Systems and methods for handling fluid for application to agricultural fields
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
A01C-023/00
A01C-023/02
B05B-013/00
B05B-015/40
출원번호
US-0594153
(2017-05-12)
등록번호
US-10064325
(2018-09-04)
발명자
/ 주소
Grimm, Jeffrey John
Boyd, Andrew
Schrader, Kale
출원인 / 주소
CAPSTAN AG SYSTEMS, INC.
대리인 / 주소
Armstrong Teasdale LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
7
초록▼
A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a container defining an interior space for holding a fluid. The container is configured to separate the fluid into a liquid and a vapor such that at least a portion of the vapor is disposed above the liquid. The container includes a sidewall and a top wall conne
A fluid dispensing apparatus includes a container defining an interior space for holding a fluid. The container is configured to separate the fluid into a liquid and a vapor such that at least a portion of the vapor is disposed above the liquid. The container includes a sidewall and a top wall connected to the sidewall. A fluid inlet and a fluid outlet are disposed in the sidewall. A plurality of vapor valves are releasably connected to the top wall. The top wall includes a plurality of recesses and a plurality of passageways connecting the plurality of recesses to at least one outlet in the top wall. Each of the plurality of vapor valves is disposed within one of the plurality of recesses, and the plurality of vapor valves is configured to regulate the flow of fluid through the plurality of passageways and exhaust vapor disposed above the liquid.
대표청구항▼
1. A fluid dispensing apparatus comprising: a container defining an interior space for holding a fluid, the container configured to separate the fluid into a liquid and a vapor such that at least a portion of the vapor is disposed above the liquid, the container including a sidewall and a top wall c
1. A fluid dispensing apparatus comprising: a container defining an interior space for holding a fluid, the container configured to separate the fluid into a liquid and a vapor such that at least a portion of the vapor is disposed above the liquid, the container including a sidewall and a top wall connected to the sidewall;at least one fluid inlet disposed in the sidewall for fluid to enter the interior space;at least one liquid outlet disposed in the sidewall for liquid to exit the interior space; anda plurality of vapor valves releasably connected to the top wall, the top wall including a plurality of recesses and a plurality of passageways connecting the plurality of recesses to at least one outlet in the top wall, each of the plurality of vapor valves disposed within one of the plurality of recesses, wherein the plurality of vapor valves is configured to regulate the flow of fluid through the plurality of passageways and exhaust vapor disposed above the liquid. 2. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a controller communicatively connected to the plurality of vapor valves, the controller configured to: determine a level of the liquid within the container; andactuate the plurality of vapor valves to maintain the level of the liquid at or above a liquid reference plane defined through the container. 3. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein a first vapor valve of the plurality of vapor valves operates in a pulse-width-modulated mode, and a second vapor valve of the plurality of vapor valves operates in a static mode. 4. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller is further configured to individually actuate each of the plurality of vapor valves. 5. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container is a cylinder, the container including a bottom wall connected to the sidewall opposite the top wall. 6. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein the top wall is a circular plate. 7. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of recesses is threaded such that each recess threadably engages one of the plurality of vapor valves. 8. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a mount for the container, wherein the container is selectively connectable to the mount in a first orientation and a second orientation, the at least one fluid inlet being connectable to fluid lines in a first configuration when the container is connected to the mount in the first orientation, the at least one fluid inlet being connectable to the fluid lines in a second configuration when the container is connected to the mount in the second orientation. 9. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mount includes a mounting surface defining a first set of openings and a second set of openings, the container being configured to connect to the mount in a first orientation using the first set of openings and a second orientation using the second set of openings. 10. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first set of openings and the second set of openings are spaced about the mount surface such that the first orientation of the container is offset from the second orientation of the container by at least 45 degrees. 11. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 8, wherein the mount includes a C-shaped bracket and rails, the rails attached to opposite sides of the bracket. 12. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a first sensor positioned upstream of the at least one fluid inlet and configured to detect a first temperature of the fluid;a second sensor positioned downstream of the at least one liquid outlet and configured to detect a second temperature of the fluid; anda controller communicatively connected to the first sensor and the second sensor, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a fluid temperature differential based on the first and second temperatures; anddetermine an operational status of the apparatus based on the fluid temperature differential. 13. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to determine that at least a portion of the liquid changes to vapor when the determined fluid temperature differential falls below a predetermined threshold. 14. The fluid dispensing apparatus of claim 12 further comprising an operator interface communicatively connected to the controller, wherein the controller is configured to cause the operator interface to output at least one of an audibly and visually-perceptible alarm to indicate that at least a portion of the liquid is changing to vapor. 15. A method of assembling a fluid dispensing apparatus, the method comprising: coupling a top wall to a sidewall of a container, the top wall and the sidewall defining an interior space of the container, the container configured to separate fluid within the interior space into a liquid and a vapor such that at least a portion of the vapor is disposed above the liquid, the top wall defining a plurality of recesses and a plurality of passageways connecting the plurality of recesses to at least one outlet in the top wall; andcoupling each of a plurality of vapor valves to the top wall within one of the plurality of recesses such that each vapor valve is in fluid communication with a respective inlet disposed in the top wall, wherein the plurality of vapor valves is configured to regulate the flow of fluid through the plurality of passageways and exhaust vapor disposed above the liquid. 