US 12,104,988 B2
Agricultural sampling system and related methods
Todd Swanson, Morton, IL (US); Dale Koch, Tremont, IL (US); Kent Levy, Morton, IL (US); Matthew O'Neall, Ellsworth, IL (US); Reid Harman, Trivoli, IL (US); Timothy Schaefer, Tremont, IL (US); and Adam Vaccari, 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. 17/144,116.
Application 17/144,116 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 2021/0208123 A1, Jul. 8, 2021
Int. Cl. G01N 1/08 (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 1/38 (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); G01N 35/10 (2006.01); G05B 15/02 (2006.01); B01F 23/50 (2022.01); B01F 101/00 (2022.01); B01F 101/23 (2022.01)
CPC G01N 1/08 (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 1/38 (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); G01N 35/1095 (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 33/245 (2024.05); G01N 2035/00188 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00475 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00495 (2013.01); G01N 2035/00514 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automated inline processing system for collecting, preparing, and analyzing an agricultural sample, the system comprising:
a portable vehicle configured to travel through an agricultural field for collecting the sample;
a sample collector first sub-system comprising a sample collection probe configured and operable to collect a sample from the agricultural field, the sample collection probe being mounted on the portable vehicle;
a water source;
a sample preparation second sub-system comprising a mixer fluidly coupled to the water source and including a cavity which receives the sample from the sample collection probe, the mixer comprising a rotatable mixing element configured and operable to prepare a slurry from mixing the sample and water from the water source;
the mixer being configured and operable to discharge the slurry through a discharge flow conduit;
an extractant source;
the sample preparation second sub-system further comprising an extractant pump fluidly coupled to the extractant source, the extractant pump being configured and operable to pump the extractant into the discharge flow conduit at an injection point to mix the extractant with the slurry to extract a test material from the slurry via a chemical reaction;
an analysis third sub-system comprising an analysis cell fluidly coupled to the discharge flow conduit downstream of the injection point, the analysis cell being configured and operable to analyze the test material and measure an analyte present therein;
a programmable controller operably and communicably linked to the sample collection probe, mixer, extractant pump, and analysis cell via wired or wireless communication links;
wherein the controller is configured to collect and process the sample in sequence in real time from collection by the sample collection probe to analysis by the analysis cell.