Adaptive feedback sources for application controllers

• US 7,706,926 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 04/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Original Assignee: AGCO Corporation
• Inventors: Peterson, John
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US11/928,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20090112372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 910 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/19, 700/275, 700282-284, 702/45, 702/47, 702/50, 137/1, 137/2, 137/12, 137/14, 239/63, 239/67, 239/68, 239/398, 239/407, 417/43
• US Class Current: 700/283
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0379 By fluid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0396 Involving pressure control

Abstract

The present invention provides an advanced spray control system for controlling a sprayer, which comprises a controller, a plurality of sensors and feedback means, and an output means for controlling the application system of the sprayer. The controller receives inputs from the operator through a user interface, and/or various feedback signals from the sensors of the system (e.g., a flow meter, or a pressure transducer). After processing these inputs, the controller sends signals to other components of the sprayer, such as, the pump, the storage means, the boom sections, and/or the nozzles, to maintain or change their operating conditions. Also provided are a method of controlling a sprayer using the spray control system and a sprayer comprising the spray control system of the present invention.

Claims

1. A sprayer comprising a controller, an output means, a flow sensor, a pressure transducer, and an application means, wherein:

the flow sensor and the pressure transducer are operatively linked to the controller and the application means;

the controller is operatively linked to the application means through an output means; and

the controller receives input from at least one of the flow sensor and the pressure transducer and sends operating instruction to the application means using the output means;

wherein the controller can determine the flow rate using input from the flow sensor and the pressure transducer simultaneously;

wherein the controller switches the source of input from the pressure transducer to the flow sensor when there is a failure of the pressure transducer; and

wherein the controller switches the source of input from the pressure transducer to the flow sensor when the input from the pressure transducer exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

2. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein the controller receives inputs from both the flow sensor and the pressure transducer.

3. The sprayer of claim 1, further comprising a user interface means operatively linked to the controller.

4. The sprayer of claim 1, wherein the sprayer is a multi-section boom sprayer.

5. A method for controlling a sprayer comprising an application means, comprising operatively connecting a spray control system to the sprayer, wherein:

the spray control system comprises a controller, an output means, a flow sensor, and a pressure transducer;

the flow sensor and the pressure transducer are operatively linked to the controller and the application means;

the controller is operatively linked to the application means through the output means; and

the controller receives input from at least one of the flow sensor and the pressure transducer and sends operating instruction to the application means using the output means;

wherein the controller can determine the flow rate using input from the flow sensor and the pressure transducer simultaneously;

wherein the controller switches the source of input from the pressure transducer to the flow sensor when there is a failure of the pressure transducer; and

wherein the controller switches the source of input from the pressure transducer to the flow sensor when the input from the pressure transducer exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the controller receives inputs from both the flow sensor and the pressure transducer.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the controller switches the source of input from the flow sensor to the pressure transducer, based on the meeting of a pre-determined condition.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the pre-determined condition is a failure of the flow sensor or the input from the flow sensor exceeding a pre-determined threshold.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising a user interface means operatively linked to the controller.

10. The method of claim 5, wherein the sprayer is a multi-section boom sprayer.