Method of performing a cleanout process of a mobile machine plumbing system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10225979-B2
Application number	US-201615350241-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2016
Priority date	Nov 23, 2015
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

A system and method for dispensing a liquid product from a mobile machine includes opening and closing a plurality of valves of a plumbing circuit, the plumbing circuit having a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit. Under influence of a pressurized gas, a flow of liquid product flows through plumbing of the first fluid circuit that has a temporarily inactive centrifugal pump and a flow of liquid product through plumbing of the second fluid circuit that has a boom plumbing assembly with plural nozzles coupled to the boom plumbing assembly. The flow of the liquid product through the first and second fluid circuits is controlled by the opening and closing of the plurality of valves and dispensing the liquid product of the first and second fluid circuits to either a product tank or through the plurality of nozzles based on the flows through the first and second fluid circuits.

First claim

At least the following is claimed:

1. A method for performing a cleanout process a plumbing system of a mobile machine by dispensing a liquid product from the plumbing system, the method comprising:
opening and closing a plurality of valves of a plumbing circuit, the plumbing circuit comprising a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit;
causing, under influence of a pressurized gas, a flow of liquid product through plumbing of the first fluid circuit that comprises a temporarily inactive centrifugal pump and a flow of liquid product through plumbing of the second fluid circuit that comprises a boom plumbing assembly having plural nozzles coupled to the boom plumbing assembly, the flow of the liquid product through the first and second fluid circuits controlled by the opening and closing of the plurality of valves; and
dispensing the liquid product of the first and second fluid circuits through the plurality of nozzles based on the flows,
wherein the plurality of valves of the second fluid circuit comprises a main shut-off valve in a closed position, and a center boom feed valve and a product recovery rear manifold valve in open positions, wherein causing the flow of liquid product through the plumbing of the second fluid circuit comprises causing the liquid product to flow through the center boom feed valve and the product recovery rear manifold valve and out of the plurality of nozzles.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid circuit and the second fluid circuit are coupled via plumbing of a recirculatory line, and wherein the plurality of valves of the first fluid circuit comprises a recirculatory valve and a sump valve in closed positions and a product recovery upstream valve in an open position, wherein causing the flow of liquid product through the plumbing of the first fluid circuit comprises, based on receiving the gas from the center boom feed valve, causing the liquid to flow in first and second directions through each of the recirculatory line, the product recovery upstream valve, and the centrifugal pump.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein causing the flow of liquid product through the plumbing of the second fluid circuit further comprises causing the flow of the liquid product through the plurality of nozzles based on receiving the liquid flow of the first circuit through the plumbing of the recirculatory line.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising toggling on and off the main shut-off valve.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of valves of the first fluid circuit comprises a recirculatory valve and a sump valve in closed positions and a product recovery upstream valve in an open position, wherein the boom plumbing assembly is coupled to the product recovery upstream valve via a first conduit, and wherein causing the flow of the liquid product through the first fluid circuit comprises causing the flow of the liquid through the product recovery upstream valve and the first conduit.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein causing the flow of liquid through the second fluid circuit further comprises causing the liquid from the first conduit to flow through plumbing of the boom plumbing assembly and out of the plurality of nozzles.

7. A method for recovering a liquid product while performing a cleanout process of a plumbing system of a mobile machine, the method comprising:
opening and closing a plurality of valves of a plumbing circuit, the plumbing circuit comprising a first fluid circuit and a second fluid circuit;
causing, under influence of a pressurized gas, a flow of liquid product through plumbing of the first fluid circuit that comprises a temporarily inactive centrifugal pump and a flow of liquid product through plumbing of the second fluid circuit that comprises a boom plumbing assembly having plural nozzles coupled to the boom plumbing assembly, the flow of the liquid product through the first and second fluid circuits controlled by the opening and closing of the plurality of valves; and
dispensing the liquid product of the first and second fluid circuits to a product tank based on the flows,
wherein for a first stage, the plurality of valves of the second fluid circuit comprises a main shut-off valve, a center boom feed valve, and a product recovery rear manifold valve all in open positions and the plurality of nozzles in closed positions, and wherein the plurality of valves of the first fluid circuit comprises a recirculatory valve, a product recovery upstream valve, and a sump valve all in closed positions and a product recovery downstream valve in an open position, wherein causing the flow of liquid product through the plumbing of the first and second fluid circuits comprises causing the liquid product to flow through the main shut-off valve, the center boom feed valve, the product recovery rear manifold valve, plumbing of a downstream product recovery line, the product recovery downstream valve, and into the product tank.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein for a second stage, the main shut-off valve, the center boom feed valve, the product recovery rear manifold valve, the plurality of nozzles, the product recovery downstream valve, and the sump valve are all in closed positions and the recirculatory valve and the product recovery upstream valve are in open positions, wherein causing the flow of liquid product through the plumbing of the first circuit comprises causing the liquid product to flow through the centrifugal pump, the product recovery upstream valve, the recirculatory valve, and into the product tank.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein for a third stage, the main shut-off valve, the center boom feed valve, the product recovery rear manifold valve, the plurality of nozzles, the sump valve, and the recirculatory valve are all in closed positions, wherein the product recovery upstream valve and the product recovery downstream valve are all in open positions, wherein causing the flow of liquid product through the plumbing of the first and second circuits comprises causing, based on the pressure of the gas from a recirculating line that couples the first and second fluid circuits, the liquid product to flow from outer feed tubes of the boom plumbing assembly, to outer spray tubes of the boom plumbing assembly, to inner spray tubes of the boom plumbing assembly, to a center spray tube of the boom plumbing assembly, and through a second conduit coupling the center spray tube to the product tank.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising causing the boom plumbing assembly to be tilted upwards and downwards during at least a portion of the third stage.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein for a fourth stage, the main shut-off valve, the center boom feed valve, the product recovery upstream valve, and the product recovery downstream valve are all in open positions, wherein the product recovery rear manifold valve, the plurality of nozzles, the sump valve, and the recirculatory valve are all in closed positions, wherein causing the flow of liquid product through the plumbing of the first and second circuits comprises causing, based on the pressure of the gas from opening the main shut-off valve and the center boom feed valve causing the liquid to push out toward through main feed tubes of the boom plumbing assembly and the pressure in the outer spray tubes resulting from a purging of the liquid in the third stage, the liquid product to flow from the main feed tubes through the inner spray tubes and the center spray tube and through the second conduit to the product tank.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising causing the boom plumbing assembly to be tilted upwards and downwards during at least a portion of the fourth sta

Assignees

• Agco Corp

Inventors

• Trask Dean L

Classifications

• B05B14/00

  Arrangements for collecting, re-using or eliminating excess spraying material (arrangements integral with nozzles B05B1/28) · 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

• A01M7/00 Primary

  Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass · CPC title

• B05B13/005

  mounted on vehicles or designed to apply a liquid on a very large surface, e.g. on the road, on the surface of large containers · CPC title

• A01G25/023

  Dispensing fittings for drip irrigation, e.g. drippers · CPC title