Independent nozzle injection control system for sprayers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11192128-B2
Application number	US-201615267436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 16, 2016
Priority date	Sep 17, 2015
Publication date	Dec 7, 2021
Grant date	Dec 7, 2021

Abstract

By injecting a chemical fluid and a carrier fluid directly at each nozzle, and by then mixing the fluids at each nozzle to produce a mixed fluid, an improved spray system may be provided which does not contaminate the tank or distribution system with chemical fluid and which allows improved spraying with minimal delay. Accordingly, a system is provided on a field sprayer for independently controlling the flow rate of concentrated chemical fluid to individual spray nozzles using a high pressure chemical distribution rail or loop routed to each nozzle and solenoid injection valves to control the flow of chemical fluid to each nozzle independently.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A spray system for use with an agricultural sprayer comprising:
a first distribution rail for distributing a first fluid;
a second distribution rail for distributing a second fluid;
a first plurality of metering valves in communication with the second distribution rail; and
a plurality of spray nozzle assemblies, each spray nozzle assembly including:
a nozzle body having first and second opposite ends, the nozzle body defining at least one nozzle body inlet disposed between the first and second ends of the nozzle body for receiving the first fluid and an outlet at the second end of the nozzle body;
a mixing body including a first end and a second end, the first end of the mixing body being coupled directly to the first end of the nozzle body, the mixing body defining a mixing body inlet for receiving the second fluid, the mixing body further defining a mixing chamber in communication with the mixing body inlet and the at least one nozzle body inlet of the nozzle body and being configured for mixing the first and second fluids to provide a mixed fluid; and
a control valve coupled directly to the second end of the mixing body such that the mixing body extends directly between the control valve and the nozzle body, the control valve being disposed along a flow path of the mixed fluid through the spray nozzle assembly such that the control valve is positioned downstream of the mixing chamber of the mixing body and upstream of the outlet of the nozzle body;

a second plurality of metering valves in communication with the first distribution rail, wherein the first inlet of each spray nozzle assembly is in communication with a corresponding metering valve of the second plurality of metering valves for receiving the first fluid;
wherein:
the outlet of the nozzle body is configured to spray the mixed fluid from the mixing chamber;
the control valve is operable to adjust a flow of the mixed fluid supplied from the mixing chamber of the mixing body to the outlet of the nozzle body;
the at least one nozzle body inlet of each spray nozzle assembly is in communication with the first distribution rail for receiving the first fluid, the mixing body inlet of each spray nozzle assembly is in communication with a corresponding valve of the plurality of metering valves for receiving the second fluid; and the second distribution rail distributes the second fluid at a higher pressure than the first distribution rail distributes the first fluid;
wherein the second distribution rail further includes a second pressure relief valve, wherein the pressure of the second fluid downstream of the first pressure relief valve is greater than the pressure of the second fluid downstream of the second pressure relief valve;
wherein the second distribution rail includes a circulation pump and a first pressure relief valve, the pressure of the second fluid downstream of the circulation pump being greater than the pressure of the second fluid downstream of the first pressure relief valve.

2. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of metering valves comprises a plurality of solenoid valves, each solenoid valve of the plurality of solenoid valves configured to meter the second fluid supplied to the mixing body inlet of a corresponding spray nozzle assembly of the plurality of spray nozzle assemblies.

3. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein the first fluid is a carrier fluid and the second fluid is a chemical fluid.

4. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein the second distribution rail further includes an accumulator between the circulation pump and at least one of the first and second pressure relief valves.

5. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of metering valves are in communication with the second distribution rail between the first and second pressure relief valves.

6. The spray system of claim 1 , further comprising a primary storage tank in communication with the first distribution rail for holding the first fluid and a secondary storage tank in communication with the second distribution rail for holding the second fluid.

7. The spray system of claim 6 , further comprising a charge pump in communication with the secondary storage tank.

8. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one nozzle body inlet comprises first and second nozzle body inlets defined by the nozzle body for receiving the first fluid.

9. The spray system of claim 1 , wherein:
the flow path comprises first and second flow paths defined within the mixing body;
the mixed fluid is directed through the first flow path in a first direction from the mixing chamber towards the control valve;
the mixed fluid is directed through the second flow path in a second direction from the control valve towards the outlet of the nozzle body, the second direction being opposite the first direction; and
the control valve is operable to adjust the flow of the mixed fluid supplied though the second flow path to the outlet of the nozzle body.

10. The spray system of claim 9 , wherein the first flow path is coaxial with the second flow path.

11. A spray system for use with an agricultural sprayer comprising:
a first distribution rail for distributing a first fluid;
a second distribution rail for distributing a second fluid;
a first plurality of metering valves in communication with the second distribution rail; and
a plurality of spray nozzle assemblies, each spray nozzle assembly including:
a nozzle body having first and second opposite ends, the nozzle body defining at least one nozzle body inlet disposed between the first and second ends of the nozzle body for receiving the first fluid and an outlet at the second end of the nozzle body;
a mixing body connected to the first end of the nozzle body, the mixing body defining a mixing body inlet for receiving the second fluid, the mixing body further defining a mixing chamber in communication with the mixing body inlet and the at least one nozzle body inlet of the nozzle body and being configured for mixing the first and second fluids to provide a mixed fluid; and
a control valve coupled to the mixing body;

a second plurality of metering valves in communication with the first distribution rail, wherein the first inlet of each spray nozzle assembly is in communication with a corresponding metering valve of the second plurality of metering valves for receiving the first fluid;
wherein:
a first flow path is defined within the mixing body through which the mixed fluid is directed in a first direction from the mixing chamber towards the control valve;
a second flow path is defined within the mixing body through which the mixed fluid is directed in a second direction from the control valve towards the outlet of the nozzle body, the second direction being opposite the first direction; and
the control valve is operable to adjust a flow of the mixed fluid supplied though the second flow path to the outlet of the nozzle body;
wherein the second distribution rail further includes a second pressure relief valve, wherein the pressure of the second fluid downstream of the first pressure relief valve is greater than the pressure of the second fluid downstream of the second pressure relief valve;
wherein the second distribution rail includes a circulation pump and a first pressure relief valve, the pressure of the second fluid downstream of the circulation pump being greater than the pressure of the second fluid downstream of the first pressure relief valve.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first flow pat′ is coaxial with the second flow path.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the first flow path is defined wi

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Posselius John
• Stombaugh Tim

Classifications

• A01M7/00 Primary

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

• B05B9/0403 Primary

  with pumps for liquids or other fluent material (B05B9/043 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B05B7/32

  the fed liquid or other fluent material being under pressure · CPC title

• B05B1/3053

  the actuating means being a solenoid · CPC title

• B05B12/1418

  for supplying several liquids or other fluent materials in selected proportions to a single spray outlet (controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid G05D11/02) · CPC title