Abstract: A sensor assembly is described herein that can automatically calibrate itself upon installation into an empty bin, eliminating the need to actually fill the bin to calibrate the level reading. The sensor will provide consistent measurement regardless of material properties (permittivity, density, temperature or moisture content). The capacitive nature of the sensor means that in some circumstances, it will sense the material through plastic/glass/fiber glass thereby allowing the sensor assembly to be mountable on the outside of a bin or container. The electrodes of the sensor system are designed to provide a continuous level reading.

Abstract: A sensor assembly is described herein that can automatically calibrate itself upon installation into an empty bin, eliminating the need to actually fill the bin to calibrate the level reading. The sensor will provide consistent measurement regardless of material properties (permittivity, density, temperature or moisture content). The capacitive nature of the sensor means that in some circumstances, it will sense the material through plastic/glass/fiber glass thereby allowing the sensor assembly to be mountable on the outside of a bin or container. The electrodes of the sensor system are designed to provide a continuous level reading.

Abstract: An agricultural communication system is provided that enables sensor-to-sensor link communications of peripheral farming devices (planters, fertilizer or pesticide applicators, etc.) so as to enhance diagnostics for locating system faults and blockages. The system also provides a means to operate with single-faults present with real-time diagnostics to the operator. The point-to-point communications also facilitates simplified installation by automatically determining the sensor addressing based on the physical connection of the sensors. Since the sensor-to-sensor daisy chain bus system is self-configuring there is no dependency on the sensor manufacturing data or sequential installation procedure to define the sensor address as required in other prior art systems. A dual power supply from each end of the looped bus with independent switching provides operation in the presence of single-faults, and a diagnostic mode combined with sensor power supply voltage measurements provides fault location.

Abstract: A sensor assembly is described herein that can automatically calibrate itself upon installation into an empty bin, eliminating the need to actually fill the bin to calibrate the level reading. The sensor will provide consistent measurement regardless of material properties (permittivity, density, temperature or moisture content). The capacitive nature of the sensor means that in some circumstances, it will sense the material through plastic/glass/fiber glass thereby allowing the sensor assembly to be mountable on the outside of a bin or container. The electrodes of the sensor system are designed to provide a continuous level reading.

Abstract: There is disclosed a single and twin and multiple row planting system configured to be adapted to a planter including a motor drive seed dispenser that is controlled by a planting controller that deposits seeds with a predetermined seed spacing that accommodates differing individual planter row speeds and terrain. In particular, a distance-based seed tagging system and method are used to achieve the desired seed spacing and seed stagger configurations.

Abstract: An agricultural communication system is provided that enables sensor-to-sensor link communications of peripheral farming devices (planters, fertilizer or pesticide applicators, etc.) so as to enhance diagnostics for locating system faults and blockages. The system also provides a means to operate with single-faults present with real-time diagnostics to the operator. The point-to-point communications also facilitates simplified installation by automatically determining the sensor addressing based on the physical connection of the sensors. Since the sensor-to-sensor daisy chain bus system is self-configuring there is no dependency on the sensor manufacturing data or sequential installation procedure to define the sensor address as required in other prior art systems. A dual power supply from each end of the looped bus with independent switching provides operation in the presence of single-faults, and a diagnostic mode combined with sensor power supply voltage measurements provides fault location.

Abstract: A proximity sensor with an emitter capable of emitting energy waves of a selected wavelength and a detector capable of detecting energy waves with the selected wavelength, for example, energy waves in the infrared spectrum. The emitter and the detector are located in close proximity to one another on a single printed circuit board. When an article to be detected (e.g., any seed used in agriculture) passes the proximity sensor, the energy waves emitted by the emitter are reflected off the article and detected by the detector. The proximity sensor can be attached to a single wall of a container or to the side of a chute in order to detect the presence of articles in the container or to detect the passage of articles through the chute.

Abstract: A portable viscometer includes an instrument body having an electrical control circuit disposed therein and sensor probe for immersion into a fluid to be analyzed. The sensing probe includes a crystal resonator-type sensor and a temperature sensor that provide sensing signals to the electrical control circuit indicative of fluid viscosity. The resultant viscosity is displayed and/or stored.

Abstract: A material application system and a method of using a material application system which incorporate both an input mechanism for use by a programmer to program the material application system and a separate input mechanism, in the form of a switch module, for use by a driver of the vehicle in which the material application system is incorporated during material application.

