Claims:
CLAIMS

I/we claim,
1. Method used for short distance and long-distance spray
2. Method used for changing nozzle for requirements
3. Method of fitting the sprayers on hand and palm.
4. The cone nozzle works at an efficiency of 80% producing a pressure of 48psi to an input pressure of 60psi.
5. The V-Jet nozzle works at an efficiency of 91.6% producing a pressure of 55psi to an input pressure of 60psi
6. Using the cone nozzle, the sprayer has a theoretical coverage area of 6825.17 mm and an actual spray coverage area of 490.025 mm
7. Using the V-jet nozzle the sprayer has a theoretical coverage of 3167.57 mm and an actual spray coverage area of 1534.54 mm.
8. With the use of a pump rated at 60 W delivering an output pressure of 60psi the nozzles covered a sufficient area and was uniformly distributed.
9. The method of pump automatically stops if it senses a surge in pressure due to blockage which actsas another safety measure.
10. Once it gets to its optimum pressure it automatically switches on. Nozzles such as V-Jet and Cone nozzles are used for covering large areas and for uniform distribution of pesticides.

Date: .................. Signature:....................... , Description:The following specification particularly describes the invention and manner in which it is to be performed

DESCRIPTION

FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001] India is an agriculturally based country as 73% of our population depends upon agriculture directly or indirectly. India has achieved a ton and progressed a lot in the field of agriculture over the past 30 odd years after the start of the green revolution in the 1960’s. It overcame poverty, starvation and become self-sustainable. But Indian farmers are still toiling with age old traditional methods of the various processes of agriculture like fertilizer and pesticide spraying, seed sowing etc. To reduce efforts and time to spray pesticides and reduce wastage by traditional methods we need to move onto mechanization of all these processes. The present invention belongs to the field of Agricultural pesticides spray.

RELATED ART
[0002] In recent years, there have been many researches works on how to make the knapsack more efficient and safer and many innovations and inventions have been taking place to overcome the limitations of each successive generation of sprayers leading to very commendable efficient pesticide spraying techniques. The literature review presents the current state of knapsack sprayers and improvements taking place with each succeeding step of innovation in this field. Many researchers have dedicated their work to describe the current spraying techniques, innovations made on them, the advantages, limitations, opportunities and problems associated with each one of them to help the succeeding generation of researchers and innovators to know the existing scenario on work on improving them by limiting the problems and disadvantages for a common reason of making agricultural lands pest free to a certain extent. This literature review also presents the properties of each sprayer, the source and mode on which it is operated, difficulties experienced by the operators, spraying area and rate of spraying and different innovations which can be implemented in the future of pesticide spraying.
[0003] Types of Sprayers: In this context, we are going to discuss about the different types of conventional spraying methods for pesticide application available in the current scenario. Two general types of sprayers are available for application of pesticides: Hydraulic and Low-volume. There are many variations of these that fit particular crops or growing methods.
[0004] In the hydraulic sprayer, a pump supplies energy that carries spray material to the target (plant foliage). Water is the carrier and the pump create the pressure at 40-1000 psi. Spray material is usually applied to "wet" or "drip." Nozzles on the boom or handheld gun break the spray into small droplets and direct it to the foliage. A hydraulic sprayer contains the following components: tank, pump with agitator, pressure gauge, regulating valve, relief valve, control valves, piping and nozzles, power source and support frame.
[0005] Compressed air sprayer: The smallest sprayers are hand-carried, compressed air sprayers. They contain a 1- to 5-gallon tank with an air pump in the top and a wand with a nozzle for directing the spray. Their best use is for spot treatment of small areas. In operation, the tank has to be pumped up frequently to maintain pressure, and the tank must be shaken to agitate the chemical.
[0006] Backpack sprayer: The tank in this sprayer holds about four gallons of material. A hand-operated pump pressurizes the spray material as the operator walks along, and the wand with nozzle directs the spray to the target. Its use is limited to small areas that can be reached from a walkway.
