System and method for monitoring inefficient flow rates using magnetic sensor in a liquid-flow distribution system
First Claim
1. A flow rate monitoring system for use with a liquid distribution system, the monitoring system comprising:
- a flow gauge including a housing through which liquid may flow, said flow gauge connected to the liquid distribution system via a liquid feed line;
an indicator located within said housing;
a sensor assembly including a sensor and affixed to an external face of said housing, said sensor adapted for detecting a status of said flow gauge comprising either blocked or not blocked;
a user interface communicating with said sensor assembly, said user interface adapted to produce an indication comprising either blocked or not blocked;
said sensor adapted for detecting the vertical location of said indicator within said housing;
said user interface adapted for indicating the vertical location of said indicator within said flow gauge housing;
wherein the vertical location of said indicator relative to said housing is dependent upon the flow rate of liquid through said housing;
a selectively adjustable liquid flow rate target for said flow gauge;
said user interface including a user interface processor adapted for actively monitoring a measured flow rate through said flow gauge;
said user interface adapted for indicating when the measured flow rate through said flow gauge diverges from said selectively adjustable liquid flow rate target;
a flow controller adapted for receiving commands from said user interface processor; and
said user interface processor is further configured to respond to a change in said measured flow rate through said flow gauge.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for monitoring inefficient flow rates in a liquid-flow distribution system, such as that which is used in agricultural liquid application equipment. This may include blockages or punctures in a liquid line. The system generally includes a plurality of gauges for monitoring the supply line flow rate in a liquid application system which are monitored by a number of sensors. Immediate feedback is presented to the operator of the vehicle inside the cab. The system alerts the operator when a blockage, loss, or increase of flow rate has occurred in one of the liquid lines. The system may merely indicate that one of the lines is blocked, or the system may be more sophisticated such that it can indicate which line is blocked and adjust the flow in that line in an attempt to clear the blockage.
46 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A flow rate monitoring system for use with a liquid distribution system, the monitoring system comprising:
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a flow gauge including a housing through which liquid may flow, said flow gauge connected to the liquid distribution system via a liquid feed line; an indicator located within said housing; a sensor assembly including a sensor and affixed to an external face of said housing, said sensor adapted for detecting a status of said flow gauge comprising either blocked or not blocked; a user interface communicating with said sensor assembly, said user interface adapted to produce an indication comprising either blocked or not blocked; said sensor adapted for detecting the vertical location of said indicator within said housing; said user interface adapted for indicating the vertical location of said indicator within said flow gauge housing; wherein the vertical location of said indicator relative to said housing is dependent upon the flow rate of liquid through said housing; a selectively adjustable liquid flow rate target for said flow gauge; said user interface including a user interface processor adapted for actively monitoring a measured flow rate through said flow gauge; said user interface adapted for indicating when the measured flow rate through said flow gauge diverges from said selectively adjustable liquid flow rate target; a flow controller adapted for receiving commands from said user interface processor; and said user interface processor is further configured to respond to a change in said measured flow rate through said flow gauge. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A liquid distribution system comprising:
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a liquid storage tank and a pump; a flow gauge adapted to receive liquid pumped from said storage tank by said pump via at least one liquid feed line; said flow gauge including a housing through which liquid may flow; said flow gauge housing including an indicator located within an interior space defined by said housing, wherein a vertical location of said indicator relative to said housing is dependent upon a flow rate of liquid through said housing; a liquid applicator connected to said flow gauge via a liquid supply line; a sensor assembly affixed to an external face of said flow gauge housing, said sensor assembly adapted for detecting the vertical location of said indicator within said housing; said sensor assembly comprising a housing, a gasket, a printed circuit board (PCB), and a sensor affixed to the surface of said PCB; and a user interface communicating with said sensor, said user interface adapted for indicating the vertical location of said indicator within said flow gauge housing as measured by said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of monitoring the flow rate of an agricultural liquid fertilizer system including a liquid storage tank, a liquid pump, at least one feed line, and a plurality of supply lines connected to a plurality of fertilizer sprayer nozzles, the method of monitoring the flow rate comprising the steps:
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connecting a respective flow gauge between each of the plurality of fertilizer sprayer nozzles and said plurality of supply lines, each said flow gauge including a housing; connecting each of said flow gauges to said at least one feed line; demarcating a vertical length of said housing into a number of zones; placing an indicator comprising ferromagnetic material within each of said housings; affixing a sensor assembly comprising a PCB and a plurality of magnetic sensors to said flow gauges, wherein each said magnetic sensor is associated with a respective indicator located within a respective housing; electronically connecting said sensor assembly to a user interface, said user interface adapted for indicating a vertical position of each of said indicators within each of said housings to a user; activating said pump; pumping liquid fertilizer through said feed line and through said flow gauge housings, whereby each of said indicators are elevated to a vertical location with said housings depending upon the flow rate of said liquid fertilizer; sensing the vertical location of each of said indicators within each of said housings with said sensor assembly; reporting the vertical location of each of said indicators within each of said housings to said user with said user interface in real time; and alerting the user of a change in vertical location of any of said indicators within any of said housings. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification