System And Method For Electronic Fluid Measurement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016150771-A1
Application number	US-201414558011-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 2, 2014
Priority date	Dec 2, 2014
Publication date	Jun 2, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An agricultural product application implement includes a system and method for indicating an amount of fluid stored. A pressure transducer installed at the sump of a fluid tank may electronically measure and display a fluid depth. Instrumentation, such as the instrument cluster unit for the implement, can be programmed via software to convert the voltage output of the pressure transducer to a volume measurement to be displayed in the operator's line of sight. Software may be provided within an instrument cluster unit for self-calibrating to account for varying densities of different chemical solutions. The pressure transducer may be used in conjunction with a transfer medium to prevent corrosive chemical solutions from contacting the pressure transducer.

First claim

We claim:

1 . A system for indicating an amount of fluid stored in a self-propelled agricultural product application implement comprising:
a tank with an interior volume for holding fluid; a pressure transducer disposed on a base of the interior volume of the tank for sensing an amount of pressure within the tank by the fluid held within the tank and generating a first electrical signal corresponding to the amount of pressure; a controller operable to receive the first electrical signal to determine an amount of fluid within the tank based on the amount of pressure and the interior volume, and to generate a second electrical signal corresponding to the amount of fluid; and a display operable to receive the second electrical signal and to display the amount of fluid held within the tank to an operator of the implement while the operator is in a forward facing position.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a transfer medium disposed above the pressure transducer for protecting the pressure transducer from the fluid.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the transfer medium is glycerin.

4 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising the controller operable to calibrate for different types of fluids having differing densities based on a calibration curve.

5 . The system of claim 4 , further comprising a selection source providing an input to the controller for selecting a type of fluid held within the tank.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller and the display are provided as part of an instrument cluster unit (ICU) for the implement.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the pressure transducer includes a piezoresistive material.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the piezoresistive material is mounted on a corrosive resistant diaphragm

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the implement is a sprayer applicator and the fluid is an agricultural chemical solution.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor disposed in the interior volume of the tank, wherein the controller further determines the amount of fluid based on a temperature sensed from within the tank.

11 . A method for indicating an amount of fluid stored in a self-propelled agricultural product application implement comprising:
(a) holding a fluid within a tank having an interior volume; (b) sensing an amount of pressure within the tank resulting from the fluid using a pressure transducer disposed on a base of the interior volume of the tank and communicating a first electrical signal corresponding to the amount of pressure; (c) determining an amount of fluid within the tank based on the amount of pressure communicated by the first electrical signal and the interior volume, and communicating a second electrical signal corresponding to the amount of fluid; and (d) displaying the amount of fluid within the tank as communicated by the second electrical signal to a display visible by an operator of the implement while the operator is in a forward facing position.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising providing a transfer medium above the pressure transducer for protecting the pressure transducer from the fluid.

13 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising calibrating for different types of fluids having differing densities based on a calibration curve.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising providing an input for selecting a type of fluid held within the tank.

15 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising sensing a temperature within the interior volume of the tank and determining the amount of fluid based on the temperature sensed from within the tank.

16 . A self-propelled agricultural product sprayer applicator ( 10 ) comprising:
a frame ( 12 ); a tank ( 16 ) positioned over the frame and having an interior volume ( 20 ) for holding an agricultural chemical solution; an operator cab ( 18 ) positioned over the frame and forward of the tank and including an instrument cluster unit (ICU) ( 52 ); wherein the tank includes a pressure transducer ( 28 ) disposed on a base ( 30 ) of the interior volume of the tank for sensing an amount of pressure within the tank resulting from an agricultural chemical solution held within the tank and generating an electrical pressure signal ( 32 ) corresponding to the amount of pressure; wherein the ICU includes a controller ( 56 ) operable to receive the electrical pressure signal to determine an amount of agricultural chemical solution within the tank based on the amount of pressure and the interior volume, and to generate a measurement signal ( 72 ) corresponding to the amount of agricultural chemical solution; and wherein the ICU further includes a display ( 74 ) operable to receive the measurement signal and to display the amount of agricultural chemical solution held within the tank to an operator of the sprayer applicator while the operator is in a forward facing position.

17 . The sprayer applicator of claim 16 , further comprising a transfer medium ( 34 ) disposed above the pressure transducer for protecting the pressure transducer from the agricultural chemical solution.

18 . The sprayer applicator of claim 16 , further comprising the controller operable to calibrate for different types of agricultural chemical solutions having differing densities based on a calibration curve ( 100 ).

19 . The sprayer applicator of claim 18 , wherein the ICU further comprises a selection source ( 76 ) providing an input to the controller for selecting a type of agricultural chemical solution held within the tank.

20 . The sprayer applicator of claim 16 , further comprising a temperature sensor ( 38 ) disposed in the interior volume of the tank, wherein the controller further determines the amount of agricultural chemical solution based on a temperature sensed from within the tank.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Tollefsrud Aaron
• Bastin Bruce

Classifications

• B60K15/00

  Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines {or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells}; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks · CPC title

• B60K2015/03217

  Fuel level sensors · CPC title

• G01F23/18

  Indicating, recording or alarm devices actuated electrically · CPC title

• F16N19/003

  Indicating oil level (measuring liquid level in general G01F) · CPC title

• A01M7/0089 Primary

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