[0007] Skid-mounted sprayer: With a tank size up to 200 gallons, these sprayers will fit onto an ATV or electric cart. They can also be mounted on wheels and pulled by hand or with a compact tractor. A small electric or gas engine powers the pump. The unit may contain a hose reel and gun or a boom with nozzles.
[0008] Irrigation boom sprayer: With increasing production in plug and cell trays, the use of the boom sprayer has become an important tool for getting uniform watering. By installing three-way turrets with nozzles for irrigation, misting and pesticide application, a single piece of equipment serves multiple purposes. An alternate method is to add a pesticide application boom to the same transport cart. An independent mixing tank, pump, filter and valves are needed.
[0009] Central pesticide application system - In gutter-connected ranges, it is possible to install a piping system that will deliver pesticides to any part of the greenhouse. Pesticide preparation and filtration are done in a mixing area. A single pump and piping that will handle the pressure developed are required. A hose can be easily attached to one or more outlets in each bay to apply the pesticide. The disadvantage is that the entire system must be drained and cleaned before changing to a new chemical.
[0010] In a low-volume (LV) sprayer, spray material in a water or oil carrier is injected into a high-speed air stream developed by a fan, blower or compressor. In most LV sprayers, a small pump is used to inject a concentrate pesticide solution into the air stream. The speed of the air stream maybe as high as 200 mph. To get sufficient coverage, the air within the foliage canopy must be replaced with air that contains the pesticide. As the droplet size is much smaller, good coverage can be achieved with less chemical.
[0011] Disadvantages of Existing Sprayers: This context gives the disadvantages of both the existing sprayers that is the hydraulic sprayers and low volume sprayers in both manual and power modes of operation.
[0012] Disadvantages of Hydraulic Sprayers: 1) Lots of physical strain; 2) Covers small area per day; 3) Requires frequent refilling thus increasing non spraying time; 4) Requires large quantity of water; 5) Hazardous; 6) High initial cost; 7) Low reliability; 8) Power sprayers requires fuel thus leading to high operating costs and environmental hazards; 9) Requires skilled personnel and 10) Varying droplet size causes uneven spraying.
[0013] Disadvantages of Low Volume Sprayers: 1) No provision for safety of operators even if the sprayer is effective due to it small droplet size; 2) Battery requires frequent charging; 3) Chemical sprayed is not evenly distributed; 4) Fuel is required; 5) Tank capacity is less; 6) Area covered is less and 7) Operator will experience fatigue and tiredness due to increased workloads by carrying the heavy knapsack on his back and walking for long distances.
[0014] The single biggest limitation to the operation of a knapsack sprayer is the lack of pressure control. Knapsack sprayers vary widely with respect to pressurization capacity among different brands of sprayers, and even among different models of the same brand. Variations in pressure are a result of any number of factors and have a detrimental effect on the consistency of spray pattern from the nozzle, and subsequently, on the overall quality of the pesticide application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0015] FIG.1 and FIG.2 are the diagrams illustrating the front view and back view
[0016] FIG.3 shows the various types of hydraulic sprayers
[0017] FIG.4 shows the different types of low volume sprayers
[0018] FIG.5 illustrates the structure of a steel pipe.
[0019] FIG.6 shows the structure of the polypropylene block.
[0020] FIG.7 and FIG.8 are the diagrams illustrating the polyurethane tubes and nylon tubes.
[0021] FIG.9 and FIG. 10 are the diagrams illustrating the front view and back view of the pump.
[0022] FIG.11 illustrate the model of pump incorporated to the knapsack
[0023] FIG.12, FIG.13, FIG.14 and FIG.15 shows the model structure of sponge, acrylic, Velcro, Pvc suit and gloves
[0024] FIG.16, FIG.17, FIG.18 and FIG.19 shows the various types of nozzle models are Axial flow flat jet nozzle, Cone nozzle, Mist nozzle and Ellipse nozzle.
[0025] FIG.20 illustrate the catia design structure.
[0026] FIG.21 illustrates the flow of assembly of sprayer.
[0027] FIG.22 illustrating the 2D design of polypropylene fixture sideview and top view.
[0028] FIG.23 and FIG.24 are the diagrams illustrates the 2D design of palm sprayer top view and over all 3D design of arm and palm sprayer.
