Networked diagnostic and control system for dispensing apparatus
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
G06F-017/00
B05B-001/20
B05B-001/14
B67D-005/08
출원번호
US-0135054
(2005-05-23)
등록번호
US-7502665
(2009-03-10)
발명자
/ 주소
Giles,Durham Kenimer
Needham,Duane
출원인 / 주소
Capstan Ag Systems, Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Dority & Manning, P.A.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
20인용 특허 :
26
초록▼
A networked delivery system and method for controlling operation of a spraying system includes nozzles for emitting an agrochemical according to a predetermined spray pattern and flow rate; vibration sensors located adjacent an agricultural spray system component to sense vibrations of the agricultu
A networked delivery system and method for controlling operation of a spraying system includes nozzles for emitting an agrochemical according to a predetermined spray pattern and flow rate; vibration sensors located adjacent an agricultural spray system component to sense vibrations of the agricultural spray system component, such as spray nozzles. The networked delivery system also includes a control area network with a computer processor in communication with the vibration sensors. The processor conveys information to an operator regarding the agricultural spray system component based on the sensed vibrations. The processor also actuates each of the agricultural spray system components such as the spray nozzles to selectively control each of the nozzles or a designated group of the nozzles.
대표청구항▼
That which is claimed is: 1. A networked delivery system for controlling operation of a spraying system, the networked delivery system comprising: a plurality of nozzles configured to emit an agrochemical according to a predetermined spray pattern and application rate; a plurality of vibration sens
That which is claimed is: 1. A networked delivery system for controlling operation of a spraying system, the networked delivery system comprising: a plurality of nozzles configured to emit an agrochemical according to a predetermined spray pattern and application rate; a plurality of vibration sensors, each vibration sensor disposed adjacent a respective one of the nozzles and configured to sense nozzle vibration in at least one direction; and a control area network including at least one processor in communication with the vibration sensors, the processor being configured to actuate each of the nozzles and to selectively control each of the nozzles or a designated group of the nozzles, the processor being further configured to convey information regarding the nozzles based on vibrations sensed by the vibration sensors to an operator via the control area network. 2. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the nozzles is a pulsating nozzle. 3. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, wherein each of the nozzles defines a Z-axis that comprises the direction of flow of a fluid through the nozzle, an X-axis that is perpendicular to the Z-axis and extends left and right of the nozzle when facing a front of the nozzle, and a Y-axis that is perpendicular to the Z-axis and the X-axis, the respective vibration sensor sensing vibrations in at least one of the Z-axis direction, the X-axis direction, or the Y-axis direction. 4. The networked delivery system as in claim 3, wherein at least one of the vibration sensors senses vibrations in the Z-axis direction for conveying information to the operator regarding a flow rate of a fluid being emitted by the respective nozzle. 5. The networked delivery system as in claim 3, wherein at least one of the vibration sensors senses the vibrations in the Y-axis direction for conveying information to the operator regarding fluid emission by the respective nozzle. 6. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the vibration sensors is an accelerometer. 7. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the vibration sensors is a piezoelectric device. 8. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the vibration sensors is configured to sense vibration at frequencies between 500 Hz and 10,000 Hz. 9. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, wherein the vibration sensor is configured to sense vibration at frequencies between 1,000 Hz and 8,000 Hz. 10. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, wherein at least one of the vibration sensors is configured to sense vibration at frequencies between 2,000 Hz and 7,000 Hz. 11. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, wherein the control Area network includes a plurality of microprocessors. 12. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, wherein the control Area network further comprises a network bus configured for conducting a plurality of signals to and from each processor. 13. The networked delivery system as in claim 12, wherein the signals Are selected from the group consisting of actuation signals, monitoring signals, and control signals. 14. The networked delivery system as in claim 12, wherein the network Bus includes a communication cable and a power cable, the communication cable configured for conducting the signals, the power cable configured for supplying power to the control area network. 15. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, wherein the control area network further comprises an operator interface being configured for registering a respective physical location of each nozzle in the control area network and for enabling or disabling and monitoring each nozzle. 16. The networked delivery system as in claim 15, further comprising a programmable map loadable in the operator interface, the programmable map being configured for selectively enabling and controlling each of the nozzles or the designated group of the nozzles. 17. The networked delivery system as in claim 16, further comprising a programmable logic controller in communication with the operator interface via the control area network, the programmable logic controller controllable by the programmable map. 18. The networked delivery system as in claim 15, wherein the Operator interface includes an interactive display configured for the operator to enable, disable and monitor each nozzle. 19. The networked delivery system as in claim 15, wherein the operator interface includes an interactive display configured for the operator to enable, disable and monitor each nozzle for any irregularities in spray atomization, spray pattern, and flow rate of the agrochemical. 20. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, further comprising a solenoid valve coupled to at least one of the nozzles, the solenoid valve configured to pulsate a liquid flow through at least one nozzle. 