System and method for injecting a fluid additive into a fluid dispensation system

• US 9,678,512 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2015
• Issued: 06/13/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Virid Services, LLC
• Original Assignee: Virid Services, LLC
• Inventors: Lips, Jon
• Primary Examiner(s): Shechtman, Sean
• Application Number:
  US14/685,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20160011603A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/007 Metering or regulating systems
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/042 Adding fertiliser to watering systems
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0092 Adding active material used as well for the introduction of fertilisers in water A01C23/042
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 1/20 Arrangements of several outlets along elongated bodies, e.g. perforated pipes or troughs, e.g. spray booms spray booms for agricultural uses A01M7/0071; spray bars for treating roads E01C19/176; Outlet elements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/004 comprising sensors for monitoring the delivery, e.g. by displaying the sensed value or generating an alarm B05B12/08 takes precedence; registering or indicating the condition or the working of machines or other apparatus in general G07C3/00
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/14 for supplying a selected one of a plurality of liquids or other fluent materials or several in selected proportions to a spray apparatus, e.g. to a single spray outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/28 in which one liquid or other fluent material is fed or drawn through an orifice into a stream of a carrying fluid B05B7/262 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 7/32 the fed liquid or other fluent material being under pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F17D 3/01 for controlling, signalling, or supervising the conveyance of a product
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 11/02 Controlling ratio of two or more flows of fluid or fluent material
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0324 With control of flow by a condition or characteristic of a fluid
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87676 With flow control

Abstract

A method for operating a fluid additive control system to inject a fluid additive into a fluid dispensation system is provided. The method includes receiving a first control signal indicating that a fluid dispensation device within the fluid dispensation system is active, and determining a fluid additive quantity based upon the identity of the fluid dispensation device. The method also includes activating a fluid additive injection system, where the fluid additive dispensation system injects the fluid additive into the fluid dispensation system in response to the activation. The method further includes receiving a second control signal from the fluid additive injection system when the fluid additive quantity for the zone has been injected into the fluid dispensation system, and deactivating the fluid additive dispensation system in response to the second control signal.

Claims

1. A method for operating a fluid additive control system to inject a fluid additive into a fluid dispensation system comprising:

receiving a first control signal indicating that a fluid dispensation device within the fluid dispensation system is active;

determining a fluid additive quantity based upon the identity of the fluid dispensation device;

instructing a fluid additive injection system to inject the fluid additive into the fluid dispensation system in response to the activation and to maintain backpressure on the fluid additive to sustain a steady injection flowrate and prevent backflow;

receiving a second control signal from the fluid additive injection system when the fluid additive quantity for the fluid dispensation device has been injected into the fluid dispensation system; and

deactivating the fluid additive injection in response to the second control signal,

wherein instructing the fluid additive injection system comprises activating a valve coupled to a pressurized fluid;

wherein activating the valve comprises receiving pressurized fluid from a pressurized fluid supply and transmitting the pressurized fluid into a piston cylinder coupled with a piston; and

wherein the pressurized fluid moves the piston from an initial position, injecting fluid additive into the fluid dispensation system in response to the pressurized fluid entering the piston cylinder.

2. The method of claim 1,

wherein instructing the fluid injection system comprises transmitting the second control signal from a piston position sensor when the piston has injected the fluid additive quantity of the fluid additive into the fluid dispensation system.

3. The method of claim 2,

wherein deactivating the fluid additive injection system comprises deactivating the valve;

and

wherein deactivating the valve comprises releasing the pressurized fluid from the piston cylinder, allowing the piston to return to the initial position.

4. The method of claim 1,

wherein the fluid additive is selected from a group consisting of liquid fertilizer, liquid herbicide, liquid pesticide, liquid fungicide, a wetting agent solution, and a mixture thereof.

5. A fluid additive system for injecting a fluid additive into a fluid dispensation system comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive and transmit control signals;

a processing system coupled to the communication interface, and configured to;

receive a first control signal through the communication interface indicating that a fluid dispensation device within the fluid dispensation system is active;

determine a fluid additive quantity based on the identity of the fluid dispensation device;

transmit a second control signal to a fluid additive injection system through a communication interface, wherein the second control signal activates the fluid additive injection system, and the fluid additive injection system injects the fluid additive into the fluid dispensation system in response to the activation;

maintain backpressure on the fluid additive to sustain a steady injection flowrate and prevent backflow in response to the activation;

receive a third control signal from the fluid additive injection system through the communication interface when the fluid additive quantity for the fluid dispensation device has been injected into the fluid dispensation system;

transmit a fourth control signal to the fluid additive injection system through the communication interface in response to the second control signal, wherein the fourth control signal deactivates the fluid additive injection system; and

receive a fifth control signal, and determine the fluid additive quantity based on the identity of the fluid dispensation device and the fifth control signal.

6. The fluid injection system of claim 5,

wherein the communication interface also comprises a user interface configured to allow a user to input desired fluid additive quantities for one or more of the fluid dispensation devices.