Capstan Ag Systems, Inc.

Oklahoma State University

Orchard Machinery Corporation

Duane Needham

Marvin Lyle Stone

Jeffrey John Grimm

Durham Kenimer Giles

Andrew J Holtz

John Bruce Solie

Gordon V Johnson

William R Raun

Donald Paul Mayo

Tyron Johnson

Kent Dieball

Jeff Grimm

Tyler Calvin Niday

Brian Michael Andersen

Troy Christmann Kolb

Kale Schrader

Gordon Hooper

Andrew Holtz

A method for emitting a fluid from a fluid dispersal system includes determining a desired distribution profile for the fluid, identifying a plurality of sections of the desired distribution profile, and determining, for each section of the plurality of sections of the desired distribution profile, an amount of fluid required from each nozzle assembly of the plurality of nozzle assemblies needed to deposit fluid according to the desired distribution profile within the corresponding section. The method also includes determining a target emission rate of the fluid from each nozzle assembly of the plurality of nozzle assemblies based on the determined amount of fluid required from each nozzle assembly, and controlling an operating parameter of a valve assembly of each nozzle assembly to obtain the respective target emission rate from each nozzle assembly.

Systems and methods to control aerial distribution of materials

A drive circuit for a solenoid valve having a coil and a poppet configured to translate within the coil includes a drive switch operable to de-energize the coil to translate the poppet toward a closed position, a sensor configured to detect the poppet translating within the solenoid valve, and a drive circuit configured to energize and de-energize the coil of the solenoid valve to translate the poppet of the solenoid valve between an open position and a closed position. The drive circuit includes a controller configured to receive a closure signal from the sensor, determine a closing time of the solenoid valve based on the closure signal, determine a time delay between de-energizing the coil and the determined closing time, and determine a fluid flow value of fluid flowing through the solenoid valve based on the determined time delay.

Drive circuit for estimating fluid flow based on valve closure time and fluid application system including same

A solenoid valve includes a solenoid coil, a poppet, and a drive circuit. A first semiconductor device of the drive circuit is controlled by a gate signal to control a coil current. A flyback circuit of the drive circuit includes a second semiconductor device in series with a diode. The second semiconductor device is controlled by a flyback control signal to: (i) enable the flyback circuit to maintain the coil current through the solenoid coil when the poppet transitions to a second position, and (ii) disable recirculation of the coil current through the solenoid coil when the poppet transitions to a first position. A controller is configured to transition the poppet to the second position using the gate signal, enable the flyback circuit using the flyback control signal, and reduce at least one of a duty cycle and a frequency of the gate signal when the flyback circuit is enabled.

Systems and methods for controlling operation of a valve

A method for emitting a fluid from an aerial fluid dispersal system includes emitting the fluid from a plurality of individually controlled nozzle assemblies distributed across a manifold assembly. The method also includes receiving, at a controller, an input associated with a desired droplet size of the fluid emitted from each respective nozzle assembly and determining, by the controller, a target differential fluid velocity for each respective nozzle assembly based on the desired droplet size. The method also includes regulating, using the controller, the velocity of the fluid exiting each respective nozzle assembly to produce the target differential fluid velocity from each respective nozzle assembly.

A system for applying fluid to an agricultural field includes a fluid source, a plurality of nozzles connected in fluid communication with the fluid source, and a plurality of electrically actuated valves configured to control fluid flow through the plurality of nozzles. The plurality of electrically actuated valves are divided into a plurality of groups. The system also includes a plurality of section control valves. Each section control valve is connected in fluid communication between the fluid source and a corresponding one of the groups of electrically actuated valves. Each section control valve is positionable to adjust a flow coefficient of the section control valve. The system further includes a controller configured to control the position of each section control valve to provide a predetermined flow coefficient for each section control valve based on a predetermined fluid pressure for the corresponding group of electrically actuated valves.

Systems and methods for fluid application including sectioned spray boom and section control valves for sectional pressure control

A drive circuit for operating a solenoid includes a main switch and a charge pump circuit. The main switch is coupled in series with a coil of the solenoid. The main switch is configured to selectively enable current flow from a voltage source according to a main switching signal to translate a poppet of the solenoid between an opened position and a closed position. The charge pump circuit is coupled to the voltage source. The charge pump circuit is configured to discharge through the coil to translate the poppet from the closed position to the opened position, and to charge when the poppet is held in the opened position.

