Special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular material

Abstract

A special drive system that provides automatic and uniform application control of granular materials. It provides an automatic application control of a granular material from a granular material spreader and is comprised of (a) at least one electric motor for driving the conveyor and spinner at a speed, the said speed which determines a rate of discharge of the granular material; (b) a power source for the motor; (c) a means for controlling the power from the power source to the at least one motor; (d) a means for inputting a signal to the means for controlling the power; (e) a wiring harness with control and power electrical connectors; and (f) a means to mechanically mount the special drive system to the grain spreader wherein the result of the system is an accurately controlled rate of discharge and hence dispensing of the granular materials.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/454,035 filed Mar. 18, 211 by Michael D. and David A. Score and entitled “a special system that provides automatic application control of granular materials”.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular materials. Particularly this system and device are related to dispensing of any type of granular material including but not limited to fertilizer, lime, seed, highway road salt, sand, and other broadcasted granular materials. These materials are currently dispensed by a system with less accurate means (mechanical ground wheels) or by a system considerably more complex and more expensive (hydraulic means).

The special drive system is one that provides automatic application control of granular material. It describes an improved method of automatically controlling an accurate amount of granular material onto the ground and/or streets. This can apply to agricultural fertilizer, lime, seed and/or salt, gravel, sand.

The invention is a special drive system that provides an automatic application control of a granular material from a granular material spreader, the spreader including a hopper, a conveyor and a spinner device with a means for spinning at a desired speed and the said special drive system is comprised of (a) at least one electric motor for driving the conveyor and spinner at a speed, the said speed which determines a rate of discharge of the granular material; (b) a power source (battery or other electrical power source) for the motor; (c) a means for controlling the power from the power source to the at least one motor; (d) a means for inputting a signal to the means for controlling the power; (e) a wiring harness with control and power electrical connectors; and (f) a means to mechanically mount the special drive system to the grain spreader wherein the result of the system is an accurately controlled rate of discharge and hence dispensing of the granular materials. The controller is near the operator for convenience (and can be remote, wireless). The drive system is mounted to the spreader at the hopper frame near the conveyor. The power source may be on the pulling vehicle or hopper frame. The inputs to the controller are discussed below.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

None.

SEQUENCE LISTING OR PROGRAM

None.

BACKGROUND-FIELD OF INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

A. Problems Addressed

As far as known, there are no special drive systems that provide automatic application control of granular material or the like such as the one presented here. Typically ninety percent (90%) or more of all granular fertilizer spreaders continue to have press wheels that are ground driven. While this is fairly inexpensive, there are draw backs to this design. The typical (lower cost) fertilizer spreader feeds the material out the back of the spreader with a drag chain. The material typically then falls on a horizontal fan that spreads the material out into a pattern of approximately forty (40) or eighty (80) feet wide.

There are, however, other complex spreader drive designs that this proposal will also work. Some automatic controls for new spreaders are sold using a extensive and expensive hydraulic motors rather than an electric motor. The disadvantage to this is the cost of this control system. If the hydraulic system is self-contained within the fertilizer spreader, it requires a pump, motor, pressure relief valve, reservoir, servo, and flow meter, etc. A hydraulic controlled system would require—if retro-fitting an existing fertilizer spreader—a very large amount of modification to the existing spreader and/or tractor.

In the agricultural field most of the application equipment (for example anhydrous ammonia, chemicals sprayers, planters, drills) all used GPS or radar for velocity signals and automatically control the application systems utilizing servo valves, flow control mechanisms, electric sensors, and/or automatic shutoff valves to establish weight or volume control systems for the material. However, in the area of granular spread material such as agricultural fertilizer, only five to ten percent (5-10%) of the spreaders utilize automatic control systems. As mentioned, over ninety percent (90%) of the spreaders still use a rubber press wheel to control quantity of the granular material. Typically the press wheel rides or is in contact with on a ground wheel that then turns a sprocket and drives another sprocket that turns a drag chain that transfers granular material through an opening typically in the back of a hopper or truck box. The material will then fall to a spinner that spreads the material onto the ground and or street or road. [Note that one skilled in electrical powered accessories and agricultural implementation equipment well appreciates that the spinner may also be driven by an electrical motor which might easily be adapted within the overall systems control method and devices].

One of the disadvantages associated with the press wheel drive mechanism is the accuracy of the system. One example of the inaccuracy is the constant air pressure in the drive wheel and/or the ground wheel. As the air pressure on the tires change the wheel radius changes, then the drag chain speed changes thus changing the rate the material is distributed on the ground.

The next issue to address is the ground condition. If the field is muddy and/or has snow on the ground, this can create wet conditions on the rubber tires, thus decreasing the coefficient of friction between the two (2) rubber surfaces. Then as the resistance of the drag chain increases the rubber drive wheel will slip due to reduced coefficient of friction on the press wheel. This condition can occur without the knowledge of the operator due to the remote location of the press wheel.

Because slippage is one of the major problems with the press wheel, some companies have thrown attempts to improve or “band aids” at this problem with expensive hydraulic cylinders and/or heavy springs to apply extra force to reduce slippage. Other companies sell an iron wheel to replace the rubber wheel which they claim will help to reduce slippage.

Another issue is the ease at which the spreader can be disengaged. For example, if the operator desires to shut off the spreader when turning around at the headland, he must turn and yank on a rope, to disengage and then pull another rope to engage. Usually this is difficult especially with a large tractor. Eventually the operator elects to leave the spreader engaged while turning on the head land—wasting materials.

Also within a standard system if the operator wants to change the application rate he must adjust the gate opening clear back at the rear of the applicator. This is often difficult because of the corrosion associated with salt or fertilizer when the gate is corroded and not easily adjusted. It is also very difficult to accurately gage or measure the perpendicular opening of the applicator door.

If sections of field or highway require different rates, the operator rather than adjusting the opening will elect to find the “average requirements” for the field rather than adjust specifically for each area of the field. This is inefficient and not as economical as spreading according to the actual and specific needs of the field or road. With all the available information on fertilizers, information as to last year yields for specific areas of the field and historical knowledge of the field performance known by the farmer, a method to consider this data and input it to the dispense rate is needed.

More recently a drive system that has been introduced into the field is a hydraulic system which drives the drag chain by use of a hydraulic motor. This system actually does improve the accuracy, but is very expensive to install and nearly impossible to convert on an existing spreader. This is the primary reason that the more accurate method of spreading is not being adopted into the agricultural industry. In the hydraulic system it has been the applicant's experience and confirmed by at least four (4) manufactures that the servo valves can cause considerable downtime and maintenance in the hydraulic system. Also, as soon as there are hydraulic hoses hanging on the spreader there will eventually be hydraulic leaks which are a major waste of natural resources. One will note in the FIG. 9, a typical hydraulic circuit, the complications introduced into a fairly simple hydraulic system. This is due to the conversion of starting with electrical signals, then using hydraulics, then converting back to an electrical system for verification of the process.

B. Prior Art

It is believed that this special drive system is unique in its design and technologies. However a rigorous search of other prior art included the following patents of interest. None solve all the problems stated as does the current Score system.

U.S. Pat. No. 842,238, issued to Park in 1907 demonstrated a mechanical manure spreader. However, it had no continuous control of distribution rate for the manure with the highly variable nutrient content. U.S. Pat. No. 1,166,477, issued to Parrish in 1916 was a mechanical seed and fertilizer distributor. It used the impeller method of a disk but had little control of distribution versus speed and ground terrain.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,013,803, issued to Piester in 1961 demonstrated a bulk dry fertilizer spreader with mechanical linkages. An improvement to past mechanisms, it still required manual settings and distribution feed as the wagon-like apparatus was pulled behind the tractor. U.S. Pat. No. 3,344,993, issued to Wilder in 1967 provided a spreader apparatus with intricate and rather complicated mechanical means and interconnects to try and regulate the spreading rates. The design had much complexity while still being mechanically based in nature.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,511,411, issued to Weiss in 1970 displayed an apparatus for controlling planting and material spraying and spreading device. An intricate combination of electrical and hydraulic fluid with mechanical linkage controls were used to provide a manner to regulate the dispensing of granules and seeds. U.S. Pat. No. 3,677,540, issued to Weiss in 1972 provided another rigorous and complex material discharge control apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 3,776,431, issued to Riley in 1973 shows a material spreader system with hydraulic drive and speed control means. This invention relates to a material spreaders of the type including: a hopper, a prime mover for propelling the hopper at pre-determined speeds, a movable unloading assembly for spreading the material from the hopper on the ground at a rate dependent upon the nature of the material and the ground speed of the hopper, a hydraulic motor for driving the unloading assembly, a hydraulic pump, and a control unit between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor for varying the speed of the motor. The control unit employs a fluid flow proportioning device connected in parallel-circuit relationship with an operable 3-way valve to provide at least two speeds for the motor.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,581, issued to van der Lely, et al in 1982 for a spreader suitable for spreading granular and/or powdery material. It demonstrates a spreader suitable for spreading granular and/or powdery materials, such as seeds or fertilizer and comprises a distributor which has an upturned rim. The distributor can be driven in rotation or reciprocated about an axis which is inclined rearward from top to bottom at different speeds by means of a change-speed means. Another U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,664, also issued to van der Lely, et al in 1991 shows a spreader. Here, the device is a spreader for granular and/or powdery material such as fertilizer comprises a hopper having two delivery parts. Distribution members are provided under the delivery parts for broadcasting material fed to them from the hopper. The distribution members are mounted on a carrier rigidly supported by the hopper. This construction results in a fixed position of the distribution member with respect to the delivery parts, regardless of deflections which may occur as a result of the weight of material in the hopper. The distribution members may be driven by a mechanical transmission from a power take-off shaft of a tractor, or by a hydraulic motor.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,096,125, issued to Wise et al. in 1992 is an apparatus for synchronized spreading of granular and liquid material. It teaches a granular and liquid material spreading system mounted on a vehicle. Granular material is moved from a hopper to a delivery means using hydraulic pumps and motors. The hydraulic system also drives a liquid delivery system. A control system is provided to control the amount of granular material and liquid material applied to a surface. The feed rate of liquid delivery is dependent upon the feed rate of the granular material. The liquid feed rate may be changed within a predetermined range. The level of liquid may be sensed to disengage the liquid delivery system. Initiation of liquid delivery reduces the feed rate of granular material by a variably selected percentage. U.S. Pat. No. 5,842,649, issued to Beck, et al. in 1998 that shows a precision placement spreader. This is a truck having a conveyor arrangement and a material spreader and a control mechanism to regulate the speed said conveyor arrangement conveys materials and to regulate the velocity the materials are ejected from said material spreader. The material spreader includes a material guider to guide the trajectory of substantially all of the materials in a direction substantially opposite the direction of forward movement of the truck. The control mechanism also includes a velocity sensor adapted to detect the velocity of the truck and to send a signal indicative of the truck velocity to a velocity controller.

