# US 10,499,560 B1 · Methods of using drift reduction adjuvant compositions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,499,560 B1 - Document ID: US10499560B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 16/198,384 - Filed: 2018-11-21 - Granted: 2019-12-10 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-21 - Assignees: WinField Solutions, LLC - Applicants: Winfield Solutions, LLC - Inventors: Daniel Bissell; Lee Boles; Andrea Clark - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10499560B1 ## CPC - A01C 21/00: Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting} - A01M 7/0042: {Field sprayers, e.g. self-propelled, drawn or tractor-mounted} - A01N 25/04: Dispersions, {emulsions, suspoemulsions, suspension concentrates} or gels (foams A01N25/16) - A01N 25/06: Aerosols - A01N 25/24: containing ingredients to enhance the sticking of the active ingredients - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) - A01M: CATCHING, TRAPPING OR SCARING OF ANIMALS (appliances for catching swarms or drone-catching A01K57/00; fishing A01K69/00 - {A01K99/00}; biocides, pest repellants or attractants A01N); APPARATUS FOR THE DESTRUCTION OF NOXIOUS ANIMALS OR NOXIOUS PLANTS - A01N: PRESERVATION OF BODIES OF HUMANS OR ANIMALS OR PLANTS OR PARTS THEREOF (preservation of food or foodstuff A23); BIOCIDES, e.g. AS DISINFECTANTS, AS PESTICIDES OR AS HERBICIDES (preparations for medical, dental or toiletry purposes which kill or prevent the growth or proliferation of unwanted organisms A61K); PEST REPELLANTS OR ATTRACTANTS; PLANT GROWTH REGULATORS ## Abstract A method to reduce bag rupture in an agricultural spray dispensed from a nozzle is disclosed. The method includes dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle. The agricultural spray includes water, at least one polymer, and at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant. The agricultural spray exhibits fewer fine droplets exhibiting a diameter less than about 150 μm formed via the bag rupture approach to droplet formation. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method to reduce bag rupture in an agricultural spray dispensed from a nozzle, the method comprising: dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle, the agricultural spray comprising: water; at least one polymer; and at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant; and wherein the agricultural spray exhibits fewer fine droplets exhibiting a diameter less than about 150 μm formed via the bag rupture approach to droplet formation than a similar agricultural spray that does not comprise the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant as determined by an analysis of the agricultural spray; wherein the analysis of the agricultural spray comprises detecting at least a portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle or a similar nozzle such that one or more bags rupturing from the agricultural spray, if present, are detected, each of the one or more bags comprising a thin membraned semi-spherical protrusion extending from the agricultural spray, wherein the portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle includes a region of the agricultural spray initially exiting the nozzle that forms a continuous sheet-like portion defining an initial spray pattern. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one polymer comprises at least one rheology modifier. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the at least one rheology modifier includes at least one of guar gum, modified guar gum, polyacrylamide, or lecithin. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one polymer comprises lecithin. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant comprises at least one oil emulsion and at least one surfactant. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one oil emulsion comprises at least one modified seed oil. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant forms about 0.04% (v/v) to about 1.0% (v/v) of the agricultural spray. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant comprises a suspension type herbicide. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the agricultural spray comprises at least one agricultural composition, the at least one agricultural compositing including at least one pesticide and/or at least one fertilizer. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle comprises dispensing the agricultural spray from a nozzle in a direction that is perpendicular to the ground. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle comprises dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle in a vertical direction and exposing the agricultural spray to air flowing in a direction that is parallel to the ground. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein, the agricultural spray is dispensed from the nozzle in a sheet-like shape, and wherein air flowing in the direction that is parallel to the ground intersects the sheet-like shape of the agricultural spray at an oblique angle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, wherein dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle comprises analyzing the agricultural spray by dispensing the agricultural spray in an enclosed space of a test section of a wind tunnel, wherein analyzing the agricultural spray further comprises: emitting a stimulus into the enclosed testing region towards at least the portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle; and detecting at least the portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle comprises dispensing the agricultural spray from a ground applicator that includes the nozzle, the ground applicator moving at a speed of about 20 miles per hour or less. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the agricultural spray exhibits at least 50% fewer of the fine droplets formed via the bag rupture approach to droplet formation than the similar agricultural spray that does not comprise the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the agricultural spray exhibits at least 90% fewer of the fine droplets formed via the bag rupture approach to droplet formation than the similar agricultural spray that does not comprise the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is a flat-fan nozzle. ### Claim 19 A method to reduce bag rupture in an agricultural spray dispensed from a nozzle, the method comprising: dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle, the agricultural spray exhibiting a sheet-like shape, the agricultural spray comprising: water; at least one drift reduction adjuvant composition comprising at least one rheology modifier and at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant; and at least one agricultural composition comprising at least one pesticide and/or at least one fertilizer; wherein the agricultural spray exhibits fewer fine droplets exhibiting a diameter less than about 150 μm formed via the bag rupture approach to droplet formation than a similar agricultural spray that does not comprise the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant as determined by an analysis of the agricultural spray; wherein the analysis of the agricultural spray comprises detecting at least a portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle or a f such that one or more bags rupturing from the agricultural spray, if present, are detected, each of the one or more bags comprising a thin membraned semi-spherical protrusion extending from the agricultural spray, wherein the portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle includes a region of the agricultural spray initially exiting the nozzle that forms a continuous sheet-like portion defining an initial spray pattern. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the agricultural spray exhibits at least 50% less bag rupture when dispensed from the nozzle than the similar agricultural spray that does not comprise the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant. ### Claim 21 A method to reduce bag rupture in an agricultural spray dispensed from a flat-fan nozzle, the method comprising: dispensing the agricultural spray from the flat-fan nozzle in a direction that is perpendicular to a ground, the agricultural spray comprising: water; at least one rheology modifier comprising at least one of guar gum, modified guar gum, polyacrylamide, or lecithin; at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant comprising at least one surfactant and at least one of a modified seed oil or a paraffinic oil; and at least one agricultural composition comprising at least one pesticide and/or at least one fertilizer; wherein the agricultural spray exhibits at least 50% fewer fine droplets exhibiting a diameter less than about 150 μm formed via the bag rupture approach to droplet formation than a similar agricultural spray that does not comprise the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant as determined by an analysis of the agricultural spray; wherein the analysis of the agricultural spray comprises detecting at least a portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle or a similar nozzle such that one or more bags rupturing from the agricultural spray, if present, are detected, each of the one or more bags comprising a thin membraned semi-spherical protrusion extending from the agricultural spray, wherein the portion of the agricultural spray adjacent to the nozzle includes a region of the agricultural spray initially exiting the nozzle that forms a continuous sheet-like portion defining an initial spray pattern.