Spreader control

• US 4,373,668 A
• Filed: 06/06/1980
• Issued: 02/15/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Donald R. Forbes, Edson A. Forbes
• Original Assignee: Donald R. Forbes, Edson A. Forbes
• Inventors: Forbes, Edson A., Forbes, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kashnikow, Andres
• Application Number:
  US06/156,925
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 222/626, 239/155, 239/156, 239/670, 239/672, 239/673, 239/675, 239/677, 239/684, 239/70, 239/71, 239/74
• US Class Current: 239/74
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 17/006 Regulating or dosing devices

Abstract

A computer control technique controls a chemical spreading operation such as the spreading of a salt-sand composition from a truck hopper. The vehicle has a spinner motor controlled by the vehicle operator from the control panel which is preferably disposed in the vehicle cab, and a conveyor motor operated under computer control and operator control. A display is part of the control panel and indicates conveyor motor speed to the operator. The operating power for the system, and in particular the conveyor motor, is derived from an AC generator (alternator) preferably driven from the fan belt drive of the vehicle motor thus not requiring any separate motor drive or hydraulic drive. In one embodiment a single alternator is used for both conveyor motor power and normal electrical vehicle power, while in an alternative embodiment separate alternators are employed both associated with the vehicle motor.

Claims

1. Spreader control system for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine and a conveyor means for a product that is to be spread leading to a spreader, said system comprising;

electrical spreader motor,

means for mounting the spreader motor at a rear of the vehicle adjacent the conveyor means for operating the vehicle spreader,

electrical conveyor motor,

means for mounting the conveyor motor for driving the conveyor motor,

first control means including means for controlling the electrical spreader motor comprising manually settable adjustment means for controlling spreader motor speed independent of conveyor motor speed,

and second control means for controlling the electrical conveyor motor, including alternator power means operated from the vehicle internal combustion engine and means for controlling the alternator power means output to the electrical conveyor motor,

wherein said second control means includes a computer, mode control means having a manual position and an automatic position, means coupling the mode control means to the computer, said computer having a control output line, means coupling the computer output line to a control winding of the alternator power means, said mode control means in its manual position providing a preset frequency signal for controlling the conveyor motor at a set revolution per time, means for sensing vehicle speed, said mode control means in its automatic position providing a control signal to the conveyor motor to operate the conveyor motor as a speed which is a function of both a preset signal and the vehicle speed signal.

2. Spreader control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first control means includes pulse means, the frequency of which is manually controlled.

3. Spreader control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said alternator power means provides power for the conveyor motor and also for other electrical functions in the vehicle.

4. Spreader control system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said alternator power means provides power for the conveyor motor and a second alternator means is used for other electrical functions in the vehicle.

5. Spreader control system as set forth in claim 1 including means for sensing conveyor motor speed and means responsive to both conveyor motor and vehicle speed signals to control said computer.

6. Spreader control system as set forth in claim 1 including display means coupled from the computer for indicating conveyor motor speed.

7. Spreader control system as set forth in claim 6 wherein said mode control means coupled to said computer in one position causes the display to be in revolutions per time and in another position causes the display to be in revolutions per distance.

8. Spreader control system as set forth in claim 1 including display means and means coupling the display means to the computer, said computer including means operable in the manual mode for providing a display in revolutions per time, and in the automatic mode for providing a display in revolutions per distance.

9. Spreader control system as set forth in claim 8 incuding tachometer means responsive to conveyor motor speed and ground reference circuitry responsive to the conveyor motor speed and vehicle speed to provide an automatic control signal to the computer.

10. Spreader control system as set forth in claim 9 including manual increase/decrease speed switch means coupled to the computer for controlling conveyor motor speed comprising a momentary switch having two momentary positions corresponding to respective speed increase and decrease, and an inactive rest position.