Monitoring module for sprayers

A system comprising:

• a monitoring module, and
• a computer system,
• wherein the monitoring module comprises:
• a housing;
• and
• a first connecting element and a second connecting element attached to the housing for integrating the monitoring module into a line of a portable sprayer between a concentrate container and at least one nozzle, wherein the first connecting element is configured to be connected to a part of the line of the portable sprayer which is directed upstream away from the at least one nozzle, wherein the part of the line which is directed upstream is fluidly connected to:
• a diluent container upstream of the concentrate container,
• a first pump downstream of the diluent container and upstream of the concentrate container,
• the concentrate container,
• a second pump downstream of the concentrate container, and
• a shutoff valve downstream of the second pump,
• wherein the second connecting element is configured to be connected to a part of the line of the portable sprayer which is directed downstream toward the at least one nozzle, and
• wherein the housing comprises:
• a flow chamber between the first connecting element and the second connecting element,
• a flow meter in the flow chamber for measuring a quantity of a spray composition comprising a diluent from the diluent container and a concentrate from the concentrate container which flows through the flow chamber per unit of time,
• a transmitter outside the flow chamber,
• a controller outside the flow chamber, wherein the controller is configured to receive measured values from the flow meter and to cause the transmitter to transmit data about the quantity of the spray composition which flows through the flow chamber per unit time to the computer system, and
• an energy supply outside the flow chamber for supplying the flow meter, the controller, and the transmitter with electrical energy, and
• wherein the computer system is configured to receive the data from the monitoring module and to display said data to a user.

A method comprising:

• equipping a portable sprayer with a monitoring module, wherein the monitoring module comprises:
• a housing;
• and
• a first connecting element and a second connecting element attached to the housing for integrating the monitoring module into a line of the portable sprayer between a concentrate container and at least one nozzle, wherein the first connecting element is configured to be connected to a part of the line of the portable sprayer which is directed upstream away from the at least one nozzle, wherein the part of the line which is directed upstream is fluidly connected to:
• a diluent container upstream of the concentrate container,
• a first pump downstream of the diluent container and upstream of the concentrate container,
• the concentrate container,
• a second pump downstream of the concentrate container, and
• a shutoff valve downstream of the second pump,
• wherein the second connecting element is configured to be connected to a part of the line of the portable sprayer which is directed downstream toward the at least one nozzle, and
• wherein the housing comprises:
• a flow chamber between the first connecting element and the second connecting element,
• a flow meter in the flow chamber for measuring a quantity of a spray composition comprising a diluent from the diluent container and a concentrate from the concentrate container which flows through the flow chamber per unit of time,
• a transmitter outside the flow chamber,
• a controller outside the flow chamber, wherein the controller is configured to receive measured values from the flow meter and to cause the transmitter to transmit data about the quantity of the spray composition which flows through the flow chamber per unit time to the computer system, and
• an energy supply outside the flow chamber for supplying the flow meter, the controller, and the transmitter with electrical energy,
• sensing a route which the portable sprayer covers during a period of time,
• sensing the quantities of spray composition which flow through the flow chamber along the route,
• transmitting data about the route covered and about the quantities of spray composition to a computer system via a network, and
• displaying the route and information about the quantities of spray composition which have been applied along the route to a user.