Dynamically controllable spray nozzle, control system, and method
AssigneeOgive Technology, Inc.
InventorsDurham Kenimer GILES, Andrew J. HOLTZ
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A dynamically-controllable spray nozzle, and associated control system and methods of use, has applicability in agricultural spraying and in other processes and devices in which spray nozzles are used. In an embodiment, a deformable nozzle may be compressed by one or more actuators to alter a nozzle’s exit orifice in a continuously variable manner.
Claims20
A controllable spray nozzle comprising:
- a deformable material with a through-hole for passing liquid therethrough and an exit orifice, the deformable material enabling alteration of a shape of at least one of the through-hole and the exit orifice in response to deformation in one or more directions;
- wherein the deformation changes a shape of the at least one of the through-hole and the exit orifice to change a spray exiting from the spray nozzle.
A spray nozzle system comprising:
- an agricultural spray nozzle comprising:
- a deformable material with a through-hole for passing liquid therethrough and an exit orifice, the deformable material enabling alteration of a shape of at least one of the through-hole and the exit orifice in response to deformation in one or more directions;
- wherein the deformation changes a shape of the at least one of the through-hole and the exit orifice to change a spray exiting from the spray nozzle;
- the system further comprising:
- at least one actuator to provide the deformation;
- and
- a controller to provide signals to the at least one actuator to provide the deformation on at least one side of the spray nozzle.
A method of controlling a spraying system that includes a spray nozzle comprising a deformable material with a through-hole for passing liquid therethrough and an exit orifice, the method comprising:
- providing signals to at least one actuator to move at least one actuator contact surface toward and away from the spray nozzle;
- moving the at least one actuator contact surface toward and away from the spray nozzle to deform the spray nozzle in one or more directions;
- the moving changing a shape of one or more of the through-hole and the exit orifice to change a spray exiting from the spray nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.