US4991341A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control system for uniform spraying of plants
Assignee: DURAND-WAYLAND MACHINERY Inc
•
Filing: 1989-09-29
•
Granted: 1991-02-12
•
Expires: 2009-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A control system for providing uniform spraying of plants and for spraying only areas containing plants. A plurality of plant sensors each detect the presence or absence of plants in a narrow field of view and cause spray nozzles to provide a spray solution to only areas containing plants. A ground speed sensor causes the volume of spray solution to be adjusted to provide a predetermined density of coverage of plants irrespective of the ground speed of a sprayer.
Inventors
- 👤 Barry D. Douglas
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:35
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01M; A01M7/00; A01M7/0003; A01M7/0014; A01M7/0089; B; B05; B05B; B05B12/00; B05B12/08; B05B12/12; B05B12/122; B05B12/126; B05B9/00; B05B9/03; B05B9/04; B05B9/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
149 words
A control system for providing uniform spraying of plants by a vehicle having a source of liquid product , said system comprising: a plurality of spray nozzle means arranged on one side of said vehicle; a pump connected to supply product under pressure to said plurality of spray nozzles; a plurality of first valves, each of which is interposed between one of said spray nozzle means and said pump, the open ones of said valve defining a total flow requirement; a flow control valve interposed between said pump and said plurality of first valves; a bypass line; and said flow control flow valve being adjustable to direct to said first valves that portion of the output from said pump necessary to supply the total requirement of the open ones of said first valves with the remaining portions of the pumps'output being returned to said source through said bypass line.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
149 words
A control system for providing uniform spraying of plants by a vehicle having a source of liquid product , said system comprising: a plurality of spray nozzle means arranged on one side of said vehicle; a pump connected to supply product under pressure to said plurality of spray nozzles; a plurality of first valves, each of which is interposed between one of said spray nozzle means and said pump, the open ones of said valve defining a total flow requirement; a flow control valve interposed between said pump and said plurality of first valves; a bypass line; and said flow control flow valve being adjustable to direct to said first valves that portion of the output from said pump necessary to supply the total requirement of the open ones of said first valves with the remaining portions of the pumps'output being returned to said source through said bypass line.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
The invention according to claim 1, and further comprising; means for sensing the presence of plants in a plurality of areas adjacent to said vehicle; and means for individually opening said first valves in response to said sensing means sensing the presence of a plant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The invention according to claim 1, and further comprising; means for sensing the ground speed of said vehicle; and means for adjusting said control flow valve in response to said ground sensing means to apply said product at a uniform rate under conditions of varying ground speed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
70 words
The invention according to claim 1 and further comprising; means for sensing ground speed of said vehicle and adjusting said flow control valve to assure uniform application of said product at different ground speeds; and means for sensing the presence of plants in a plurality of areas adjacent to said vehicle and for individually opening said first valve means in response to the detection of a plant in an area.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1454824A
Cited
US2278124A
Cited
US2587240A
Cited
US2925222A
Cited
US3013728A
Cited
US3147568A
Cited
GB1193963A
Cited
US3599866A
Cited
US3609913A
Cited
US3683547A
Cited
US3866397A
Cited
US3848635A
Cited
US3959924A
Cited
US4255922A
Cited
US4206569A
Cited
US4257190A
Cited
US4768713A
Cited
US4768713B1
Cited
US4823268A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-02-11 | 1994-08-13 | 1995-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-02-11 | 1998-08-13 | 1999-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-02-11 | 2002-08-13 | 2003-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |