Abstract: A grain sensor comprises a piezoelectric element mounted to a rear surface of a relatively thin, flat sounding board of substantially greater surface area than the piezoelectric element. Forces experienced by the sounding board due to grain particles impinging upon the front surface thereof are imparted to the piezoelectric element. A rigid frame surroundingly engages side edges of the sounding board. The rigid frame includes an inwardly extending flange for substantially covering a peripheral edge portion of the front surface. A base member having a surface substantially congruent with the sounding board surfaces is mounted in facing relation to the rear sounding board surface for substantially enclosing the piezoelectric element therebetween. A resilient seal and spacer member is interposed between the facing surfaces of the sounding board and the base member.

Abstract: An automatic control system for a vehicular liquid sprayer includes a control circuit for receiving a liquid pressure signal and a vehicle ground speed signal and operator accessible controls for delivering to the control circuit signals corresponding to a desired application rate, to the number of nozzles associated with the vehicular liquid sprayer and to the nozzle spacing. The operator may vary the input signal corresponding to desired application rate plus or minus a given percentage to compensate for tolerances in the liquid sprayer system. The control circuit calculates the liquid pressure necessary to achieve the desire application rate and the difference between this desire liquid pressure and the measured liquid pressure and produces control signals corresponding to this difference. A duty cycle control circuit converts these control signals to a cyclical control signal for driving a motor-driven flow control valve.

Abstract: A modular monitoring and control system is provided for an agricultural machine such as a combine. The system includes an executive processing unit which is capable of cooperating with one or more monitoring and/or control modules, which module may be added to or deleted from the system for performing monitoring and control functions as desired by a particular operator. Conveniently, a video display unit provides alphanumeric display information to the operator regarding both the monitored and controlled functions of the combine machine as well as instructional messages for purposes of calibrating the monitoring and control system for operation with a particular combine. Moreover, the operator may select for a display in alphanumeric form suitable instructional information regarding any malfunctions of the combine and counter during operation and instructions for the correction thereof.

Abstract: An improved system for processing an electrical velocity information signal in a velocity detecting system in which a detector is utilized for developing an electrical information signal, such as a Doppler signal, having a characteristic (e.g. frequency) that varies systematically with the object's velocity. A converter develops an oscillatory signal having a frequency which varies in accordance with the velocity information signal characteristic. A tracking filter having a center frequency that varies with the oscillatory signal filters all frequencies other than the center frequency. A signal generator is responsive to the frequency of the signal passed by the tracking filter for generating an output signal having a frequency which is a preset ratio relative to the center frequency, whereby the output signal of the system is relatively noise-free and has a frequency which represents the velocity of the object being detected.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the temperature of a plurality of bearings and motors, for example in a grain elevator, includes a plurality of sensors associated with the respective bearings and motors whose temperatures are to be monitored. A first circuit energizes a display for providing a readout of the temperature at each sensor location, and a second circuit compares the temperature at each sensor with a maximum desired temperature for its associated bearing or motor, and energizes an alarm when this desired maximum is exceeded. A third circuit drives a display indentifying the sensor being monitored by the first and second circuits. A malfunction detector circuit produces an observable indication in response to an open circuit condition at any of the sensors.

Abstract: A seed monitoring apparatus for use with a seed planting machine includes a seed sensor comprising a housing forming a substantially tubular passageway and mounting a light source and three photosensitive elements arranged substantially in a triangular configuration. The arrangement of the light source and the triangular photosensor configuration is such that a seed passing through the tubular passageway will momentarily obscure the passage of light to the photosensor the apex of the triangle, if at all, before obscuring the passage of light to either of the photosensors forming the base of the triangle. The monitoring circuit includes two signal paths in which different methods of counting are used to produce different numbers of pulses in response to signals from the three photosensors. One or the other of these signal paths is selected automatically in accordance with the rate at which seeds are detected.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a product moisture control system for use in a product steam dryer of the type which removes moisture from wet product material, wherein the wet product material is contacted with steam tubes for heating the material and evaporating the moisture therein. The control system includes a first control loop which senses the moisture content of the dried material and establishes at predetermined times corrections to the steam pressure within the steam tubes to provide processed material having a desired moisture content. The system also includes a second control loop which continuously detects the steam pressure and maintains the steam pressure substantially constant during the time intervals between the predetermined steam pressure correction times.

