Method And Apparatus For Detecting A Plugged Nozzle Of A Sprayer
First Claim
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1. For use with a nozzle of an agricultural sprayer that dispenses a fluid from a fluid source onto an application surface, the improvement comprising:
- a thermal flow sensor disposed within the nozzle, and located upstream of an outlet orifice of the nozzle and substantially within a fluid flow path defined by and within the nozzle;
an alert remote from and communicatively linked with the thermal flow sensor, and configured to convey a status of the thermal flow sensor as fluid is being dispensed from the outlet orifice; and
wherein the thermal flow sensor is configured such that when a velocity of fluid through the nozzle falls below a preset limit the alert provides an indication notifying an operator that the flow through the nozzle is obstructed.
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Abstract
A plugged nozzle monitoring system uses a thermal flow sensor located within a spray nozzle of an agricultural sprayer. The thermal flow sensor is free of moving parts and is made of corrosion-resistant materials. The thermal flow sensor is placed within the fluid flow path through the nozzle and activates an alarm if flow through the nozzle falls below the baseline value.
30 Citations
18 Claims
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1. For use with a nozzle of an agricultural sprayer that dispenses a fluid from a fluid source onto an application surface, the improvement comprising:
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a thermal flow sensor disposed within the nozzle, and located upstream of an outlet orifice of the nozzle and substantially within a fluid flow path defined by and within the nozzle; an alert remote from and communicatively linked with the thermal flow sensor, and configured to convey a status of the thermal flow sensor as fluid is being dispensed from the outlet orifice; and wherein the thermal flow sensor is configured such that when a velocity of fluid through the nozzle falls below a preset limit the alert provides an indication notifying an operator that the flow through the nozzle is obstructed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A nozzle for an agricultural sprayer, comprising:
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a nozzle body having an inlet for receiving fluid from a fluid source and an outlet for spraying fluid onto an application surface, and wherein a fluid path is defined between the inlet and the outlet; and a thermal flow sensor aligned in the nozzle body and in the fluid path, the thermal flow sensor monitoring fluid flow through the nozzle body and provide a clogged nozzle output signal when fluid flow through the nozzle body falls below a preset velocity. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A plugged flow warning system for a farm implement having a sprayer that sprays a fluid through a nozzle onto a surface, the system comprising:
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an alert in the operator cab that changes states in response to an output signal; a thermal flow sensor located within the nozzle and operative to output a flow condition signal; and a switch that provides the output signal in response to the flow condition signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification