JP7648475B2 - Chemical tank equipped with a water flow generator - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a chemical tank equipped with a water flow generating device.

A known example of a chemical tank equipped with a water flow generating device that generates a water flow to stir the chemical solution is described in the following Patent Document 1. The chemical tank described in Patent Document 1 is mounted on a speed sprayer, and the water flow generating device, referred to as the stirrer in Patent Document 1, is configured such that a rotating shaft with a vane wheel at its tip penetrates the tank side wall and is supported by a shaft, a flow guide cover is provided around the vane wheel at an appropriate distance from the inner surface of the tank side wall, and a straightening member is provided at the front opening of the flow guide cover.

When the drive source rotates the rotating shaft and impeller in a chemical tank equipped with this water flow generating device, the chemical flows into the flow guide cover from the rear of the impeller, and the rotation of the impeller causes the chemical liquid to be gradually pushed out of the front opening of the flow guide cover, generating a flow of chemical liquid, i.e., a water flow. This generated water flow then reaches the tank's opposing wall and flows back, effectively stirring the chemical liquid throughout the entire chemical tank.

Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 2-104870

As described in Patent Document 1, when a chemical tank is mounted on a speed sprayer, the shape of the chemical tank becomes complex due to the need to balance the installation positions of the equipment and parts of each part of the machine, and in Patent Document 1, convex portions that protrude inward are provided on both sides of the bottom of the chemical tank to ensure clearance with the tire housing. In this way, unevenness is often provided on the bottom of the tank to ensure clearance with structures and parts below the chemical tank.

However, as in Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the convex parts on the bottom surface of the tank obstruct the water flow generated by the water flow generating device, making it difficult to stir the chemical solution and reducing the stirring efficiency.

In addition, when the tank capacity becomes large, the mixing efficiency can be improved by improving the performance of the water flow generating device, but there are space limitations and it is not easy to improve performance.

The present invention was made to solve these problems, and aims to effectively stir the chemical solution in a chemical tank equipped with a water flow generating device, and to improve the stirring efficiency regardless of the performance of the water flow generating device.

The present invention is a chemical liquid tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) that generates a water flow and agitates the chemical liquid contained therein, and is characterized in that the tank bottom is provided with a protrusion (23) that protrudes upward, the protrusion (23) being provided on either the left or right side of the water flow (A) that advances in a straight line from the water flow generating device (14), and a swirling flow (B) that swirls around the protrusion (23) is formed from the downstream side of the water flow (A) that advances in a straight line from the water flow generating device (14).

In a chemical tank (6) equipped with such a water flow generating device (14), a swirling flow (B) that swirls around the protrusion (23) is formed downstream of the water flow (A) that is generated from the water flow generating device (14) and travels straight ahead. This swirling flow (B) can effectively stir the chemical solution, improving the stirring efficiency regardless of the performance of the water flow generating device (14).

Here, if the tank bottom surface around the protrusion (23) is provided with an upwardly sloping inclined surface (27-30) along the swirling flow (B), a three-dimensional swirling flow (B) is formed by the upwardly sloping inclined surface (27-30), which produces a three-dimensional mixing effect and further improves the mixing efficiency.

In addition, if a step portion (36) is formed adjacent to the water flow generating portion (50) where the water flow (A) of the water flow generating device (14) is generated, with the tank bottom surface around the protrusion (23) at the upper surface (31) being the tank bottom surface where the terminal end of the swirling flow (B) reaches, the swirling flow (B) is guided to flow from the step portion (36) into the vicinity of the water flow generating portion (50), and the medicine that is prone to settling is more suitably agitated, thereby improving the agitation efficiency.

In addition, if a part of the power transmission part constituting the pesticide spraying vehicle (100) is inserted into the protrusion (23), the space in the vertical direction can be effectively utilized, which is effective for pesticide spraying vehicles (100) with low vehicle height, such as speed sprayers.

In addition, if the bottom surface of the tank has a downwardly sloping surface (37) toward the drain outlet (39), it becomes easier to drain the chemical liquid from the chemical tank (6).