Abstract: A combine performance monitor includes a programmed, special purpose computer coupled to a plurality of sensors for detecting a plurality of different operating conditions in a combine. The special purpose computer cooperates with operator accessible controls for calculating a plurality of predetermined performance parameters of the combine in accordance with signals from the sensors. The computer is further responsive to actuation of the controls by the operator for modifying the program so as to customize the combine performance monitor for operation with any combine selected, for operation with the particular sensors utilized in that combine selected and for operation of the selected sensors and combine in harvesting a particular grain.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of functions of a machine, such as a multi-row seed planting machine, includes a programmed microprocessor. A plurality of sensors detect the machine functions to be monitored, and the microprocessor receives and stores data corresponding to the monitored functions from all of the sensors simultaneously. A user accessible control and display panel cooperates with the microprocessor to produce observable indications of the machine functions being monitored in accordance with the stored data as such functions are selected for display by the user. The microprocessor is also programmed to receive and utilize data inputs from the control panel, corresponding to machine parameters of the particular machine with which the monitoring apparatus is being utilized, and data corresponding to the desired maximum and minimum values of the functions to be monitored.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the movement of objects through a predetermined path comprises a sensor producing electrical signals by the movement of the objects through the path, a measuring circuit producing a measurement of the rate at which the objects move through the path, presetting means for presetting a predetermined minimum rate, and an indicator indicating when the measured rate is below the preset predetermined minimum rate. The invention is described as embodied in a seed monitor attached to colter plough blades for monitoring the rate of feeding of the seeds. Also describes is an adapter unit which enables the number of sensors to be multiplied by time-sharing each measuring circuit with a plurality of sensors.

Abstract: There is disclosed a monitoring system for monitoring a plurality of functions or stations in a machine and capable of providing an alarm signal in the event of a failure or significant deviation in any one of the functions, which monitoring system also incorporates electronic circuitry for automatically temporarily disabling the alarm device in the event of a near simultaneous discontinuance or deviation in all of the functions being monitored.

Abstract: An analysis instrument for measuring the quantity of a constituent present in a sample of a material comprises a housing having a sample receptacle mounted therein to receive a sample of the material. A filter assembly is mounted in the housing including a plurality of filter elements for passing a corresponding plurality of predetermined frequencies of radiant energy. A motor is provided for selectively providing relative movement between the sample receptacle and filter assembly so as to place individual ones of the filter elements into registry with the sample receptacle. A radiant energy source is mounted within the housing to direct radiant energy onto the surface of the sample through selected ones of the filter elements as each moves into registry therewith, to provide reflected radiant energy at the predetermined frequency of each of the selected filter elements. A sensor is mounted to receive the reflected radiant energy and provide electrical signals corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A microwave seed sensor produces an output signal in response to the passage of each seed through a seed planting tube or conduit forming a path of travel for seeds, as in a seed planting machine. The microwave seed sensor comprises a housing of predetermined dimensions defining a waveguide for supporting propagation of a standing wave pattern of predetermined order at a predetermined microwave frequency. The housing includes a tubular portion for receiving the seed conduit, so that the seed conduit and waveguide intersect to define a seed viewing area where the path of travel in the conduit is in registry with the waveguide. This seed viewing area is of predetermined dimension in the direction of the path of travel of seeds through the conduit for resolution of individual seeds by the microwave seed sensor so that seeds may be counted.

Abstract: Planting apparatus including a supporting frame adapted to be connected to a tractor or similar vehicle; a seed hopper mounted on the supporting frame for containing a supply of seeds, and seed metering mechanism spaced beneath the discharge outlet of the seed hopper for controlling the movement of the seeds discharged from the hopper on the ground. A magnetic seed treating device is disposed in the path of seeds discharged from the hopper for causing the seeds to pass through a magnetic field to magnetically treat the seeds as the seeds are planted.

