Abstract: A control system is provided for efficiently regulating the discharge of material from a mobile material distribution device having a product tank or bin, a boom with at least one boom section, a plurality of outlet ducts (e.g., nozzles and/or distribution ports) associated with each boom section, shut-off valves for selectively enabling each boom section, and a selectively-movable control valve for regulating the flow of material to the boom sections. The control system includes a boom sensing input for monitoring whether the shut-off valves are open or closed (i.e., whether the associated boom sections are enabled or disabled), and a processing system for maintaining a substantially stable pressure level between the control valve and each shutoff valve by positionally locking the control valve at its last controlled position upon receiving a signal from the boom sensing input indicating the shut-off valves are closed.

Abstract: A universal modular control system for controlling a mobile material distribution apparatus is disclosed. The universal modular control system is adaptable for use with any of a plurality of distribution apparatus. It includes a control module for controlling the distribution apparatus and a user console for communicating with a user. The control module and user console are coupled via a data link.

Abstract: A control system for monitoring and controlling the operation of a mobile material distribution apparatus including at least one boom having a plurality of distribution nozzles or distribution ports located along its length for distributing material is disclosed. The control system monitors various sections of the booms and provides the user with a graphical representation of the operating states of the nozzles/distribution ports in each monitored boom section. By taking into account the actual operating states of each of the sections of the monitored booms, the disclosed control system provides more accurate mapping of the materials distributed by the controlled apparatus. In addition, the disclosed control system considers the operating states of any fence row nozzles disposed on the monitored booms in determining the amount of material to be supplied to the monitored booms to achieve a desired distribution rate.

Abstract: A control system for controlling the operation of a mobile distribution apparatus is disclosed. The disclosed control system includes an alarm tracking system wherein any errors noted by the control system are recorded in an addressable memory in chronological order. This addressable memory can be read out at any time in order to perform diagnostics and the like. In order to control the length of the list of errors generated by the system, the system will only record the same error three times. Upon the fourth occurrence of a given error, the oldest record of the error is deleted. In addition, the control system classifies errors into distinct categories and provides the user of the system with both audible and visual indications of the occurrence of an error.