In this way, the present invention can provide a chemical tank equipped with a water flow generating device that can effectively mix the chemical solution and improve mixing efficiency regardless of the performance of the water flow generating device.

1 is a side view of a speed sprayer equipped with a chemical tank according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view of the liquid chemical tank in FIG. 1 as viewed from the front and diagonally upward to the left. FIG. FIG. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of the liquid chemical tank shown in FIG. 2 . 4 is a cutaway perspective view of the liquid chemical tank shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from diagonally above to the right. FIG. 4 is a cutaway side view of the liquid chemical tank shown in FIG. 3 as viewed from the right side. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing a water flow and a swirling flow generated from a water flow generating portion of a water flow generating device in the chemical solution tank shown in FIG. 3 . FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram showing a water flow generated from a water flow generating portion of the water flow generating device in the chemical liquid tank shown in FIG. 4 and a water flow guided from a step portion to the water flow generating portion. FIG.

Hereinafter, a preferred embodiment of a chemical tank equipped with a water flow generating device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings. Fig. 1 is a side view of a speed sprayer equipped with a chemical tank according to an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the chemical tank as seen from the front and diagonally upward to the left, Fig. 3 is a cutaway perspective view of the chemical tank shown in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a cutaway perspective view of the chemical tank shown in Fig. 3 as seen from diagonally upward to the right, Fig. 5 is a cutaway side view of the chemical tank shown in Fig. 3 as seen from the right side, Fig. 6 is an explanatory diagram showing the water flow and swirling flow generated from the water flow generating part of the water flow generating device in the chemical tank shown in Fig. 3, Fig. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the water flow generated from the water flow generating part of the water flow generating device in the chemical tank shown in Fig. 4 and the water flow led from the step part to the water flow generating part, and the speed sprayer of this embodiment sprays chemical liquid while traveling in a field such as an orchard or farmland. In the following explanation, "front," "back," "left," and "right" refer to directions based on the speed sprayer.

As shown in FIG. 1, the speed sprayer 100 is equipped with a vehicle body (vehicle frame) 1, with left and right front wheels 2 and rear wheels 3 that can rotate. On the drivable vehicle body 1, from the front to the rear, there is arranged a driver's seat 5 where the driver sits and drives the vehicle using the steering wheel 4 and sprays the chemical solution, a chemical solution tank 6 that contains and stores the chemical solution, an engine room 7 that contains an engine and a spray pump, etc., a spray head 8 that sprays the chemical solution pressure-fed from the chemical solution tank 6 around the vehicle body by driving the spray pump, a blower 9 that draws in air from the rear of the vehicle body and sends it to the spray head 8, and a blower cover 10 that covers the blower 9. In the spray head 8 forward of the blower 9, multiple spray nozzles 11 are spaced apart in an arc shape with the axis running along the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle body as the axis so that the chemical solution is sprayed upward and to the side by the air blown from the blower 9.

As shown in Figures 2 to 5, the chemical tank 6 is generally semicylindrical with an internal space S, and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, is provided with a cap 12 for opening and closing the chemical injection port at approximately the center of the upper part. As shown in Figures 3 to 5, the bottom of the chemical tank 6 slopes upward from approximately the center in the front-to-rear direction to the front end 16 of the chemical tank 6 at approximately the center position 60 in the left-to-right direction toward the left side 26, and further slopes upward via steps 24 and 25 toward the left side 26, and also slopes upward from approximately the center in the front-to-rear direction to the rear end 15 of the chemical tank 6 at approximately the center position 60 in the left-to-right direction (described in detail below).

A water flow generating device 14 that generates a water flow is attached to the right side of the rear end 15 of the chemical tank 6, approximately from the center in the left-right direction.

The water flow generating device 14 includes a rotating shaft 17 that passes through the rear end 15 of the chemical tank 6, is journaled, and extends toward the front end 16 of the chemical tank 6, a propeller 19 with multiple stirring blades 18 fixed to the tip of the rotating shaft 17, and a rotational driving force transmission means that transmits the rotational driving force from the engine to the rotating shaft 17. The propeller 19 and the rotating shaft 17 constitute a water flow generating section 50 that generates a water flow by rotation.

