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US 5,347,468 AGranted
Computerized grain delivery system
AssigneeSarTec Corporation
InventorsSteven J. Rupp, Larry C. McNeff, Clayton V. McNeff
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling the addition of a liquid to a continuous flow of material. An algorithm is described for controlling the hydration process within a computerized grain delivery system. The grain delivery system operates by adding moisture to grain moving through the system, testing the moisture level of the hydrated grain and controlling the rate of flow of the wetting agent as a function of the wet grain moisture reading. In addition, a method is described for determining the relationship between dry grain moisture level, hydration level and the expected wet grain moisture level reading. Finally, a communications link is described which connects the grain delivery system to a remote computer.
Claims19
A method of controlling the addition of liquid to a continuous flow of material, comprising the steps of:
- providing liquid flow control means for controlling flow of the liquid;
- providing an initial dry material moisture level, a target moisture level and a material flow rate;
- calculating, based on the initial dry material moisture level and the material flow rate, an initial liquid flow rate sufficient to raise the material to approximately the target moisture level;
- setting the liquid flow control means to provide liquid at approximately the initial liquid flow rate;
- determining an expected wet material moisture level for the initial liquid flow rate and the dry material moisture level;
- measuring a wet material moisture level;
- determining if the measured wet material moisture level has fallen outside an equation deadband surrounding the expected wet material moisture level measurement;
- and
- if the wet material moisture level is outside of the deadband, setting the liquid flow control means to a revised liquid flow rate sufficient to condition the material to approximately the target moisture level, wherein the step of setting the liquid flow control means comprises the steps of:
- calculating a revised dry material moisture level based on the initial liquid flow rate and the wet material moisture level;
- calculating the revised liquid flow rate;
- and
- setting the liquid flow control means to provide liquid at approximately the revised liquid flow rate.
10 more elements
Apparatus for controlling addition of a liquid to a continuous flow of material in order to condition the material to a target moisture level, comprising:
- liquid adding means for adding a liquid to a continuous flow of material;
- liquid control means, connected to the liquid adding means, for restricting liquid flowing to the liquid adding means to a desired liquid flow rate;
- material conveying means for conveying material to be conditioned past the liquid adding means;
- and
- processing means, connected to the liquid control means, for selecting the desired liquid flow rate, wherein the processing means comprises:
- a material flow meter which can be used to measure a material flow rate representative of the continuous flow of material;
- a moisture level meter positioned to sample moisture level in conditioned material;
- storing means for storing a current liquid flow rate representative of the liquid flowing through the liquid adding means;
- and
- flow rate determining means for determining the desired liquid flow rate, wherein the flow rate determining means comprises:
- programming means for calculating a dry material moisture level based on the current liquid flow rate and the conditioned material moisture level;
- and
- programming means for calculating the desired liquid flow rate based on the calculated dry material moisture level and the target moisture level.
10 more elements
A computerized grain delivery system for conditioning a continuous flow of grain to a target moisture level, comprising:
- a sprinkler head;
- a fluid control valve connected to the sprinkler head, wherein the fluid control valve is capable of being set to a desired liquid flow rate in order to control flow of a liquid to the sprinkler head;
- an auger positioned to convey grain pass the sprinkler head in order to condition the grain;
- a moisture level meter positioned to determine a conditioned grain moisture level representative of moisture in the conditioned grain;
- and
- a processor connected to said valve and said moisture level meter, said processor comprising:
- a user interface which can be used to select the target moisture level;
- storing means for storing a current liquid flow rate representative of the flow of the liquid through the valve;
- and
- control means, connected to such storing means, said valve, said moisture level meter and said user interface, for calculating a dry grain moisture level based on the current liquid flow rate and the conditioned grain moisture level and for calculating a new desired liquid flow rate based on the target moisture level and the calculated dry grain moisture level.
7 more elements
A computerized grain delivery system network, comprising:
- a host computer having communication means for communicating with a computerized grain delivery system;
- a computerized grain delivery system placed in a location remote from the host computer, wherein the grain delivery system is for conditioning grain to a target moisture level and wherein the computerized grain delivery system comprises:
- liquid adding means for adding a liquid to a continuous flow of grain in order to form conditioned grain;
- liquid control means, connected to the liquid adding means, for restricting liquid flowing to the liquid adding means to a desired liquid flow rate;
- grain conveying means for conveying grain to be conditioned past the liquid adding means;
- and
- processing means, connected to the liquid control means, for selecting the desired liquid flow rate, wherein the processing means comprises:
- a moisture level meter positioned to measure moisture level in the conditioned grain;
- storing means for storing a current liquid flow rate representative of the liquid flowing through the liquid adding means;
- flow rate determining means for determining the desired liquid flow rate, wherein the flow rate determining means comprises:
- means for calculating a dry grain moisture level based on the current liquid flow rate and the conditioned grain moisture level;
- and
- means for calculating the desired liquid flow rate based on the calculated dry grain moisture level and the target moisture level;
- and
- communication means for communicating with the host computer;
- and
- a communications medium connected between the communication means of the host computer and the communication means of the grain delivery system in order to permit communication between the host computer and the grain delivery system.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.