Seed flow monitor
First Claim
1. A seed flow monitor comprising:
- (a) means for detecting the flow of seeds in a plurality of seed tubes,(b) means for transmitting a pulse signal in the event of reduction of the rate of flow of seeds in any of the seed tubes below a predetermined minimum, the pulse signal being comprised of a first predetermined number of pulses, the transmitting means being adapted to transmit the pulses via serially connected pulse signal modification means associated with each one or group of seed tubes,(c) the pulse modification means being adapted to receive a series of pulses transmitted thereto and to transmit a different number of pulses to a further serially connected similar modification means or to the central display means, the character of a resulting pulse signal representing the serial placement of one or a group of seed tubes relative to other ones or groups of seed tubes, and(d) central display means for detecting the modified pulse signal and indicating the detected reduction of the flow of seeds on a display, the indicated display corresponding to the placement of the one or group of seed tubes.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seed flow monitor for use with a plurality of seed flow sensors which are located in individual tubes of a field seeder. In the event of detection of reduction of seed flow in any seed tube below a predetermined threshold, a pulse signal is sent to a central display via circuits, associated with each group of seed flow sensors, connected in series. Each of the circuits modifies the pulse signal in a predetermined similar manner, resulting in a pulse signal received at the central display which is unique to the group of seed tubes originating the pulse signal. Preferably the pulse signal is constantly transmitted to the circuits by the central display, and is merely coupled into the series of circuits upon detection of the seed flow below the threshold. The cabling complexity from the sensors to the control display is thus substantially reduced and reliability is enhanced.
8 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A seed flow monitor comprising:
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(a) means for detecting the flow of seeds in a plurality of seed tubes, (b) means for transmitting a pulse signal in the event of reduction of the rate of flow of seeds in any of the seed tubes below a predetermined minimum, the pulse signal being comprised of a first predetermined number of pulses, the transmitting means being adapted to transmit the pulses via serially connected pulse signal modification means associated with each one or group of seed tubes, (c) the pulse modification means being adapted to receive a series of pulses transmitted thereto and to transmit a different number of pulses to a further serially connected similar modification means or to the central display means, the character of a resulting pulse signal representing the serial placement of one or a group of seed tubes relative to other ones or groups of seed tubes, and (d) central display means for detecting the modified pulse signal and indicating the detected reduction of the flow of seeds on a display, the indicated display corresponding to the placement of the one or group of seed tubes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A seed tube monitor comprising:
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(a) a central display means including means for generating a stream of pulses, and a displaying circuit, (b) means for detecting the reduction of the rate of flow of seeds in one or groups of seed tubes below a predetermined minimum, (c) pulse receiving means associated with each one or a group of seed tubes, for receiving the stream of pulses, (d) pulse subtraction means associated with said each one or a group of said detecting means, adapted to subtract a first predetermined number of pulses from a sequence of pulses which may be applied thereto, (e) a pulse transmission line connecting each pulse subtraction means in series to the displaying circuit of the central display means, (f) means for coupling a second predetermined number of said pulses of said stream of pulses to the pulse transmission medium via the pulse stream receiving means at one or group of seed tubes upon the detection thereat of the reduction of the flow of seeds below said minimum, whereby the second predetermined number of pulses is carrier along the transmission line, said first predetermined number thereof being subtracted by each pulse subtraction means in series, (g) means at the display means for receiving a remaining number of pulses from the transmission line and for displaying a representation corresponding to the remaining number of pulses, said number corresponding to said one or group of seed tubes in which said reduction of the rate of flow of seeds has been detected. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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- 11. A seed tube monitor as defined in claim 11, in which the capacitor is connected across the input of said translation means, whereby the translation means is adapted to receive and pass said predetermined number of pulses when the capacitor is charged to a level higher than the threshold of the translation means.
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14. A seed flow monitor comprising:
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(a) means for detecting the flow of seeds in a plurality of seed tubes, (b) means associated with each one or groups of said detectors for transmitting an alarm signal along a transmission line upon detection of the flow of seed being below a predetermined flow rate in a seed tube, in which the alarm signal transmitted by each transmitting means as a result of said detection is identical, (c) means for detecting an unique form of the alarm signal associated with each one or groups of said detectors, (d) a cable forming said transmission line serially connecting each transmitting means in series to the alarm signal detecting means, (e) means at each transmitting means for modifying an alarm signal which may be received along the cable before transmitting it further along the cable, to provide an unique form of alarm signal comprised of said identical alarm signal modified by as many transmitting means as there are serially connected between the transmitting means originating the alarm signal and the means for detecting the alarm signal, and (f) central display means for decoding said forms of alarm signal and enabling indicators each corresponding to the forms of alarm signal detected. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification