Pathfinder Systems, Inc.

Rosen's

Other

Bayer Corporation

Frank G Reinsch

John Alvis Latting

Kevin Kwanghyon Park

A device and method for dispensing precise amounts of dry particulate matter, such as agricultural chemicals, directly into a liquid carrier stream, such as a flow of water, and a method of employing such a device to distribute chemicals. The device includes a bin for holding a quantity of particulate matter, a conduit for transporting a stream of liquid carrier, and a meter at the bottom of the bin for controllably releasing a desired amount of the particulate matter from the bin into the conduit while disallowing entry of the liquid carrier to the bin. The bin, conduit and meter are all mounted upon a portable structure for transportation with particulate matter in the bin. The meter includes a multi-vaned rotor turned by a controlled motor, and defines discrete pockets of known volume. The operator simply connects the device to a flow of water and keys into the controller an amount of material to be released. The rotor releases the material into a chamber under vacuum pressure generated by a venturi, through a check valve, and into an eductor. Agricultural chemicals may be advantageously distributed to end users in particulate form, to be mixed with a liquid carrier at the work site, without possibly harmful exposure to chemical dust and fumes.

Controlled injection of dry material into a liquid system

A system for controlling a networked array of dispensing devices for dispensing particulate matter may include local controllers connected to a parent controller. The parent controller may control an array of local controllers configured according to a network architecture. Each local controller may control one or more local dry chemical dispensing machines. In this way, the parent controller may control multiple dry chemical dispensing units over a network from a central location. In addition, the parent controller may directly control conventional liquid dispensers over the network. The parent and local controllers may be implemented using, for example, programmable logic controllers (PLCs).

Distributed control architecture for dispensing particulate material into a fluid medium

A device for dispensing particulate matter may include a gravimetric sensor to measure the weight of particulate matter mixed with a fluid carrier. In an illustrative embodiment, a dry chemical inductor includes a bin for containing particulate matter, a conduit for transporting a stream of liquid carrier, and a valve for controllably releasing a particulate matter from the bin into the conduit. The device may further include a gravimetric sensor, such as an electronic scale or a load cell, for measuring the weight of particulate matter released from the bin. A controller may receive signals from the gravimetric sensor and actuate the valve to interrupt the flow of particulate matter when the desired amount of particulate matter has been released.

System and method for dispensing particulate material into a fluid medium

A system for metering and dispensing particulate matter, such as agricultural pesticides and fertilizers, from a storage bin directly into an applicator bin, and methods of its use. The device includes a storage bin for storing a quantity of particulate matter in bulk form, a meter connected to the storage bin for controllably releasing a desired amount of the particulate matter from the storage bin, a pneumatic transport conduit for suspending the released particulate matter in a flow of gas and transporting the suspended matter to an applicator bin, and a coupler disposed at a distal end of the conduit. The coupler is adapted to provide a sealed connection between the conduit and the applicator bin as transported particulate matter is dispensed from the conduit into the applicator bin through the coupler. Because the particulate matter is dispensed directly into the applicator bin, such as the bin of an agricultural planter, directly through a sealed connection, the closed-loop pneumatic system avoids exposure of the operator to hazardous air-borne dust.

Metering and dispensing particulate matter directly into bins

The present invention is a device and method for the transportation and metering of precise amounts of particulate matter. The device provides an environmentally and operator safe means of transporting and dispensing precise amounts of particulate matter from the point of manufacture directly to the ultimate consumer of the product. Because of the unique design, the device is readily transportable via standard means of transportation and may be operated by a single individual with no environmental or operator risk. The device further contains, as an integral part thereof, means for the precision metering of the particulate matter being transported. The device may be utilized to store the particulate matter for extended periods of time and, upon being emptied, may be refilled and reused.

Growing community of inventors

Kansas City, MO, United States of America

Frank G Reinsch