Another U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,391, again issued to Beck, et al. in 1999 shows another truck spreader with similarities to the above device. U.S. Pat. No. 6,116,526, issued to Bom, et al. in 2000 displayed and explained an Implement for spreading granular and/or pulverulent material. This shows an implement for spreading granular material, such as fertilizer, wherein the flow of fertilizer from the hopper is controlled by the position of a metering slide under an outlet opening of the hopper. The metering slide has an indented asymmetric edge which cooperates with the outlet opening to control of the flow of fertilizer onto an underlying spreader. The metering slide is moved into its position under the outlet opening by the pivotal movement of a sector-shaped support in hinged connection with the metering slide and is urged against the hopper and the sector shaped support by a spring. Then, the flow of material from a plurality of outlet openings is selectively controlled either individually or in unison.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,173,904, issued to Doherty, et al. in 2001 for an apparatus and system for synchronized application of one or more materials to a surface from a vehicle and control of a vehicle mounted variable position snow removal device. It teaches an apparatus and system, preferably mounted on a service vehicle, provides synchronized application of fluid materials, either solid or liquid, to a vehicle travel surface in proportional amounts or spatially distributed proportions in response to user defined requirements and/or operation of a vehicle mounted component in response to conditions encountered in real time. U.S. Pat. No. 6,220,532, issued to Manon et. al in 2001 for a mount and feeder arrangement for a precision placement spreader. It teaches a truck having a material spreader and a control mechanism to regulate the velocity of materials ejected from the material spreader. The material spreader includes a material guider to guide the trajectory of substantially all the materials in a direction substantially opposite the direction of forward movement of the truck. The control mechanism includes a velocity sensor adapted to detect the velocity of the truck and to send a signal indicative of the truck velocity to a velocity controller. The velocity controller sends a signal to the material spreader which is dependent on the truck velocity to control the velocity of the materials ejected from the material spreader. The material spreader is mounted to the truck to allow the material spreader to be moved between a non-operational and operational position.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,422,490, issued to Traun, et. al in 2002 shows a rear mounted spreader with a horizontal auger feed. Here is taught a rear mounted spreader having a horizontal auger. The spreader is ideally suited to spread bulk salt and sand, but can effectively be used to spread any spreadable material. The spreader is mounted to a vehicle and the auger is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. The spreader includes a flow plate to facilitate proper material flow. The spreader also includes a vehicle-mounted control that can independently control the auger and spinner and can control the vibrator. Finally, the U.S. Pat. No. 6,702,208 was issued to Hadler, et. al in 2004 for a hopper spreader apparatus for dry, free flow materials. This latest device teaches a hopper spreader apparatus for spreading materials such as salt, sand or seed includes a motor for rotating a spinner for distributing particulate matter delivered to the spinner. The hopper spreader apparatus is adapted for mounting on a skid steer loader unit. In one embodiment, the drive motor is a hydraulic motor which obtains hydraulic power from the hydraulic system of the skid steer loader unit. A flow controller adapts the flow rate provided by the skid steer loader unit to the flow rate for the hydraulic motor. In one embodiment, a check valve limits the operation of the hydraulic motor to one direction. The hopper spreader apparatus includes a quick release mounting adapter for quickly mounting the hopper spreader apparatus to the skid steer loader unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention is a special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular material. Taught here are the ways to accurately and economically control the dispensing of various dry materials such as fertilizer, seed, road salt, lime, ash, sand and the like. The motor(s) of the special system that provides automatic application control of granular material is/are placed and removably secured on the side of the hopper frame and then controllably connected to an electrical power source. This may be as an original equipment (for new) option with a dispensing hopper or an add-on (to old) system sold in the equipment as an aftermarket improvement.

The preferred embodiment of the special drive system that provides an automatic application control of a granular material from a granular material spreader, the spreader including a hopper, a conveyor and a spinner device with a means for spinning at a desired speed and the said special drive system is comprised of (a) at least one electric motor for driving the conveyor and spinner at a speed, the said speed which determines a rate of discharge of the granular material; (b) a power source for the motor; (c) a means for controlling the power from the power source to the at least one motor; (d) a means for inputting a signal to the means for controlling the power; (e) a wiring harness with control and power electrical connectors; and (f) a means to mechanically mount the special drive system to the grain spreader wherein the result of the system is an accurately controlled rate of discharge and hence dispensing of the granular materials. The system is made of readily found components and materials and then uniquely combined to provide the full system.