16. The method of claim 15 further comprising communicatively coupling each vapor valve of the plurality of vapor valves to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to: determine a level of the liquid within the container; andactuate the plurality of vapor valves to maintain the level of the liquid at or above a liquid reference plane defined through the container. 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the container is a cylinder, the method further comprising coupling a bottom wall to the sidewall opposite the top wall. 18. The method of claim 15 wherein coupling each of the plurality of vapor valves to the top wall includes threadably coupling each of the plurality of vapor valves to the top wall. 19. The method of claim 15 further comprising coupling a conduit to the at least one outlet to direct vapor away from the container. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein coupling each of the plurality of vapor valves to the top wall comprises positioning each of the plurality of vapor valves within one of the plurality of recesses defined in a side surface of the top wall such that the vapor valves extend into the top wall from the side surface. 21. A method for dispensing a fluid from a container defining an interior space for holding the fluid, the fluid including liquid and vapor, the container including an upper portion and a lower portion, the method comprising: generating a flow of fluid through the container from at least one fluid inlet toward at least one liquid outlet such that the vapor and liquid are separated and the vapor is disposed above the liquid, the at least one liquid outlet being disposed above the at least one fluid inlet;releasing vapor from a first vapor valve, wherein the first vapor valve is communicatively connected to a controller and configured to operate in a pulse-width-modulated mode;sending a signal from the controller to the first vapor valve to cause the first vapor valve to operate in the pulse-width-modulated mode; andreleasing vapor from a second vapor valve, wherein the second vapor valve is communicatively connected to the controller, and wherein the controller is configured to individually control the first vapor valve and the second vapor valve, the second vapor valve being configured to operate in a static mode when the first vapor valve is operated in the pulse-width-modulated mode. 22. The method of claim 21 further comprising sending a second signal from the controller to the first vapor valve to adjust a duty cycle of the first vapor valve. 23. The method of claim 22 further comprising sending a third signal from the controller to the second vapor valve to actuate the second vapor valve in response to the first vapor valve reaching a maximum duty cycle. 24. The method of claim 21 further comprising releasing vapor from a third vapor valve, wherein the third vapor valve is configured to operate in a static mode when the first vapor valve is operated in the pulse-width-modulated mode. 25. The method of claim 21 further comprising: determining a level of the liquid in the interior space;determining if the level of the liquid is below a liquid reference plane defined through the container; andreleasing vapor from the first vapor valve such that the level of the liquid is maintained at or above the liquid reference plane. 26. The method of claim 21 further comprising sending a second signal from the controller to the second vapor valve to move a poppet of the second vapor valve to an open position. 27. The method of claim 26 further comprising sending a third signal from the controller to the second vapor valve to the move the poppet of the second vapor valve to a closed position. 28. The method of claim 21 further comprising generating a flow of vapor through passages defined in a top wall of the container, wherein the passages connect the first vapor valve and the second vapor valve to at least one outlet. 29. A system for dispensing fluid, the system comprising: a container defining an interior space for holding the fluid, the fluid including liquid and vapor, the container including an upper portion and a lower portion, the container being configured such that the vapor and liquid are separated and the vapor is disposed above the liquid;a first vapor valve connected to the container and configured to operate in a pulse-width-modulated mode to release vapor from the interior space;a second vapor valve connected to the container and configured to operate in a static mode to release vapor from the interior space; anda controller communicatively connected to the first and second vapor valves, wherein the controller is configured to send a signal to the first vapor valve to cause the first vapor valve to operate in the pulse-width-modulated mode, and wherein the controller is configured to actuate the second vapor valve in the static mode when the first vapor valve is operated in the pulse-width-modulated mode. 30. The system of claim 29 further comprising a third vapor valve connected to the container, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the third vapor valve in a static mode when the first vapor valve reaches a maximum duty cycle. 31. The system of claim 29, wherein the first vapor valve includes a valve seat and a poppet configured to seal against the valve seat when the first vapor valve is in a closed position, wherein the signal from the controller causes the poppet to be displaced relative to the valve seat. 32. The system of claim 29, wherein the controller is configured to actuate the second vapor valve in response to the first vapor valve reaching a maximum duty cycle. 33. The system of claim 29 further comprising a sensor to detect a level of the liquid in the interior space, wherein the controller is configured to release vapor from the first vapor valve and the second vapor valve such that the level of the liquid is maintained at or above a liquid reference plane. 34. The system of claim 29 wherein the first vapor valve includes a first inlet for receiving vapor from the interior space, and the second vapor valve includes a second inlet for receiving vapor from the interior space. 35. The system of claim 34 further comprising at least one passage connecting the first vapor valve and the second vapor valve to an outlet.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (7)
Kiest,Lauren J., Anhydrous ammonia fertilizer flow control apparatus and method.
Ballard, Jeff; Jensen, Steve S.; Person, Noel A.; Thompson, Warren L., Method and apparatus for applying a minimum flow of anhydrous ammonia at targeted rates due to limitations existing in current distribution/delivery.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.