Vehicle mounted liquid distributor apparatus

Claim 2

In a liquid distributor apparatus for use on a vehicle to distribute liquid product in a preselected width of spread along a path traversed by the vehicle at a time rate of flow that varies correlative with vehicle speed to maintain a preset spread density, the distributor apparatus including a tank for carrying a quantity of liquid product on the vehicle, spray bar means extending crosswise of the vehicle for spreading the liquid product, and product pump means having an inlet connected to receive liquid product from the tank and an outlet connected through delivery conduit means to the spray bar means, the improvement comprising: said spray bar means including a first set of fixed orifice spray nozzles spaced apart along the spray bar means and arranged to spray liquid product generally uniformly along said preselected width of spread at time rates of flow in a first flow range in response to spray bar pressures in a preselected pressure range, and at least a second set of fixed orifice spray nozzles spaced apart along the spray bar means to spray liquid product generally uniformly along the same preselected width of spread at time rates of flow in a second relatively higher flow range in response to spray bar pressures in said preselected pressure range, liquid product flow rate sensing means including a positive displacement type flow meter in the delivery conduit means between the pump outlet and the spray bar means operative to measure flow of liquid product to the spray bar means substantially independent of the pressure on the liquid product and a first sensing means connected to said flow meter for producing a first electrical control signal correlative with the rate of flow of liquid product to said spray bar means, valve means for controlling flow of liquid product to said nozzle means and operative when said flow meter senses flows in said first flow range for passing liquid product only to said first set of nozzle means and operative when said flow meter senses flows in said second flow range for passing liquid product to said second set of nozzles, vehicle speed sensing means for producing a second electrical cOntrol signal correlative with the speed of the vehicle over the ground, and means responsive to said first and second control signals for controlling the flow of liquid product to said delivery conduit means to maintain a preset ratio between the speed of the vehicle and the time rate of flow of liquid product to the spray bar means, said lastmentioned means including means for adjusting the preset ratio to be maintained between the speed of the vehicle and the time rate of flow of liquid product to vary the spread density of liquid product.

Claim 3

A liquid distributor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said valve means for controlling flow of liquid product to said nozzle means is operative when said flow meter senses flows in said second range of flows to pass liquid product to both said first and second sets of nozzle means.

Claim 4

A liquid distributor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said product pump means comprises a centrifugal pump.

Claim 5

A liquid distributor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the rate of flow of said liquid product to said delivery conduit means includes motor means for driving said centrifugal pump, and means for varying the speed of said product pump means.

Claim 6

A liquid distributor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said means for controlling the rate of flow of said liquid product to said delivery conduit means includes a fluid regulating valve means for variably regulating flow from said pump means to said delivery conduit means.

Claim 7

A liquid distributor apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said spray bar means includes first and second spray bars respectively having said first and second sets of spray nozzles mounted thereon, said valve means for controlling flow of liquid product to said nozzle means being arranged to control flow from said delivery conduit means to said first and second spray bars.

Claim 8

In a liquid distributor apparatus for use on a vehicle to distribute liquid product in a preselected width of spread along a path traversed by the vehicle at a time rate of flow that varies with vehicle speed to maintain a preset spread density, the distributor apparatus including a tank for carrying a quantity of the liquid product on the vehicle, spray bar means extending crosswise of the vehicle for spreading the liquid product, and pump means having an inlet connected to the tank to receive liquid product and an outlet connected through delivery conduit means to the spray bar means, the improvement comprising, said spray bar means including first, second and third spray bars each extending crosswise of the vehicle and respectively having first, second and third sets of fixed orifice spray nozzles spaced therealong, the number and orifice size of the nozzles of the first set being selected to spray liquid product generally uniformly along the length of the first spray bar at flow rates in a low flow range in response to spray bar pressures in a preselected pressure range, the number and orifice size of the nozzles in the second set being selected to spray liquid product generally uniformly along the length of the second spray bar at flow rates in an intermediate flow range in response to spray bar pressures in said preselected pressure range, the number and orifice size of the nozzles in said third set of nozzles being selected to spray liquid product in an upper flow range in response to spray bar pressures in said preselected pressure range, liquid product flow rate sensing means including a rotary positive displacement type flow meter in the delivery conduit means between the pump outlet and the spray bar means substantially independent of the pressure on the liquid product and a first sensing means for producing a first electrical control signal correlative with the rate of flow of liquid product to the spray bar means, valve means for controlling flow to said spray bars, valve control means responsive to said first sensing means for operating said valve means to pass liquid product to only sAid first spray bar when said flow meter senses flows in said low flow range; to pass liquid product to said second spray bar when said flow meter senses flows in said intermediate flow range; and to pass liquid product to said third spray bar when said flow meter senses flows in said upper flow range, vehicle speed sensing means for producing a second electrical control signal correlative with the speed of the vehicle, flow control means responsive to said first and second control signals for controlling the flow of liquid product to said delivery conduit means to maintain a preset ratio between the speed of the vehicle and the rate of flow of liquid product to the spray bar means, said flow control means including means selectively adjustable for adjusting the preset ratio to be maintained between the speed of the vehicle and the rate of flow of liquid product to the spray bar means to vary the spread density.

