Universal controller for material distribution device

A monitoring and control system for a mobile liquid sprayer apparatus of the type including a plurality of nozzles, and wherein the rate of liquid distribution per unit area of the mobile sprayer apparatus varies as a function of the ground speed of the apparatus and of the pressure across the nozzles;

• said monitoring and control system comprising;
• ground speed sensor means for developing a ground speed signal corresponding to the ground speed of the mobile apparatus and pressure sensor means for developing a pressure signal corresponding to the pressure across the nozzles;
• monitoring and control circuit means responsive to said ground speed signal and to said pressure signal for developing a control signal for controlling the rate of flow of liquid to the nozzles for achieving and maintaining a desired rate of distribution of liquid along the path of travel of the mobile sprayer apparatus;
• said monitoring and control circuit means further comprising processing means responsive to said ground speed and pressure signals for producing said control signals and for further producing display signals corresponding to associated functions and conditions of the mobile apparatus;
• and further including flow rate sensor means operatively coupled with said apparatus for producing a flow rate signal corresponding to the rate of flow of liquid to the nozzles, and wherein said monitoring and control circuit means is further responsive to said flow rate signal for determining whether one or more said nozzles is in an inoperative condition, and for producing display signals corresponding to one or more of said nozzles being in an inoperative condition.

A monitoring and control system for a mobile material distribution apparatus wherein the rate of material distribution per unit of area varies as a predetermined function of the ground speed of the mobile apparatus and of the rate of operation of variable rate delivery means for delivering material at a controllable rate to material distribution means for distributing the material along the path of travel of the mobile apparatus;

• said monitoring and control system comprising:
• ground speed sensor means for developing a ground speed signal corresponding to the ground speed of the mobile apparatus and delivery rate sensor means for developing a delivery rate signal corresponding to a rate of delivery of material by said variable rate delivery means;
• said monitoring and control system including monitoring and control circuit means responsive to said ground speed signal and to said delivery rate signal for developing a control signal for controlling the operation of said variable rate delivery means to achieve and maintain a desired rate of distribution of material along the path of travel of the mobile distribution apparatus, said monitoring and control circuit means further comprising processing means responsive to said ground speed and delivery rate signals for producing said control signals and memory means for storing data and instructions for enabling said processing means to respond to delivery rate signals from each of a plurality of different types of delivery rate sensor means.