Actuator for controlling material flow and related system and method

• US 20090050831A1
• Filed: 06/10/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harrison AG Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Harrison AG Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Harrison, John H. JR.
• Granted Patent: US 7,975,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 251/129.160
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0089 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0391 Affecting flow by the addition of material or energy

Abstract

An apparatus (such as a valve assembly or other actuator) includes a pressure plate having a first hole and a second hole. The apparatus also includes a plunger configured to selectively cover the second hole of the pressure plate. The apparatus further includes a coil configured to move the plunger away from the pressure plate to uncover the second hole of the pressure plate in order to allow a material to flow through the apparatus. The coil is also configured to move the plunger towards the pressure plate to cover the second hole of the pressure plate in order to block the material from flowing through the apparatus. Pressure may equalize on a first side and a second side of the pressure plate after the plunger covers the second hole of the pressure plate.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a pressure plate comprising a first hole and a second hole;

a plunger configured to selectively cover the second hole of the pressure plate; and

a coil configured to;

move the plunger away from the pressure plate to uncover the second hole of the pressure plate in order to allow a material to flow through the apparatus; and

move the plunger towards the pressure plate to cover the second hole of the pressure plate in order to block the material from flowing through the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein pressure equalizes on a first side and a second side of the pressure plate after the plunger covers the second hole of the pressure plate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve seat, the coil configured to magnetize and de-magnetize the valve seat, the valve seat attracting the plunger when magnetized to move the plunger away from the pressure plate.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising:

a first spring configured to push the plunger against the pressure plate to cover the second hole when the valve seat is de-magnetized; and

a second spring configured to push the pressure plate into a position that blocks the material from flowing through the apparatus after the plunger covers the second hole of the pressure plate.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the plunger comprises a metal and a compliant tip.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

the material is applied under elevated pressure along an outer ring on one side of the pressure plate; and

the second hole is located in the pressure plate within the outer ring.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a valve gasket and a nozzle configured to spray the material that flows through the apparatus.

8. A system comprising:

an actuator configured to release a material;

a wireless receiver configured to receive wireless positioning signals; and

a control system configured to determine whether to open or close the actuator based on the wireless positioning signals;

wherein the actuator comprises;

a pressure plate comprising a first hole and a second hole;

a plunger configured to selectively cover the second hole of the pressure plate; and

a coil configured to;

move the plunger away from the pressure plate to uncover the second hole of the pressure plate in order to allow the material to flow through the actuator; and

move the plunger towards the pressure plate to cover the second hole of the pressure plate in order to block the material from flowing through the actuator.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein pressure equalizes on a first side and a second side of the pressure plate after the plunger covers the second hole of the pressure plate.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the actuator further comprises:

a valve seat, the coil configured to magnetize and de-magnetize the valve seat, the valve seat attracting the plunger when magnetized to move the plunger away from the pressure plate.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the actuator further comprises:

a first spring configured to push the plunger against the pressure plate to cover the second hole when the valve seat is de-magnetized; and

a second spring configured to push the pressure plate into a position that blocks the material from flowing through the actuator after the plunger covers the second hole of the pressure plate.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the plunger comprises a metal and a compliant tip.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the material is applied under elevated pressure along an outer ring on one side of the pressure plate; and

the second hole is located in the pressure plate within the outer ring.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the actuator further comprises:

a valve gasket and a nozzle configured to spray the material that flows through the actuator.

15. The system of claim 8, wherein the control system comprises:

a processing device configured to determine a position associated with the actuator based on the wireless positioning signals and to determine whether to open or close the actuator based on the determined position; and

a controller configured to control the opening and closing of the actuator based on signals from the processing device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processing device is configured to determine whether to open or close the actuator by determining whether the material has already been released at the determined position.

17. A method comprising:

applying a material under pressure to a first side of a pressure plate in an actuator;

equalizing a pressure on a second side of the pressure plate and a pressure on the first side of the pressure plate using a first hole in the pressure plate;

uncovering a second hole in the pressure plate to decrease the pressure on the second side of the pressure plate; and

moving the pressure plate to open the actuator and allow the material to flow through the actuator.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

covering the second hole in the pressure plate to increase the pressure on the second side of the pressure plate; and

moving the pressure plate to close the actuator and block the material from flowing through the actuator.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein:

uncovering the second hole in the pressure plate comprises magnetizing a valve seat to move a plunger away from the pressure plate; and

covering the second hole in the pressure plate comprises de-magnetizing the valve seat to move the plunger towards the pressure plate.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein:

covering the second hole in the pressure plate comprises using a first spring to move the plunger towards the pressure plate; and

moving the pressure plate to close the actuator comprises using a second spring to push the pressure plate to a position that blocks the material from flowing through the actuator.