The newly invented special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular material may be manufactured at low volumes by very simple means and in high volume electrical system production.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

Recall that typically 90% or more of all granular fertilizer spreaders continue to have press wheels that are ground driven. This is inexpensive, however there are draw backs to this design as was discussed above: control of the spreader from the tractor cab, wheel slip in wet conditions, mud build up on the wheel thus changing the effective radius of the driver and driven, and ease of changing the rate the fertilizer is applied with other information is presented.

There are several objects and advantages of the special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular materials. There are currently no known granular dispensing means that are effective at providing the objects of this invention.

The agricultural and road maintenance (ice and snow prevention/removal) fields have long needed a simple control means that is superior to the ground wheel mechanical drive of the dispenser. Hydraulic technology was tried and enabled some improvements, but at a cost that was economically unsatisfactory. With the modern abundance of information of all types as to field conditions, hopper/field locations, crop and fertilizer compatibilities as well as the farmer's own knowledge about the specific field receiving materials, the need to couple the information with the hopper control was ideal.

Typically ninety percent (90%) or more of all granular fertilizer spreaders continue to have press wheels that are ground driven. This is efficient and inexpensive, however there are four main draw backs to this design. One, it is more difficult to turn off the spreader from the tractor cab; and two, the wheel will slip in wet conditions; three, in muddy conditions the mud builds up on the wheel thus changing the effective radius of the driver and driven, and thus changing the rate the fertilizer is applied; and, four, other conditions such as fertilizer dispense rate, last year's yield, and the farmer's historical knowledge of the field is not easily included when setting the dispensing rates.

This new and special system that provides automatic application control of granular material is simple, more accurate than mechanical systems and less expensive than hydraulic systems. When dispensing granular materials, this system:

• • permits control from the tractor and does not require the operator to stop and reset dispensing rates;
  • permits variable speeds that are consistently controlled and not impacted by inclement conditions and wet slippage;
  • reduces variation due to ground conditions and the amount of mud build-up. The controller is repeatable and accurate; and
  • permits various factors that may impact yield such as location, soil conditions, last growing season's yield, etc.

Finally, other advantages and additional features of the present special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular material will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and from the full description of the device. For one skilled in the art of dispensing granular materials such as fertilizer, road salt, seed, sand and the like, it is readily understood that the features shown in the examples with this system are readily adapted to other types of dispensing systems and devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figures

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the special system that provides automatic application control of granular material that is preferred. The drawings together with the summary description given above and a detailed description given below serve to explain the principles of the special system that provides automatic application control of granular material. It is understood, however, that the special system that provides automatic application control of granular material is not limited to only the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are side and end sketches of the special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular material.

FIG. 2 is a side sketch of the special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular material with components and features noted.

FIGS. 3 A through 3 C is an end sketch of the special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular material with the components and features shown from generally end view.

FIG. 4 is a table of common inputs provided to the controller of the new special drive system.

FIG. 5 is a graph of the typical tractor speed versus shaft speed of the granular material conveyor and hence the amount of material dispensed.

FIG. 6 is a general schematic for the electrical motor drive.

FIG. 7 are field maps showing fertilizer needs for the specific area of the field determined by soil tests and other agriculture data.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are sketches of prior art used in the control of systems and devices used in dispensing granular materials.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference Numerals

The following list refers to the drawings:

TABLE B
Reference numbers
Ref # Description
31    A special drive system that provides automatic application
      control of granular materials
31A   Side view of the special drive system that provides automatic
      application control of granular material
31B   End view of the special drive system that provides automatic
      application control of granular material
31B1  End view of the special drive system that provides automatic
      application control of granular material with separate motor
      35A to activate spinner 60
31B2  End view of the special drive system that provides automatic
      application control of granular material with mechanical drive
      61A to drive spinner 60
32    Power source
33    Control unit and means for controlling the power source and
      power to the motor
34    Wiring harness or means to connect with both control and power
      transmission wires
34A   Wiring harness or means to connect with both control and power
      transmission wires to spinner motor 35A
35    Conveyor drive such as an electric motor or equivalent for
      grain belt 50 or belt 50 and spinner 60. Motor may be
      combined with gear reducer to affect torque.
35A   Drive such as an electric motor or equivalent for spinner 60
      only. Motor may be combined with gear reducer to affect
      torque.
36    Motor/drive support means
37    Spreader including the hopper 40, conveyor 50 and spinner 60
      and the structure securing the same
40    Granular material hopper
41    Hopper frame
42    Ground wheels
43    Connection such as a hitch from hopper frame to tractor or
      truck
45    Hopper discharge opening
45A   Discharge gate
50    Grain discharge conveyor
51    Drive sprockets
51A   motor sprocket
51B   conveyor sprocket
52    Conveyor chain belt with flat slats or wire mesh or equal
53    Conveyor drive roller chain or belt
60    Spinner table/disk with self-contained means to drive or
      connection (electrical or mechanical) to conveyor 60 means for
      driving
61    Spinner support
61A   Spinner mechanical drive 61A for Spinner device 60
61B   Mechanical connection and drive means 61B from conveyor drive
      51 to spinner mechanical drive 61A for Spinner 60
70    Direction of fertilizer flow -->
75    Means for supplying and the Input data like GPS location,
      vehicle speed, fertilizer usage tables, farmer's historical
      knowledge as to field yield at a specific location, last
      growing period's yield (correlates to nutrients used), etc.
75A   Control input chart
80    Tractor speed versus rpm of conveyor shaft graph
85    Electric motor drive schematic
87A   Fertilizer feed map
87B   Crop yield map
88    Prior art ground wheel hopper
89    Prior art hydraulic control schematic for dispenser
90    Granular material such as fertilizer, lime, seed, highway road
      salt, sand or the like

