Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for guiding a vehicle as it moves, of the kind comprising a detector (12) sensing deviation of the heading of the vehicle relative to a pre-determined direction and producing an electrical deviation signal, a hydraulic piston and cylinder device (16) steering the vehicle wheels (2) and control means (15) responsive to the deviation signal.The technical problem is to provide apparatus of this kind whose operation is progressive and avoids systematic hunting.In accordance with the invention, the detector produces a deviation signal which is proportional to the deviation of the vehicle heading from the pre-set direction, and the servo-valve provides progressive control as a function of the deviation signal.

Abstract: This device comprises a tank for the product to be spread, a pump inserted in a conduit connecting the tank to a spreader system, a regulating valve actuated by a driver. An electronic system controls the driver as a function, on one hand of the speed of the vehicle and, on the other hand, of reference data. The regulating valve is inserted in a regulating conduit which is connected in parallel with the pump. The electronic system comprises a regulator including a microprocessor which is, on one hand, connected to data encoders for encoding data relating to the amount of product to be spread per unit area and to a parameter relating to the type of spray nozzles to be chosen for said spreader system and, on the other hand, connected to at least one interface circuit connecting the microprocessor to a speed detector and a pressure detector and to an interface circuit connected with said valve.

Abstract: A vehicle mounted liquid spreading device adapted to deliver selected, essentially constant, volumes of liquid per unit area over a range of vehicle speeds. The device operates to adjust the pressure in the liquid distribution system as a function of vehicle speed by comparing the pressure in the distribution system to a pressure proportional to the vehicle speed and utilizing a signal so obtained to control a liquid by-pass valve.

Abstract: The device comprises in a preferred embodiment, on one hand, an orienting system comprising a compass provided with two reflecting faces angularly offset 180.degree., an orientable optical system for detecting the angular deviation of the reflecting faces relative to a reference direction and means for displaying the detected deviation and, on the other hand, an automatic piloting system comprising a set of mirrors photocells, a servo-control device, and a cylinder device (32) for steering the steering wheels (33) of the vehicle.Application in particular to agricultural machines.

Abstract: The apparatus comprises a main reservoir for water and at least one secondary reservoir for an additive material. Both reservoirs are connected to a mixing chamber which is connected to independent segments of a spray distribution bank via separate pipes. A pump pumps the additive material to the mixing chamber. A driving mechanism responsive to the speed of the vehicle drives the pump as a function of the speed of the vehicle and thereby effects a first regulation of the flow of additive material to the mixing chamber. A valve is interposed between the secondary reservoir and the mixing chamber for effecting a second regulation of the flow of additive material to the mixing chamber as a function of the number of segments of the spray distribution bank in use.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile liquid distributing apparatus comprising a quasi-constant flow supply device a variable flow distributing device, and liquid transfer means interconnecting the two devices. A flow regulating means is included in the transfer means and a regulation device acts on the regulating means and comprises comparison means. The latter receive, on one hand, a signal from means for measuring a magnitude which is a characteristic of the flow of the liquid in the transfer means and, on the other hand, a reference signal from means for measuring the speed of the apparatus through means for transforming between the speed and said magnitude. The means measuring the characteristic magnitude is constituted by a flow measuring means and the transforming means are constituted by means for applying a coefficient of proportionality. The invention is of particular interest in applications in the agricultural field.

Abstract: In a sprayer, particularly an agricultural sprayer, having a boom equipped with conical jet spraying nozzles, the height of the boom above the plane of the surface to be treated is controlled in accordance with the pressure of the spray liquid in the boom by a system for the displacement of the boom perpendicularly to the plane of the surface to be treated, which system is mounted on the chassis of the sprayer, and provided with detectors for detecting the position of the boom with respect to the chassis, a comparator for comparing signals coming from the detectors with a value representing the pressure of the fluid in the boom, and a hydraulic jack connected to the comparator for operating the said displacement system in one direction or the other according to the differences detected, for the purpose of maintaining a tangent relationship between the circles or ellipses of the intersection of the conical spray jets with the plane of the said surface to be treated.

Abstract: In a vehicle-carried spreader system, a regulator valve controls a regulator conduit inserted between the output of a reservoir and a distribution chamber. A servo operates the valve in response to comparison of a chamber pressure manometer signal with a reference signal which is a function of vehicle speed, desired spreader output and type of spray nozzles used.