EP0155850A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Apparatus for distributing fluid
Assignee: Nomix Manufacturing Co Ltd
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Filing: 1985-03-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-03-20
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus for distributing, for example, weed-killer comprises delivery members (112, 114) which are supplied with the weedkiller by a pump (102). The delivery member (112, 114) comprise rotating discs, the speed of which is controlled by a central processing unit (CPU)(250). The CPU (250) also controls the output of the pump (102) in order to regulate the flowrate of weedkiller in response to a preset area concentration (dose selector (104)) and the travel speed (wheel pick-up (100)). The delivery of weedkiller per unit area thus remains constant regardless of the travel speed.
Inventors
- 👤 David Charles Gill
- 👤 Jonathan Bruce Freeman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 13:27
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01M; A01M7/00; A01M7/0089; B; B05; B05B; B05B9/00; B05B9/03; B05B9/04; B05B9/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for distributing fluid over the ground, the apparatus comprising a delivery member (112,114) and a pump (102) for supplying the fluid to the delivery member (112,114), characterized in that control means (106) for the pump (102) is responsive to a travel speed signal, representing the travel speed of the apparatus across the ground, and a dose signal, representing the required area concentration of fluid to be distributed, the control means (106) being adapted to generate a pump control signal to which the pump (102) is reponsive to supply fluid to the delivery member at a flow rate corresponding to the desired area concentration.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
Apparatus for distributing fluid over the ground, the apparatus comprising a delivery member (112,114) and a pump (102) for supplying the fluid to the delivery member (112,114), characterized in that control means (106) for the pump (102) is responsive to a travel speed signal, representing the travel speed of the apparatus across the ground, and a dose signal, representing the required area concentration of fluid to be distributed, the control means (106) being adapted to generate a pump control signal to which the pump (102) is reponsive to supply fluid to the delivery member at a flow rate corresponding to the desired area concentration.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
71 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the control means (106) is also responsive to a pump output signal, the control means (106) comprising a comparator for comparing the pump control signal with the pump output signal and for delivering a correcting signal for adjusting the pump output in the event that the pump output signal and the pump control signal represent respective pump outputs which are not equal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pump (102) is a positive displacement pump whereby the pump output is proportional to the pump speed. _
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the pump (102) is a peristaltic pump.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pump (102) is driven by a voltage controlled motor, whereby the speed of the pump depends on its operating voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the delivery member (112,114) comprises a rotary element from which the fluid is discharged, in use, by centrifugal force, the rotary speed of the rotary element being controlled by the control means (106).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the delivery member (112,114) is one of a plurality of delivery members.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the control means (106) is responsive to a manually operable control device to cause operation of at least one but not all of the delivery members (112,114).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control means (106) is responsive to a manually operable control device to cause operation of the or each delivery member (112,114) while the pump remains inoperative.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the travel speed signal is generated by a device comprising a pair of 'discs mounted respectively on a frame of the apparatus and on a ground wheel of the apparatus, the discs functioning as a capacitor the capacitance of which fluctuates during rotation of the wheel relative to the frame.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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