Patent · US Expired

Field sprayer nozzle pattern monitor

US4905897A · kind A · utility

42Cited by
7References
28Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJun 17, 1988
Grant dateMar 6, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 17, 2008

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB05B15/50
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A field sprayer nozzle monitor comprises a sensor head in the form of an L-shaped horn device which is clamped onto the nozzle cap by way of a slot which receives the fin of the nozzle cap. The horn includes a mouth which receives sound from the spray nozzle and transmits it to a microphone protected with the horn. A central processor unit receives signals from each of the sensors in turn and processes those to compare with a predetermined calibration signal to determine which nozzles are blocked or faulty. The selection between two different frequencies can be made for different nozzle types. A dynamic averaging system is used to accommodate changes which take place at all nozzles which are independent of fault at the nozzle.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.