EP0308154A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal controller for material distribution device
Assignee: Dickey John Corp
•
Filing: 1988-09-12
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2008-09-12
Abstract
Abstract A monitoring and control system is provided for a mobile material distribution apparatus wherein the rate of material distribution per unit of area varies as a predetermined function of the ground speed of the mobile apparatus and of the rate of operation of a variable rate delivery structure for delivering material at a controllable rate to material a distribution structure for distributing the material along the path of travel of the mobile apparatus. The monitoring and control system comprises a ground speed sensor (12) for developing a ground speed signal corresponding to the ground speed of the mobile apparatus and a delivery rate sensor (22) for developing a delivery rate signal corresponding to a rate of delivery of material by the variable rate delivery structure. The monitoring and control system includes a monitoring and control circuit responsive to the ground speed signal and to the delivery operation of the variable rate delivery structure to achieve and maintain a desired rate of distribution of material along the path of travel of the mobile distribution apparatus. The monitoring and control circuit further comprises a processor circuit responsive to the ground speed and delivery rate signals for producing the control signals and a memory circuit for storing data and instructions for enabling the processing circuit to respond to delivery rate signals from each of a plurality of different types of delivery rate sensors.
Inventors
- 👤 Wesley J. Bachman
- 👤 Steven G. Stone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 23:17
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D7/00; G05D7/06; G05D7/0617; G05D7/0623; A; A01; A01M; A01M7/00; A01M7/0089; G05D7/0605; G05D7/0611
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
A monitoring and control system for a mobile material distribution apparatus wherein the rate of material distribution per unit area varies as a predetermined function of the ground speed of the mobile apparatus and of the rate of operation of variable rate delivery means for delivering material at a controllable rate to material distribution means for distributing the material along the path of travel of the mobile apparatus; said monitoring and control system comprising: ground speed sensor means for developing a ground speed signal corresponding to the ground speed of the mobile apparatus and delivery rate sensor means for developing a delivery rate signal corresponding to a rate of delivery of material by said variable rate delivery means; monitoring and control circuit means responsive to said ground speed signal and to said delivery rate signals for developing a control signal for controlling the operation of said variable rate delivery means to achieve and maintain a desired rate of distribution of material along the path of travel of the mobile distribution apparatus, said monitoring and control circuit means further comprising processing means responsive to said ground speed and delivery rate signals for producing display signals corresponding to associated functions and conditions of the mobile apparatus, and characterized by the provision of memory means (100 or 102 and 104) for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to delivery rate signals from each of a plurality of different types of delivery rate sensor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
246 words
A monitoring and control system for a mobile material distribution apparatus wherein the rate of material distribution per unit area varies as a predetermined function of the ground speed of the mobile apparatus and of the rate of operation of variable rate delivery means for delivering material at a controllable rate to material distribution means for distributing the material along the path of travel of the mobile apparatus; said monitoring and control system comprising: ground speed sensor means for developing a ground speed signal corresponding to the ground speed of the mobile apparatus and delivery rate sensor means for developing a delivery rate signal corresponding to a rate of delivery of material by said variable rate delivery means; monitoring and control circuit means responsive to said ground speed signal and to said delivery rate signals for developing a control signal for controlling the operation of said variable rate delivery means to achieve and maintain a desired rate of distribution of material along the path of travel of the mobile distribution apparatus, said monitoring and control circuit means further comprising processing means responsive to said ground speed and delivery rate signals for producing display signals corresponding to associated functions and conditions of the mobile apparatus, and characterized by the provision of memory means (100 or 102 and 104) for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to delivery rate signals from each of a plurality of different types of delivery rate sensor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
86 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said memory means comprises first, mask-programmable, non-alterable memory means (100 or 102) for containing non-changeable constants, including unit conversion constants, second non-volatile memory means (104) accessible only to authorized factory or service programming personnel for containing changeable conversion constants including said data and instructions for enabling response to said plurality of delivery rate sensor means, and third, user-accessible non-volatile memory means (104) for receiving and storing data relating to the particular characteristics of the selected delivery rate sensor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
A system according to claim 2 wherein said user accessible non-volatile memory means is further adapted to receive and store user-selected data corresponding to selection of English or metric units for display, to calibration of said processor for operation with the mobile distribution apparatus and to data relating to the particular distributing means associated with the mobile material distribution apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said memory means further stores data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to the sensor signals from any of a plurality of ground speed sensors selectable for use with the material distribution apparatus with which said monitoring and control system is to be utilized.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A system according to claim 1 and further including operator accessible console means (25) including observable display means (30) for displaying functions and conditions monitored by said monitoring and control circuit in accordance with the display signals produced thereby, and for selecting particular ones of said functions and conditions for display as desired.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A system according to claim 2 and further including operator accessible control means (50, 52, 54) for entering the desired data to said user-accessible non-volatile memory means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said monitoring and control circuit means includes microprocessor means (100) having a plurality of inputs (70, 72, 78-88) coupled respectively to said sensor means and to user-accessible control means, first output means (110, 90) for delivering said display signals to user-observable display means and second output means (74, 76) for delivering said control signals to said variable rate material delivery means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
A system according to claim 7 wherein said plurality of inputs includes at least one additional input (86 or 88) for connection to additional sensor means for monitoring a further condition or function of the mobile material distribution apparatus, and wherein said processing means includes means responsive to said further sensor means for producing corresponding display signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
47 words
A system according to claim 1 wherein said mobile material distribution apparatus comprises a liquid sprayer apparatus, wherein the material distribution means comprises a plurality of nozzles and wherein said delivery rate sensor means comprises a pressure sensor operatively coupled for sensing the pressure across the nozzles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
A system according to claim 9 and further including flow rate sensor means for producing a flow rate signal corresponding the rate of flow of liquid to said nozzles; and wherein said monitoring and control circuit means further includes means for comparing said flow rate signal with one of said ground speed signal and said pressure signal and for producing display signals corresponding to one or more of said nozzles being in an operative or inoperative condition based upon said comparison.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.