A01M7/005

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A SPRAY SYSTEM
20190289841 · 2019-09-26 ·

An improvement to a roadside sprayer fixates spray nozzles on a registration plate. The registration plate may include integral tabs depending on the application. Inclination of the tabs is adjustable to place streams and droplets in a desired swath coverage. With the nozzles rigidly mounted onto the plate, the entire plate is notated. The use of the registration plate in a spray unit creates a uniform nutation among the nozzles, thereby reducing variability in droplet placement, and providing a more predictable spray from the nozzles. In other embodiments, the spray unit is utilized in a spray system adaptable to service vehicles, and may be utilized in conjunction with a vegetation engagement device, such as a cutter to engage multiple zones of a roadway right-of-way. Additionally, an improved spray unit includes an electromagnetic field and an attractor to generate plate motion.

Method and apparatus for a spray system
10362776 · 2019-07-30 ·

An improvement to a roadside sprayer fixates spray nozzles on a registration plate. The registration plate may include integral tabs depending on the application. Inclination of the tabs is adjustable to place streams and droplets in a desired swath coverage. With the nozzles rigidly mounted onto the plate, the entire plate is nutated. The use of the registration plate in a spray unit creates a uniform nutation among the nozzles, thereby reducing variability in droplet placement, and providing a more predictable spray from the nozzles. In other embodiments, the spray unit is utilized in a spray system adaptable to service vehicles, and may be utilized in conjunction with a vegetation engagement device, such as a cutter to engage multiple zones of a roadway right-of-way. Additionally, an improved spray unit includes an electromagnetic field and an attractor to generate plate motion.

AGRICULTURAL MOWING DEVICE
20190216018 · 2019-07-18 ·

An agricultural mowing device includes a linkage assembly for attaching to a towing vehicle, and a shaft having an upper end coupled to the linkage assembly for being towed in a field between two adjacent rows of planted matter. The device further includes a primary cutting device mounted to a lower end of the shaft for cutting shorter plant material, and a secondary cutting device mounted near the upper end of the shaft for cutting taller plant material. The device also includes a sensor for sensing a desired cutting height of the planted matter and being communicatively coupled to the primary cutting device or the secondary cutting device, the sensing causing an adjustment along the shaft of the respective one of the primary cutting device or the second cutting device to cut the planted matter at the desired cutting height.

MULTI-MODE FILTERED SHOWERHEAD HAVING MULTIPLE NOZZLE ASSEMBLIES
20190184316 · 2019-06-20 ·

A multi-mode showerhead having a housing with a front and a back and an offset integrated water filter system incorporated into the showerhead. The multi-mode showerhead has a pair of water outlets in the front and a water filter cartridge is easily added to or removed from a hollow filter chamber formed in the showerhead by the removal of a first, front facing adjustable spray nozzle assembly removably held in a first water outlet connected to the hollow filter chamber. A switch to selectively change the spray pattern of a second nozzle assembly is mounted on the front between the pair of water outlets. The entire showerhead with the first and second spray nozzle assemblies and the integrated offset water filter system is mounted on a shower arm by means of a swivel joint forming an inlet on the back of the housing and connected to the hollow filter chamber.

IMPLEMENTS AND APPLICATION UNITS HAVING AT LEAST ONE APPLICATION MEMBER FOR PLACEMENT OF APPLICATIONS WITH RESPECT TO AGRICULTURAL PLANTS OF AGRICULTURAL FIELDS

Described herein are implements and applicators for placement of fluid applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, a fluid applicator for applying fluids to plants in rows in a field includes a frame, a coulter connected to the frame and disposed to open a trench between the rows of plants, and at least one application member connected to the frame or to the coulter and disposed to apply fluid to a rhizosphere of the plants.

Nozzle fault detection

A spray system includes nozzles spaced along a distribution line. Each nozzle actuates the position of one or more internal valves based on a spray command received from a system control module. Sensors generate position information regarding the actuation of the valves. The actual valve positions are compared to expected valve positions to determine a deviation between the two. The deviation can be compared to a threshold to determine a status of that nozzle. A normal nozzle status can be generated based on the deviation being less than the threshold. An abnormal nozzle status can be generated based on the deviation being equal to or exceeding the threshold.

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING BLOCKAGES IN AN AGRICULTURAL SPRAYER
20190150423 · 2019-05-23 · ·

An agricultural sprayer arrangement includes a chassis, at least one ground engaging traction member carried by the chassis, a liquid tank carried by the chassis, a boom carried by the chassis, a fluid conduit associated with the boom that is fluidly connected to the liquid tank, a spray nozzle that is fluidly connected to the fluid conduit and includes a nozzle body, a differential pressure sensor with a first pressure sensor in the fluid conduit associated with the spray nozzle and a second pressure sensor in the nozzle body, and an electrical processing circuit coupled to the differential pressure sensor. The differential pressure sensor is configured to output a pressure difference signal and the electrical processing circuit is configured to report a blocked nozzle when the pressure difference signal is less than a predetermined threshold value.

Locking Boom Stand
20190154189 · 2019-05-23 ·

A locking stand for use with a boom associated with an agricultural machine. The locking stand includes a stand base and a locking arm that is movably attached to the stand base. The stand base may include a stand body with a stand base lower section and a stand base upper section. The lower section is configured to engage a support surface and the upper section supports the sprayer boom arm. The locking arm is movable between an open position for locking the sprayer boom in the locking boom stand. A hook arrangement associated with both the locking arm and the stand base upper section may be used to lock the boom stand relative to the boom. More specifically, the hook arrangement may include a stand base hook associated with the stand base upper section and a locking arm hook associated with the locking arm.

IMPLEMENTS AND APPLICATION UNITS FOR PLACEMENT OF APPLICATIONS WITH RESPECT TO AGRICULTURAL PLANTS OF AGRICULTURAL FIELDS

Described herein are implements and application units for placement of fluid applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, an application unit includes a frame to be positioned in operation between two rows of plants and a plurality of flexible members coupled to the frame in operation such that the plurality of flexible members guide a lateral position of the frame to be approximately equidistant from the two rows of plants based upon whether at least one flexible member of the plurality of flexible members contacts one or more plants of the two rows of plants. The plurality of flexible members include a plurality of fluid outlets for spraying crop input in close proximity to the rows of plants.

IMPLEMENTS AND APPLICATION UNITS TO ACTUATE AT LEAST ONE APPLICATOR ARM FOR PLACEMENT OF APPLICATIONS WITH RESPECT TO AGRICULTURAL PLANTS OF AGRICULTURAL FIELDS

Described herein are implements and applicators for placement of fluid applications with respect to agricultural plants of agricultural fields. In one embodiment, a fluid applicator for applying fluid to plants in rows in a field includes at least one applicator arm that is actuated by an actuator to move the applicator arm from a position in the row between plants to a position adjacent to the plant.