21. The networked delivery system as in claim 1, wherein the control area network further comprises an alarm that is activated when vibration information received by the processor from any one of the vibration sensors is outside of preset limits. 22. A networked delivery system for controlling operation of a spraying system, the networked delivery system comprising: a plurality of nozzles configured to emit an agrochemical according to a predetermined spray pattern and application rate; a plurality of vibration sensors, at least one of the vibration sensors disposed adjacent an agricultural spray system component and at least one other of the vibration sensors disposed adjacent a respective nozzle, the vibration sensors configured to sense vibrations of the agricultural spray system component and the nozzle; and a control area network including at least one processor in communication with the vibration sensors, the processor being configured to convey information to an operator regarding the agricultural spray system component and the nozzle based on vibrations sensed by the vibration sensors, the processor being further configured to actuate each of the nozzles and to selectively control each of the nozzles or a designated group of the nozzles. 23. The networked delivery system as in claim 22, wherein at least one of the nozzles is a pulsating nozzle. 24. The networked delivery system as in claim 22, wherein each of the nozzles defines a Z-axis that comprises the direction of flow of a fluid through the nozzle, an X-axis that is perpendicular to the Z-axis and extends left and right of the nozzle when facing a front of the nozzle, and a Y-axis that is perpendicular to the Z-axis and the X-axis, the respective vibration sensor sensing vibrations in at least one of the Z-axis direction, the X-axis direction, or the Y-axis direction. 25. The networked delivery system as in claim 24, wherein at least one of the vibration sensors senses vibrations in the Z-axis direction for conveying information to the operator regarding a flow rate of a fluid being emitted by the respective nozzle. 26. The networked delivery system as in claim 24, wherein at least one of the vibration sensors senses the vibrations in the Y-axis direction for conveying information to the operator regarding a spray pattern of a fluid being emitted by the respective nozzle. 27. The networked delivery system as in claim 22, wherein at least one of the vibration sensors is an accelerometer. 28. The networked delivery system as in claim 22, wherein the agricultural spray system component is a pump or a filter. 29. The networked delivery system as in claim 22, wherein the control area network further comprises an operator interface being configured for registering a respective physical location of each nozzle in the control area network and for enabling or disabling and monitoring each nozzle and the agricultural spray system component. 30. The networked delivery system as in claim 23, wherein the control area network further comprises means for programming the operator interface to register a respective physical location of each nozzle in the control area network and to enable or disable and monitor each nozzle and the agricultural spray system component. 31. The networked delivery system as in claim 22, further comprising a solenoid valve coupled to at least one of the nozzles, the solenoid valve configured to pulsate a liquid flow through the at least one nozzle. 32. The networked delivery system as in claim 22, further comprising a reservoir configured for holding the agrochemical. 33. The networked delivery system as in claim 32, further comprising a distribution manifold disposed between the reservoir and the nozzles for dispensing the agrochemical. 34. The networked delivery system as in claim 33, further comprising a pump in communication with the reservoir and the distribution manifold, the pump configured for pumping the agrochemical from the reservoir through the distribution manifold to dispense the agrochemical through the nozzles. 35. A process for operating a networked spraying system, the process comprising the steps of: sensing vibrations occurring at a plurality of agricultural spray system components interfaced in a control area network; communicating the sensed vibrations to an operator interface via the control area network; and comparing the sensed vibrations to a reference for determining whether the agricultural spray system components are operating properly. 36. The process as in claim 35, wherein at least one of the agricultural spray system components is a fluid nozzle, at least one of the sensed vibrations occurring as the fluid nozzle is emitting a fluid. 37. The process as in claim 36, wherein the sensed vibrations indicate any irregularities in spray atomization or a spray pattern being emitted by the fluid nozzle. 38. The process as in claim 36, wherein the fluid nozzle emits the fluid in pulses. 39. The process as in claim 36, wherein the reference comprises vibrations sensed from a plurality of averaged vibrations from a plurality of respective nozzles. 40. The process as in claim 36, wherein the sensed vibrations indicate whether any flow rate or atomization irregularities are occurring through the fluid nozzle. 41. The process as in claim 36, wherein the fluid is emitted by the fluid nozzle at a flow rate of from about 0.05 gals/min to about 1.5 gals/min. 42. The process as in claim 36, wherein the vibrations are sensed in at least one direction, a Z-axis direction for monitoring flow rate variations as the fluid is emitted from the fluid nozzle or the Y-axis direction for monitoring any variations in a spray pattern or droplet size spectrum being emitted by the fluid nozzle. 43. The process as in claim 35, wherein the reference is a predetermined nozzle vibration frequency pattern. 44. The process as in claim 35, wherein the vibrations are sensed by an accelerometer. 45. The process as in claim 35, wherein vibration is sensed at frequencies between 500 Hz and 10,000 Hz. 46. The process as in claim 35, wherein the agricultural spray system components include a pump and a filter. 47. The process as in claim 35, further comprising the step of registering a respective physical location of each agricultural spray system component in the control area network. 48. The process as in claim 35, further comprising the step of registering a respective type of each agricultural spray system component in the control area network. 49. The process as in claim 35, further comprising the steps of enabling or disabling and monitoring each of the agricultural spray system components. 50. The process as in claim 35, wherein the agricultural spray system components include a plurality of nozzles for dispensing an agrochemical, and further comprising the steps of enabling or disabling and monitoring each of the nozzles.
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