IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,239,040
Granted Patent B2
US 12,239,040 · App. 18/312,143 · Granted Mar 4, 2025

Methods of using drift reduction adjuvant compositions

Inventors: Daniel Bissell (Eagan, MN); Lee Boles (River Falls, WI); Andrea Clark (River Falls, WI)
Assignee: WinField Solutions, LLC
A01C21/00A01M7/0042A01N25/04
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,239,040
App. No.
18/312,143
Granted
Mar 4, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method to reduce bag rupture in a spray dispensed from a nozzle involves detecting one or more bags rupturing from an initial spray pattern of the spray dispensed from the nozzle, the one or more bags comprising a thin membraned semi-spherical protrusion extending from the spray, where the initial spray pattern is a region of the spray initially exiting the nozzle that forms a continuous sheet-like portion. The spray includes an agricultural spray including water, at least one polymer, and at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant. The agricultural spray exhibits fewer fine droplets exhibiting a diameter less than about 150 μm formed via the bag rupture approach to droplet formation.

Claims (31)

1. A method of reducing bag rupture in an agricultural spray dispensed from a nozzle, the method comprising:

dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle, the agricultural spray comprising:

water;

at least one polymer; and

at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant,

wherein a portion of the agricultural spray initially exiting the nozzle that forms a continuous sheet-like portion defining an initial spray pattern exhibits fewer fine droplets exhibiting a diameter less than about 150 μm formed via the bag rupture approach to droplet formation than an initial spray pattern of a similar agricultural spray that does not comprise the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymer comprises at least one rheology modifier.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one rheology modifier includes at least one of guar gum, modified guar gum, polyacrylamide, or lecithin.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one polymer comprises lecithin.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant comprises at least one oil emulsion and at least one surfactant.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the at least one oil emulsion comprises at least one modified seed oil.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant comprises a suspension type herbicide.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural spray comprises at least one agricultural composition, the at least one agricultural compositing including at least one pesticide and/or at least one fertilizer.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle comprises dispensing the agricultural spray from a ground applicator that includes the nozzle, the ground applicator moving at a speed of about 20 miles per hour or less.

11. A method of reducing bag rupture in an agricultural spray dispensed from a nozzle, the method comprising:

dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle, the agricultural spray comprising:

water;

at least one polymer; and

at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant,

wherein a portion of the agricultural spray initially exiting the nozzle that forms a continuous sheet-like portion defining an initial spray pattern includes bags comprising a thin membraned semi-spherical protrusion extending from the agricultural spray, and

wherein due to the presence of the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant, the bags are resistant to bag rupture such that the agricultural spray exhibits fewer fine droplets exhibiting a diameter less than about 150 μm formed via the bag rupture approach to droplet formation.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one polymer comprises at least one rheology modifier.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the at least one rheology modifier includes at least one of guar gum, modified guar gum, polyacrylamide, or lecithin.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one polymer comprises lecithin.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant comprises at least one oil emulsion and at least one surfactant.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the at least one oil emulsion comprises at least one modified seed oil.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant comprises a suspension type herbicide.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the at least one perforation-aid type adjuvant comprises at least one non-ionic surfactant.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the agricultural spray comprises at least one agricultural composition, the at least one agricultural compositing including at least one pesticide and/or at least one fertilizer.

20. The method of claim 11 , wherein dispensing the agricultural spray from the nozzle comprises dispensing the agricultural spray from a ground applicator that includes the nozzle, the ground applicator moving at a speed of about 20 miles per hour or less.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 4, 2023
From: BISSELL, DANIEL; BOLES, LEE; CLARK, ANDREA
To: WINFIELD SOLUTIONS, LLC
Reel/Frame 063536/0993 →
Continuity (4)
Continuation 17330823 · May 26, 2021
Continuation 16597375 · Oct 9, 2019
Continuation 16198384 · Nov 21, 2018
Related Publication 20230301227A1 · Sep 28, 2023
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