HYBRID FLOW NOZZLE AND CONTROL SYSTEM

• US 20150367358A1
• Filed: 10/03/2014
• Published: 12/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Funseth, Travis G., Humpal, Richard A., Bullock, Stacy L., Wu, Dolly Y.
• Granted Patent: US 10,189,031 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 25/16 Control of watering
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/006 Mounting of the nozzles
• 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: B05B 1/083 the pulsating mechanism comprising movable parts liquid driven rotating elements, e.g. turbines, arranged upstream the outlet B05B3/04
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/1645 the outlets being rotated during selection
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/169 having three or more selectively effective outlets
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/20 Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms spray booms for agricultural uses A01M7/0071; spray bars for treating roads E01C19/176; Outlet elements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/30 designed to control volume of flow, e.g. with adjustable passages B05B11/0094 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/3053 the actuating means being a solenoid
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/06 for effecting pulsating flow nozzles, spray head or outlet with means for generating a discharge of pulsating nature B05B1/08
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/126 responsive to target velocity, e.g. to relative velocity between spray apparatus and target B05B9/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 15/658 the spraying apparatus or its outlet axis being perpendicular to the flow conduit

Abstract

Embodiments include individual physical spray nozzles that have passageways inside to combine fluids that flow out of the spray nozzles. The nozzles have at least two valves that are opened and closed in an interleaved manner. The nozzles have multiple outlets. Such nozzles are mounted on a variety of implements including agricultural or industrial spray booms.

Claims

1. A spray nozzle system, comprising:

a spray nozzle body including a fluid inlet, a fluid conduit, a first valve, a second valve, a first outlet, and a second outlet;

wherein the fluid inlet is connected to the fluid conduit;

the fluid conduit is coupled to the first outlet through a first valve; and

the fluid conduit is also coupled to the second outlet through a second valve;

the spray nozzle body further including a first actuator and a second actuator; and

wherein the first actuator contacts the first valve to move the first valve under a first pulse control, and the second actuator contacts the second valve to move the second valve under a second pulse control.

2. The spray nozzle system of claim 1, wherein the fluid conduit located between the first valve and the second valve;

and the first valve, the second valve and the fluid conduit comprise a first nozzle segment forming a tubular device, wherein the first valve and the second valve are capped by the first actuator and the second actuator, respectively.

3. The spray nozzle system of claim 2, wherein the first outlet and the second outlet couple to respective first input and second input of a second nozzle segment that is rotatably coupled to the first nozzle segment.

4. The spray nozzle system of claim 2, wherein the first outlet and the second outlet mate to respective first input and second input of a second nozzle segment that is rotatably coupled to the first nozzle segment;

the second nozzle segment includes a first nozzle output and a second nozzle output;

wherein the first nozzle output mates to both the first input and the second input in a first rotated position of the second nozzle segment relative to the first nozzle segment.

5. The spray nozzle system of claim 1, wherein a second nozzle segment is rotatably coupled to the first outlet and the second outlet;

wherein the second nozzle segment includes a first nozzle output and a second nozzle output; and

wherein the first nozzle output is designed to receive chemicals from both the first outlet and the second outlet in a first rotated position of the second nozzle segment; and

wherein the second nozzle output is designed to receive chemicals from either the first outlet or the second outlet in a second rotated position of the second nozzle segment with respect to the first and second valves.

6. The spray nozzle system of claim 1, wherein a second nozzle segment is rotatably coupled to the first outlet and the second outlet;

wherein the second nozzle segment is cylindrical having a first nozzle output and an second nozzle output, both surrounding a perimeter of the second nozzle segment; and

wherein the first nozzle output and the second nozzle output point in a direction parallel to a fluid flow of the fluid inlet.

7. The spray nozzle system of claim 6, wherein the first nozzle output is designed to receive fluids from both the first outlet and the second outlet in a first rotated position of the second nozzle segment;

and wherein the second nozzle output is designed to receive fluids from either the first outlet or the second outlet in a second rotated position of the second nozzle segment.

8. The spray nozzle system of claim 1, wherein a second nozzle segment is rotatably coupled to the first outlet and the second outlet;

wherein the second nozzle segment is tubular having a first nozzle output and an second nozzle output, both protruding out of a perimeter of the second nozzle segment; and

the first nozzle output or the second nozzle output point in a direction parallel to a fluid flow of the fluid inlet in a first rotated position of the second nozzle segment.