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present development relates to a special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular materials. Particularly this system and device are related to dispensing of any type of granular material including but not limited to fertilizer, lime, seed, highway road salt, sand, and other broadcasted granular materials. These materials are currently dispensed by a system with less accurate means (mechanical ground wheels) or by a system considerably more complex and more expensive (hydraulic means).

Being taught here are the ways a special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular materials may be attached to a new or retro-fitted to an existing hopper for dispensing granular materials. Therefore, this may be as an original equipment option or an add-on system sold in the equipment aftermarket.

The advantages for a special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular materials are listed above in the introduction. Succinctly the benefits are that the device:

• • 1. permits control from the tractor and does not require the operator to stop and reset dispensing rates;
  • 2. permits variable speeds that are consistently controlled and not impacted by inclement conditions and wet slippage;
  • 3. reduces variation due to ground conditions and the amount of mud build-up. The controller is repeatable and accurate; and
  • 4. permits various factors that may impact yield such as location, soil conditions, last growing season's yield, etc.

The preferred embodiment of the special drive system 31 that provides an automatic application control of a granular material 90 from a granular material spreader, the spreader 37 including a hopper 40, a conveyor 50 and a spinner device 60 with a means for spinning at a desired speed and the said special drive system 31 is comprised of (a) at least one electric motor 35 for driving the conveyor 50 and spinner 60 at a speed, the said speed which determines a rate of discharge of the granular material 90; (b) a power source 32 for the motor 35; (c) a means for controlling 33 the power from the power source 32 to the at least one motor 35; (d) a means 75 for inputting a signal to the means 33 for controlling the power; (e) a wiring harness 34 with control and power electrical connectors; and (f) a means 36 to mechanically mount the special drive system 31 to the grain spreader 37 wherein the result of the system is an accurately controlled rate of discharge and hence dispensing of the granular materials 90. The input means 75 to the controller means 33 is near the operator for convenience (can be remote, wireless). The motor 35 is mounted to the hopper frame 41 near the conveyor 50. The power source 32 may be on the pulling vehicle or hopper frame 41.

There is shown in FIGS. 1-9 a complete description and operative embodiment of the special drive system 31 that provides automatic application control of granular materials. In the drawings and illustrations, one notes well that the FIGS. 1-7 demonstrate the general configuration and use of this product. FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 shows prior art 88, 89. The various example uses are in the operation and use section, below.

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate an embodiment of the special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular materials 31 that is preferred. The drawings together with the summary description given above and a detailed description given below serve to explain the principles of the special system that provides automatic application control of granular materials 31. It is understood, however, that the special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular materials 31 is not limited to only the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. Other examples of application systems for granular materials are still understood by one skilled in the art of granular material dispensing systems and the like to be within the scope and spirit shown here.

FIGS. 1A and 1B are side 31A and end 31B sketches of the special drive system 31 that provides automatic application control of granular material. The components and features are described below in more detail.

