Application assembly with select orifice arrangement and rigidity

Abstract

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Claims

1. A mobile agricultural material application machine comprising:a material storage element configured to hold a material to be applied to a worksite;a pump configured to pump material from the material storage element;a supply line; anda material application assembly comprising:a controllable valve having a valve inlet and a valve outlet, the controllable valve configured to receive material pumped through the supply line from the material storage element and to controllably allow material to pass through the valve outlet;a pre-orifice element downstream of the valve and having an inlet and an outlet;an exit orifice element downstream of the pre-orifice element and having an inlet and outlet, the outlet of the exit orifice element defining an exit from the material application assembly through which material passes to be applied to the worksite and having at least a same flow rating as a flow rating of the outlet of the pre-orifice element; anda material conduit extending between the pre-orifice element and the exit orifice element.

2. The mobile agricultural material application machine of claim 1, wherein the flow ratingof the outlet of the exit orifice element is greater than the flow rating of the outlet of the preorifice element.

3. The mobile agricultural material application machine of claim 1, wherein the flow ratingof the outlet of the exit orifice element is less than the flow rating of the outlet of the pre-orifice element.

4. The mobile agricultural material application machine of claim 1 and further comprising acheck valve upstream of the outlet of the exit orifice element, the check valve configured to open2026201795   10 Mar 20261 and close in response to changing pressure of the material and, when open, allow material to pass 2 toward the outlet of the exit orifice element.3   5.     The mobile agricultural application machine of claim 1, wherein the material conduit has4   an inner diameter in the range of 2 millimeters (mm) to 5 mm, a wall thickness in the range of5   1.35 mm to 4.35 mm, and comprises a material having a Shore rating in the range 39 to 49.678   6.     The mobile agricultural material application machine of claim 1, wherein the mobile9 agricultural material application machine includes a seed delivery system configured to deliver10 seeds to the worksite.1112   7.     The mobile agricultural material application machine of claim 1 and further comprising a13   control system configured to identify one or more dimensions of the material conduit and to14 control the controllable valve based, at least, on the one or more dimensions of the material15 conduit.1617   8.     The mobile agricultural material application machine of claim 7, wherein the one or more18 dimensions include one or more of: (i) a length of the material conduit; or (ii) a volume of the19 material conduit.2021   9.     The mobile agricultural material application machine of claim 7, wherein the control22   system identifies a timing offset based, at least, on the one or more dimensions of the material23 conduit and controls the controllable valve based on the timing offset.2425   10. An agricultural material application system for applying material to a worksite26 comprising:27          a material application assembly comprising:28                  a controllable valve having a valve inlet and a valve outlet, the controllable valve29                         configured to receive material to be applied to the worksite and to30                          controllably allow material to pass through the valve outlet;31                  a pre-orifice element downstream of the valve and having an inlet and an outlet;2026201795   10 Mar 20261                  an exit orifice element downstream of the pre-orifice element and having an inlet2                          and outlet, the outlet of the exit orifice element defining an exit from the3                         material application assembly through which material passes to be applied4                         to the worksite and having at least a same flow rating as a flow rating of5                          the outlet of the pre-orifice element; and6                  a material conduit extending between the pre-orifice element and the exit orifice7                          element.89    11. The agricultural material application system of claim 10, wherein the flow rating of the10 outlet of the exit orifice element is greater than the flow rating of the outlet of the pre-orifice11 element.1213    12. The agricultural material application system of claim 10, wherein the flow rating of the14 outlet of the exit orifice element is less than the flow rating of the outlet of the pre-orifice15 element.1617   13. The agricultural material application system of claim 10, wherein the material conduit18   comprises a rigid or semi-rigid material and is of a length such that the pre-orifice element and19   the exit orifice element are separated by a sensor clearance distance such that a camera can be20 mounted between the pre-orifice element and the exit orifice element.2122   14.    The agricultural material application system of claim 10 and further comprising a control23   system configured to identify one or more dimensions of the material conduit and to control the24 controllable valve based, at least, on the one or more dimensions of the material conduit.2526   15. The agricultural material application system of claim 14, wherein the one or more27 dimensions include one or more of: (i) a length of the material conduit; or (ii) a volume of the28 material conduit.292026201795   10 Mar 20261   16. The agricultural material application system of claim 14, wherein the control system2 identifies a timing offset based, at least, on the one or more dimensions of the material conduit3 and controls the controllable valve based on the timing offset.45    17. A material application assembly for applying a first material relative to a second material6 at a worksite, the material application assembly comprising:7           a controllable valve having a valve inlet and a valve outlet, the controllable valve8                  configured to receive the first material to be applied to the worksite and to9                  controllably allow the first material to pass through the valve outlet;10          a pre-orifice element downstream of the valve and having an inlet and an outlet;11          an exit orifice element downstream of the pre-orifice element and having an inlet and12                  outlet, the outlet of the exit orifice element defining an exit from the material13                  application assembly through which the first material passes to be applied to the14                 worksite and having at least a same flow rating as a flow rating of the outlet of the15                  pre-orifice element; and16          a material conduit extending between the pre-orifice element and the exit orifice element.1718   18. The material application assembly of claim 17, wherein the flow rating of the outlet of19 the exit orifice element is greater than the flow rating of the outlet of the pre-orifice element.2021   19. The material application assembly of claim 17, wherein the flow rating of the outlet of22 the exit orifice element is less than the flow rating of the outlet of the pre-orifice element.2324   20. The material application assembly of claim 17, wherein the first material comprises a25 liquid material and wherein the second material comprises a seed.26

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