Abstract: A seed planting apparatus comprises a mobile planting machine to be connected to a tractor or similar vehicle, and having a seed hopper for containing a supply of seeds to be planted. A seed outlet on the hopper feeds a seed dispensing apparatus for delivering seeds to the ground to be planted. A microwave seed sensing apparatus is disposed in a path of travel for seeds discharged from the hopper for detecting the seeds and producing an observable indication to the operator of the presence of seeds in the path of travel. The seed planting apparatus may also include magnetic seed treatment apparatus. The microwave sensing apparatus may therefore be connected in a control circuit for actuating the magnetic field in response to the presence of seeds and for producing an indication to an operator of the passage of seeds.

Abstract: A monitoring apparatus for simultaneously monitoring a plurality of functions of a machine, such as a multi-row seed plating machine, includes a programmed microprocessor. A plurality of sensors detect the machine functions to be monitored, and the microprocessor receives and stores data corresponding to the monitored functions from all of the sensors simultaneously. A user accessible control and display panel cooperates with the microprocessor to produce observable indications of the machine functions being monitored in accordance with the stored data as such functions are selected for display by the user accessible control panel. The microprocessor is further programmed to receive and utilize data inputs from the control panel, corresponding to machine parameters of the particular machine with which the monitoring apparatus is being utilized, and data corresponding to the desired maximum and minimum values of the functions to be monitored.

Abstract: An analysis instrument for measuring selected constituents present in a sample of a material such as a bulk commodity includes a test cell to receive the sample. The test cell comprises a capacitor whose electrical properties are modified in accordance with the dielectric constant of the sample, which dielectric constant is a function of the contents of the sample. Weight and temperature sensors are provided for producing signals corresponding to the weight and temperature of the sample in the test cell. An electronic measuring circuit is connected to a test circuit including the test cell capacitor and to the weight and temperature sensors for producing an indication of the contents of the sample. The measuring circuit produces the indication by correcting a measurement taken across the test cell in accordance with the variation in the temperature of the sample from a reference temperature and the variation in the bulk density of the sample from a reference bulk density.

Abstract: A detector for a movalbe member such as a rotatable shaft includes a sensor and an alarm having a normal and a signaling condition. The sensor includes one or more magnetic pole pieces attached to the shaft whose rotational speed is to be detected, to rotate in unison therewith, and a pick-up including a coil mounted adjacent the shaft for producing an electrical signal in response to the rotating magnetic pole pieces. An electrical circuit is provided, connected between the coil and the alarm for switching the alarm between its normal and signaling conditions in response to a predetermined value of the electrical signal. The position of the coil with respect to the shaft and magnetic pieces is adjustable for selectively producing the predetermined switching value of the electrical signal in response to different rotational speeds of the shaft.

Abstract: A monitor for a plurality of functions associated with a structure such as a livestock confinement structure or the like including detecting fire or intrusion, and monitoring temperature, water supply, ventilation and power supply. The monitor comprises a plurality of sensors mounted at a plurality of locations about the structure adapted for detecting and/or monitoring the above mentioned parameters and providing respective electrical signals corresponding thereto. An electronic circuit is connected with the sensors and includes first indicator circuits connected with the sensors associated with temperature monitoring for producing indication signals in response to variations in the electrical signals therefrom from predetermined ranges of values, and second indicator circuits connected with the remaining sensors for producing indication signals in response to predetermined values of the electrical signals therefrom.

Abstract: A seed sensor detects seeds passing through a chute or housing forming a path of travel for seeds dispensed from a seed planter. A source of light such as a light emitting diode is optically exposed to the path of travel and a photosensitive element such as one or more photoresponsive transistors is optically exposed to the path of travel for receiving the light from the light source. An electronic circuit is connected with the photosensitive element for producing an electrical signal responsive to the light level incident thereupon and producing a change in the electrical signal in response to a momentary change in light level due to the passage of a seed. The electronic circuit includes a circuit element such as a diode connected with the photosensitive element for maintaining at least a given amount of change in the electrical signal output level in response to a given change of light level corresponding to passage of a seed.