Patent ID: 6070539
Filing Date: 2000-06-06
Classification: A01B,A01C,A01M,Y10S

Abstract:
Apparatus for applying an agricultural product to a field, comprising:a vehicle for moving over the field;processing means transported by the vehicle and coupled to a memory for storing a theoretical rate of application of the agricultural product, the processing means operable to generate a metering device control signal representative of said theoretical rate of application;an agricultural product metering device coupled to the processing means for receiving said metering device control signal, said metering device dispensing a quantity of the agricultural product which varies according to the metering device control signal;a sensor mounted on said vehicle and measuring an actual rate of application of the agricultural product being dispensed by said metering device, said sensor generating an actual rate signal;the processing means coupled to said sensor for receiving said actual rate signal, the processing means deriving an actual rate of application from said actual rate signal and comparing said actual rate with said stored theoretical rate; andthe processing means altering said metering device control signal as a function of the said actual rate of application of the agricultural product being dispensed and the theoretical rate in order that the actual rate and the theoretical rate may more closely match.