FIG. 2 is a side sketch 31A of the special drive system 31 that provides automatic application control of granular material with components and features noted. The sketch shows most of the components and the configuration is largely self-explanatory to one familiar with agricultural equipment. The hopper 40 is supported by frame 41 which is supported by a set of ground wheels 42 (normally 4 wheels). Within the hopper 40 is a granular material discharge conveyor 50. This conveyor 50 is normally mechanically driven by the ground wheels 42 with little or no control. What speed is transferred from the wheel 42 is transferred to the conveyor 50. The new special drive system 31 that provides automatic application control of granular materials 90 has a different means to drive the conveyor 50. The system 31 has an electric motor 35 that powers the conveyor 50 through a set of sprockets 51 which are connected by a roller drive 53 (chain, belt or equivalent). One notes that motor may be combined with gear reducer to affect torque. The sprocket 51A on the motor 35 is turned or rotated by the motor 35 in an essentially direct drive. That rotation of the motor sprocket 51A is transferred by the chain 53 to the conveyor sprocket 51B. As the conveyor sprocket 51B rotates, the conveyor chain belt with flat slats or wire mesh or equal 52 is driven and the granular material 90 is transferred out of the hopper 40, through the gate 45A and opening 45, and onto the spinner 60. The spinner 60 broad casts and dispenses the granular material 90 out to the adjoining area depending on the speed the spinner 60 turns and the speed the hopper 40 travels along the ground. The spinner 60 likewise may be turned by a direct mechanical means from the wheels or by a mechanical interconnect with the conveyor 50, or by its own motor 35 (not shown). The speed of the spinner 60 and the speed of the hopper 40 then determine how much material 90 is dispensed. Hence, if the hopper 40 speed and the spinner 60 speed (and therefore the conveyor 50 speed are correlated and controlled, the dispensed granular material 90 may be accurately established and controlled. This is achieved by the applicant's new special system 31 by having an electric motor 35 turning the sprocket 51A. The motor 35 speed is controlled by a means for controlling device 33 which determines the amount of power from the power source 32 that is supplied to the motor 35. This is all through a wiring harness 34 or means to connect with both control and power transmission wires. Hence the motor 35 may speed up or slow down by the power permitted by the controller 33. The controller 33 has a micro controller, digital signal processor, program logic control-PLC (or equal) that electronically controls and manages the inputs 75 from various sources and of various types (see FIG. 4). One ordinarily skilled in electronic controllers well appreciates the plethora of types and manufacturers of such electronic controls. The scope and spirit submitted here is the electrical motor 35 used to drive the conveyor 50. The motor 35 is controlled electronically and that controller has inputs 75 as to location, fertilizer needs, last year's yield (which correlates to nutrients used and therefore in need of replacement), farmer's overall knowledge of the individual field locations and historical yield of crop from that location, and other inputs that factor into crop yield and performance. The result of the electric driven conveyor which has the various inputs permit the hopper 40 dispensing of granular material 90 to be carefully controlled by correlating the various inputs 75 and managing (by a micro controller, digital signal processor, program logic control-PLC or equivalent) their information and controlling the electric motor 35 according to the managed data 75.

FIGS. 3 A through 3 C are end sketches of the special drive system 31 that provides automatic application control of granular material 90 with the components and features shown from generally end view. The components shown are the same described in FIG. 2 but from an END view. FIG. 3 A is the general view with the spinner 60 with the hopper 40, gate 45A and opening 45 shown. FIG. 3 B is an end view 31B1 of the special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular material 90 with separate motor 35A and wire harness 34A to activate spinner 60. One notes that drive 35A such as an electric motor or equivalent for spinner 60 only. The motor may be combined with gear reducer to affect torque. Here the system has two electric motors used for driving the conveyor and the spinner to complete the system. FIG. 3 C is an end view 31B2 of the special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular material with mechanical drive 61A to drive spinner 60. Anticipated in the scope of this innovation is to incorporate the electric drive and conveyor system to present granular material to the intake of the rather recently developed pneumatic tube discharge. Here the granules use a pneumatic dispersal through tubes rather than the conventional spinner system.

FIG. 4 is a table 75A of common inputs 75 and signals provided to the controller 33 of the new special system 31. Here are the general inputs 75 of facts about the field by specific location. Those inputs 75 are entered into the controller and the location permits the controller 33 to vary the amount of granular material being dispersed by controlling the power from the power source 32 to the electric motor 35 and hence the speed of the conveyor 50. Controlling the speed and rate of the conveyor 50 and the spinner 60 ultimately control the rate and amount of granular materials dispensed or dispersed. The table repeated here is:

Control
Item	Input 75 Types	Desired Result
1	Manual setting	Over-ride position
2	Radar or GPS (Ground	Travel Speed of materials
	Position Setting or System)	hopper across area
	input
3	GPS input	Exact location of a hopper
		to compare to map location
		data table
4	Map fertilizer data table	Fertilizer need by field
		location
5	Map yield data table	Yield of crop from last
		growing season—to help
		indicate what nutrients
		need to be replaced
6	Map judgment data table	Farmer's historical
	(separately and discretely	knowledge of field's
	created)	production by specific
		location

FIG. 5 is a graph 80 of the typical tractor speed versus shaft speed of the granular material conveyor 50 and hence the amount of material dispensed. The relationship shows that traditionally on a ground wheel, mechanical control system, the material was dispensed proportional to the wheel speed. If the wheels were slipping or “mudded”, then the speed of the conveyor was impacted and the material dispensed was not accurate.

FIG. 6 is a general schematic 85 for the electrical motor 35 drive. Here electrical motor 35 is controlled by a simple, remote control device 33 with various potential inputs 75 (here GPS location or radar speed). The controller 33 increases or decreases the power from the power source 32 to the motor 35. The motor 35 turns the sprocket 51 and the sprocket speed controls the speed or output of the conveyor 50 and/or the spinner 60. The controller 33 is near the operator for convenience (can be remote, wireless). The controller 33 may be direct wired or wireless to control the power from the power source 32 to the motor 35. One remembers from the other drawings that the motor 35 is mounted to the hopper frame 41 near the conveyor 50. The power source 32 may be on the pulling vehicle or hopper frame 41.

