Multi-variable rate dispensing system for agricultural machines

• US 5,913,915 A
• Filed: 09/30/1997
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ag-Chem Sales Company Incorporated (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ag-Chem Sales Company Incorporated (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: McQuinn, Alvin E.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAN QUANG
• Application Number:
  US08/940,345
• Time in Patent Office: 630 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50, 701/207, 701/213, 701/217, 701/223, 701/300, 364/478.14, 364/478.17, 364/479.01, 364/479.04, 364/479.1, 364/479.11, 364/514.13
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 79/005 Precision agriculture
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 23/007 Metering or regulating systems
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 7/0089 Regulating or controlling systems the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06

Abstract

An improved mobile agricultural products application system including a multi-variable rate dispensing system particularly adaptable for use in site-specific farming, wherein selected discrete crop input delivery information unique to selected on-board crop input storage devices, and/or crop input transport systems, and/or crop input dispensing points is combined with anticipated field reference point data obtained with a machine positioning system, e.g. "Dead Reckoning", GPS, and/or radar, and a computer, to direct independent functioning of selected on-board storage devices, material transport systems, crop input release mechanisms and/or dispensing point mechanisms to ensure stored crop inputs are released and combined to vary a prescription of delivered crop inputs in a direction substantially transverse to the direction of machine travel as the crop input applicator machine(s) travels over a predetermined geographic land area. The improved system can selectively and exclusively accommodate precise application of seeds, or can optionally accommodate seed application in combination with other crop inputs. The multi-variable rate dispensing system provides environmental advantages to all through enhanced resource management by more accurately and precisely placing crop inputs resulting in a significant reduction in wasted resources.

Claims

1. A mobile crop input application system for delivering a plurality of crop inputs over a desired land area comprising:

a machine having a plurality of crop input dispensing points, where each dispensing point is configured to release a prescription of multiple crop inputs;

a machine positioning system operatively coupled to said machine, said positioning system comprising at least one system selected from the group consisting of a dead reckoning system, a global positioning system, a speed sensing system, and a radar system; and

a multi-variable rate dispensing system in communication with said plurality of dispensing points, said machine positioning system, and a map which defines desired crop inputs for various positions in the field, such that each dispensing point is controlled independent of other dispensing points and delivers a prescription of multiple crop inputs that varies based on a location of each dispensing point relative to the field reference points.

2. The mobile crop input application system of claim 1 further comprising an actuator operatively coupled to each crop input dispensing point.

3. The mobile crop input application system of claim 2 wherein said machine is self-propelled.

4. The mobile crop input application system of claim 2 wherein said machine is equipped for towing.

5. The mobile crop input application system of claim 3 further comprising an algorithmic software directing said machine positioning system to generate exact field point data on a real time basis as said machine traverses said land area, wherein said exact field point data is used in combination with said desired prescription of crop inputs to coordinate operation of said crop input dispensing point actuators.

6. The mobile crop input application system of claim 4 further comprising an algorithmic software directing said machine positioning system to generate exact field point data on a real time basis as said machine traverses said land area, wherein said exact field point data is used in combination with said desired prescription of crop inputs to coordinate operation of said crop input dispensing point actuators.

7. A mobile crop input application system comprising:

a machine having a plurality of crop input dispensing points, where each dispensing point is configured to release a unique prescription of multiple crop inputs;

a plurality of actuators operatively coupled to selected dispensing points within said plurality of crop input dispensing points on said machine;

a machine positioning system operatively coupled to said machine for anticipating a field reference point and generating anticipated field reference point data in real time as said machine traverses a field; and

a multi-variable dispensing system in communication with said machine, said multi-variable rate dispensing system including;

a data processor;

a data input device in communication with said data processor;

an algorithmic software directing said data processor; and

a data storage unit, wherein discrete crop input delivery data associated with selected dispensing points is stored and supplied to said data processor such that said data processor, directed by said algorithmic software, can automatically determine discrete variable dispensing data for activating said selected dispensing point actuators using said discrete crop input delivery data, said anticipated field reference point data, and algorithmically defined interrelationships between said discrete crop input delivery data and said anticipated field reference point data such that said selected dispensing point actuators are activated to vary a prescription of delivered crop inputs, where each dispensing point is controlled independent of other dispensing points and delivers a prescription of multiple crop inputs that varies based on a location of each dispensing point relative to the field reference points.