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 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: An apparatus and method is disclosed for sensing material build-up, such as the undesirable build-up of cotton in a mechanized cotton harvester. A tube is mounted for eccentric rotation adjacent an area where build-up occurs, such as near a doffer. The tube is biased by a spring into one position and is eccentrically rotated against the spring by forces applied to the tube by accumulating material, such as cotton. A switch is mounted within the tube, and, as the tube rotates, the state of the switch changes in accordance with the rotation. A signal generated by the switch is used to alert an operator.

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.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for sensing a full level condition for a large basket. A signal generator produces an oscillating signal which is applied to energy emitters that are capable of transmitting electrical energy along defined paths and across the width of the large basket. The transmitted electrical energy is received by a plurality of receivers which output an electrical signal which is representative of the signal applied to the energy emitters when material which is being loaded into said basket does not interfere with the energy being transmitted along the defined paths. A logic circuit analyzes the signals output from the receivers and produces a status signal indicating whether material which is being loaded into the large basket has interfered with the energy being transmitted along the defined paths.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for accurately counting the number of articles passing along an article path. A light beam is transmitted across an article path to a sensor, which light beam is interfered with by the passage of articles along the article path and the received light beam is converted to electrical signals that are conditioned, amplified and input to a logic unit which, based on derived amplitude, duration and area of the input signals, determines the number of articles that passed along the article path. A system is also described which accurately counts the number of articles passing along a plurality of article paths by employing a plurality of such devices each of which accurately counts the articles passing along each article path and, upon instructions from a master console, sends its counts to the master console for summation. The system further includes a network architecture with simplified wire harnessing and enhanced operation.

Abstract: A solenoid circuit for particular use in a transmission controller measures the instantaneous current through the solenoid coil with the use of a current switch operating in an on mode to cause the current in the coil to increase and an off mode to cause the current in the coil to decrease so that an average current through the coil is established.

Abstract: A transmission controller is provided for use with a vehicle having a transmission including a plurality of gears, a hydraulic pressure controlled clutch, and a solenoid-actuated proportional valve for operating the clutch. The controller comprises a signal generating circuit for generating a controlled current signal for operating the solenoid-actuated proportional valve and a current monitoring circuit for producing a current signal corresponding to the current flow to each of the solenoid-actuated proportional valves. A vehicle monitor produces a threshold signal corresponding to a predetermined point at which the clutch begins to carry torque and a memory retains predetermined information corresponding to the current signals.

Abstract: A transmission controller is provided for use with a vehicle having a transmission including a plurality of gears. The transmission controller comprises an automatic gear selection control for developing control signals for controlling automatic selection of one of the plurality of gears. A throttle position sensor produces a throttle position signal corresponding to the position of a manually operated throttle of the vehicle, and an engine sensor produces rpm signals corresponding to the engine speed of an engine of the vehicle. The automatic gear selection control includes a control signal producing circuit responsive to the throttle position signals and to the rpm signals for producing signals for controlling the selection of a lower gear in the event the sensed engine speed comprises less than a preselected percentage of a predetermined no-load engine speed at the sensed throttle position.

Abstract: A transmission controller is provided for use with a vehicle having a transmission including a plurality of gears, a hydraulic pressure controlled clutch, and a solenoid-actuated proportional valve for operating the clutch. The controller comprises a signal generating circuit for generating a controlled current signal for operating the solenoid-actuated proportional valve and a current monitoring circuit for producing a current signal corresponding to the current flow to each of the solenoid-actuated proportional valves. A vehicle monitor produces a threshold signal corresponding to a predetermined point at which the clutch begins to carry torque and a memory retains predetermined information corresponding to the current signals.

Abstract: A test apparatus for determining a given property, by weight, such as moisture content, of a material such as a grain or the like, comprises a chamber for receiving a sample of material to be tested, having an open top portion through which the material may be introduced therein for testing. An electrical circuit is operatively coupled with the chamber for producing an electrical measurement signal corresponding to the property to be determined and an indicator provides an observable indication of the given property of material in accordance with the corresponding electrical measurement signals. A measurement initiating control in responsive to the accumulation of a predetermined measurement weight of material in the chamber for initiating the operation of the circuit. A further warning control is responsive to the weight of material in the chamber reaching a second, predetermined warning weight slightly less than the predetermined measurement weight for producing a warning signal.