Control method and apparatus for liquid distributor

• US 4,637,547 A
• Filed: 03/22/1985
• Issued: 01/20/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hiniker Co.
• Original Assignee: Hiniker Co.
• Inventors: Hiniker, Thomas K., Bush, Vincent N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peters, Jr., Joseph F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Application Number:
  US06/714,879
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 239/1, 239/69, 239/71, 239/155, 239/156, 239/62, 239/75, 239/76, 239/161, 239/170
• US Class Current: 239/1
• 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 12/00 Arrangements for controlling delivery; Arrangements for controlling the spray area

Abstract

A liquid sprayer has a tank for storing liquid, a boom supporting spraying nozzles, and a pump and liquid control system for supplying liquid under pressure to the spraying nozzle in a manner that maintains substantially uniform liquid dispensing density independent of variations in the ground speed of the sprayer. A ground speed sensor, a liquid pressure sensor, and a liquid flow meter sends signals to a controller to regulate a valve that controls the rate of flow of liquid to the spraying nozzles.

Claims

1. A method of dispensing liquid from a plurality of spray nozzles of a transportable liquid dispensing device over an area of ground at a uniform density independent of the ground speed of the dispensing device, the nozzles each having oonditions of operability and inoperability, comprising the steps of

(a) measuring the ground speed of the transportable dispensing device and generating a first signal in accordance with the ground speed;

(b) entering at least one flow rate parameter into a microprocessor-based control device to provide a given flow rate of liquid to the dispensing device;

(c) measuring the actual liquid flow rate within the dispensing device and providing a second signal in accordance with the measured flow rate;

(d) measuring the liquid pressure within the dispensing device and providing a third signal in accordance with the measured pressure;

(e) entering said first, second, and third signals into the control device;

(f) calculating a control signal in accordance with said first, second, and third signals and said flow rate parameter; and

(g) controlling the flow of liquid from the nozzles in the operable condition to provide a constant uniform liquid density over the dispensing area independent of the ground speed of and the pressure within the dispensing device.

2. The method of claim 1 including:

terminating the flow of liquid to part of the dispensing device without altering the uniform density of the liquid being discharged by the remaining part of the dispensing device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the rate of flow of liquid to the liquid dispensing device is selectively controlled at a first flow rate and at least a second flow rate, said second flow rate being greater than or less than the first flow rate.

4. The method of claim 1 including:

calculating the gallons per acre of liquid discharged by the dispensing device.

5. The method of claim 4 including:

visually displaying the calculated gallons per acre.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein:

said flow rate parameter is target gallons per acre of liquid desired to be dispensed and using the calculated gallons per acre data and said target gallons per acre data to calculate by means of said microprocessor based controller the gallons per acre percent error of liquid discharged by the dispensing device.

7. The method of claim 6 including:

visually displaying the gallons per acre percent error.

8. The method of claim 1 including:

providing an audible alarm when the sensed pressure of the liquid exceeds a selected first limit or falls below a selected second limit.

9. The method of claim 1 including:

calculating the gallons per acre of liquid discharged by the dispensing device using the date of the calculated gallons per acre percent error of liquid discharged by the dispensing device, and regulating the rate of flow of liquid to the dispensing device in proportion to the increase of the gallons per acre percent error.

10. The method of claim 9 including:

triggering an audible alarm when the percent error goes above a selected percent or falls below a selected percent.

11. The method of claim 1 including:

calculating the theoretical gallons per minute of liquid discharged by the dispensing device, measuring the actual gallons per minute of liquid discharged by liquid dispensing device, determining the difference between the calculated gallons per minute and the measured gallons per minute.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the actual gallons per minute is measured with a flow meter.

13. The method of claim 11 including:

informing the operator of said difference between the calculated gallons per minute and the measured gallons per minute.

14. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the difference is visually displayed as readable information.

15. The method of claim 11 including:

triggering an alarm whewn the difference exceeds selected upper and lower limits.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein:

the difference is a percent error between the theoretical gallons per minute and the actual gallons per minute.

17. The method of claim 11 including:

determining the operational liquid discharge nozzle size of the liquid dispensing device, and storing said nozzle size information in said microprocessor-based controller.

18. The method of claim 1 including:

determining the operational liquid discharge nozzle size of the liquid dispensing device, and storing said determined nozzle size in said microprocessor-based controller.