Boom height sensor systems, methods and apparatus

Abstract

A liquid applicator implement includes a boom vertically adjustable with respect to a vehicle. The boom supports a plurality of drop assemblies laterally spaced along the boom in communication with a liquid product source. A height sensor assembly is attached to at least one of the drop assemblies and generates signals indicative of a distance between the drop assembly and a ground surface as the vehicle advances in a direction of travel. An adjustment mechanism coupled to the boom is responsive to the signals generated by the height sensor assembly for vertically adjusting the boom. In some embodiments, a breakaway sensor is used to determine whether at least one drop assembly has broken away from its normal substantially vertical operating orientation. In some embodiments, a data processing and/or height control action is determined upon detection of a breakaway event.

1 . A liquid applicator implement, comprising:
 a vehicle;   a boom operably supported from said vehicle a distance above a ground surface, said boom vertically adjustable with respect to said vehicle and said ground surface;   a boom height adjustment mechanism configured to vertically adjust at least a section of said boom relative to said vehicle and said ground surface;   a controller in communication with said boom height adjustment mechanism, said control configured to actuate said boom height adjustment mechanism to vertically adjust said at least a section of said boom relative to said vehicle and said ground surface;   a plurality of drop assemblies laterally spaced along said boom, each of said plurality of drop assemblies extending downwardly from said boom toward said ground surface, each of said plurality of drop assemblies in communication with a liquid product source;   a breakaway assembly pivotally coupling at least one of said plurality of drop assemblies to said boom such that said at least one drop assembly is movable between a normal operating position and a breakaway position, wherein in said normal operating position, said at least one drop assembly is substantially vertically oriented and wherein in said breakaway position, a lower end of said at least one drop assembly is pivoted rearwardly relative to said normal operating position;   a breakaway sensor associated with said breakaway assembly, said breakaway sensor disposed to generate a breakaway signal upon a breakaway event, said breakaway event occurring when said at least one drop assembly moves from said normal operating position to said breakaway position, said breakaway sensor in communication with said controller;   a height sensor assembly attached to at least one of said plurality of drop assemblies, said height sensor assembly generating a height signal indicative of a distance between said at least one drop assembly and said ground surface as said vehicle advances in said direction of travel, said height sensor assembly in communication with said controller;   whereby said controller is responsive to said generated height signal to actuate said boom height adjustment mechanism to raise said at least a section of said boom relative to said vehicle and said ground surface upon said generated height signal indicating said distance between said at least one drop assembly and said ground surface is less than a predetermined distance; and   whereby said controller is responsive to said generated breakaway signal to cause at least one of: (i) a warning signal to an operator that a breakaway event occurred; (ii) actuation of said boom height adjustment mechanism to raise said at least a section of said boom relative to said vehicle and said ground surface; and (iii) record an occurrence of a breakaway event.   
     
     
         2 . The liquid applicator implement of  claim 1 , wherein said height sensor assembly includes a ground engaging arm and a displacement sensor, said displacement sensor detecting displacement of said ground engaging arm as said distance between said at least one drop assembly and said ground surface varies as said vehicle advances in said direction of travel. 
     
     
         3 . The liquid applicator of  claim 2 , wherein said displacement of said ground engaging arm is a rotational displacement and said displacement sensor is a rotational displacement sensor. 
     
     
         4 . The liquid applicator of  claim 2 , wherein said displacement of said ground engaging arm is a linear displacement and said displacement sensor is a linear displacement sensor. 
     
     
         5 . The liquid applicator of  claim 2 , wherein said ground engaging member is attached to said at least one drop assembly via a vertical pivot assembly such that said ground engaging arm is capable of pivoting about a vertical axis relative to said one drop assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The liquid applicator implement of  claim 1 , wherein said height sensor assembly is a non-contact sensor. 
     
     
         7 . The liquid applicator implement of  claim 1 , wherein said boom includes a center boom section, a first wing section and a second wing section, said first wing section coupled to said center section at a first end of said center boom section, said second wing section coupled to said center section at a second end of said center boom section, and wherein said center boom section and each of said first and second wing sections supports at least one of said plurality of drop assemblies. 
     
     
         8 . The liquid applicator implement of  claim 7 , wherein said adjustment mechanism includes a first adjustment mechanism coupled to said center boom section, a second adjustment mechanism coupled to said first wing section, and a third adjustment mechanism coupled to said second wing section. 
     
     
         9 . The liquid applicator implement of  claim 8 , wherein said height sensor assembly is attached to one of said multiple ones of said plurality of drop assemblies supported by said center section. 
     
     
         10 . The liquid applicator implement of  claim 9 , further comprising a second height sensor assembly attached to said at least one drop assembly supported by said first wing section, said second height sensor assembly generating a height signal indicative of a distance between said at least one drop assembly supported by said first wing section and said ground surface as said vehicle advances in said direction of travel, said second height sensor assembly in communication with said controller. 
     
     
         11 . The liquid applicator implement of  claim 10 , further comprising a third height sensor assembly attached to said at least one drop assembly supported by said second wing section, said third height sensor assembly generating a height signal indicative of a distance between said at least one drop assembly supported by said second wing section and said ground surface as said vehicle advances in said direction of travel, said third height sensor assembly in communication with said controller. 
     
     
         12 . The liquid applicator implement of  claim 11 , wherein said first adjustment mechanism is capable of vertically adjusting said center boom section, said first wing section and said second wing section as said vehicle advances in said direction of travel based on said generated signals of said first height sensor assembly. 
     
     
         13 . The liquid applicator implement of  claim 12 , wherein said second adjustment mechanism is capable of vertically adjusting said first wing section independent of said center section and said second wing section as said vehicle advances in said direction of travel based on said generated signals of said second height sensor assembly, and wherein said third adjustment mechanism is capable of vertically adjusting said second wing section independent of said center section and said first wing section as said vehicle advances in said direction of travel based on said generated signals of said third height sensor assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The liquid applicator of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of drop assemblies delivers liquid product as a continuous low pressure stream to said ground surface via laterally spaced dribble hoses. 
     
     
         15 . The liquid applicator of  claim 14 , and wherein said dribble hoses diverge outwardly and rearwardly from said riser with respect to a forward direction of travel of said vehicle. 
     
     
         16 . The liquid applicator of  claim 1 , wherein each of said plurality of drop assemblies includes a riser and each riser supporting a spray nozzle in liquid communication with said liquid source, said spray nozzle configured to spraying said liquid product. 
     
     
         17 . The liquid applicator of  claim 14 , wherein each of said plurality of drop assemblies includes a riser, said riser supporting a spray nozzle in liquid communication with said liquid source, said spray nozzle configured to spray said liquid product. 
     
     
         18 . The liquid applicator of  claim 1 , wherein said controller is configured to designate a recorded breakaway event as a non-trusted breakaway event when said generated height signal indicates said distance between said at least one drop assembly and said ground surface is greater than a predetermined distance.