An agricultural machine includes a chassis, a liquid tank, a spray boom assembly, and a conduit. A nozzle body including a plurality of nozzles is located on a bottom side of the boom. A transponder tag is placed on each nozzle of the nozzle body and includes specific information regarding characteristics of the respective nozzle. A reader assembly emits electromagnetic waves through an antenna to receive information from a particular transponder tag. The transponder tag receives the electromagnetic waves and generates a signal that includes the specific information. Each nozzle is movable into an active position by rotation of a nozzle turret. The reader assembly is located such that a transponder tag of a nozzle enters communication range when the nozzle is placed in the active position. A controller receives the specific information and identifies characteristics of the nozzle in the active position.

A method of operating a fluid sprayer includes supplying a first fluid selected from a group consisting of larvicide, adulticide, and a barrier repellant to a nozzle assembly at a first regulated pressure. The method further includes changing the first regulated pressure to a second regulated pressure different than the first regulated pressure. The method further includes supplying a second fluid selected from the group to the nozzle assembly at the second regulated pressure.

An agricultural sprayer includes at least one nozzle configure to receive a fluid and direct atomized fluid to an agricultural surface in a dispersal area. A radio-frequency (RF) transmitter is disposed to generate an RF signal that passes through the dispersal area. The RF signal is detectably changed when interacting with droplets of the atomized fluid. A first RF receiver is disposed to receive the RF signal after the RF signal passes through the dispersal area and provides an output indicative of the RF signal. A controller is coupled to the first RF receiver and is configured to detect plugging of the at least one nozzle based on the output of the first RF receiver.

Described herein are implements and applicators for placement of fluid applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, a nozzle includes a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet, and a rotatable member to rotate over the fluid outlet to selectively expose the fluid outlet to at least one opening to provide fluid flow from the fluid outlet through the opening. Upon the rotatable member rotating over the fluid outlet, a different number of openings is in fluid communication with the fluid outlet.

A nozzle device for dispensing flowable substances, having a support and a nozzle element arranged at least in part within this support, which element is suitable and intended for dispensing the flowable substance, and having a first coupler, in order to arrange the nozzle device detachably to a supply for the flowable substance. According to the invention, the nozzle device has a second coupler in order to fasten the nozzle device detachably to a further nozzle device.

A system for spot or band spraying of a treatment applied to target areas includes nozzle units that are connected to a liquid conducting member and spaced at horizontal intervals. Each nozzle unit includes first and second nozzles configured to spray droplets around opposing spraying vectors. For each target area, a spraying vector of a first nozzle of a first nozzle unit crosses a spraying vector of a second nozzle of an adjacent second nozzle unit. When a boom is at an operation height, each location within a target area receives a predefined cumulative volume of treatment, and spray patterns of the first and second nozzles of adjacent nozzle units overlap by at least 10%. When the boom is within 5% deviation from the predetermined operation height, each location within the target area receives a predefined minimum percentage of the predefined cumulative value of the treatment.

A fluid sprayer includes a tank containing fluid therein and a rotary atomizer in communication with the tank to receive fluid therefrom and to atomize the fluid. The fluid sprayer also includes a blower assembly positioned upstream of the rotary atomizer for dispersing the atomized fluid from the rotary atomizer into the surroundings of the fluid sprayer and a discharge chute positioned downstream of the blower assembly into which the atomized fluid from the rotary atomizer is sprayed before being discharged upward and into the surroundings of the fluid sprayer. The rotary atomizer includes a plurality of fan blades coupled to a hub. The fan blades are operable to impart rotation to the hub in response to an airflow generated by the blower assembly flowing around the fan blades.

A movable agricultural product applicator system for dispensing various agricultural-related products along the ground surface of agricultural crops is provided. The application system provides a hose assembly interconnecting a supporting boom and an applicator, wherein the applicator drags along the ground surface dispensing product as the supporting boom moves by a carrier. The application system may include a swivel connection facilitating a rotational and pivotal connection of the hose assembly to the supporting boom, wherein a mounting assembly removably mounts the application system to the supporting boom. The hose assembly is designed with bending properties that enable the applicator to self-center and locate rows between crops as it is being dragged along the ground surface, as well as enable the applicator to surf above obstacles.

An apparatus for tending to rows of vines is presented which may be pulled, or driven, between a pair of rows of a vineyard. The apparatus includes implements to tend to the vines on both rows at the same time. The apparatus include a left portion that tends to a left row of vines and right portion that tends to a right row of vines. The portions are attached to the apparatus using linkages that permit the portions to adjust to changes in row spacing or the position of the apparatus between the rows. The apparatus also includes weeder assemblies that weed the ground between the vines while preventing damage to the vines, and a spray device for spraying the vines.

Embodiments of a sprayer system having spray nozzles; each nozzle includes a thermistor or resistor that provides an electronic current or voltage value correlated with a flow rate or a local temperature. A low flow rate indicates of a fluid flow clog or plug within the nozzle or conduit. The flow rate or temperature results among the different nozzles are compared to detect which nozzles are partially or entirely clogged or otherwise anomalous. In various embodiments, the thermistor electronics are integrated in each individual nozzle. In some embodiments, upon detection of a potential clog, the electronics create an alert and respond to the clogged condition.