Metering valve and liquid agent mixture system

Abstract

A metering valve (50) is provided with a digital communication unit (52) and a valve body portion (60). The digital communication unit (52) is connected to a control panel (70) via a digital communication scheme. The control panel (70) is a control device that controls the amount of liquid fertilizer to be mixed with water for irrigation. The valve body portion (60) adjusts the amount of liquid fertilizer supplied for the water on the basis of a command of the control panel (70) acquired by the digital communication unit (52).

Claims

1. A metering valve comprising: a digital communication unit (52) connected to a control device (70) that controls the amount of liquid agent to be mixed into water for irrigation; and a valve body (60) that adjusts the amount of the liquid agent supplied to the water based on a command from the control device acquired by the digital communication unit, wherein the digital communication unit is connected to the control device by a digital communication method.

2. The metering valve according to claim 1, wherein the digital communication unit performs data communication conforming to the LIN protocol with the control device.

3. The metering valve according to claim 1, wherein the valve body is a three-way valve having an inlet port (61) into which the liquid enters, and at least two outlet ports (62) branching off from the inlet port.

4. The metering valve according to claim 3, wherein the valve body comprises a valve plate (66) having a slit (66a) formed therein, and a rotating shaft (65) positioned along the flow path and rotating the valve plate, and the rotation of the valve plate integrally with the rotating shaft adjusts the opening degree of a first path (68) from the inlet port to one of the outlet ports and the opening degree of a second path (69) from the inlet port to the other of the outlet ports.

5. A liquid mixing system comprising: a control device (70) for controlling the amount of liquid to be mixed into water for irrigation; a digital communication unit (52) electrically connected to the control device by a digital communication method; and a metering valve (50) having a valve body (60) that adjusts the amount of liquid supplied to the water based on commands from the control device acquired by the digital communication unit.

6. The liquid mixing system according to claim 5, further comprising: an irrigation line (13) through which the water flows; a branch line (15) branching off from the irrigation line at a branching point (13b) provided in the irrigation line; a venturi (40) to which the water is supplied by the branch line; a return line (17) connected to a confluence point (13c) located upstream of the branching point in the irrigation line, which returns the water that has passed through the venturi back to the irrigation line; and a suction pump (23) positioned in the return line which discharges the water that has passed through the venturi toward the irrigation line, wherein the metering valve is connected to the venturi and adjusts the amount of liquid drawn up by the venturi.

7. A liquid agent mixing system according to claim 5, further comprising: a mixing tank (MT) for storing the water mixed with the liquid agent; an irrigation line (13) through which the water from the mixing tank flows; a branch line (15) branching off from the irrigation line at a branching point (13b) provided in the irrigation line; a venturi (40) to which the water is supplied by the branch line; and a mixing line (18) that allows the water that has passed through the venturi to flow into the mixing tank, wherein the metering valve is connected to the venturi and adjusts the amount of the liquid agent drawn up by the venturi.

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