Nozzle with flow rate and droplet size control capability
OwnerQuy Duc Buiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A flexible, self-adjusting flow nozzle is provided, optimally configured for agricultural uses. The nozzle flexes automatically in response to changes in fluid pressure, thereby maintaining an optimal droplet size and spray area for a variety of flow rates. The self-adjusting characteristic of the nozzle allows for the creation of a fully or semi-automatic spray system. The fully automatic system uses a GPS receiver to compare actual geographic data against a predetermined flow plan for automatically making adjustments to flow rate in order to accommodate both speed changes and varying crop needs. The semiautomatic system uses a manually controlled flow rate but utilizes the self-adjusting capabilities of the spray nozzle.
Claims42
A spray nozzle comprising:
- a flexible spray tip defining a spray orifice, the flexible spray tip constructed and arranged to flex, thereby altering the shape of the spray orifice;
- a metering member in operable contact with the flexible spray tip and movable relative thereto, the metering member constructed and arranged to influence the flexible spray tip to flex in response to the relative movement between the metering member and the flexible spray tip;
- a driving assembly operably attached to the metering member;
- and,
- a nozzle body defining an interior chamber that houses at least portions of the driving assembly, the metering member, and the flexible spray tip, the nozzle body defining an inlet into through which fluid may enter the interior chamber of the nozzle body;
- wherein the nozzle body, driving assembly, metering member, and flexible spray tip, are arranged such that pressure changes in a fluid flowing through the interior chamber cause position changes in the driving assembly, thereby moving the metering member, thereby changing the influence the metering member has on the flexible spray tip, and thereby altering the shape of the spray orifice.
The spray nozzle of claim I wherein the driving assembly comprises elastomeric material.
A self-adjusting variable spray nozzle comprising:
- a first means for shaping a stream of pressurized fluid;
- a second means for directing pressurized fluid into the first means;
- and,
- a third means for adjusting the first means in response to the pressurized fluid.
A spray system comprising:
- a tank;
- a pump, fluidly coupled to the tank and capable of taking suction thereon;
- at least one spray nozzle fluidly coupled to the pump;
- a sensor fluidly coupled to the at least one spray nozzle, and constructed and arranged to monitor fluid flowing from the pump to the at least one spray nozzle;
- a regulating means for regulating the fluid flowing to the at least one spray nozzle;
- a controller in data flow communication with the flow sensor;
- and,
- a vehicle speed sensor in data flow communication with the controller;
- whereby the controller is constructed and arranged to determine whether flow to the at least one nozzle should be increased or decreased based on the inputs received from the flow sensor and the vehicle speed sensor.
A spray tip for a spray nozzle comprising:
- a flange;
- a spray-shaping portion extending distally from the flange, the spray shaping portion defining a slot and an orifice therein;
- and,
- at least a pair of leveraging members extending proximally from the flange, the leveraging members capable of temporarily deforming the spray-shaping portion when the leveraging members are flexed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.