Spray flow sensing with magnetic carrier

A flow rate sensor system for an agricultural sprayer, the flow rate sensor system comprising:

• a drum housing and a central passage housing defining a first flow path comprising a first portion generally parallel to an axis and a second vortex portion around the axis;
• a Hall-effect sensor disposed facing the axis;
• a Hall-effect sensor window in a display housing and disposed between the Hall-effect sensor and the axis;
• a magnetic carrier within the drum housing configured to rotate about the axis when fluid flows through the first flow path, the magnetic carrier comprising a central ring oriented about the axis and a plurality of fins oriented circumferentially along and extending radially outward from the central ring with respect to the axis;
• and
• at least one magnet positioned in the magnetic carrier,
• wherein—
• the plurality of fins comprises a plurality of primary fins and a plurality of secondary fins,
• each of the plurality of primary fins has a primary length and a primary width,
• each of the plurality of secondary fins has a secondary length and a secondary width,
• the primary length is greater than the secondary length, and
• the primary width is greater than the secondary width.

A method of operating a flow rate sensor system for an agricultural sprayer, the method comprising:

• directing, with a drum housing and a central passage housing, a fluid along a first flow path with a first portion generally parallel to an axis and a second vortex portion around the axis;
• directing, with the drum housing and the central passage housing, the fluid along a second flow path generally parallel to, and in an opposite direction of, the first flow path;
• generating, with a source of a Hall-effect sensor, a current through a conductor of the Hall-effect sensor;
• detecting, with a detector of the Hall-effect sensor, when at least one target passes a Hall-effect sensor window, wherein the at least one target comprises a magnet within the drum housing and in the vortex portion of the first flow path of the fluid;
• generating, with a controller of the Hall-effect sensor, magnetic field data about the at least one target;
• and
• assessing, with the controller, a speed of the at least one target about the axis to calculate a flow rate of the fluid along the vortex portion of the first flow path.