Test sections, wind tunnels including the same, and methods of using the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10359337-B1
Application number	US-201816198349-A
Country	US
Kind code	B1
Filing date	Nov 21, 2018
Priority date	Nov 21, 2018
Publication date	Jul 23, 2019
Grant date	Jul 23, 2019

Abstract

In an embodiment, a test section comprises at least one surface defining an at least partially enclosed space. The at least partially enclosed space defines an airflow path for air to flow. The test section also comprises a nozzle disposed in the at least partially enclosed space. The nozzle is configured to spray an agricultural spray and is positioned to emit the agricultural spray such that at least a section of the agricultural spray exhibits a non-parallel angle relative to the airflow path defined by the at least partially enclosed space. The test section further comprises at least one stimulus source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle. Additionally, the test section comprises at least one detector positioned to image at least the portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle.

First claim

We claim:

1. A test section, comprising:
at least one surface defining an at least partially enclosed space, the at least partially enclosed space defining an airflow path for air to flow;
a nozzle disposed in the at least partially enclosed space, the nozzle configured to spray an agricultural spray, the nozzle positioned to emit the agricultural spray such that at least a section of the agricultural spray exhibits a non-parallel angle relative to the airflow path defined by the at least partially enclosed space;
at least one stimulus source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle, wherein the portion of the agricultural spray includes a region of the agricultural spray initially exiting the nozzle that forms a continuous sheet-like portion defining an initial spray pattern; and
at least one detector positioned to image at least the portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle.

2. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and two lateral surfaces extending between the top surface and the bottom surface.

3. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the at least one surface comprises a first transparent section and a second transparent section, the at least one stimulus source positioned to emit the stimulus into the at least partially enclosed space through the first transparent section, the at least one detector positioned to image at least the portion of the agricultural spray that is adjacent to the nozzle through the second transparent section.

4. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the at least partially enclosed space is a completely enclosed space.

5. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises a flat fan nozzle and an entirety of the agricultural spray exhibits the non-parallel angle relative to the airflow path defined by the at least partially enclosed space.

6. The test section of claim 5 , wherein the non-parallel angle is generally perpendicular to the airflow path defined by the at least partially enclosed space.

7. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises a hollow fan nozzle.

8. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is positioned to emit the agricultural spray in a direction that is substantially parallel to gravity.

9. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stimulus source comprises a pulsed stimulus source.

10. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stimulus source comprises a pulsed laser disposed outside of the at least partially enclosed space; and
further comprising at least one of an aspheric lens, a positive or negative spherical lens, or combination of positive and negative concaved cylindrical lenses disposed outside of the at least partially enclosed space between the pulsed laser and the at least one surface.

11. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stimulus source comprises a continuous light source.

12. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the at least one stimulus source comprises a collimated light source.

13. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector is positioned such that an imaging plane detected by the at least one detector is generally perpendicular to the portion of the agricultural spray.

14. The test section of claim 1 , wherein the at least one detector is positioned such that an imaging plane detected by the at least one detector is generally parallel to the portion of the agricultural spray.

15. The test section of claim 1 , further comprising one or more lenses configured to collimate the stimulus emitted from the at least one stimulus source.

16. The test section of claim 1 , further comprising a collection or condenser lens and an aperture, wherein the collection or condenser lens and the aperture are positioned and configured to improve a resolution of the image detected by the at least one detector.

17. The test section of claim 1 , further comprising one or more lenses positioned and configured to magnify the image detected by the at least one detector.

18. A wind tunnel, comprising:
a test section comprising:
at least one surface defining an at least partially enclosed space, the at least partially enclosed space defining an airflow path for air to flow;
a nozzle disposed in the at least partially enclosed space, the nozzle configured to spray an agricultural spray, the nozzle positioned to emit the agricultural spray such that at least a section of the agricultural spray exhibits a non-parallel angle relative to the airflow path defined by the at least partially enclosed space;
at least one stimulus source positioned to illuminate at least a portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle, wherein the portion of the agricultural spray includes a region of the agricultural spray initially exiting the nozzle that forms a continuous sheet-like portion defining an initial spray pattern; and
at least one detector positioned to image the portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle; and

a blower configured to provide the air to the test region.

19. The wind tunnel of claim 18 , wherein the at least partially enclosed space is a completely enclosed space.

20. A method, comprising:
flowing air along an airflow path of an at least partially enclosed space, the at least partially enclosed space defined by at least one surface;
emitting an agricultural spray from a nozzle such that at least a section of the agricultural spray exhibits a non-parallel angle relative to the air flowing along the airflow path;
emitting a stimulus from at least one stimulus source to illuminate at least a portion of the agricultural spray that is adjacent to the nozzle, wherein the portion of the agricultural spray includes a region of the agricultural spray initially exiting the nozzle that forms a continuous sheet-like portion defining an initial spray pattern; and
imaging at least the portion of the agricultural spray that is adjacent to the nozzle with at least one detector.

Assignees

• WinField United
• Winfield Solutions Llc

Inventors

• Bissel Daniel
• Boles Lee
• Clark Andrea

Classifications

• G01N2015/0026

  in gas, e.g. fog · CPC title

• G01N15/0227

  using imaging; using holography · CPC title

• G01M9/067

  visualisation · CPC title

• G01M9/04 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• B05B1/02

  designed to produce a jet, spray, or other discharge of particular shape or nature, e.g. in single drops, {or having an outlet of particular shape}(B05B1/26, B05B1/28, B05B1/34 take precedence) · CPC title