmetrical designas illustrated in FIG. 7so that a different elevation of overlapping surface 58 results for each angle unit.

[0054] FIG. 8 is a flowchart of an example embodiment of the approach presented here as method 100 for dispensing a spraying agent 30, in particular a plant protection agent 30. Method 100 includes a step 102 of providing a mixing unit 12 for mixing two active agents 20, 24 to form a spraying agent 30. Method 100 also includes a step 104 of providing a throttle unit 14; 14 including a feed channel 32 and a discharge channel 34, which are fluidically connectable to each other via at least one throttle channel 36a, b, c, d; 36 depending on a position of a throttle element 38; 38 of throttle unit 14; 14 movably situated relative to feed channel 32 and discharge channel 34 for the purpose of setting the flow rate of at least one of active agents 20, 24 to be supplied to mixing unit 12, the at least one throttle channel 36a, b, c, d; 36 being situated at throttle element 38; 38 and having a fixed channel cross section for the purpose of keeping the flow rate of the at least one through-flowing active agent 20, 24 constant. Method 100 further includes a step 106 of supplying at least one of active agents 20, 24 to mixing unit 12 under pressure via throttle unit 14; 14 in such a way that the flow rate of the at least one active agent 20, 24 to be supplied to mixing unit 12 is kept constant using throttle unit 14; 14. Finally, method 100 includes a step 108 of dispensing spraying agent 30.

[0055] If an example embodiment includes an and/or linkage between a first feature and a second feature, this is to be read in such a way that the example embodiment has both the first feature and the second feature according to an example embodiment and either only the first feature or only the second feature according to other example embodiments.