Patents by Inventor Travis G. Funseth

Travis G. Funseth has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20150367357
    Abstract: An individual spray nozzle contains two or more valves that are actuated by time or frequency modulated signals such as pulse width modulated (PWM) signals. The PWM signals are interleaved to open and close each of the respective valves that enable fluid to flow from an input to a combined output. The opening and closing positions of two or more different valves are interleaved to increase the range of performance, such as to increase the frequency of fluid flow from the input to the combined output. Additional embodiments are described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Richard A. Humpal, Travis G. Funseth
  • Publication number: 20150367358
    Abstract: Embodiments include individual physical spray nozzles that have passageways inside to combine fluids that flow out of the spray nozzles. The nozzles have at least two valves that are opened and closed in an interleaved manner. The nozzles have multiple outlets. Such nozzles are mounted on a variety of implements including agricultural or industrial spray booms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Travis G. Funseth, Stacy L. Bullock, Richard A. Humpal, Dolly Y. Wu
  • Patent number: 9073070
    Abstract: A sprayer nozzle apparatus of an agricultural sprayer is disclosed. The sprayer nozzle apparatus is adapted for receiving a fluid from a spray line of an agricultural sprayer. The sprayer nozzle apparatus includes an apparatus housing. A control element is rotatably coupled to the apparatus housing. A plurality of nozzle connectors having a plurality of supply paths are coupled to the apparatus housing. The control element is configured to receive fluid from the spray line and selectively communicate fluid to at least one of the plurality of supply paths of one of the plurality of nozzle connectors in a first position and to at least one of the plurality of supply paths of another of the plurality of nozzle connectors in a second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Travis G. Funseth, Richard A. Humpal
  • Patent number: 8919676
    Abstract: An agricultural sprayer includes a spray boom equipped with a plurality of spray heads, with each head having a body defining a cavity located in fluid communication with a fluid inlet and an array of four outlets leading to four nozzles respectively having different flow rates. A nozzle-select control member is mounted for rotation in the cavity and includes a fluid passage arrangement for establishing fluid connections between the inlet and different ones or combinations of the four nozzles as the control member is rotated among preselected discrete positions by an electric stepper motor, with the stepper motor being controlled in response to vehicle speed so that the spray tip capacity decreases for effecting a constant application rate as the vehicle speed decreases from a maximum permitted speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Travis G. Funseth, David S. Mercer, Richard A. Humpal
  • Patent number: 8844838
    Abstract: An agricultural sprayer spray head is adapted for being mounted to a spray boom together with a plurality of like, equally spaced spray heads. Each spray head includes a body containing a flow control member mounted for rotation about an axis and including a fluid control passage arrangement located for effecting an intermittent connection between a fluid inlet leading to, and an outlet leading from the body as the control member is oscillated or rotated by a powered motor so as to effect a pulsing flow through said control passage arrangement. The powered motor operates at a speed controlled by various input parameters including vehicle speed and field and crop conditions so as to maintain a desired spray application rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Travis G. Funseth, David S. Mercer, Richard A. Humpal
  • Publication number: 20130284827
    Abstract: A sprayer nozzle cartridge for a sprayer nozzle apparatus of an agricultural sprayer is disclosed. The sprayer nozzle cartridge is adapted for coupling to a nozzle connector of the sprayer nozzle apparatus and for receiving a fluid from the sprayer nozzle apparatus. The sprayer nozzle apparatus includes an apparatus housing for supporting the nozzle connector and a control element configured to control fluid flow. The sprayer nozzle cartridge includes a cartridge housing. A plurality of nozzle tips having a plurality of flow paths are coupled to the cartridge housing. The control element selectively communicates fluid to at least one of the plurality of flow paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Inventors: Richard A. Humpal, Travis G. Funseth
  • Patent number: 6772964
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly includes a plastic, one-piece flood tip that attaches directly over the bayonet connector of a nozzle body. The nozzle body is of the diaphragm type for reduced weight, cost and complexity but modified to increase flow capacity. In one embodiment, a 90-degree bayonet is provided on the nozzle body turret, and other bayonet selections are also available on the turret for flat fan spray patterns. In a second embodiment, a conventional radially extending bayonet pattern is provided, and the flood tip itself is fabricated with a 90-degree turn. The plumbing system utilized for high spray rate applications with the flood tip is the same as for lower rate spraying using a different tip mounted on other bayonet connector on the turret.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2004
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Travis G. Funseth, Kent Alvin Klemme
  • Publication number: 20040046054
    Abstract: A nozzle assembly includes a plastic, one-piece flood tip that attaches directly over the bayonet connector of a nozzle body. The nozzle body is of the diaphragm type for reduced weight, cost and complexity but modified to increase flow capacity. In one embodiment, a 90-degree bayonet is provided on the nozzle body turret, and other bayonet selections are also available on the turret for flat fan spray patterns. In a second embodiment, a conventional radially extending bayonet pattern is provided, and the flood tip itself is fabricated with a 90-degree turn. The plumbing system utilized for high spray rate applications with the flood tip is the same as for lower rate spraying using a different tip mounted on other bayonet connector on the turret.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Travis G. Funseth, Kent Alvin Klemme