FIG. 7 are field maps 87A, 87B showing fertilizer needs for the specific area of the field determined by soil tests and other agriculture data. By correlating the data 75 from maps such as these 87A, 87B the input data 75 may be controlled by a micro controller, digital signal processor, program logic control-PLC (or equal) of the controller 33 and vary the power from the power source 32 to the motor 35. Therefore the input data 75 permits accurate control of the needs of the field by location and allows the electric motor 35 and hence dispensing to be accurately controlled. Examples of this are described in the operation portion, below. As embodiments, the system 31 control is Automatic, i.e.; by using a software package and radar or GPS for a velocity signal. Then the input means 75 shown in in FIGS. 2 and 3 are then controlling the rate (lbs./acre or lbs./mile) with an automatic feedback system. The speed of the drag chain will correlate with the speed of the spreader. The operator will set the rate from in the cab. The system wherein the control is variable rate control, i.e.; the input 75 and control means 33 can also be tied in with a GPS field map or yield map and can change the rate automatically depending on location and field requirements. The rate can be decided ahead of time with the use of a soil consultant.

FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are sketches of prior art 88, 89 used in the control of systems and devices used in dispensing granular materials. The ground wheel control 88 of the application is shown in the sketch. The complex and expensive hydraulic system 89 is shown in the schematic.

The details mentioned here are exemplary and not limiting. Other specific components and manners specific to describing a special drive system that provides automatic application control of granular materials 31 may be added as a person having ordinary skill in the field of granular material dispensing systems and the like well appreciates.

OPERATION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the special drive system 31 that provides an automatic application control of a granular material 90 from a granular material spreader, the spreader 37 including a hopper 40, a conveyor 50 and a spinner device 60 with a means for spinning at a desired speed and the said special drive system 31 is comprised of (a) at least one electric motor 35 for driving the conveyor 50 and spinner 60 at a speed, the said speed which determines a rate of discharge of the granular material 90; (b) a power source 32 for the motor 35; (c) a means for controlling 33 the power from the power source 32 to the at least one motor 35; (d) a means 75 for inputting a signal to the means 33 for controlling the power; (e) a wiring harness 34 with control and power electrical connectors; and (f) a means 36 to mechanically mount the special drive system 31 to the grain spreader 37 wherein the result of the system is an accurately controlled rate of discharge and hence dispensing of the granular materials 90. The controller means 33 is near the operator for convenience (can be remote, wireless). The motor 35 is mounted to the hopper frame 41 near the conveyor 50. The power source 32 may be on the pulling vehicle or hopper frame 41. The controller 33 is near the operator for convenience (can be remote, wireless). The motor 35 is mounted to the hopper frame 41 near the conveyor 50. The power source 32 may be on the pulling vehicle or hopper frame 41. The system provides a process for accurately spreading a granular material without an expensive hydraulic package, or the inherently inaccurate press wheel or ground wheel.

Operationally, the special drive system 31 that provides automatic application control of granular materials 90 is a replacement of the press wheel or hydraulic motor with an electric motor 35. The electric motor 35 will turn the sprocket 51A and chain 53 that turns the conveyor sprocket 51B and belt pulley that drives the drag chain. The whole system 31 is controlled with software that is designed to change the speed of the motor 35 depending on the velocity of the equipment (e g the hopper 40). For example, and not as a limitation, if the spreader hopper 40 and tractor are going at seven miles per hour (7 mph) the electric motor 35 will know to turn for example thirty revolutions per minute (30 rpm). If the tractor and spreader are traveling at fourteen miles per hour (14 mph) the electric motor will know to rotate at sixty revolutions per minute 60 rpm. Therefore the same pounds of granular material 90 per acre will be applied at any speed. A radar gun or a GPS system 75 can be used to give the velocity signals.

If desired, because of the increasing cost of the fertilizer this system can be designed to apply different rates depending on the inputs 75 such as soil samples, yield maps or fertility tests or always have an over-ride to be set manually by the operator. The system controller [a micro controller, digital signal processor, program logic control-PLC (or equal)] will need to communicate with other software used in mapping fields. This will guarantee maximizing the effectiveness of the applied fertilizer. Therefore, one use and embodiment is where the system 31 is Manual, i.e.; controlling the speed of the motor with a potentiometer.

The system motor 35 may be either DC brushless or brush motor. Both will work. A brush motor will be less expensive but control accuracy and motor life can be improved with a brushless designed system. This invention will allow for an electric DC motor 35 to be utilized as the driver that will turn the sprocket 51 that will pull the drag chain belt, with flat slats or wire mesh, 52 to accurately distribute material 90 to the ground or road. The electric motor 35 will not require servo valve, hydraulic pump, reservoir tank, flow control, hand valves and will not lead oil in the fields. Also the DC motor system will not experience inaccuracy due to poor ground conditions. There will be an encoder required, the controller (with a micro controller, digital signal processor, program logic control-PLC (or equal) electrical software and hardware and GPS or radar signal. The encoder can be hard wired or remote wireless signal.

