IP Library Granted Patent US 9,797,517
Granted Patent B2
US 9,797,517 · App. 14/535,487 · Granted Oct 24, 2017

Valve assembly for spraying devices for agricultural technology and field sprayer

Inventor: Wolfgang Rempp (Stuttgart, DE)
Assignee: LECHLER GMBH
F16K11/20A01M7/0089F16K3/246F16K31/04H02K5/10H02K5/225H02K7/06H02K7/14Y10T137/87772
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,797,517
App. No.
14/535,487
Granted
Oct 24, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A valve assembly for spraying devices for agricultural technology having a plurality of valves, wherein the valves each include a valve body, which is capable of assuming at least one enable position and one disable position relative to a valve seat, an electric motor for moving the valve seat and/or the valve body into the enable position and the disable position, and an electric energy storage device for providing electric energy for the electric motor, wherein a voltage converter is provided and configured, in a first operation mode, to convert a first voltage provided by the energy storage device into a second, higher voltage to be applied to the electric motor during moving the valve body and/or the valve seat and, in a second operation mode, to charge the energy storage device with low power input.

Claims (14)

1. A valve assembly having a plurality of valves for spraying devices for agricultural technology, wherein the valves each include a valve body, which is capable of assuming at least one enable position and one disable position relative to a valve seat, an electric motor for moving the valve seat and/or the valve body into the at least one enable position and the disable position, and an electric energy storage device for providing electric energy for the electric motor, wherein a voltage converter is provided and configured, in a first operation mode, to convert a first voltage provided by the energy storage device into a second, higher voltage to be applied to the electric motor during moving the valve body and/or the valve seat and, in a second operation mode, to charge the energy storage device with low power input.

2. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage converter is configured to control or to regulate power input to the energy storage device in the second operation mode.

3. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein, in the second operation mode, a third voltage for charging the energy storage device is lower than a supply voltage of the voltage converter.

4. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage converter is a direct current (DC) voltage converter.

5. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the energy storage device is a capacitor.

6. The valve assembly according to claim 1 , further including a valve housing, wherein the electric motor, the voltage converter, the energy storage device, and a valve control circuit for the electric motor and the voltage converter are arranged within the valve housing, and wherein the voltage converter, the energy storage device and the valve control circuit are encased by a water-tight potting compound.

7. The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein a cover of the valve housing is sealed by the potting compound.

8. The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the valve housing is provided with a ventilation hole, wherein the ventilation hole is closed by a water-tight but air-permeable membrane.

9. The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the valve housing is provided with two electric plug connectors.

10. The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the valve housing is provided with two electric connector cables, wherein each connector cable is provided with an electric plug connector, and wherein the plug connectors are of mutually matching design.

11. The valve assembly according to claim 6 , wherein the valve control circuit is arranged within the valve housing and configured for operation on a bus line.

12. A field sprayer including the valve assembly according to claim 1 .

13. The field sprayer according to claim 12 , wherein a housing of each valve is provided with first and second electric plug connectors and the valves are mutually interconnected electrically by a cable supply line, wherein the cable supply line from a first one of the valves to a second adjacent one of the valves is plugged into the first plug connector and the cable supply line from the first one of the valves to a third adjacent one of the valves is plugged into the second plug connector.

14. The field sprayer according to claim 12 , wherein a valve housing of each valve is provided with first and second electric connector cables each provided with an electric plug connector, wherein the valves are mutually interconnected by the connector cables, and wherein the first connector cable of a first one of the valves leads to the first connector cable of a second adjacent one of the valves and the second connector cable of the first one of the valves leads to the second connector cable of a third adjacent one of the valves.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 6, 2015
From: REMPP, WOLFGANG
To: LECHLER GMBH
Reel/Frame 034907/0150 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2013 222 743 · Nov 8, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150129686A1 · May 14, 2015