Agricultural sprayer with warm water rinse system
AssigneeAGCO International GmbH
InventorDaan Schell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An agricultural crop sprayer includes a product tank for holding a solution of plant protection product, a product dispense system, and a rinse tank for holding a rinse fluid. A plumbing network fluidly connects the product tank, the product dispense system, and the rinse tank. A heat source is provided to heat the rinse fluid. The heat source may be a prime mover or a hydraulic pump, wherein waste heat is scavenged therefrom.
Claims22
An agricultural crop sprayer comprising:
- a product tank configured to hold a solution of a plant protection product;
- a product dispense system;
- a rinse tank for holding a rinse fluid;
- a first heat exchanger configured to transfer waste heat from a heat source;
- and
- a plumbing network fluidly connecting the product tank, the product dispense system, and the rinse tank, wherein the plumbing network comprises a closed fluid circuit including the first heat exchanger.
(canceled)
(canceled)
A method of operating an agricultural crop sprayer, the crop sprayer comprising a product tank configured to hold a solution of plant protection product, a product dispense system, a rinse tank for holding a rinse fluid, a first heat exchanger configured to transfer waste heat from a heat source, and a plumbing network fluidly connecting the product tank, the product dispense system, and the rinse tank, wherein the plumbing network comprises a closed fluid circuit including the first heat exchanger, the method comprising:
- heating the rinse fluid with waste heat from the heat source to a temperature above an ambient temperature;
- and
- conveying the heated rinse fluid from the rinse tank to at least one of the product tank and the product dispense system.
A method of operating an agricultural crop sprayer comprising a product tank, a product dispense system, and a rinse tank, the method comprising:
- propelling the agricultural crop sprayer through a field;
- heating a rinse fluid carried by the rinse tank with waste heat from a heat source to a temperature above an ambient temperature by circulating a heat exchange fluid in a closed fluid circuit including a first heat exchanger;
- and
- conveying the heated rinse fluid through a plumbing network from the rinse tank to at least one of the product tank and the product dispense system.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.