An experimental test was completed with a one-sixth horsepower (⅙ HP) DC brush type motor. Amperage was 8.6 amps at 12 volts and ran at fifty five revolutions per minute (55 rpm) out sprocket speed. The empirical result of the first experiment was 232 lbs/acre when the target setting was 230 lbs./acre or a 0.8% accuracy. Mounting of the motor 35 was easy as an ell “L” shaped bracket was secured to the frame 41 of the spreader/hopper 49 with 2 5/16″ bolts, and the motor was mounted to the bracket and a roller chain to drive the rear sprocket. The electric motor 35 could have been mounted in direct line with the rear drive cylinder, and eliminate the sprockets and roller chain. In this test, the rubber press wheel was not removed (only disengaged). No other changes were required. The speed of the motor was controlled from inside the cab. The tractor battery was the only power source 32.

The special drive system 31 according to the above description can also be used with, for example and not limitation, a salt spreader truck with the electric drive used to pull the apron or drag chain. When the salt truck is designed with an auger, the hydraulic motor on the end of the auger is replaced with an electric motor and an encoder on the end of the electric motor or mounted on the end of the shaft.

With this description it is to be understood that the special drive system 31 that provides automatic application control of granular materials is not to be limited to only the disclosed embodiment of product. The features of the special system 31 that provides automatic application control of granular materials are intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the description.

While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

Unless they are defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which these inventions belong. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can also be used in the practice or testing of the present inventions, the preferred methods and materials are now described above in the foregoing paragraphs.

Other of the embodiments of the invention are possible. Although the description above contains much specificity, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention, but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. It is also contemplated that various combinations or sub-combinations of the specific features and aspects of the embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the inventions. It should be understood that various features and aspects of the disclosed embodiments can be combined with or substituted for one another in order to form varying modes of the disclosed inventions. Thus, it is intended that the scope of at least some of the present inventions herein disclosed should not be limited by the particular disclosed embodiments described above.

The terms recited in the claims should be given their ordinary and customary meaning as determined by reference to relevant entries (e.g., definition of “plane” as a carpenter's tool would not be relevant to the use of the term “plane” when used to refer to an airplane, etc.) in dictionaries (e.g., widely used general reference dictionaries and/or relevant technical dictionaries), commonly understood meanings by those in the art, etc., with the understanding that the broadest meaning imparted by any one or combination of these sources should be given to the claim terms (e.g., two or more relevant dictionary entries should be combined to provide the broadest meaning of the combination of entries, etc.) subject only to the following exceptions: (a) if a term is used herein in a manner more expansive than its ordinary and customary meaning, the term should be given its ordinary and customary meaning plus the additional expansive meaning, or (b) if a term has been explicitly defined to have a different meaning by reciting the term followed by the phrase “as used herein shall mean” or similar language (e.g., “herein this term means,” “as defined herein,” “for the purposes of this disclosure [the term] shall mean,” etc.). References to specific examples, use of “i.e.,” use of the word “invention,” etc., are not meant to invoke exception (b) or otherwise restrict the scope of the recited claim terms. Other than situations where exception (b) applies, nothing contained herein should be considered a disclaimer or disavowal of claim scope. Accordingly, the subject matter recited in the claims is not coextensive with and should not be interpreted to be coextensive with any particular embodiment, feature, or combination of features shown herein. This is true even if only a single embodiment of the particular feature or combination of features is illustrated and described herein. Thus, the appended claims should be read to be given their broadest interpretation in view of the prior art and the ordinary meaning of the claim terms.

Unless they are otherwise indicated, all numbers or expressions, such as those expressing dimensions, physical characteristics, etc. used in the specification (other than the claims) are understood as modified in all instances by the term “approximately.” At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the claims, each numerical parameter recited in the specification or claims which is modified by the term “approximately” should at least be construed in light of the number of recited significant digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.

With this description it is to be understood that the special drive system 31 that provides automatic application control of granular materials is not to be limited to only the disclosed embodiment. The features of the system are intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the description.

Claims

1. A special drive system that provides an automatic application control of a granular material from a granular material spreader, the spreader including a hopper, a conveyor and a spinner device with a means for spinning at a desired speed and the said special drive system is comprised of:

(a) at least one electric motor for driving the conveyor and spinner at a speed, the said speed which determines a rate of discharge of the granular material;

(b) a power source for the motor;

(c) a means for controlling the power from the power source to the at least one motor;

(d) a means for inputting a signal to the means for controlling the power;

(e) a wiring harness with control and power electrical connectors; and

(f) a means to mechanically mount the special drive system to the grain spreader

wherein the result of the system is an accurately controlled rate of discharge and hence dispensing of the granular materials.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the means for controlling is manual.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the manual means is a potentiometer.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the means for controlling is automatic.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the automatic means uses a software program with the input signal.

6. The system according to claim 5 wherein the inputting means is radar.

7. The system according to claim 5 wherein the inputting means is a Global Positioning System (GPS) that relates a position with other inputs.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein the other inputs is a crop yield map.

9. The system according to claim 7 wherein the other inputs is a fertilizer usage map.

10. The system according to claim 1 wherein the means for spinning at a desired speed is a separate motor (31B1).

11. The system according to claim 1 wherein the means for spinning at a desired speed is mechanical linkage (31B2) to the conveyor.

12. A process for accurately spreading a granular material for accurately spreading a granular material without an expensive hydraulic package, or the inherit inaccurate press wheel or ground wheel.