Mobile fluid distribution system and method
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsPeter W. Anderton, Ronald Brown, David C. Orr, Gary A. Ellertson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fluid distribution system and method for mobile applications. The system includes a power source, a pump driven by the power source, and a motor driven by the pump. The system also includes a spray head with a fluid inlet passage, a fluid outlet passage, a fluid piston disposed in a chamber for controlled access between the inlet and outlet passages and defining a variable orifice, and a hydraulic cylinder controllably engaged to the orifice. The fluid piston and the hydraulic cylinder are aligned with a common longitudinal axis, and the inlet passage is offset from the axis in a direction opposed to the location of the outlet passage.
Claims20
A fluid distribution system, comprising:
- a power source;
- a pump driven by the power source;
- a motor driven by the pump;
- and
- a spray head configured to receive fluid from a fluid source provided by the motor, the spray head including;
- a fluid inlet passage;
- a fluid outlet passage;
- a fluid piston disposed in a chamber for controlled access between the inlet and outlet passages and defining a variable orifice;
- and
- a double acting hydraulic cylinder controllably engaged to the orifice;
- wherein the fluid piston and the hydraulic cylinder are aligned with a common longitudinal axis, and the inlet passage is offset from the axis in a direction opposed to the location of the outlet passage.
A method for distributing a fluid, comprising the steps of:
- determining a ground speed of a mobile machine configured for fluid distribution;
- determining a pressure of fluid being delivered to a spray head having a variable orifice;
- comparing the determined pressure to a desired fluid pressure;
- controlling a variable displacement motor to maintain the desired fluid pressure;
- and
- controlling the variable orifice as a function of the ground speed and independent of fluid pressure to maintain a desired distribution of fluid.
A spray head for a fluid distribution system, comprising:
- a fluid inlet passage;
- a fluid outlet passage;
- a fluid piston disposed in a chamber for controlled access between the inlet and outlet passages and defining a variable orifice;
- and
- a double acting hydraulic cylinder controllably engaged to the orifice;
- wherein the fluid piston and the hydraulic cylinder are aligned with a common longitudinal axis, and the inlet passage is offset from the axis in a direction opposed to the location of the outlet passage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.