Work vehicle sprayer system and method with self-cleaning filter apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11896989-B2
Application number	US-202117383082-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 22, 2021
Priority date	Aug 26, 2020
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A self-cleaning filter apparatus includes a filter unit and a plunger unit. The filter unit includes a screen device; and a filter unit housing that houses the screen device. The plunger unit includes a rod end housing coupled to the filter unit housing; a plunger rod with a first plunger rod end positioned within the rod end housing and a second plunger rod end within the filter unit housing; and a plunger assembly secured to the second plunger rod end. During a first filter cleaning event segment, the plunger rod is configured to translate between a nominal position in which the plunger assembly is proximate the first screen device end and a cleaning position in which the plunger assembly is proximate the second screen device end. The plunger rod is configured to dislodge, at least in part, debris from within the screen device during at least the first filter cleaning event segment.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile sprayer system comprising:
a fluid source capable of supplying a primary fluid;
a nozzle apparatus capable of dispersing the primary fluid over an area of a field; and
a filter apparatus arranged between the fluid source and the nozzle apparatus to filter the primary fluid, the filter apparatus including:
a filter unit having a screen device defining a first screen device end and a second screen device end and having a filter unit housing that houses the screen device and includes a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet such that the primary fluid enters the filter apparatus through the fluid inlet, is directed through the screen device, and exits the filter apparatus through the fluid outlet; and
a plunger unit having a rod end housing coupled to the filter unit housing, having a plunger rod with a first plunger rod end positioned within the rod end housing and a second plunger rod end within the filter unit housing, and having a plunger assembly secured to the second plunger rod end and positioned within an interior of the screen device;
wherein the fluid source, the nozzle apparatus, and the filter apparatus are carried or towed by a vehicle;
wherein, during a first filter cleaning event segment of a filter cleaning event, the plunger rod is capable of translating within the screen device between a nominal position in which the plunger assembly is proximate the first screen device end and a cleaning position in which the plunger assembly is proximate the second screen device end;
wherein, during a second filter cleaning event segment of the filter cleaning event, the plunger rod is further capable of translating from the cleaning position to the nominal position; and
wherein the plunger assembly is capable of dislodging, at least in part, debris from within the interior of the screen device during each of the first filter cleaning event segment and the second filter cleaning event segment.

2. The mobile sprayer system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to generate a command to initiate the filter cleaning event.

3. The mobile sprayer system of claim 2 , further comprising:
a first sensor arranged proximate the fluid inlet and capable of collecting first pressure readings of the primary fluid; and
a second sensor arranged proximate the fluid outlet and capable of collecting second pressure readings of the primary fluid, and wherein the controller is configured to generate the command to initiate the filter cleaning event based on a difference between the first pressure readings and the second pressure readings.

4. The mobile sprayer system of claim 1 ,
wherein the filter unit housing defines a first primary inlet cavity portion fluidly arranged between the fluid inlet and the interior of the screen device, a second primary inlet cavity portion arranged within the interior of the screen device, and a primary outlet cavity portion arranged between an exterior of the screen device and the fluid outlet, such that the primary fluid flows from the fluid inlet, through the first primary inlet cavity portion, through the second primary inlet cavity portion, through the screen device, through the primary outlet cavity portion, and out of the filter unit through the fluid outlet.

5. The mobile sprayer system of claim 4 ,
wherein the plunger assembly includes a flow plate with radial flow passages, and wherein the plunger rod defines a debris passage that is fluidly coupled to the radial flow passages of the plunger assembly such that the debris dislodged during the filter cleaning event flows out of the second primary inlet cavity portion, through the radial flow passages of the flow plate, and into the debris passage of the plunger rod.

6. The mobile sprayer system of claim 5 , wherein the plunger assembly further includes a friction element positioned proximate the flow plate to engage the interior surface of the screen device to dislodge the debris within the screen device.

7. The mobile sprayer system of claim 6 , wherein the plunger assembly further includes a support plate positioned such that the friction element is between the flow plate and the support plate.

8. The mobile sprayer system of claim 7 , wherein the flow plate, the friction element, and the support plate have a combination of axial holes through which the fluid passes during the filter cleaning event.

9. The self-cleaning filter apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the second primary inlet cavity portion within the screen device is only fluidly coupled to the debris passage via the radial flow passages of the flow plate.

10. The mobile sprayer system of claim 5 ,
wherein the rod end housing includes a first rod end housing end arranged remote from the filter unit and a second rod end housing end coupled to the filter unit, wherein the plunger unit includes a plunger seal positioned on the first plunger rod end within an interior of the rod end housing such that the interior of the rod end housing is defined with a first rod end housing chamber as a debris outlet chamber extending between the plunger seal and the first rod end housing end and a second rod end housing chamber as a rod end housing pressure chamber extending between the plunger seal and the second rod end housing end, wherein the rod end housing defines a debris outlet proximate the first rod end housing end and fluidly coupled to the debris outlet chamber, and wherein the debris passage of the plunger rod is fluidly coupled to the debris outlet chamber such that debris from the debris passage of the plunger rod flows into the debris outlet chamber and out of the filter unit through the debris outlet.

11. The mobile sprayer system of claim 10 ,
wherein the rod end housing defines a pressure line proximate the second rod end housing end and fluidly coupled to the rod end housing pressure chamber,
wherein the pressure line is selectively capable of directing air pressure into the rod end housing pressure chamber and to vent the air pressure out of the rod end housing pressure chamber during the filter cleaning event to translate the plunger rod,
wherein the plunger unit includes a biasing mechanism arranged within the debris outlet chamber between the first rod end housing end and the plunger seal,
wherein the pressure line is capable of venting air pressure from the rod end housing pressure chamber such that the biasing mechanism biases against the plunger seal to translate the plunger rod during the first filter cleaning event segment, and
wherein the pressure line is capable of directing air pressure into the rod end housing pressure chamber, against the plunger seal to translate the plunger rod during the second filter cleaning event segment.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Ferren Bran
• Lariviere Donald
• Hamilton James

Classifications

• B05B15/52 Primary

  for removal of clogging particles · CPC title

• B01D29/64

  by scrapers, brushes, {nozzles}, or the like, acting on the cake side of the filtering element · CPC title

• B01D29/6423

  with a translational movement with respect to the filtering element · CPC title

• B01D29/6484

  with a translatory movement with respect to the filtering element · CPC title

• B01D29/684 Primary

  with a translatory movement with respect to the filtering element · CPC title