Patent ID: 9591801
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: A01C,G01K

Claim:
1. An anhydrous ammonia fertilizer distribution line monitor comprising: a fertilizer manifold having at least one fertilizer inlet port and a plurality of fertilizer manifold discharge ports; a plurality of injector knives mounted on a tool bar; a plurality of flexible plastic tubular distribution lines with a distribution line inside diameter and a distribution line length that are substantially the same and each of which include a proximal line portion with an inlet end connected to one of the plurality of fertilizer manifold discharge ports and a distal line portion with an outlet end connected to one of the plurality of injector knives; a plurality of temperature sensor assemblies each including an aluminum body with an inlet fitting, an outlet fitting, an anhydrous ammonia passage extending through the aluminum body including the inlet fitting and the outlet fitting, the anhydrous ammonia passage having a passage diameter that is substantially the same as the distribution line inside diameter, a sensor cavity in the aluminum body with a cavity bottom, a temperature sensor mounted on the cavity bottom in the sensor cavity and spaced from the anhydrous ammonia passage, a first lead attached to the temperature sensor and wherein the inlet fitting of each of the plurality of temperature sensor assemblies is attached to the proximal line portion attached to one of the plurality of fertilizer manifold discharge ports and separates the aluminum body of the temperature sensor assembly from the manifold discharge port a selected distance, and the outlet fitting of the temperature sensor assembly attached to the distal line portion; and a monitor connected to the first lead of each of the plurality of temperature sensor assemblies and displaying temperature sensed by each of the plurality of temperature sensor assemblies.