[0029] FIG.25 and FIG.26 are the fabricated polypropylene blocks and fabricated component (palm sprayer).
[0030] FIG.27, FIG.28, FIG.29, FIG.30 and FIG.31 are the diagrams illustrates the structural view of knapsack, 2-way hydraulic lock, Control valves, Palm sprayer and Arm sprayer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Design of each component for the two kinds of sprayers as per our concept was done using software’s such as CATIA V5 R21 (for basic understanding) and AUTOCAD as per the calculations, keeping in mind the objectives to be achieved and maximum comfort of operator. One of our aims was to make it a low-cost sprayer, so good quality materials fit for the price was purchased which would be suitable to be incorporated as per the designs and would not cross the designated budget list. The materials included PU and nylon pipes, polypropylene, nozzles, steel pipe, pump and knapsack container for housing the pump and storage of water, hydraulic locks and many miscellaneous materials. After procuring the materials, the fabrication and machining of the two types of sprayers were carried out as per the designs, using lathe and milling operations with low machining costs. After the fabrication of the individual components, each machined component was assembled together and fitted to the suit with the help of pipes and hydraulic locks and was tested in an open ground to observe whether all the objectives have been fulfilled and desired results have been achieved. Prototype had faced problems such as back pressure due to extra pressure which was addressed to by surging the excess pesticide due to back pressure into the knapsack with the use of hydraulic locks and pipes and a flow regulator. After addressing all the problems, the final assembly and the final model was conceived
[0032] STEEL PIPE: A steel pipe of grade 904L having an outer diameter of 14mm and an inner-diameter of 8mm was used. This is incorporated to the arm sprayer from which the pesticide mixture flows out through the pipe. They are highly corrosion resistant contains sufficient amount of chromium to undergo passivation. Resist salt water corrosion better than aluminium-bronze or copper-nickel alloys. They are highly resistant to attack from acids, both in mild and aggressive concentrations. All conventional methods of welding can be used for this grade of steel. They can be machined easily using any standard methods of machining.
[0033] POLYPROPYLENE: Polypropylene (PP), also known as polypropylene, is a thermoplastic polymer used in a wide variety of applications including packaging and labelling, textiles (e.g., ropes, thermal underwear and carpets), stationery, plastic parts and reusable containers of various types, laboratory equipment, loudspeakers, automotive components, mesh and polymer banknotes. An addition polymer made from the monomer propylene, it is rugged and unusually resistant to many chemical solvents, bases and acids. It is a thermoplastic polymer that can be easily machined upon. Low cost thermoplastic compared to others such as nylon. They provide very good resistances to varied concentrations of acids, bases and organic solvents. Used as a fixture in which the stainless-steel pipe goes through.
[0034] POLYURETHANE TUBES (PU TUBES): Polyurethane combines the best properties of both plastic and rubber. It offers abrasion and tear resistance, high tensile and elongation values, and low compression set. Polyurethane is naturally flexible and exhibits virtually unlimited flexural abilities. Combining good chemical resistance with excellent weathering characteristics sets polyurethane apart from most other thermoplastics. It has exceptional resistance to most gasoline’s, oils, kerosene, and other petroleum-based chemicals, making PU tubing and hose, also known as PUR tubing and hose, an ideal choice for fuel lines (although additives in today’s gasoline and petroleum products warrant field testing). The two basic formulations of urethane, ester and ether, have some important differences. Water attacks ester-based urethane, causing a significant reduction in physical properties. Ether urethanes exhibit far superior hydrolytic stability, especially in humid environments. Ether-based materials also resist fungus growth better than ester-based materials. Extremely light weight. Flexible over wide ranges of temperature. Provides good resistance to shock and abrasion. It also provides good resistance to oil, grease, and chemicals. Suitable for fluids and compressed air. It has a working pressure of 15kg/cm². Pressure losses are less because of its smooth internal surface.