Claim 9

In a liquid distributor apparatus for use on a vehicle to distribute liquid product in a preselected width of spread along a path traversed by the vehicle at a time rate of flow that varies with vehicle speed to maintain a preset spread density, the distributor apparatus including a tank for carrying a quantity of the liquid product on the vehicle, spray bar means extending crosswise of the vehicle for spreading the liquid product, and pump means having an inlet connected to the tank to receive liquid product and an outlet connected through delivery conduit means to the spray bar means, the improvement comprising, said spray bar means including first, second and third spray bars each extending crosswise of the vehicle and respectively having first, second and third sets of fixed orifice spray nozzles spaced therealong, the number and orifice size of the nozzles of the first set being selected to spray liquid product generally uniformly along the length of the first spray bar at flow rates in a low flow range in response to spray bar pressures in a preselected pressure range, the number and orifice size of the nozzles in the second set being selected to spray liquid product generally uniformly along the length of the second spray bar at flow rates in an intermediate flow range in response to spray bar pressures in said preselected pressure range, the number and orifice size of the nozzles in said third set of nozzles being selected to spray liquid product in an upper flow range in response to spray bar pressures in said preselected pressure range, liquid product flow rate sensing means including a rotary positive displacement type flow meter in the delivery conduit means between the pump outlet and the spray bar means substantially independent of the pressure on the liquid product and a first sensing means for producing a first electrical control signal correlative with the rate of flow of liquid product to the spray bar means, valve means for controlling flow to said spray bars, valve control means responsive to said first sensing means for operating said valve means to pass liquid product to only sAid first spray bar when said flow meter senses flows in said low flow range; to pass liquid product to said second spray bar when said flow meter senses flows in said intermediate flow range; and to pass liquid product to said third spray bar when said flow meter senses flows in said upper flow range, vehicle speed sensing means for producing a second electrical control signal correlative with the speed of the vehicle, flow control means responsive to said first and second control signals for controlling the flow of liquid product to said delivery conduit means to maintain a preset ratio between the speed of the vehicle and the rate of flow of liquid product to the spray bar means, said flow control means including means selectively adjustable for adjusting the preset ratio to be maintained between the speed of the vehicle and the rate of flow of liquid product to the spray bar means to vary the spread density.

Claim 10

A liquid distributor apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said valve control means is arranged to operate the valve means to pass liquid product to both said first and second spray bars when the flow meter senses flows in said intermediate flow range and to said first, second and third spray bars when the flow meter senses flows in said upper flow range.

Claim 11

A liquid distributor apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said product pump means comprises a centrifugal pump.

Claim 12

A liquid distributor apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said flow control means includes variable speed drive for driving said pump and means for varying the speed of said drive means to maintain a preset selectively adjustable ratio between the speed of the vehicle and the speed of the rotary flow meter.

Claim 13

A liquid distributor apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said flow control means includes a flow regulating valve between said pump means and said flow meter and means for adjustably positioning said flow regulating valve to maintain a preset selectively adjustable ratio between the speed of the vehicle and the speed of the rotary flow meter.

Claim 14

A liquid distributing apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said preselected pressure range is from about 10 psi to about 150 psi.