High resolution spray section height control and dynamic nozzle height adjustment

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019104720-A1
Application number	US-201816034855-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 13, 2018
Priority date	Oct 11, 2017
Publication date	Apr 11, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A spray boom for spraying a fluid on a target includes a boom frame and a spray section coupled to the boom frame. The spray section includes a spray pipe configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source and a nozzle coupled to the spray pipe and configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source. An actuator is coupled at one end to the boom frame and at an opposite end to the spray section. The actuator is controllably extending and retracting to move the spray pipe and nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position.

First claim

1 . A multi jointed spray boom for travelling along a ground, comprising:
a center frame; a first boom frame and a second boom frame, the first boom frame pivotally coupled to the center frame at a first pivot location and the second boom frame pivotally coupled to the first boom frame at a second pivot location; a first articulating actuator coupled between the center frame and the first boom frame, the first articulating actuator being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a second articulating actuator coupled between the first boom frame and the second boom frame, the second articulating actuator being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a first spray section coupled to the first boom frame, the first spray section including a first spray pipe and a first nozzle coupled to the first spray pipe, the first nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source for spraying a fluid; a second spray section coupled to the second boom frame, the second spray section including a second spray pipe and a second nozzle coupled to the second spray pipe, the second nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source for spraying the fluid; and wherein, a movement of the first articulating actuator causes the first boom frame to pivot about the first pivot location relative to the center frame, and a movement of second articulating actuator causes the second boom frame to pivot about the second pivot location relative to the first boom frame.

2 . The spray boom of claim 1 , wherein:
the first spray section comprises a plurality of nozzles coupled to the first spray pipe, where each of the plurality of nozzles is fluidly coupled to the fluid source; and the second spray section comprises a plurality of nozzles coupled to the second spray pipe, where each of the plurality of nozzles is fluidly coupled to the fluid source.

3 . The spray boom of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller for operably controlling movement of the first and second actuators; a first sensor coupled to the first spray pipe and disposed in electrical communication with the controller; and a second sensor coupled to the second spray pipe and disposed in electrical communication with the controller.

4 . The spray boom of claim 3 , wherein the controller comprises a memory unit for storing a control algorithm, the control algorithm including a target spray height.

5 . The spray boom of claim 4 , wherein:
the first sensor operably detects a first spray height defined between the first spray section and the ground and communicates the first spray height to the controller; the second sensor operably detects a second spray height defined between the second spray section and the ground and communicates the second spray height to the controller; and the controller operably compares the first and second spray heights to the target spray height.

6 . The spray boom of claim 5 , wherein the controller operably controls a movement of the first actuator or the second actuator until the first and second spray heights satisfy the target spray height.

7 . The spray boom of claim 1 , wherein a movement of the first actuator induces movement of both the first and the second boom frames.

8 . The spray boom of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third boom frame pivotally coupled to the second boom frame at a third pivot location; a third articulating actuator coupled between the third boom frame and the second boom frame, the third articulating actuator being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; and a third spray section coupled to the third boom frame, the third spray section including a third spray pipe and a third nozzle coupled to the third spray pipe, the third nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source for spraying a fluid.

9 . The spray boom of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third boom frame pivotally coupled to the center frame at a third pivot location, the third location being located on a side of the center frame opposite the first location; a fourth boom frame pivotally coupled to the third boom frame at a fourth pivot location; a third articulating actuator coupled between the center frame and the third boom frame, the third articulating actuator being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a fourth articulating actuator coupled between the third boom frame and the fourth boom frame, the fourth articulating actuator being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a third spray section coupled to the third boom frame, the third spray section including a third spray pipe and a third nozzle coupled to the third spray pipe, the third nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source for spraying a fluid; a fourth spray section coupled to the fourth boom frame, the fourth spray section including a fourth spray pipe and a fourth nozzle coupled to the fourth spray pipe, the fourth nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source for spraying the fluid; and wherein, a movement of the third articulating actuator causes the third boom frame to pivot about the third pivot location relative to the center frame, and a movement of fourth articulating actuator causes the fourth boom frame to pivot about the fourth pivot location relative to the third boom frame.

10 . The spray boom of claim 9 , further comprising a controller for operably controlling each of the actuators to move each of the boom frames independently of one another.

11 . The spray boom of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first actuator coupled at one end to the first boom frame and at an opposite end to the first spray section, the first actuator controllably extending and retracting to move the first spray pipe and first nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position; and a second actuator coupled at one end to the second boom frame and at an opposite end to the second spray section, the second actuator controllably extending and retracting to move the second spray pipe and second nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position.

12 . A multi jointed spray boom, comprising:
a center frame; a first boom frame and a second boom frame, the first boom frame pivotally coupled to the center frame at a first pivot location and the second boom frame pivotally coupled to the first boom frame at a second pivot location; a first articulating actuator coupled between the center frame and the first boom frame, the first articulating actuator being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a second articulating actuator coupled between the first boom frame and the second boom frame, the second articulating actuator being movable between a retracted position and an extended position; a first spray section coupled to the first boom frame, the first spray section including a first spray pipe and a first nozzle coupled to the first spray pipe, the first nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to a fluid source for spraying a fluid; a first actuator coupled at one end to the first boom frame and at an opposite end to the first spray section, the first actuator controllably extending and retracting to move the first spray pipe and first nozzle between a raised position and a lowered position; a second spray section coupled to the second boom frame, the second spray section including a second spray pipe and a second nozzle coupled to the second spray pipe, the second nozzle configured to be fluidly coupled to the fluid source for spraying the fluid; and a second actuator coupled at one end to the second boom frame and at an opposite end to

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Sullivan Dennis J

Classifications

• A01M7/006

  Mounting of the nozzles · CPC title

• A01M7/0075

  including folding means · CPC title

• A01M7/0057 Primary

  with active regulation of the boom position · CPC title

• A01M7/0089

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

• B05B15/68

  Arrangements for adjusting the position of spray heads (B05B15/628, B05B15/652, B05B15/656 take precedence) · CPC title