A reconfigurable pump includes a housing with inlet and outlet openings. An inlet adapter is mounted on the housing and includes an inlet passage communicating with the inlet opening. The inlet adapter is removably mounted on the housing and can be removed and repositioned for reconfiguring the pump between low-inlet and high-inlet configurations. In a low-inlet configuration the inlet passage is generally aligned with an impeller rotatably mounted in the housing. A check valve comprising a flapper valve is provided in the low-inlet configuration and prevents backflow. The flapper valve is removable for configuration in a high-inlet configuration with the inlet passage located generally above the impeller level. The inlet adapter can readily be repositioned from outside the pump housing between its low-inlet and high-inlet configurations.
A system and method for monitoring inefficient flow rates in a liquid-flow distribution system, such as that which is used in agricultural liquid application equipment. This may include blockages or punctures in a liquid line. The system generally includes a plurality of gauges for monitoring the supply line flow rate in a liquid application system which are monitored by a number of sensors. Immediate feedback is presented to the operator of the vehicle inside the cab. The system alerts the operator when a blockage, loss, or increase of flow rate has occurred in one of the liquid lines. The system may merely indicate that one of the lines is blocked, or the system may be more sophisticated such that it can indicate which line is blocked and adjust the flow in that line in an attempt to clear the blockage.
B67D 7/56 - Arrangements of flow-indicators, e.g. transparent compartments, windows, rotary vanes
G01F 1/00 - Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
F17D 5/00 - Protection or supervision of installations
G01F 1/52 - Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects by measuring the height of the fluid level due to the lifting power of the fluid flow
G01F 23/30 - Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats
3.
Orifice selector module for liquid fertilizer distribution systems
An orifice selector module for use with flow gauges in a sprayer environment. The orifice selector module is retrofit into existing or new flow gauge assemblies and is placed in line between the spray nozzles and the flow gauges. The orifice selector module includes a rotatable cap which rotates a rotor which in turn rotates an orifice plate which features numerous orifices of different sizes. These orifices can be switched on the fly manually by the vehicle operator to increase or decrease flow through a particular hose from a particular flow gauge.
A01C 23/04 - Distributing under pressureDistributing mudAdaptation of watering systems for fertilising-liquids
F16K 3/08 - Gate valves or sliding valves, i.e. cut-off apparatus with closing members having a sliding movement along the seat for opening and closing with flat sealing facesPackings therefor with pivoted closure members in the form of closure plates arranged between supply and discharge passages with circular closure plates rotatable around their centres
A01C 23/00 - Distributing devices specially adapted for liquid manure or other fertilising liquid, including ammonia, e.g. transport tanks or sprinkling wagons
4.
System and method for monitoring inefficient flow rates using magnetic sensor in a liquid-flow distribution system
A system and method for monitoring inefficient flow rates in a liquid-flow distribution system, such as that which is used in agricultural liquid application equipment. This may include blockages or punctures in a liquid line. The system generally includes a plurality of gauges for monitoring the supply line flow rate in a liquid application system which are monitored by a number of sensors. Immediate feedback is presented to the operator of the vehicle inside the cab. The system alerts the operator when a blockage, loss, or increase of flow rate has occurred in one of the liquid lines. The system may merely indicate that one of the lines is blocked, or the system may be more sophisticated such that it can indicate which line is blocked and adjust the flow in that line in an attempt to clear the blockage.
G01F 1/00 - Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow
G01F 23/30 - Indicating or measuring liquid level or level of fluent solid material, e.g. indicating in terms of volume or indicating by means of an alarm by floats
G01F 1/52 - Measuring the volume flow or mass flow of fluid or fluent solid material wherein the fluid passes through a meter in a continuous flow by using mechanical effects by measuring the height of the fluid level due to the lifting power of the fluid flow
A system and method for monitoring inefficient flow rates in a liquid-flow distribution system, such as that which is used in agricultural liquid application equipment. This may include blockages or punctures in a liquid line. The system generally includes a plurality of gauges for monitoring the supply line flow rate in a liquid application system which are monitored by a number of sensors. Immediate feedback is presented to the operator of the vehicle inside the cab. The system alerts the operator when a blockage, loss, or increase of flow rate has occurred in one of the liquid lines. The system may merely indicate that one of the lines is blocked, or the system may be more sophisticated such that it can indicate which line is blocked and adjust the flow in that line in an attempt to clear the blockage.
B05B 17/04 - Apparatus for spraying or atomising liquids or other fluent materials, not covered by any other group of this subclass operating with special methods
6.
ORIFICE SELECTOR MODULE FOR LIQUID FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
An orifice selector module for use with flow gauges in a sprayer environment. The orifice selector module is retrofit into existing or new flow gauge assemblies and is placed in line between the spray nozzles and the flow gauges. The orifice selector module includes a rotatable cap which rotates a rotor which in turn rotates an orifice plate which features numerous orifices of different sizes. These orifices can be switched on the fly manually by the vehicle operator to increase or decrease flow through a particular hose from a particular flow gauge.
A01C 23/00 - Distributing devices specially adapted for liquid manure or other fertilising liquid, including ammonia, e.g. transport tanks or sprinkling wagons
A system and method for monitoring inefficient flow rates in a liquid-flow distribution system, such as that which is used in agricultural liquid application equipment. This may include blockages or punctures in a liquid line. The system generally includes a plurality of gauges for monitoring the supply line flow rate in a liquid application system which are monitored by a number of sensors. Immediate feedback is presented to the operator of the vehicle inside the cab. The system alerts the operator when a blockage, loss, or increase of flow rate has occurred in one of the liquid lines. The system may merely indicate that one of the lines is blocked, or the system may be more sophisticated such that it can indicate which line is blocked and adjust the flow in that line in an attempt to clear the blockage.
A01C 23/00 - Distributing devices specially adapted for liquid manure or other fertilising liquid, including ammonia, e.g. transport tanks or sprinkling wagons
patents