[0035] NYLON TUBES: Nylon 12 exhibits properties between short chain aliphatic nylons (e.g., nylon 6 and nylon 66) and polyolefins. At 178-180 °C, the melting point of nylon 12 is the lowest among the important polyamides. Its mechanical properties, such as hardness, tensile strength, and resistance to abrasion, are similar to those of nylon 6 and nylon 66. Low water absorption and density, 1.01 g/mL, result from its relatively long hydrocarbon chain length, which also confers it dimensional stability and an almost paraffin-like structure. Nylon 12 is insensitive to stress cracking. Good functioning over a wide range of temperatures. They are super flexible and are by far the best substitute to copper and other metallic pipes. Can be used for medium to high pressure to convey gas, oil, air and other fluids. They are chemical resistant. They can withstand high pressures. Nylon 12 has a broad range of applications as polyamide additives. Nylon 12 is mainly used for films for packing material in the food industry and sterilized films and bags for use in the pharmaceutical and medical fields. When added to polyethylene films, it improves water vapor permeability and aroma impermeability. It is also prepared as sheets and sintered powder for coating metals. In the electronics field, it is used for covering cables and as insulating material, while in the automobile industry itis used to prepare oil and gasoline resistant tubes. In the cosmetic and personal care industries, it is used as bulking and pacifying agents in face and body powders, and skin creams. Nylon 12 has also found uses in the textile industry and for producing sporting and leisure goods among other applications.
[0036] WATER PUMP: It is a 100 PSI high pressure diaphragm pump. It has a discharge rate of 4L/min. It has a voltage capacity of 12V DC. It is totally sealed with a high stable pressure. Easy to install. It is corrosion resistant. Consists of rubber brackets that absorb vibration during working. Pump protects itself when pressure is too high by sudden stoppage which makes it safe and durable. It draws a current of 3.0 amperes. Temperature range within which it works is 0-60 degree Celsius. It weighs about 592g and has an inlet of 0.5 inch and outlet of 10mm hose barb. Size specification of the pump is 6.30*3.94*2.56 inch. It has a rated power of 60W.
[0037] SPONGE: Sponges are commonly made from cellulose wood fibres or foamed plastic polymers. It is a tool or a cleaning aid consisting of soft, porous material. Sponges are especially good at absorbing water and other water-based solutions. Besides sponges made from plastic polymers, the three other categories of widely used synthetic sponges are low density polyether, polyester and PVA. Polyester sponges can be subdivided into a variety of types, some of which are reticulated for ease of use. Double blown polyester has a high-water retention ability equalling that of PVA sponges, but with visible pores and more diverse uses. Sponge is used for cushioning the arm sprayer on the arm of the operator.
[0038] ACRYLIC: Polymethyl metacrylate (PMMA), also known as acrylic or acrylic glass as well as by the trade names Plexiglas, Acrylite, Lucite, and Perspex among several others is a transparent thermoplastic often used in sheet form as a lightweight or shatter-resistant alternative to glass. The same material can be utilised as a casting resin, in inks and coatings, and has many other uses. Although not a type of familiar silica-based glass, the substance, like many thermoplastics, is often technically classified as a type of glass (in that it is a non-crystalline vitreous substance) hence its occasional historic designation as acrylic glass. Chemically, it is the synthetic polymer of methyl methacrylate. The material was developed in 1928 in several different laboratories by many chemists, such as William Chalmers, Otto Rohm and Walter Bauer, and was first brought to market in 1933 by the Rohm and Haas Company under the trademark Plexiglas. PMMA is an economical alternative to polycarbonate (PC) when tensile strength, flexural strength, transparency, polish ability, and UV tolerance are more important than impact strength, chemical resistance and heat resistance. Additionally, PMMA does not contain the potentially harmful bisphenol-A subunits found in polycarbonate. It is often preferred because of its moderate properties, easy handling and processing, and low cost. Non-modified PMMA behaves in a brittle manner when under load, especially under an impact force, and is more prone to scratching than conventional inorganic glass, but modified PMMA is sometimes able to achieve high scratch and impact resistance. Acrylic in this project is used for polypropylene blocks to hold the steel pipe.
[0039] VELCRO: A fastener consisting of two strips of fabric, one covered with minute fibre hooks and the other of tiny fibre loops, which when brought together stick strongly one to the other. It is put through the slots made on acrylic acting as fasteners to enable wearing of the palm and arm sprayers and to attach the hydraulic locks to the PVC suit.
