AUTOMATIC CONVEYOR SHUTOFF SYSTEM

• US 20100314221A1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Published: 12/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Inventors: GARBERSON, John, Petersen, Brian James
• Application Number:
  US12/862,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20100314221A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 198/617
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/003 Bulk fertiliser or grain handling in the field or on the farm
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/006 Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/00 Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting

Abstract

An automatic conveyor shutoff system for a farm implement, such as a grain cart or seed tender, includes a conveying device and a storage bin. The conveying device is configured to convey material into or from the storage bin. A weighing device measures the weight of the storage bin and outputs a signal representing the weight to a controller. The controller is configured to disable the conveying device when the weight reaches a preset limit.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the amount of material moved by a conveying device of a farm implement, the farm implement having a storage bin for storing material, a conveying device having an input at a first end and a discharge at a second end, said system comprising:

a weighing device configured to measure the weight of said bin and to output a signal representing said weight; and

a controller electronically coupled with said weighing device and configured to receive said signal and to disable said conveying device when said weight reaches a preset weight.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising an input device configured to allow an operator to enter at least one weight limit and said preset weight is set to said at least one weight limit.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user control switch configured to allow an operator to manually activate and disable said conveying device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said weighing device includes a scale display indicator that displays the weight of said storage bin and outputs an alarm signal when the weight of the material in the storage bin reaches a preset limit.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said control system is configured to disable said conveying device upon receiving the alarm signal from the scale indicator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said conveying device is a motor driven belt conveyor.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said storage bin includes a discharge.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said conveying device input is positioned to receive material from said storage bin discharge.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said conveying device discharge is positioned over said storage bin.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a conveyor control valve electronically coupled to said controller and configured to receive a signal from said controller and disable said conveying device upon receiving the signal.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein said conveyor control valve comprises a throttle actuator.

12. A method for controlling the amount of material output from a conveying device, comprising steps of:

storing material in a storage bin;

with a conveying device, conveying material into or from said storage bin;

with an electronic scale, monitoring the weight of said storage bin;

providing one or more preset weight limits;

sending a signal, with the electronic scale, representing the weight of said storage bin to a controller;

determining if said weight of said storage bin meets or exceeds said preset weight limit; and

with the controller, electronically controlling said conveyor to disable said conveyor when it is determined that said weight meets said preset weight limit.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising steps of:

with an input device, entering at least one weight limit; and

setting said at least one weight limit as the one or more preset weight limits.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of providing a means for an operator to manually activate and disable said conveying device.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising steps of:

displaying the weight of a storage bin; and

outputting an alarm signal when the weight of the material in the storage bin reaches a preset limit.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising steps of:

sending the alarm signal to said controller; and

with the controller, disabling said conveying device upon receiving the alarm signal.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of discharging material from said storage bin.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of receiving the material discharged from said storage bin discharge at an input of said conveying device.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of discharging material from said conveying device into said storage bin.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of controlling said conveying device with a conveyor control valve electronically coupled to said controller and configured to receive a signal from said controller and disable said conveying device upon receiving the signal.