System and method for energizing a solenoid coil for fast solenoid actuation

Fluid dispersal systems and methods of controlling such systems are provided. A method for emitting a fluid from an aerial fluid dispersal system includes receiving data corresponding to an initial aerial distribution profile of fluid emitted by the aerial fluid dispersal system across a distribution width. The fluid is emitted through a plurality of individually controlled nozzle assemblies, and an emission rate of the fluid emitted from a respective nozzle assembly of the plurality of nozzle assemblies is based on an operating parameter of a valve assembly of the respective nozzle assembly. The method also includes determining an effect of the emission rate of each respective nozzle assembly on the initial aerial distribution profile of the fluid across the distribution width. The method also includes controlling the operating parameter of each respective valve assembly to adjust the emission rate of each respective nozzle assembly to generate a compensated distribution profile.

A drive circuit is provided for controlling a solenoid valve having a solenoid coil. The drive circuit includes a first semiconductor device, a flyback circuit, and a processor. The first semiconductor is coupled in series with the coil and is controlled by a gate signal to energize the coil. The flyback circuit is in parallel with the coil and includes a series-coupled second semiconductor device and a diode. The second semiconductor is controlled by a flyback control signal to enable the flyback circuit when the first semiconductor is controlled by the gate signal to hold the valve open. The diode has a low forward voltage to slow decay of a current conducted through the coil. The processor generates the gate signal to control the first semiconductor and to reduce a duty cycle of the gate signal when the flyback circuit is enabled to reduce power consumption by the coil.

A method of detecting fluid flow through a solenoid valve in a fluid application system includes dispensing fluid through the solenoid valve, de-energizing a solenoid coil of the solenoid valve to close the solenoid valve and control a fluid flow through the solenoid valve, determining a closing time of the solenoid valve based on a signal from a poppet measuring sensor, determining a time delay between the de-energizing the solenoid coil and the closing time, and determining a fluid flow value based on the time delay.

System and methods for estimating fluid flow based on valve closure time

An electric solenoid valve, methods for operating and/or actuating the solenoid valve, valve system diagnostics, and applications for use are described. The valve may be designed to actuate in a manner so as to control liquid flow into and/or through a device, such as a spray nozzle. By altering the characteristics of the electrical signal transmitted to the solenoid valve, the instantaneous pressure across the valve and duration of fluid flow through the valve can be controlled with a single actuator. Controlled cyclic durations of flow may be implemented to regulate the exact timing of flow through the valve. Alternatively, cyclic durations may occur with a pulse-width modulation technique in which the duty cycle regulates average flow rate through the valve.

Methods for controlling operation of a valve

An improved system and method for sensing the location of a tree trunk relative to an orchard harvester machine that generally includes a distance sensor, a vegetation pushing device that functions to displace vegetation, such as low-hanging tree branches, grass or other upward-growing vegetation which may obscure the sensor's detection of the tree trunk, and a controller in communication with the distance sensor, which system may be incorporated into existing tree harvesters such as those with mechanized tree shakers, and may also be incorporated into a catching frame vehicle or a nut sweeping vehicle.

Tree location sensing system and process for agricultural tree harvesting

Spray systems and control systems for use with spray systems are provided. A method of detecting fluid flow through a nozzle coupled in fluid communication with a solenoid valve including a solenoid coil and a poppet is provided. The method generally includes (1) dispensing fluid through the solenoid valve and the nozzle, (2) de-energizing the solenoid coil to close the solenoid valve and control a fluid flow through the nozzle, (3) determining a closing time of the solenoid valve based on a signal from a poppet measuring device, and (4) determining a fluid flow value based on a time delay between the de-energizing the solenoid coil and the closing time.

Spray systems and control systems for use with spray systems are provided. A spray system generally includes a tank configured to hold a product, a conduit in fluid communication with the tank, a pump in fluid communication with the conduit, a flow controller, a plurality of electrically actuated nozzle assemblies in fluid communication with the conduit, and a pressure controller. The flow controller is configured to regulate a flow rate of product through the conduit based on a travel speed of the system. The plurality of nozzle assemblies is configured to dispense the product such that an upstream nozzle pressure is established within the conduit. The pressure controller is configured to control at least one operating parameter of at least one of the nozzle assemblies based at least in part on speed information indicative of the travel speed of the system to maintain a substantially constant upstream nozzle pressure.

Spray system with speed-based pressure controller and method of controlling same

A system for sensing the location of a tree trunk relative to an orchard harvester, which includes a body, including a distance sensor mounted on the body, a boom movably connected to the body, a tree shaker head having two opposed jaws and rotatably connected to the boom and a programmable controller in communication with the distance sensor, the controller programmed to manipulate the angle at which the distance sensor measures distance as determined by a measured height at which the shaker head jaws will clamp a proximate tree.

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San Francisco, CA, United States of America

Duane Needham