[0040] PVC SUIT AND GLOVES: PVC clothing, commonly known as vinyl clothing, is shiny clothing made of the plastic polyvinyl chloride (PVC). The PVC plastic is also called vinyl. For this reason, this type of clothing is also called vinyl clothing PVC is sometimes confused with the similarly shiny patent leather. The terms "PVC", "vinyl" and "PU" tend to be used interchangeably by retailers for clothing made from shiny plastic-coated fabrics. These fabrics usually consist of a backing woven from polyester fibres with a surface coating of shiny plastic. The plastic layer itself is typically a blend of PVC and polyurethane (PU), with 100% PVC producing a stiff fabric with a glossy shine and100% PU producing a stretchy fabric with a silky shine. A manufacturer's label may say, for example, 67% polyester, 33% polyurethane for a fabric that contains no PVC; or 80%polyvinyl chloride, 20% polyurethane with mention of the polyester backing omitted. To add to the confusion, the plastic layer is often textured to look like leather ("leather look", "pleather"), as opposed to smooth ("wet look", "patent"). The PVC can also be produced in bright colours (black, red, white, blue, orange, pink, silver, striped, etc.), adding further visual stimulus to the physical sensations produced by the material. The more frequently found colours are black and red. The PVC clothes are very associated with retro futuristic, Goth, Punk, alternative fashions and clothing fetish. A common stereotype is the image of a dominatrix wearing a skin-tight PVC cat suit, usually jet-black. In some cities itis more common to see people wearing PVC clothes, especially in large cities such asBerlin, London, New York City, Montreal, San Francisco, etc. The project consists of aPVC suit and gloves.
[0041] AXIAL FLOW FLAT JET NOZZLE: It has a flow rate range of 0.06-250 l pm. Pressure ranges from 0.5-20 bars. Spray angle ranges from 0-150 degrees. Material of the nozzle is plastic. It has a longer life. It is used for fast delivery and high speeds. It generates thin V form spray on operation.
[0042] CONE NOZZLE: The flow rate ranges from 50-500lpm.Pressure ranges from 0.5-8 bars. Spray ranges angle from 0-120 degrees. It has a cone spraying pattern. Material of the cone is brass. The robust structure gives very long life under very heavy working conditions. The spray pattern increases the spray drift potential.
[0043] MIST NOZZLE: The flow rate ranges from 0.75-208lpm. Pressure ranges from 3 to 5 bars. Spray range angle is 60 to 65 degrees. It is used for pressures of 100 PSI or more. It generates spray in the form of a mist.
[0044] ELLIPSE NOZZLE: The flow rate ranges from 5.5-200lpm. Pressure ranges 0.7 to 10bars. Spray angle ranges from 60 to 120 degrees. It has high impact. It generates spray in the form of an ellipse. The precise tooled orifice is the key factor to get an ellipse spray pattern. The user can get benefit of impact from a flat jet nozzle and coverage advantage from a full-cone nozzle. Basically ellipses are a combination of flat and full cone spray patterns.
[0045] DESIGN: The improvised technique of spraying mainly consists of two kinds of sprayers basically an arm and a palm sprayer which is to be worn by an operator. To understand the working of the arm and palm sprayer, a basic 3D model of the sprayer on a surface representing a human arm was designed using CATIA V5 R21. Other designs carried out were the flow of assembly, which shows how the pesticide mixture should flow from the knapsack cylinder through the pipes which are connected through hydraulic locks and valves and eventually through the arm and palm sprayers. For the arm sprayer basically the designs of polypropylene blocks were carried out by designing it in AutoCAD 2013. The purpose of this design was to provide a fixture which would be glued to the acrylic for holding of the steel pipe through which the pesticide mixture would flow through. The slots on the acrylic were also designed using AutoCAD 2013 as a designing tool and Velcro straps would be incorporated in those slots to enable wrapping around the arm. The basic idea was to place the sprayer on the palm of the operator’s hand. The palm sprayer would be fit into the hand with the help of a magnet. A hole of diameter 14 mm, was designed on a cylindrical block of mild steel to incorporate a copper thread which would hold the nozzle. Equally spaced holes were designed in the bottom to fit three pieces of mild steel of 6mm diameter through which the liquid would flow into the palm sprayer through the PU pipes used. Velcro is also used to strap the sprayer same as the arm sprayer for a better grip. The 3D models of arm and palm sprayers.
[0046] CALIBRATION OF KNAPSACK: There are 4 important variables for calibration of knapsack sprayer i.e. the walking speed, pressure, swath width and the nozzle tip chosen. If any one of these is changed, the amount of pesticide sprayed will also change.
[0047] Walking Speed: If walking speed is doubled while maintaining pressure and swath width, half as much spray will be applied. For example if walking speed of operator is 1.6km/hr and he sprays 20 gallon per litre. If his walking speed doubles to 3.2 km/hr, he sprays 10 gallon per litre.
[0048] Pressure: If pressure is changed while spraying, it changes the output. Suppose you changed the pressure from 15 to 30 psi at 6.4km/hr, this would change the output from 15 to 22 gallons per litre.
[0049] Nozzle tip selection: Tips are available that cover a wide range of output volumes, spray widths and pressures. Always check with nozzle tip suppliers about the different spraying tips for different solutions else it will lead to wastage of operating time and poor application and uniformity rates.
[0050] Swath Width/ Nozzle height: Tips are designed to use with certain heights and pressures. Within these ranges some tips offer narrow bands and some offer swath width of 7 feet. The wider each swath width the less time the operator keeps walking up and down the fields. The height at which you hold the spray tip influences the swath width. The spray height needs to be maintained throughout the application else it will affect the output per acre.
[0051] NOZZLES USED AND THEIR SPECIFICATIONS
CONE NOZZLE
FLOW RATE: 50-500 lpm
PRESSURE RANGE: 0.5-8 bars
SPRAY ANGLE: 0-150°
APPLICATION: Uniform spraying

V-JET NOZZLE
FLOW RATE: 0.06-250 lpm
PRESSURE RANGE: 0.5-20 bars
SPRAY ANGLE: 0-120°
APPLICATION: Higher speeds
[0052] PESTICIDE USED: COPPER SULPHATE (CuSO4)
[0053] DENSITY OF PESTICIDE: 3600 kg/m³
[0054] CAPACITY OF TANK: 10 litres
[0055] POWER OF PUMP REQUIRED:
P = q?gh
P = 0.24*3600*9.81*0.007
P = 59.33=60 W
where,
q = discharge rate in m³/hr
? = density of pesticide in kg/m³
g = acceleration due to gravity in m/s²
h = head or height of pump required in m
P = Power of the pump in W

[0056] EFFICIENCY OF EACH NOZZLE:
1) CONE NOZZLE: ? = (OUTPUT/INPUT)* 100
? = (48/60)*100 = 80%
2) V-JET NOZZLE: ? = (OUTPUT/INPUT)* 100
? = (55/60)*100 = 91.6%
where, ? = efficiency
[0057] Agro spray suit consists of sprayers that are integrated in the suit for convenient operation. Knapsack contains the required pesticide mixture in the liquid form which is carried on the shoulder of the operator. Knapsack has a capacity of 10 litres. The liquid is then pumped up with the help of a high-pressure diaphragm pump. The pump gets power from a 12voltbattery. The pesticide mixture is pumped up to the 2-way hydraulic lock which splits the flow of the liquid on two directions. The liquid has to flow through a control valve which is regulated by the operator to open or close the flow of the liquid. The liquid then flows through two set of sprayers, were the sprayers can be regulated according to the requirement. The two kinds of sprayers, namely, the palm sprayers and the arm sprayer which is explained below.
[0058] PALM SPRAYER: Used to spray for short distances. It has interchangeable nozzle facility where the nozzle can be changed according to the spraying requirements. ARM SPRAYER: Used to spray for long distances. This too has interchangeable nozzle facility. This sprayer can help spray onto tall trees or can be used to cover wide areas.