8. The mobile crop input application system of claim 7 further comprising at least one control module in communication with said data processor such that said at least one control module can access said discrete variable dispensing rate data in said data storage unit.

9. The mobile crop input application system of claim 7 wherein said machine is self-propelled.

10. The mobile crop input application system of claim 7 wherein said machine is equipped for towing.

11. The mobile crop input application system of claim 7 further comprising at least one data sensor in communication with said data input device for updating at least a portion of said discrete variable dispensing rate data on a real time basis.

12. A mobile crop input application system comprising:

a machine having a plurality of crop input storage devices and crop input dispensing points, where each dispensing point is configured to release a unique prescription of multiple crop inputs;

a plurality of actuators operatively coupled to selected storage devices within said plurality of crop input storage devices;

a machine positioning system operatively coupled to said machine for anticipating a field reference point and generating anticipated field reference point data as said machine traverses a field; and

a multi-variable rate dispensing system in communication with said machine, said multi-variable rate dispensing system including;

a data processor;

a data input device in communication with said data processor;

an algorithmic software directing said data processor; and

a data storage unit, wherein discrete crop input delivery data associated with said selected storage devices is stored and supplied to said data processor such that said data processor, directed by said algorithmic software, can automatically determine discrete variable data for activating said selected storage device actuators using said discrete crop input delivery data, said anticipated field reference point data, and algorithmically defined interrelationships between said discrete crop input delivery data and said anticipated field reference point data such that each crop-input dispensing point releases a unique prescription of multiple crop inputs at a specific field point, where the prescription for each dispensing point varies based on a location of each dispensing point relative to the field reference points.

13. The mobile crop input application system of claim 12 further comprising at least one control module in communication with said data processor such that said at least one control module can access said discrete variable metering data in said data storage unit.

14. The mobile crop input application system of claim 13 wherein said machine is self-propelled.

15. The mobile crop input application system of claim 13 wherein said machine is equipped for towing.

16. The mobile crop input application system of claim 13 further comprising at least one data sensor in communication with said data input device for updating at least a portion of said discrete variable metering data on a real time basis.

17. A mobile crop input application system comprising:

a machine having a plurality of crop input transport devices and crop input dispensing points, where each dispensing point is configured to release a prescription of multiple crop inputs;

a plurality of actuators operatively coupled to selected transport devices within said plurality of transport devices;

a machine positioning system operatively coupled to said machine for anticipating a field reference point and generating anticipated field reference point data as said machine traverses a field; and

a multi-variable rate dispensing system in communication with said machine, said multi-variable rate dispensing system including;

a data processor;

a data input device in communication with said data processor;

an algorithmic software directing said data processor; and

a data storage unit, wherein discrete crop input delivery data associated with said selected transport devices is stored and supplied to said data processor such that said data processor, directed by said algorithmic software, can automatically determine discrete process flow data for activating said selected transport device actuators using said discrete crop input delivery data, said anticipated field reference point data, and algorithmically defined interrelationships between said discrete crop input delivery data and said anticipated field reference point data such that said selected transport device actuators are activated to vary a prescription of delivered crop inputs, such that each dispensing point is controlled independent of other dispensing points and delivers a prescription of multiple crop inputs that varies based on a location of each dispensing point relative to the field reference points.

18. The mobile crop input application system of claim 17 further comprising at least one control module in communication with said data processor such that said at least one control module can access said discrete process flow data in said data storage unit.

19. The mobile crop input application system of claim 17 wherein said machine is self-propelled.

20. The mobile crop input application system of claim 17 wherein said machine is equipped for towing.

21. The mobile crop input application system of claim 17 further comprising at least one data sensor in communication with said data input device for updating at least a portion of said discrete process flow data on a real time basis.

22. A mobile crop input application system comprising:

a crop input applicator machine;

means operatively coupled to said machine for storing, conveying, and dispensing a plurality of crop inputs;

means operatively coupled to said storing, conveying, and dispensing means for actuating a flow of said crop inputs via said storing, conveying, and dispensing means coupled to said machine where the dispensing means is configured to release a prescription of multiple crop inputs;

means operatively coupled to said machine for anticipating a field reference point and generating anticipated field reference point data as said machine traverses a field; and

a multi-variable rate dispensing means in communication with said machine, said multi-variable rate dispensing means including;

data processing means for processing discrete stored crop input metering rate data, discrete conveying flow rate data, discrete dispensing rate data and said field anticipated reference point data;

a data input device in communication with said data processing means;

