Method of mapping droplet size of agricultural sprayers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11903378-B2
Application number	US-201916965257-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 28, 2019
Priority date	Jan 26, 2018
Publication date	Feb 20, 2024
Grant date	Feb 20, 2024

Abstract

A method of graphically mapping liquid product applied to a field by an agricultural sprayer having a plurality of spray nozzles. The method includes generating an application map on an aerial image of the field, the application map including a droplet size map displaying said droplet sizes being sprayed by each of the plurality of spray nozzles or a gang of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field. The application map may also include an application rate map displaying said application rates being sprayed by each of the plurality of spray nozzles or the gang of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method of graphically mapping liquid product applied to a field by an agricultural sprayer having a plurality of spray nozzles or a gang of the plurality of spray nozzles, the method comprising:
monitoring geographic locations of each of the plurality of spray nozzles or the gang of the plurality of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field;
measuring the pressure at regular time intervals at each of the plurality of spay nozzles or the gang of the plurality of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field;
deriving a droplet size of the liquid product sprayed by each of the plurality of spray nozzles or the gang of the plurality of spray nozzles based on said measured pressure and predefined nozzle characteristics of each of said plurality of spray nozzles or the gang of the plurality of spray nozzles;
generating an application map on an aerial image of the field, the application map including a droplet size map displaying said droplet sizes being sprayed by each of the plurality of spray nozzles or the gang of the plurality of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said as-applied application map includes a schematic representation of a location of the agricultural sprayer and the plurality of spray nozzles or the gang of the plurality of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said droplet size map includes a droplet map block placed in a location occupied by each of said plurality of spray nozzles or the gang of the plurality of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein each said droplet map block corresponds to a droplet size range.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein each said droplet size range is represented by a pattern, symbol or color.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said droplet size map includes a legend associating each said pattern, symbol or color with each said droplet size range.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a nozzle velocity of each nozzle of the plurality of spray nozzles or the gang of the plurality of spray nozzles;
deriving an application rate of the liquid product sprayed by each of the plurality of spray nozzles or said gang of spray nozzles based on said measured pressure and said nozzle velocity;
wherein said application map includes an application rate map displaying said application rates being sprayed by each of the plurality of spray nozzles or said gang of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said step of determining nozzle velocity is based on a measured speed of the agricultural sprayer.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein said step of determining nozzle velocity is determined using speed sensors mounted to the sprayer.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein said application rate map includes a schematic representation of a location of the agricultural sprayer and the plurality of nozzles or the gang of the plurality of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein said application rate map includes an application rate map block placed in a location occupied by each of the plurality of spray nozzles or the gang of the plurality of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein each said application rate map block corresponds to an application rate range.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein each said application rate range is represented by a pattern, symbol or color.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said application rate map includes a legend associating each said pattern, symbol or color with each said application rate range.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the spray nozzles of the plurality of spray nozzles or the gang of the plurality of spray nozzles are configured with actuators enabling selection of different nozzle droplet sizes.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Mcmenamy Justin
• Schlipf Ben

Classifications

• A01M7/0089 Primary

  Regulating or controlling systems (the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06) · CPC title

• A01B69/00

  Steering of agricultural machines or implements; Guiding agricultural machines or implements on a desired track · CPC title

• A01C21/005

  Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern · CPC title

• A01B79/005

  Precision agriculture · CPC title