System and method for dispensing particulate material into a fluid medium

A device for dispensing particulate matter, comprising:

• a container for holding particulate matter;
• a conduit for transporting a stream of liquid carrier, the conduit being operative to receive particulate matter from the container;
• a means for detecting a weight of at least a portion of the particulate matter;
• and
• means for determining a weight of material dispensed into the liquid carrier.

A system for controlling a networked array of dispensing devices, comprising:

• a first dispensing device;
• a second dispensing device for dispensing particulate matter, the second dispensing device comprising:
• a container for holding particulate matter;
• a conduit for transporting a stream of liquid carrier, the conduit being operative to receive particulate matter from the container;
• a sensor to detect a weight of at least a portion of the particulate matter;
• and
• a local controller coupled to the sensor to generate a signal when a predetermined quantity of particulate matter is dispensed in response to which the flow of particulate matter into the conduit is modified;
• a parent controller coupled to the first and second dispensing devices, wherein the parent controller is operative to transmit a first set of instructions to the second dispensing device and the local controller is operative to generate a second set of instructions.

A device for dispensing particulate matter into a fluid stream, comprising:

• a supply of dry particulate matter selected from the group consisting of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and adjuvants;
• a transport member adapted to receive the particulate matter and a fluid stream;
• a sensor to detect a weight of at least a portion of the particulate matter;
• and
• a controller to monitor the weight of particulate matter dispensed into the fluid stream.

A device for dispensing dry material into a fluid stream, comprising:

• a conduit for transporting a stream of fluid carrier, the conduit being adapted to receive a supply of dry material;
• a sensor to measure a weight or mass that includes the weight or mass of at least a portion of the dry material;
• and
• a controller coupled to the sensor to generate a signal in response to which a flow of dry material into the conduit is modified.

A method for dispensing particulate matter into a fluid stream, comprising:

• providing a fluid stream;
• providing a supply of particulate matter to be dispensed into the fluid stream;
• sensing a weight of at least a portion of the particulate matter;
• monitoring the weight of the particular matter dispensed into the fluid stream;
• and
• modifying the rate at which the particulate matter is dispensed based on the monitored weight.

A method for dispensing particulate matter into a fluid stream using a device for dispensing particulate matter, comprising:

• providing a fluid stream;
• measuring a first weight associated with the dispensing device;
• providing a quantity of particulate matter to be dispensed into the fluid stream;
• measuring a second weight associated with the dispensing device after the initiation of the dispensing of said particulate matter;
• ceasing the dispensing of said particulate matter based on the first and second measured weights.