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Networked agricultural monitoring and control system

  • US 5,260,875 A
  • Filed: 08/20/1991
  • Issued: 11/09/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for managing a plurality of agricultural devices, the apparatus comprising:

  • memory means for storing program code and data used in operating one of the plurality of agricultural devices;

    user interface means for displaying status and control information associated with one of the plurality of agricultural devices and for receiving user modifications controlling operation of one of the plurality of agricultural devices;

    communicators network means for receiving and transmitting signals between a processor means and one of the plurality of agricultural devices, the signals relating to the operation of one of the plurality of agricultural devices; and

    processor means, electrically interconnected to said memory means, said user interface means, and said communications network means, for identifying each agricultural device to be managed, for accessing program code and data stored in said memory means associated with each identified agricultural device, for receiving status and control information from the user interface means, for generating control signals controlling one of the plurality of agricultural devices, for supplying the control signals to the communications interface means, and for providing status and control information to the user interface means;

    wherein one of the plurality of agricultural devices comprises spray control means or controlling transfer of a tank fluid from a sprayer tank to a spraying boom, the spray control means comprising;

    (a) fluid transfer means for transferring the tank fluid from the sprayer tank to the spraying boom, wherein the fluid transfer means comprises;

    (i) boom solenoid valve means for controlling the flow of tank fluid to the spraying boom;

    (ii) pump means, connected to and controlled by said boom solenoid valve means, or pumping fluid from the sprayer tank through a pump means input to a pump means output; and

    (iii) pump feedback means, connected to said pump means, for directing a portion of the tank fluid from the pump means output to the pump means input in order to control fluid pressure of the tank fluid;

    (b) pressure monitoring means for monitoring the fluid pressure of the tank fluid and for supplying a signal indicative of the pressure of the tank fluid to a fluid control means;

    (c) fluid flow monitoring means for monitoring flow of tank fluid to the spraying boom and supplying a signal indicative of a rate of flow of tank fluid to a fluid control means; and

    (d) fluid control means, connected to said pressure monitoring means and said fluid flow monitoring means, for controlling the flow of tank fluid, wherein the fluid control means comprises;

    (i) boom solenoid valve control means, responsive to control signals received from the processor means and connected to said boom solenoid valve, for controlling operation of said boom solenoid valve; and

    (ii) pump feedback control means, responsive to control signals received from the processor means and connected to said pump feedback, means for controlling the amount of tank fluid fed from the pump output means to the pump input means.

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