US 12,000,853 B2
Agricultural sampling, sample preparation and analysis system and related methods
Todd Swanson, Morton, IL (US); Dale Koch, Tremont, IL (US); Hayden Splechter, Tremont, IL (US); and Timothy Schaefer, Tremont, IL (US)
Assigned to Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Filed by Precision Planting LLC, Tremont, IL (US)
Filed on Jan. 7, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/144,059.
Application 17/144,059 is a continuation of application No. PCT/IB2019/055862, filed on Jul. 10, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/860,297, filed on Jun. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/829,807, filed on Apr. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/792,987, filed on Jan. 16, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/745,606, filed on Oct. 15, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/729,623, filed on Sep. 11, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/696,271, filed on Jul. 10, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0123936 A1, Apr. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 35/10 (2006.01); A01C 23/00 (2006.01); B01D 19/00 (2006.01); B01D 21/26 (2006.01); B01D 29/11 (2006.01); B01F 23/53 (2022.01); B01F 23/80 (2022.01); B01F 25/30 (2022.01); B01F 25/54 (2022.01); B01F 27/1125 (2022.01); B01F 27/808 (2022.01); B01F 27/906 (2022.01); B01F 35/00 (2022.01); B01F 35/10 (2022.01); B01F 35/21 (2022.01); B01F 35/45 (2022.01); B04B 5/04 (2006.01); F04B 43/06 (2006.01); G01G 17/04 (2006.01); G01N 1/08 (2006.01); G01N 1/38 (2006.01); G01N 1/40 (2006.01); G01N 21/05 (2006.01); G01N 21/25 (2006.01); G01N 21/78 (2006.01); G01N 33/24 (2006.01); G01N 35/00 (2006.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01); B01F 23/50 (2022.01); B01F 101/00 (2022.01); B01F 101/23 (2022.01)
CPC G01N 35/1095 (2013.01) [A01C 23/007 (2013.01); B01D 19/00 (2013.01); B01D 21/262 (2013.01); B01D 29/112 (2013.01); B01F 23/53 (2022.01); B01F 23/807 (2022.01); B01F 23/808 (2022.01); B01F 25/30 (2022.01); B01F 25/54 (2022.01); B01F 27/11253 (2022.01); B01F 27/808 (2022.01); B01F 27/906 (2022.01); B01F 35/1452 (2022.01); B01F 35/187 (2022.01); B01F 35/2117 (2022.01); B01F 35/453 (2022.01); B04B 5/0421 (2013.01); F04B 43/06 (2013.01); G01G 17/04 (2013.01); G01N 1/08 (2013.01); G01N 1/38 (2013.01); G01N 1/4055 (2013.01); G01N 1/4077 (2013.01); G01N 21/05 (2013.01); G01N 21/251 (2013.01); G01N 21/78 (2013.01); G01N 33/24 (2013.01); G01N 35/00584 (2013.01); G01N 35/1004 (2013.01); G05B 15/02 (2013.01); B01D 2201/4092 (2013.01); B01F 23/581 (2022.01); B01F 2101/005 (2022.01); B01F 2101/23 (2022.01); G01N 2001/4061 (2013.01); G01N 2001/4083 (2013.01); G01N 2001/4088 (2013.01); G01N 2033/245 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00188 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00475 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00495 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00514 (2013.01)] 24 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fluidic processing device for analysis of agricultural samples comprising:
a plurality of multi-layered processing manifolds interlocked together to collectively form a body;
each processing manifold comprising:
a plurality of externally-accessible fluid exchange ports arranged on each processing manifold to exchange process fluids with a plurality of external fluidic components;
an internal flow network comprising a plurality of fluidic channels fluidly coupled to the fluid exchange ports;
a plurality of pumps arranged in the flow network of channels;
wherein the pumps comprise a slurry pump configured to pump an agricultural slurry comprised of a mixture of water and agricultural solid particles;
an analysis flow cell arranged in the flow network downstream of the slurry pump, the analysis flow cell being configured to measure an analyte from the slurry of agricultural interest;
wherein the plurality of pumps further comprise a chemical pump fluidly coupled to an extractant source;
wherein the fluid exchange ports comprise a sample slurry fluid exchange port in fluid communication with an agricultural slurry source and an extractant fluid exchange port in fluid communication with the extractant source, wherein the slurry pump is fluidly coupled to a the sample slurry fluid exchange port for receiving the agricultural slurry, the chemical pump is fluidly coupled to the extractant fluid exchange port for receiving extractant, and the flow network is configured to receive and mix the extractant and agricultural slurry from the chemical and slurry pumps respectively to form a chemical-slurry mixture;
further comprising a chemical mixing chamber fluidly coupled to the chemical and slurry pumps, the chemical mixing chamber being operable to receive and mix the extractant and agricultural slurry to form the chemical slurry mixture;
further comprising a chemical-slurry mixture outlet fluid exchange port of the fluid exchange ports fluidly coupled to the chemical mixing chamber, the chemical-slurry mixture outlet fluid exchange port configured for transferring the chemical-slurry mixture to an external separation device operable for separating a test material liquid from the agricultural solid particles of the chemical slurry mixture.