an algorithmic software directing said data processing means; and

data storing means, wherein discrete crop input delivery data associated with said product storing, conveying, and dispensing means is stored and supplied to said data processing means such that said data processing means, directed by said algorithmic software, can automatically determine said input metering rate data, said discrete conveying flow rate data, and said discrete dispensing rate data for activating said actuating means using said discrete crop input delivery data, said anticipated field reference point data, and algorithmically defined interrelationships between said discrete crop input delivery data and said anticipated field reference point data such that desired portions of said actuating means operatively coupled to said product storing, conveying, and dispensing means are actuated to vary a prescription of delivered crop inputs, such that each dispensing point is controlled independent of other dispensing points and delivers a prescription of multiple crop inputs that varies based on a location of each dispensing point relative to the field reference points.

23. The mobile crop input application system of claim 22 further comprising at least one control module in communication with said data processing means such that said at least one control module can access said discrete metering rate data, said conveying flow rate data, and said dispensing rate data in said data storing means.

24. The mobile crop input application system of claim 22 wherein said machine is self-propelled.

25. The mobile crop input application system of claim 22 wherein said machine is equipped for towing.

26. The mobile crop input application system of claim 22 further comprising data sensing means in communication with said data input means for updating at least a portion of said discrete metering rate data, said conveying flow rate data, and said dispensing rate data on a real time basis.

27. A method of dispensing crop inputs to a predetermined geographic land area comprising:

providing a machine having a plurality of crop input storage devices and dispensing point devices operably connected thereto, where each dispensing point is configured to release a prescription of multiple crop inputs;

causing said machine to travel over a desired surface area of said geographic land area;

determining an anticipated field reference point in real time;

providing discrete crop input release point metering rate information unique to selected crop input storage devices within said plurality of crop input storage devices; and

utilizing said unique metering rate information and said anticipated field reference point to direct said selected crop input storage devices having a crop input to be released stored therein to release said stored crop input such that all stored crop inputs to be released are combined to vary a prescription of delivered crop inputs in a direction substantially transverse to a direction of machine travel, where each dispensing point is controlled independent of other dispensing points and delivers a prescription of multiple crop inputs that varies based on a location of each dispensing point relative to the field reference points.

28. A method of dispensing crop inputs to a predetermined geographic land area comprising:

providing a machine having a plurality of crop input storage devices, a plurality of dispensing point devices, and at least one crop input transport device operably connected thereto, where each dispensing point is configured to release a prescription of multiple crop inputs;

causing said machine to travel over a desired surface area of said geographic land area;

determining an anticipated field reference point in real time;

providing discrete crop input flow rate information unique to each said at least one crop input transport device; and

utilizing said unique discrete flow rate information and said anticipated field reference point to direct each said at least one crop input transport device having a product conveyed thereon to commence transporting stored crop inputs to be dispensed such that all stored crop inputs to be dispensed are combined to vary a prescription of delivered crop inputs in a direction substantially transverse to a direction of machine travel, where each dispensing point is controlled independent of other dispensing points and delivers a prescription of multiple crop inputs that varies based on a location of each dispensing point relative to the field reference points.

29. A method of dispensing crop inputs to a predetermined geographic land area comprising:

providing a machine having a plurality of crop input dispensing points and at least one crop input storage device operably connected thereto;

causing said machine to travel over a desired surface area of said geographic land area;

determining an anticipated field reference point in real time;

providing discrete dispensing rate information unique to selected crop input dispensing points within said plurality of crop input dispensing points; and

utilizing said unique discrete dispensing rate information and said anticipated field reference point to direct said selected dispensing points having a crop input dispensed therefrom to commence dispensing stored crop inputs to be dispensed such that all stored crop inputs to be dispensed are combined to vary a prescription of delivered crop inputs in a direction substantially transverse to a direction of machine travel.

30. An agricultural system for application of crop inputs to a field, the system comprising:

a vehicle;

a crop-input dispensing system having a plurality of crop-input dispensing points, each dispensing point associated with the vehicle and configured to dispense a prescription of multiple crop inputs;

a positioning system for determining position of the vehicle in the field;

a control system for controlling operation of the crop-input dispensing system as a function of position of the vehicle in the field and a map which defines desired prescriptions of multiple crop inputs for specific field reference points, such that each dispensing point is controlled independent of other dispensing points and delivers a prescription of multiple crop inputs that varies based on a location of each dispensing point relative to the field reference points.