Agricultural product application tracking and control
US6522948B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 14, 2000 |
| Grant date | Feb 18, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 2, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02A40/10
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A control system is disclosed for an agricultural implement, such as an agricultural sprayer, used to dispense a product to the ground wherein the dispensing units for the product are provided with control valves that can reduce the flow rate of product through selected dispensing units to zero. By controlling the rate of flow through the dispensing units, overlap of the application of the product to the ground can be substantially eliminated. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the control mechanism can receive data from a remote source, such as a central controller or another implement operating in the field, to define where the product needs to be applied to the ground. The application of the product can also be controlled through or in conjunction with a prescription map. Preferably, each dispensing unit is provided with a control valve operably associated with the control system so that each dispensing unit can be independently controlled to provide a variable flow rate of the product to the ground.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.