The bottom surface of the tank 6 below the propeller 19 is a horizontal surface 20 that is horizontal from the rear end 15 to the front end 16 of the chemical tank 6.

A stepped portion 21 that is slightly convex upward is provided from the rear end to the front end of the left end of the horizontal surface 20, and a flat surface 22 that is narrow in the left-right direction is formed on the upper surface of the stepped portion 21.

At the left end of the flat surface 22, forward of the left side of the front of the propeller 19, a protrusion 23 is formed that protrudes upward and bulges leftward and forward. The upper surface of the protrusion 23 is located slightly above the rotating propeller 19 (see Figure 5). On the left side away from the protrusion 23, steps 24, 25 are provided that extend from the rear end 15 to the front end 16 of the chemical tank 6 and are located above the lower left end of the protrusion 23 (see Figures 4 and 5). The upper surface of the upper step 25 extends upwardly to the left and is connected to the lower end of the left side 26 of the chemical tank 6.

Around the protrusion 23 from the front end 16 side of the chemical tank 6, between the lower end of the protrusion 23 and the lower end of the front end 16 of the chemical tank 6, the lower end of the lower step 24, and the lower end of the rear end 15 of the chemical tank 6, there are upwardly sloping inclined surfaces 27, 28, 29, 30 and a flat surface 31.

The inclined surface 27 is formed in a generally L-shape in plan view, with the flat surface 22 side being the upstream side. The inclined surface 27 is connected to the left end of the flat surface 22 with an upward gradient, and the downstream end 32 of the inclined surface 27 extends between the position of the lower end near the boundary between the left side portion 26 side of the protrusion 23 and the front end 16 side, and the position of the lower end of the lower step 24. The connection position 51 of the downstream end 32 of the inclined surface 27 with the lower end of the protrusion 23 is located closer to the front end 16 than the connection position 52 with the lower end of the lower step 24.

The inclined surface 28 is connected to the inclined surface 27 at an upward gradient and is formed in a generally triangular shape in a plan view. The upstream end of the inclined surface 28 is connected to the downstream end 32 of the inclined surface 27, and the downstream end 33 of the inclined surface 28 extends between the lower end position near the boundary between the left side portion 26 side of the protrusion 23 and the rear end 15 side and the lower end position of the lower step portion 24 on the rear end 15 side from the above-mentioned connection position 52. The connection position 53 of the inclined surface 28 with the lower end of the lower step portion 24 is located slightly above the connection position 52 of the inclined surface 27 with the lower end of the lower step portion 24 (see Figures 4 and 5), and the connection position 54 of the inclined surface 28 with the lower end of the protrusion 23 is located above the connection position 53 of the inclined surface 28 with the lower end of the lower step portion 24.

The inclined surface 29 is connected to the inclined surface 28 at an upward gradient, and is formed in a substantially triangular shape facing in the opposite direction to the inclined surface 28 in a plan view. The upstream end of the inclined surface 29 is connected to the downstream end 33 of the inclined surface 28, and the downstream end 34 of the inclined surface 29 extends between the lower end position to the right of the left end of the protrusion 23 and a position near the lower end of the lower step portion 24 at the rear end portion 15. The left side portion 26 side of the inclined surface 29 is connected to the lower end of the lower step portion 24, and the connection position 55 with the lower end of the lower step portion 24 is located at a gradual upward incline from the connection position 53 with the downstream end 33 of the inclined surface 28 toward the rear end portion 15 (see Figures 4 and 5). Furthermore, a connection position 57 with the lower end of the protrusion 23 of the downstream end 34 is located above a connection position 56 with the lower end of the rear end 15 of the downstream end 34 of the inclined surface 29 (see Figures 3 and 5), and a connection position 57 with the lower end of the protrusion 23 of the downstream end 34 is located above a connection position 54 with the lower end of the protrusion 23 of the downstream end 33.

