Agricultural product system and methods for an agricultural applicator

Abstract

A system for an agricultural sprayer is provided herein that includes a tank fluidly coupled with a flow assembly. A nozzle assembly is positioned along a boom assembly and is fluidly coupled with the flow assembly. A purge system is configured to remove agricultural product from the flow assembly. A computing system is communicatively coupled to the purge system. The computing system is configured to receive an input to initiate the boom purge system; activate a valve of the purge system; determine whether one or more predefined conditions are detected; and exhaust the agricultural product from the flow assembly through the purge valve when each of the one or more predefined conditions are detected.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for an agricultural sprayer, the system comprising:
 a tank fluidly coupled with a flow assembly;   a nozzle assembly positioned along a boom assembly and fluidly coupled with the flow assembly;   a purge system configured to remove agricultural product from the flow assembly; and   a computing system communicatively coupled to the purge system, the computing system being configured to:
 receive, through a user interface, an input to initiate the purge system; 
 activate, through the computing system, a valve of the purge system; 
 determine, through the computing system, whether one or more predefined conditions are detected; and 
 exhaust the agricultural product from the flow assembly through the purge valve when each of the one or more predefined conditions are detected. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a product delivery line operably coupling the nozzle assembly to a product tank, wherein the purge system includes an air delivery line operably coupled with the product delivery line upstream of the nozzle assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more predefined conditions includes a vehicle transmission being in a parked state. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more predefined conditions includes the boom assembly being positioned in an unfolded position. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more predefined conditions includes the boom assembly being in a spray state. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more predefined conditions includes a vehicle engine is in an operating state. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more predefined conditions includes a product pump operably coupled with the flow assembly being in a deactivated state. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system is further configured to:
 generate a notification when at least one of the one or more predefined conditions is not detected.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the computing system is further configured to:
 increase, through the computing system, a rotational speed of an engine from a first rotational speed to a second rotational speed, wherein the engine provides power to a movement device of the purge system.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein exhausting the agricultural product from the flow assembly through the purge valve when each of the one or more predefined conditions are detected further comprises activating a movement device fluidly coupled with the flow assembly to supply a pressurized fluid to a product circuit. 
     
     
         11 . A method for operation of a system for an agricultural sprayer, the method comprising:
 receiving, through a user interface, an input to initiate a purge system;   actuating, through a computing system, a first valve of the purge system from a closed position to an open position;   determining, through the computing system, whether one or more predefined conditions are detected;   increasing, through the computing system, a rotational speed of an engine from a first rotational speed to a second rotational speed, wherein the engine provides power to a movement device of the purge system; and   activating, through the computing system, a movement device fluidly coupled with the first valve of the purge system.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 actuating, through the computing system, the first valve of the purge system from the open position to a closed position; and   actuating, through the computing system, a second valve of the purge system from a closed position to an open position.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 generating, through the computing system, a notification when at least one of the one or more predefined conditions is not detected.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the second rotational speed is at least twice the first rotational speed. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 monitoring each of the one or more predefined conditions while the first valve is in the open position; and   generating, through the computing system, a notification when a change in at least one of the one or more predefined conditions is detected.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 actuating, through the computing system, the first valve from the open position to a closed position after a predefined amount of time has elapsed.   
     
     
         17 . A system for an agricultural sprayer, the system comprising:
 a tank fluidly coupled with a flow assembly;   a nozzle assembly positioned along a boom assembly and fluidly coupled with the flow assembly;   a purge system configured to remove agricultural product from the flow assembly; and   a computing system communicatively coupled to the purge system, the computing system being configured to:
 receive, through a user interface, an input to initiate the purge system; 
 actuate, through the computing system, a valve of the purge system from a closed position to an open position; 
 determine, through the computing system, whether one or more predefined conditions are detected; 
 increase, through the computing system, a rotational speed of an engine from a first rotational speed to a second rotational speed, wherein the engine provides power to a movement device of the purge system; and 
 activate, through the computing system, the movement device fluidly coupled with the flow assembly and powered by the engine. 
   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more predefined conditions includes at least one of a vehicle transmission being in a parked state, the boom assembly being positioned in an unfolded position, the boom assembly being in a spray state, a vehicle engine is in an operating state, or a product pump operably coupled with the flow assembly being in a deactivated state. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the second rotational speed can be at least twice the first rotational speed. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the computing system is further configured to:
 generate a notification when at least one of the one or more predefined conditions is not detected.