Variable flow spray nozzle system

• US 6,230,091 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AG Chem Equipment Co Inc (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AG Chem Equipment Co Inc (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: McQuinn, Alvin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Beaulieu, Yonel
• Application Number:
  US09/302,789
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/207, 701/213, 701/217, 701/223, 701/300, 700/281, 700/282, 700/283, 700/284, 239/61, 239/62, 239/67, 239/76, 239/225.1, 239/159
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/007 Metering or regulating systems
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0089 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06

Abstract

A variable flow spray nozzle system for delivering a plurality of crop inputs over an agricultural field using a spray boom having a plurality of release zones. Each release zone on the boom is has multiple nozzle modules, and each nozzle module is individually controlled and capable of variable flow. A control system in communication with each nozzle module and a positioning system, such as a GPS system, controls the application of multiple crop inputs so that the crop inputs are applied at a variable prescriptive rate. Thus, it is possible to vary the flow of crop inputs along the length of the boom as well as in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the boom.

Claims

1. A variable flow spray system for delivering a plurality of liquid crop inputs over an agricultural field, the system comprising:

a spray boom having a plurality of transversely spaced release zones, each release zone comprising a plurality of nozzle modules wherein each nozzle module is configured for controlled variable flow;

a positioning system for determining a position of the spray boom in the field; and

a control system in communication with each nozzle module and the positioning system such that multiple liquid crop inputs are variably applied at a prescriptive rate in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the spray boom moving through the field.

2. The variable flow spray system of claim 1 wherein each nozzle module comprises a nozzle.

3. The variable flow spray system of claim 1 wherein each nozzle module comprises a plurality of nozzles.

4. The variable flow spray system of claim 1 wherein the control system variably applies multiple liquid crop inputs at a prescriptive rate in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of the spray boom moving through the field based on site specific data.

5. A variable flow spray system for delivering a plurality of liquid crop inputs over an agricultural field, the system comprising:

a plurality of release zones on a spray boom, each release zone comprising a plurality of nozzle modules wherein each nozzle module is individually controlled and configured for variable flow;

a positioning system for determining a position of the spray boom in the field; and

a control system configured to control a rate of application of liquid crop inputs at each release zone as a function of a position of the release zone in the field and site specific data, which defines a desired prescription of multiple crop inputs for specific points in the field, so that each release zone applies multiple liquid crop inputs at a prescriptive variable rate.

6. The variable flow spray nozzle system of claim 5 wherein each nozzle module comprises a plurality of nozzles.

7. A variable flow spray nozzle system for delivering a plurality of crop inputs over a land area, the system comprising:

a plurality of release zones on a spray boom, each release zone comprising a plurality of nozzle modules;

means for individually controlling each nozzle module at each release zone;

a positioning system for determining a position of the spray boom in a desired land area; and

means for controlling the application of multiple crop inputs so that a desired prescription is applied, which varies across the length of the spray boom in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of travel and is based on the position of the spray boom in the land area.

8. A method for applying multiple liquid crop inputs from a spray boom at a desired prescriptive amount, the spray boom having a plurality of release zones, each release zone comprising a plurality of nozzle modules and each nozzle module being configured for variable flow, the method comprising:

traversing an agricultural field with the spray boom and dispensing multiple liquid crop inputs from the spray boom release zones; and

selectively controlling the flow of liquid crop inputs from each nozzle module and applying a prescriptive amount of each liquid crop input in response to the release zone reaching a predetermined location in the field.

9. The method of claim 8 and further comprising applying a prescriptive amount of each crop input in response to site specific data.