Patent ID: 6092745
Filing Date: 2000-07-25
Classification: A01C

Abstract:
In a nutrient material spreader comprising a main frame supported on ground engaging wheels, a tank mounted on said frame for receiving material to be distributed, a conveyor, a conveyor drive motor for driving the conveyor so that the conveyor conveys material received in said tank to a discharge area, an opening in said tank in the vicinity of said discharge area, and at least one slinger driven by a slinger motor and mounted outside said tank for receiving material discharged through said opening and dispersing the material on a field as the tank is transported over the field, the improvement comprising:a control system responsive to a nutrient demand signal for controlling the speed of the auger drive motor so that nutrient material is conveyed to said opening at a rate such that a desired weight of nutrient material per unit area of the field, as specified by said nutrient demand signal, is dispersed on the field;said control system having sensing means producing feedback signals and circuit means for determining, from the feedback signals and said nutrient demand signal, the difference between the desired weight and the actual weight of nutrient material per unit area being dispersed, said circuit means producing an error signal for changing the speed of the auger drive motor to reduce said difference.