Machine and method for monitoring product application

• US 5,979,703 A
• Filed: 05/29/1997
• Issued: 11/09/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ag-Chem Sales Company Incorporated (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ag-Chem Sales Company Incorporated (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Nystrom, Dwayne A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory L.
• Application Number:
  US08/865,268
• Time in Patent Office: 894 Days
• Field of Search: 222/63, 222/58, 222/57, 222/608, 222/610, 222/613, 111/903, 111/200, 356/72
• US Class Current: 222/58
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/00 Fertiliser distributors combined with seeders A01C7/06
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 15/006 Hoppers
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 17/006 Regulating or dosing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 17/008 Devices controlling the quantity or the distribution pattern
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 111/903 Monitor

Abstract

A mobile products applicator includes a monitoring system particularly adaptable for use in selected product management applications, wherein application rates for selected products stored on-board one or more storage devices are measured on-the-go and visually reported to an applicator operator in near real-time. The mobile products applicator provides environmental advantages to all through enhanced resource management by eliminating or significantly reducing ground and/or water contamination.

Claims

1. A mobile product applicator comprising:

a machine having at least one product storage device;

at least one load cell operatively coupled to each said at least one product storage device;

at least one speed sensor operatively coupled to said machine; and

a monitoring system in communication with said machine, said monitoring system including;

a data processor;

a data input device in communication with said data processor;

a visual display device controlled by said data processor;

an algorithmic software directing said data processor; and

a data storage unit, wherein discrete said speed sensor data, load cell data, time interval data, product density data, and spreading path data associated with said machine is stored and supplied to said data processor such that said data processor, directed by said algorithmic software, can automatically determine discrete product application rate data for selected products using algorithmically defined interrelationships between said discrete speed sensor data, said load cell data, said time interval data, said product density data, and said spreading path data and such that said product application rate data is visually reported through the visual display device to a mobile applicator operator on-the-go in near real-time.

2. The mobile applicator of claim 1 wherein said machine is self-propelled.

3. The mobile applicator of claim 1 wherein said machine is equipped for towing.

4. A mobile product applicator, the applicator comprising:

at least one applicator machine; and

a monitoring system in communication with said at least one applicator machine, said monitoring system including;

a visual display device;

at least one speed sensor operatively coupled to said machine;

at least one volumetric flow sensor operatively coupled to said machine;

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 applicator speed data, product volumetric flow data, time interval data, and spreading path data associated with a selected machine is stored and supplied to said data processor such that said data processor, directed by said algorithmic software, can automatically determine discrete product application rate data for selected products using algorithmically defined interrelationships between said discrete applicator speed data, said time interval data, said product volumetric flow data, and said spreading path data such that said product application rate data is visually reported through the visual display device to a mobile product applicator operator on-the-go in near real-time.

5. The mobile applicator of claim 4 wherein said at least one machine is self-propelled.

6. The mobile applicator of claim 4 wherein said at least one machine is equipped for towing.

7. A mobile product applicator, the applicator comprising:

at least one applicator machine, said at least one applicator machine having at least one product storage device;

means operatively coupled to said at least one applicator machine for measuring volumetric flow of selected products; and

a monitoring system in communication with said at least one applicator machine, said monitoring system including;

data processing means for processing discrete data associated with mobile applicator speed, applicator machine spreading path width, predetermined timing intervals and said volumetric flow of selected products;

data entering means in communication with said data processing means;

an algorithmic software directing said data processing means;

data storing means, wherein said discrete data is stored and supplied to said data processing means such that said data processing means, directed by said algorithmic software, can automatically determine product application rate data for selected products using said discrete data and algorithmically defined interrelationships between said data; and

a visual display device controlled by the data processing means which visually reports said product application rate data to a mobile applicator operator on-the-go in near real-time.

8. The mobile applicator of claim 7 wherein said at least one machine is self-propelled.

9. The mobile applicator of claim 7 wherein said at least one machine is equipped for towing.

10. A mobile product applicator having a visual display device, said applicator comprising:

a machine having at least one product storage device;

at least one load cell operatively coupled to each said at least one product storage device;

at least one speed sensor operatively coupled to said machine; and

a computer system in communication with said machine, said computer system including;

a central processing unit, an input and output capability, and a memory capability;

a software system directing said computer system; and

a system interface, said computer system under a direction of said software system being in communication with said interface system, wherein said visual display device is accessed through said interface system such that discrete product application rate data for selected products determined from algorithmically defined interrelationships between discrete speed sensor data, load cell data, time interval data, product density data, and spreading path data input into said computer system via said input and output capability, is visually reported to a mobile applicator operator on-the-go in near real-time.

11. A mobile product applicator for visually reporting selected product application rate data said applicator comprising:

means for determining and storing speed sensor data, load cell data, time interval data, product density data, and spreading path data;

means for accessing said speed sensor data, load cell data, time interval data, product density data, and spreading path data;

means for extracting selected data points from said speed sensor data, load cell data, time interval data, product density data, and spreading path data;

means for creating selected product application rate data based upon said selected data points; and

means for visually reporting said application rate data to a mobile product applicator operator on-the-go in near real-time.

12. The mobile product applicator of claim 11 wherein said means for extracting comprises a software system having algorithmic steps directing said computer system.

13. The mobile product applicator of claim 12 wherein said means for creating selected product application rate data comprises means for interpolation, extrapolation, interpretation, modeling and combinations thereof of to expand said data points.