 
23. A fluidic processing device for analysis of agricultural samples comprising:
a plurality of multi-layered processing manifolds interlocked together to collectively form a body;
each processing manifold comprising:
a plurality of externally-accessible fluid exchange ports arranged on each processing manifold to exchange process fluids with a plurality of external fluidic components;
an internal flow network comprising a plurality of fluidic channels fluidly coupled to the fluid exchange ports;
a plurality of pumps arranged in the flow network of channels;
wherein the pumps comprise a slurry pump configured to pump an agricultural slurry comprised of a mixture of water and agricultural solid particles;
an analysis flow cell arranged in the flow network downstream of the slurry pump, the analysis flow cell being configured to measure an analyte from the slurry of agricultural interest;
wherein the plurality of pumps further comprise a chemical pump fluidly coupled to an extractant source;
wherein the fluid exchange ports comprise a sample slurry fluid exchange port in fluid communication with an agricultural slurry source and an extractant fluid exchange port in fluid communication with the extractant source, wherein the slurry pump is fluidly coupled to the sample slurry fluid exchange port for receiving the agricultural slurry, the chemical pump is fluidly coupled to the extractant fluid exchange port for receiving extractant, and the flow network is configured to receive and mix the extractant and agricultural slurry from the chemical and slurry pumps respectively to form a chemical slurry mixture;
a chemical mixing chamber fluidly coupled to the chemical and slurry pumps, the chemical mixing chamber being operable to receive and mix the extractant and agricultural slurry to form the chemical-slurry mixture;
wherein the chemical mixing chamber comprises a pneumatically-actuated diaphragm fluidly coupled to an external gas source via a gas fluid exchange port of the fluid exchange ports.
 
24. A fluidic processing device for analysis of agricultural samples comprising:
a plurality of multi-layered processing manifolds interlocked together to collectively form a body;
each processing manifold comprising:
a plurality of externally-accessible fluid exchange ports arranged on each processing manifold to exchange process fluids with a plurality of external fluidic components;
an internal flow network comprising a plurality of fluidic channels fluidly coupled to the fluid exchange ports;
a plurality of pumps arranged in the flow network of channels;
wherein the pumps comprise a slurry pump configured to pump an agricultural slurry comprised of a mixture of water and agricultural solid particles;
an analysis flow cell arranged in the flow network downstream of the slurry pump, the analysis flow cell being configured to measure an analyte from the slurry of agricultural interest;
wherein the plurality of pumps are pneumatically-actuated diaphragm pumps comprising elastomeric diaphragm;
wherein each of the plurality of pumps are fluidly coupled collectively to a first gas supply fluid exchange port for operating all of the pumps, the first gas supply fluid exchange port forming one of the fluid exchange ports; and
a second gas supply fluid exchange port fluidly coupled to the flow network, wherein the first gas supply fluid exchange port is coupled to a low pressure gas source and the second gas supply fluid exchange port is coupled to a high pressure gas source having a gas pressure greater than a gas pressure of the low pressure gas source, the second gas supply fluid exchange port forming one of the fluid exchange ports.