Fluid flow monitoring and control system for an agricultural sprayer
First Claim
1. A fluid flow monitoring and control system for a self-propelled agricultural sprayer, the system comprising:
- a product storage system having a product tank storing an agricultural liquid product on a chassis of the sprayer;
a spray boom supported by the chassis of the sprayer and defining multiple spray sections receiving the liquid product and selectively delivering the liquid product to an agricultural field;
an on-board valve system including a product tank outlet valve configured to actuate between a closed position preventing flow of the liquid product out of the product tank and an open position permitting flow of the liquid product out of the product tank;
a boom valve system including multiple spray section feed valves, wherein each of the spray section feed valves is configured to actuate between a closed position preventing flow of the liquid product for delivery through a respective spray section and an open position permitting flow of the liquid product through the respective spray section;
a control system for controlling the on-board and boom valve systems, the control system including an operator interface with a monitor displaying a current state of each of the product tank outlet valve and the spray section feed valves with the current state corresponding to whether the product tank outlet valve and the spray section feed valves are in the closed or open positions at a current time, andwherein the monitor includes a touchscreen with a first set of buttons controlling the boom valve system and a second set of buttons controlling the on-board valve system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fluid flow monitoring and control system for a self-propelled applicator which may be a sprayer and is configured to allow real-time visual monitoring of graphical representations of system statuses, control of the systems, and coordinated control instructions for multiple tasks through a single user input or command. The fluid flow monitoring and control system may include a touchscreen HMI providing electronic control and monitoring for the systems and components of the applicator. A rules engine may be implemented to prevent erroneous states, such as activating a pump without fluid flow to the pump as a rule implemented interlock to prevent inadvertent rapid component wear or other compromises of system integrity.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A fluid flow monitoring and control system for a self-propelled agricultural sprayer, the system comprising:
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a product storage system having a product tank storing an agricultural liquid product on a chassis of the sprayer; a spray boom supported by the chassis of the sprayer and defining multiple spray sections receiving the liquid product and selectively delivering the liquid product to an agricultural field; an on-board valve system including a product tank outlet valve configured to actuate between a closed position preventing flow of the liquid product out of the product tank and an open position permitting flow of the liquid product out of the product tank; a boom valve system including multiple spray section feed valves, wherein each of the spray section feed valves is configured to actuate between a closed position preventing flow of the liquid product for delivery through a respective spray section and an open position permitting flow of the liquid product through the respective spray section; a control system for controlling the on-board and boom valve systems, the control system including an operator interface with a monitor displaying a current state of each of the product tank outlet valve and the spray section feed valves with the current state corresponding to whether the product tank outlet valve and the spray section feed valves are in the closed or open positions at a current time, and wherein the monitor includes a touchscreen with a first set of buttons controlling the boom valve system and a second set of buttons controlling the on-board valve system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A self-propelled agricultural sprayer, comprising:
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a chassis; a product storage system having a product tank storing an agricultural liquid product on the chassis; a rinse liquid storage system comprising a rinse tank storing a rinse liquid on the chassis; a spray boom supported by the chassis and including multiple spray nozzles selectively delivering the liquid product to an agricultural field; an on-board valve system including, a product tank outlet valve configured to actuate between a closed position preventing flow of the liquid product out of the product tank and an open position permitting flow of the liquid product out of the product tank; a rinse tank outlet valve configured to actuate between a closed position preventing flow of the rinse liquid out of the rinse tank and an open position permitting flow of the rinse liquid out of the rinse tank to the pump for delivery toward the spray boom; and a pump arranged between the spray boom and each of the product tank and the rinse tank to convey the liquid product and the rinse liquid toward the spray boom; a control system configured to control the product tank outlet valve and the rinse tank outlet valve and including a rules engine configured to prevent at least one erroneous state corresponding to multiple user requests that potentially conflict with each other, at least one erroneous state including at least one of, a dry pump activation erroneous state in which the pump is activated with both the product outlet valve in the closed position and the rinse tank outlet valve in the closed position; and a mixed product/rinse erroneous state in which both the product outlet valve and the rinse tank outlet valve are simultaneously in the open position. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of controlling fluid flow through a self-propelled agricultural sprayer, the method comprising:
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displaying on a touchscreen an on-onboard flow path corresponding to a flow path through which a liquid product or a rinse liquid flows through an on-board flow system that includes an on-board valve system; changing a characteristic of the on-board flow system by receiving a first user request through the touchscreen to control the on-board valve system; changing the display of the on-onboard flow path to reflect the changed characteristic of the on-board flow system; displaying on the touchscreen a boom flow path corresponding to a flow path through which the liquid product or rinse liquid flows through a boom flow system that includes a boom valve system; changing a characteristic of the boom flow system by receiving a second user request through the touchscreen to control the boom valve system; and changing the display of the boom flow path to reflect the changed characteristic of the boom flow system corresponding to activation or deactivation of valve in the on-board and boom valves systems in response to the first and second user requests. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification