US 12,330,179 B2
Work vehicle sprayer system and method with pinching nozzle apparatus
Bran Ferren, Beverly Hills, CA (US); Donald Lariviere, Glendale, CA (US); and James Hirahara, Alhambra, CA (US)
Assigned to DEERE &COMPANY, Moline, IL (US)
Filed by Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/383,027.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/070,604, filed on Aug. 26, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0062940 A1, Mar. 3, 2022
Int. Cl. B05B 15/528 (2018.01); A01C 23/00 (2006.01); B05B 1/12 (2006.01); A01M 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B05B 15/528 (2018.02) [B05B 1/12 (2013.01); A01C 23/007 (2013.01); A01M 7/0089 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A nozzle apparatus configured to distribute a primary fluid, the nozzle apparatus comprising:
a support plate;
a fluid manifold mounted to the support plate and configured to receive the primary fluid;
a spray nozzle coupled to the fluid manifold and configured to receive the primary fluid from the fluid manifold and spray the primary fluid in a spray pattern;
an actuator gear assembly mounted to the support plate;
a pincher gear assembly having a first pincher gear and a second pincher gear mounted on the support plate, wherein the first pincher gear is engaged with the second pincher gear and the second pincher gear is engaged with the actuator gear assembly;
a first pincher mounted on the first pincher gear; and
a second pincher mounted on the second pincher gear, wherein the first and second pinchers are positioned on opposite sides of the spray nozzle,
wherein the actuator gear assembly is configured to drive the pincher gear assembly between a first position in which the first and second pinchers are positioned relative to each other and relative to the spray nozzle such that the spray nozzle has a first cross-sectional shape and a second position in which the first and second pinchers are positioned relative to each other and relative to the spray nozzle such that the spray nozzle has a second cross-sectional shape, and wherein the first cross-sectional shape is different than the second cross-sectional shape.