Solenoid Valve Drive Circuit for Nozzle Flow Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current agricultural spraying systems lack effective monitoring of individual nozzle operations, leading to application errors due to clogging, misalignment, or damage, especially with wider booms and higher speeds, which can result in uneven chemical distribution and undetected malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

A drive circuit for solenoid valves with a coil and poppet configuration, including a sensor to detect poppet movement and a controller to determine fluid flow based on time delays, allowing for real-time monitoring and adjustment of fluid flow through each nozzle.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If wider spray booms and higher ground speeds are used to increase productivity, then coverage area and application speed improve, but individual nozzle monitoring becomes more difficult and application precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveapplication speedVSAvoidnozzle flow monitoring accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical/visual monitoring methods with electronic sensing and electromagnetic measurement. The system uses sensors and electronic circuits to automatically detect nozzle flow conditions, substituting the need for manual visual inspection and mechanical flow meters, thereby enabling precise monitoring even at high speeds and wide boom configurations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary measurement system that indirectly detects nozzle flow conditions. By measuring electrical properties (such as resistance changes in a wire mesh screen) rather than directly measuring fluid flow, the system can detect clogging and flow variations without interfering with the spray operation, enabling monitoring at high speeds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If individual nozzle control is implemented to improve application precision, then chemical distribution accuracy improves, but system complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechemical distribution accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the simple solenoid valve component multi-functional by adding monitoring capabilities to its existing flow control function. The same solenoid valve that controls spray flow also serves as part of the monitoring system through its electrical characteristics, eliminating the need for separate monitoring devices at each nozzle and reducing overall system complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent merges the flow control function and flow monitoring function into a single integrated system. The solenoid valve's electrical circuit is used both to actuate the valve and to detect flow conditions through resistance measurements, combining what would traditionally be separate functions into one unified component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Productivity

If larger storage tanks are used to reduce refilling stops, then productivity improves, but detection of nozzle malfunctions between stops becomes less frequent and reliability decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational continuityVSAvoidnozzle malfunction detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements continuous feedback monitoring of each nozzle's flow conditions through electronic sensors and circuits. This real-time feedback system immediately detects deviations from normal operation (such as clogging or misalignment) and can trigger alerts or automatic adjustments, maintaining reliability even during extended operations between tank refills by eliminating the need for manual inspection stops

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables precise monitoring and control of fluid flow through each nozzle, preventing application errors and ensuring accurate chemical distribution, even in high-speed and wide-boom operations, thereby improving the reliability and efficiency of agricultural spraying.

Implementation Method 1

a solenoid valve having a coil and a poppet configured to translate within the coil

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMagnetic field generation: Electromagnet

Implementation Method 2

a sensor configured to detect the poppet translating within the solenoid valve

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPosition detection:

Data Source

PatentUS11998934B2Drive circuit for estimating fluid flow based on valve closure time and fluid application system including same

Publication Date: 2024.06.04 CAPSTAN INC

AI summary

A drive circuit for a solenoid valve having a coil and a poppet configured to translate within the coil includes a drive switch operable to de-energize the coil to translate the poppet toward a closed position, a sensor configured to detect the poppet translating within the solenoid valve, and a drive circuit configured to energize and de-energize the coil of the solenoid valve to translate the poppet of the solenoid valve between an open position and a closed position. The drive circuit includes a controller configured to receive a closure signal from the sensor, determine a closing time of the solenoid valve based on the closure signal, determine a time delay between de-energizing the coil and the determined closing time, and determine a fluid flow value of fluid flowing through the solenoid valve based on the determined time delay.