9. The spray nozzle system of claim 8, wherein the first nozzle output is designed to receive fluids from both the first outlet and the second outlet in a first rotated position of the second nozzle segment;

and wherein the second nozzle output is designed to receive fluids from either the first outlet or the second outlet in a second rotated position of the second nozzle segment.

10. The spray nozzle system of claim 1, wherein the spray nozzle body including local circuits that generate signals on electric traces embedded in a wall of the spray nozzle body, wherein the electric traces go to the first actuator and the second actuator.

11. The spray nozzle system of claim 1, wherein a second nozzle segment is rotatably coupled to the first outlet and the second outlet;

wherein the second nozzle segment includes a first nozzle output and a second nozzle output;

wherein the spray nozzle body further housing local circuits that generate signals on electric traces embedded in a wall of the spray nozzle body, wherein the electric traces go to a motor that rotates the second nozzle segment.

12. The spray nozzle system of claim 1, wherein a second nozzle segment is rotatably coupled to the first outlet and the second outlet;

wherein the second nozzle segment includes a first nozzle output and an second nozzle output;

wherein the spray nozzle body further housing local circuits that generate signals on electric traces that go to an LED (light emitting diode) located at an exterior underside of the second nozzle segment.

13. The spray nozzle system of claim 5, wherein the second nozzle segment houses local circuits having first electric traces going to a relay box, wherein the relay box having second electric traces that contact the first actuator and the second actuator.

14. The spray nozzle system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the spray nozzle bodies are mounted to an agricultural spray boom made of composite carbon fiber.

15. The spray nozzle system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of the spray nozzle bodies are mounted to an agricultural spray boom having trusses;

and the spray boom is attached to a self-propelled sprayer or tractor towed sprayer.

16. The spray nozzle system of claim 1, wherein the second pulse control comprises a signal with 100% duty cycle to keep the second valve open.

17. The spray nozzle system of claim 1, wherein the first and second pulse controls comprise pulse width modulation control.

18. A spray apparatus comprising:

a nozzle having a nozzle tube connected to a turret;

the nozzle tube having a fluid inlet, the fluid inlet coupled to a first passageway and to a second passageway;

the first passageway being opened by a first valve;

the second passageway being opened by a second valve;

the first valve and second valve couple to electronics to interleave their open state out of phase with each other'"'"'s; and

wherein the setup releases a fluid from either the first passageway or from the second passageway to corresponding first input and second input of the turret.

19. The spray apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first input and second input couple to corresponding first duct and second duct inside the turret;

and other ends of the first duct and second duct mate to a combined nozzle output or to separate individual outputs.

20. The spray apparatus of claim 18, wherein the setup includes a pulse width modulation to open and close the first valve and second valve.

21. The spray apparatus of claim 18, wherein the turret is rotatably coupled to the nozzle tube;

wherein the turret is cylindrical having a first nozzle output and a second nozzle output, both surrounding a perimeter of the cylinder; and

the first nozzle output and the second nozzle output point in a direction parallel to a fluid flow of the fluid inlet.

22. The spray apparatus of claim 18, wherein the turret is rotatably coupled to the nozzle tube;

wherein the turret is tubular, having a first nozzle output and an second nozzle output, both protruding out of a side surface of the turret; and

the turret having a third nozzle output protruding out of an end of the turret.

23. A spray device comprising:

a nozzle having a nozzle tube connected to a turret mate;

the nozzle tube having a fluid inlet, the fluid inlet coupled to a first passageway and to a second passageway;

the first passageway being opened by a first gate;

the second passageway being opened by a second gate;

the turret mate being cylindrical and having a first conduit and a second conduit, wherein the first passageway contacts the first conduit, and the second passageway contacts the second conduit;

the first conduit having a first output hole, and the second conduit having a second output hole;

a receptacle mounted rotatably about the turret mate; and

the receptacle having a first nozzle output and an second nozzle output, both surrounding a perimeter of the receptacle; and

wherein the first nozzle output and the second nozzle output point away from the fluid inlet.

24. The spray device of claim 23, further comprising an electronic circuit that outputs pulse width modulated signals to traces that control the first gate and the second gate;

and wherein the electronic circuit is embedded in the spray device.

25. The spray device of claim 23, wherein the first output hole and the second output hole both mate to the first nozzle output in a first rotated position of the receptacle about the turret mate.

26. The spray device of claim 25, wherein the first output hole mates to a first nozzle output and the second output hole mates to a second nozzle output, separately, in a second rotated position of the receptacle about the turret mate.

27. The spray device of claim 23, wherein a longest dimension of the spray device is 130-160 mm.