The inclined surface 30 is connected to the inclined surface 29 with an upward gradient, and is formed in a substantially triangular shape facing in the opposite direction to the inclined surface 29 in a plan view. The upstream end of the inclined surface 30 is connected to the downstream end 34 of the inclined surface 29, and the downstream end 35 of the inclined surface 30 extends between the lower end position (see FIG. 3) at the approximately center in the left-right direction on the rear end 15 side of the protrusion 23 and the lower end position of the rear end 15 opposite to this position. The connection position 58 (see FIG. 3) of the downstream end 35 of the inclined surface 30 with the lower end of the protrusion 23 is located above the connection position 57 of the downstream end 34 of the inclined surface 29 with the lower end of the protrusion 23, and the connection position 59 (see FIG. 3) of the downstream end 35 of the inclined surface 30 with the lower end of the rear end 15 is located above the connection position 56 of the downstream end 34 of the inclined surface 29 with the lower end of the rear end 15. The downstream end 35 of the inclined surface 30 is horizontal.

The flat surface 31 is horizontally connected to the downstream end 35 of the inclined surface 30, and is connected to the rear end 15 and the lower end of the protrusion 23. A step 36 with the flat surface 31 as the upper surface is formed on the rear end 15 side of the protrusion 23 and to the left of the water flow generating section 50 (see Figures 3 and 4). The lower end of this step 36 is adjacent to the left end of the flat surface 22 (see Figure 4).

The inside (lower side) of this step 36 is open outward from the rear end 15, and the inside (lower side) of the protrusion 23 connected to the inside of the step 36 is open, and part of the power transmission part that constitutes the speed sprayer 100 and transmits power from the engine fits inside this protrusion 23.

In addition, at the right end of the horizontal surface 20 of the tank bottom, an inclined groove 37 is provided as an inclined surface that slopes from the rear end 15 to the front end 16 toward the right side 40. The width of the inclined groove 37 gradually increases from the rear end 15 toward the front end 16 toward the right side 40, and therefore the right end of the front end of the inclined groove 37 is located at the lowest position. A horizontal surface 38 is connected to the right end of the lowest front end of this inclined groove 37, and a drain outlet 39 is connected to the right end of this horizontal surface 38.

With the speed sprayer 100 thus configured, referring to FIG. 1, while the vehicle is moving due to engine power, the engine power operates the spray pump, supplying the chemical liquid from the chemical liquid tank 6 to the spray nozzle 11 of the spray head 8, and the chemical liquid is sprayed from the spray nozzle 11. At the same time, the engine power operates the blower 9, which sucks in air from the rear and ejects the airflow radially outward from around the spray nozzle 11, diffusing the sprayed chemical liquid around the vehicle body and distributing the chemical liquid appropriately.

Referring to Figures 3 to 5, in the chemical tank 6 of this embodiment, when the water flow generating device 14 is driven and the rotating shaft 17 and the propeller 19 rotate, a water flow is generated from the water flow generating unit 50 that includes the propeller 19 and the rotating shaft 17.

The water flow generated travels straight as shown by arrow A in Figures 6 and 7. This straight flow A uses the protrusion 23 as a guide to pass beside it and travel straight while preventing it from branching off, and then a swirling flow B is formed that passes through the inclined surfaces 27-30 and flat surface 31 around the protrusion 23.

Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the end of the swirling flow B is guided (falls) from the step 36 to flow into the vicinity of the water flow generating section 50 as shown by the arrow C, and the water flow from the water flow generating section 50 circulates while stirring the chemical solution.

In this way, according to this embodiment, a swirling flow B that swirls around the protrusion 23 is formed downstream of the straight flow A generated by the water flow generating device 14, and this swirling flow B can effectively mix the chemical solution, improving the mixing efficiency regardless of the performance of the water flow generating device 14.

In addition, the bottom surface of the tank around the protrusion 23 has inclined surfaces 27-30 with an upward gradient along the swirling flow B, which creates a three-dimensional swirling flow B and produces a three-dimensional mixing effect, thereby improving the mixing efficiency.

In addition, adjacent to the water flow generating section 50 where the straight flow A of the water flow generating device 14 is generated, a step section 36 is formed in the bottom surface of the tank around the protrusion 23, with the tank bottom surface where the terminal end of the swirling flow B reaches as the upper surface 31. This allows the swirling flow B to flow from the step section 36 into the vicinity of the water flow generating section 50, allowing the medicine that is prone to settling to be more suitably agitated, thereby improving the agitation efficiency.

In addition, part of the power transmission part that constitutes the speed sprayer 100 is inserted inside the protrusion 23, so the space in the vertical direction can be effectively utilized, which is effective for a speed sprayer 100 with a low vehicle height.

The tank bottom also has an inclined groove 37 that slopes downward toward the drain outlet 39, making it easy to drain the chemicals in the chemical tank 6.

The present invention has been specifically described above based on the embodiments, but the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, in the above embodiment, the protrusion 23 is provided on the left side of the straight flow A that advances straight from the water flow generating device 14, but it can also be provided on the right side. In this case, it is preferable to move the water flow generating device 14 to the left.

In the above embodiment, the projection 23 is provided with inclined surfaces 27-30 with an upward gradient, which is particularly preferable, but the flat surface 31 connected to the inclined surface 30 may also be an inclined surface, and various gradients may be used for the upward gradient of each inclined surface. Also, the inclined surfaces may not be connected in a broken line, but may be an upward slope around the projection 23. Furthermore, part or all of the broken line inclined surface or slope with an upward gradient around the projection 23 may be a flat surface. If the entire surface around the projection 23 is made flat in this way, the step portion 36 will disappear.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the water flow is generated from the water flow generating unit 50 equipped with the rotating shaft 17 and the propeller 19, but the water flow generating device may be a jet water flow generating device, the water flow generating unit may be a jet outlet that protrudes into the chemical tank 6, and a jet water flow may be generated from the jet outlet and rotated around the protrusion 23 to agitate the chemical solution.

In addition, in the above embodiment, the application to the self-propelled speed sprayer 100 is described as being particularly suitable, but it can also be applied to, for example, a self-propelled boom sprayer or other pesticide spraying vehicle. Furthermore, it can also be applied to a towed speed sprayer towed by a tractor or the like, or a pesticide spraying vehicle such as a boom sprayer.

6...chemical tank, 14...water flow generator, 23...projection, 27-30...inclined surfaces, 31...flat surface (upper surface), 36...step, 37...inclined surface, 39...drain, 50...water flow generator, 100...speed sprayer (chemical spraying vehicle), A...straight flow, B...swirling flow.

Claims (5)

A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) that generates a water flow and agitates the chemical liquid contained therein,
A protrusion (23) protruding upward from the bottom surface of the tank is provided,
The projection (23) is provided on either the left or right side of the water flow (A) that flows straight from the water flow generating device (14),
A swirling flow (B) swirling around the protrusion (23) is formed from the downstream side of the water flow (A) proceeding straight from the water flow generating device (14) ,
A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14), characterized in that the tank bottom surface around the protrusion (23) is provided with an upwardly sloping surface (27-30) along the swirling flow (B) . A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) as described in claim 1, characterized in that a step portion (36) is formed adjacent to a water flow generating section (50) of the water flow generating device (14) where the water flow (A) is generated, the step portion (36) having an upper surface (31) as the tank bottom surface around the protrusion (23) where the terminal end of the swirling flow ( B ) reaches. A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) as described in claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that a part of the power transmission part constituting the chemical spraying vehicle (100) is inserted into the protrusion (23). A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) that generates a water flow and agitates the chemical liquid contained therein,
A protrusion (23) protruding upward from the bottom surface of the tank is provided,
The projection (23) is provided on either the left or right side of the water flow (A) that flows straight from the water flow generating device (14),
A swirling flow (B) swirling around the protrusion (23) is formed from the downstream side of the water flow (A) proceeding straight from the water flow generating device (14) ,
A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) , characterized in that a part of the power transmission part constituting a chemical spraying vehicle (100) is inserted into the protrusion (23) . A chemical tank (6) equipped with a water flow generating device (14) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the tank bottom has a downwardly sloping surface (37) toward a drain outlet (39).

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