Variable rate flow divider

Details Variable rate flow divider Variable rate flow divider

1998-03-30

2001-11-20

Weldon, Kevin (Department: 3752)

Fluid sprinkling, spraying, and diffusing

With mobile tank-type supply means

Operational means interconnected with ground traverse

C239S304000, C239S159000, C222S330000, C222S485000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06318645

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to fluid distributors, especially agricultural apparatus for delivering liquid agricultural chemicals to agricultural fields, and to certain components that may be used in such apparatus.
BACKGROUND
One of the problems that arise with current agricultural chemical distribution apparatus is the division of the liquid flow into equal flows for delivery to separate dispensers, for example spray nozzles or fertilizer tubes. Generally, this is accomplished using manifolds or multiple orifice systems which suffer from a number of disadvantages. They can, for example, plug and require frequent maintenance.
Another limitation of conventional flow dividers is an inability to operate properly with wide variations in flow rates.
In the application of agricultural liquids, e.g. herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers, it is found that different application rates of the liquids are optimal for different areas. Prior art delivery apparatus, for example sprayers and fertilizer injectors, that are capable in delivering these products at different rates require the operator to interrupt operation to adjust or replace components to vary the flow rates. Consequently, the application rate may at times be quite different from the optimum.
The present invention is concerned with improvements in the prior art.
SUMMARY
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a flow divider for fluent materials comprising:
a rotor having an axis of rotation and axially spaced inlet and outlet ends;
a flow passage through the rotor, from the inlet end to the outlet end, the flow passage having a flow passage outlet at the outlet end of the rotor, the flow passage outlet being spaced radially from the axis of rotation;
rotor drive means for rotating the rotor about the axis of rotation;
a stator including an annular array of collection chambers surrounding the axis of rotation and with open inlet sides spaced radially from the axis of rotation to be confronted in sequence by the flow passage outlet as the rotor rotates; and
discharge openings from the respective collection chambers.
As the rotor rotates, fluent material is delivered to the inlet end of the flow passage and thence in sequence to the collection chambers. The chambers provide continuous flows of material from the outlets. When the chambers are of the same circumferential extent, and the rotor is rotated at uniform speed, the chambers will all receive the same volume of material on each rotation of the rotor so that the delivery to each outlet is the same.
The flow divider uses no manifolds and no orifices to plug or block the flow. The flow rate can be varied by varying the flow rate into the divider.
In order to provide an increase number of flow divisions, the dividers may be cascaded. Thus, according to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a flow divider system for dividing a flow of a fluent material, said system comprising:
a first flow divider including a fluent material inlet and a plurality of first divider outlets; and
a plurality of second flow dividers, each having a second divider inlet coupled to a respective one of the first divider outlets and each having a plurality of second divider outlets;
each of said flow dividers comprising:
a rotor having an axis of rotation and axially spaced rotor inlet and rotor outlet ends;
a flow passage through the rotor, from the rotor inlet end to the rotor outlet end, the flow passage having a flow passage outlet at the rotor outlet end and spaced radially from the axis of rotation of the rotor;
rotor drive means for rotating the rotor about the axis of rotation;
a stator including an annular array of collection chambers surrounding the axis of rotation, with open inlet sides spaced radially from the axis of rotation to be confronted in sequence by the flow passage outlet as the rotor rotates, the divider outlets comprising outlets from respective ones of the collection chambers.
Preferably a pump is used between the primary and secondary dividers. A particularly convenient arrangement is where the primary divider delivers multiple flows to respective chambers of a multi-chamber diaphragm pump. The chambers are separated to handle the separate flows. This arrangement provides equal flow rates for the plural flows to the secondary dividers.
A further aspect of the invention provides an agricultural liquid distribution apparatus which includes the flow divider in a system for delivering liquid to plural discharge devices, which may be sub surface injectors or spray nozzles.
The apparatus may include plural liquid supplies and a mixer for mixing the liquids from the plural supplies to provide a desired blend upstream of the flow divider. It is preferred that the flow of each liquid can be varied to vary the blend. The apparatus may include a control that varies the blend according to requirements as distribution proceeds. This may include a recorded mapping of a field being treated and a position sensor, for example a global position sensor (GPS) for monitoring the position of the apparatus in the field. The liquid blend is then controlled according to the requirements of the field position.
The liquid application rate may also be varied with a variable speed pump. The control may have a ground speed input to be used as a variable in determining flow rates through the apparatus.


REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 35100 (1995-11-01), Monson et al.
patent: 1514330 (1924-11-01), Neal et al.
patent: 3716167 (1973-02-01), Huntington
patent: 4313386 (1982-02-01), Boldt et al.
patent: 5751576 (1998-05-01), Monson

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