Air boom distribution system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11246304-B2
Application number	US-201916294233-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2019
Priority date	Jul 31, 2018
Publication date	Feb 15, 2022
Grant date	Feb 15, 2022

Abstract

A method of inhibiting dry material clogs in a work vehicle having an air boom assembly includes moving the work vehicle at a vehicle speed along a ground surface, moving dry material from a holding tank onto a conveyor, and operating the conveyor at a conveyor speed, the conveyor speed being at least partially dependent upon the vehicle speed, moving material from the conveyor into a boom assembly with a blower, dispensing the dry material onto the ground surface through a plurality of nozzles of the boom assembly, and comparing the conveyor speed to a maximum acceptable conveyor speed. If the conveyor speed is greater than the maximum acceptable conveyor speed, the method includes performing at least one of the following: alerting the operator that the conveyor speed is greater than the maximum acceptable speed, and reducing the vehicle speed to thereby reduce the speed of the conveyor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A control system for a work vehicle having a frame, a drive train connected to the frame and a conveyor configured to move dry material from a holding tank, the control system comprising:
a sensor configured to sense a travel speed of the work vehicle; and
a processor configured to
calculate a speed of movement of the conveyor based upon the sensed travel speed of the work vehicle, and
compare the calculated speed of movement of the conveyor to a maximum acceptable speed, the maximum acceptable speed based at least in part upon a volumetric flow limit of the dry material, where the volumetric flow limit is set in a factory or determined by the processor as a function of a level of moisture in the dry material;

wherein the processor is further configured to, in response to the calculated speed of movement of the conveyor being greater than the maximum acceptable speed, perform one of the following actions: alert the operator to reduce the travel speed of the work vehicle, and communicate with the drive train to reduce the travel speed of the work vehicle.

2. A work vehicle comprising:
a frame;
a drive train connected to the frame;
an operator station supported by the frame;
a holding tank connected to the frame, the holding tank configured to store dry material;
a conveyor configured to move the dry material from the holding tank;
a boom assembly configured to transport the dry material;
a plurality of nozzles connected to the boom assembly and configured to direct the dry material onto a ground surface;
a blower configured to blow the dry material from the conveyor into the boom assembly and out of the plurality of nozzles;
a user interface including a display; and
the control system of claim 1 .

3. The work vehicle of claim 2 , wherein alerting the operator to reduce the travel speed of the work vehicle includes displaying a visual indicator that includes at least one the following: a message on the display and a light within the operator station.

4. The work vehicle of claim 2 , wherein alerting the operator to reduce the travel speed of the work vehicle includes using both a visual indicator and an audio indicator to indicate that the speed of movement of the conveyor is greater than the maximum acceptable speed.

5. The work vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the work vehicle is operable in a manual mode in which the operator is alerted via the user interface to reduce the travel speed of the work vehicle in response to the conveyor exceeding the maximum acceptable speed, and an automatic mode in which the travel speed of the work vehicle is automatically reduced upon the conveyor exceeding the maximum acceptable speed.

6. The work vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the manual mode and the automatic mode are interchangeable during operation of the work vehicle.

7. The work vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising a gate positioned above the conveyor to limit a volume flow rate of dry material from the conveyor to the blower.

8. The work vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the gate can be connected to the work vehicle above the conveyor at a plurality of locations such that the volume flow rate of dry material from the conveyor to the blower can be adjusted by moving the gate with respect to the conveyor.

9. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to
display a first indicator while the calculated speed of movement of the conveyor is less than the maximum acceptable speed,
display a second indicator while the calculated speed of movement of the conveyor is greater than approximately 95% of the maximum acceptable speed, and
display a third indicator while the calculated speed of movement of the conveyor is at or above the maximum acceptable speed.

10. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is operable in a manual mode in which the processor is configured to alert the operator to reduce the travel speed of the work vehicle if the conveyor speed is greater than the maximum acceptable speed.

11. The control system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is configured to alert the operator through at least one of the following: a visual indicator and an audio indicator.

12. The control system of claim 11 , wherein the visual indicator is a message on a display within an operator station of a work vehicle, the message indicative of a current operating percentage of a calculated volumetric flow limit.

13. The control system of claim 11 , wherein the visual indicator is a light within an operator station, configured such that the light is a first color while the conveyor speed is less than the maximum acceptable speed, and the light is a second color while the conveyor speed is greater than the maximum acceptable speed.

14. The control system of claim 13 , wherein the light is a third color while the conveyor speed is greater than approximately 95% of the maximum acceptable speed.

15. The control system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is operable in an automatic mode in which the processor is configured to communicate with the drive train to reduce the travel speed of the work vehicle if the conveyor speed is greater than the maximum acceptable speed.

16. A method of controlling a travel speed of a work vehicle, the work vehicle including a control system, a frame, a drive train connected to the frame, and a conveyor configured to move dry material from a holding tank, the method comprising:
sensing a travel speed of the work vehicle;
calculating a speed of movement of the conveyor based upon the sensed travel speed of the work vehicle;
comparing the calculated speed of movement of the conveyor to a maximum acceptable speed, the maximum acceptable speed based at least in part upon a volumetric flow limit of the dry material, where the volumetric flow limit is set in a factory or determined as a function of a level of moisture in the dry material; and
in response to the calculated speed of movement of the conveyor being greater than the maximum acceptable speed, alerting the operator to reduce the travel speed of the work vehicle or communicating with the drive train to reduce the travel speed of the work vehicle.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
operating in a manual mode; and
alerting the operator via the control system to reduce the travel speed of the work vehicle if the conveyor speed is greater than the maximum acceptable speed.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
operating in an automatic mode; and
communicating via the control system with the drive train to reduce the travel speed of the work vehicle if the conveyor speed is greater than the maximum acceptable speed.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Oliver Matthew R
• Hanson David A

Classifications

• A01M9/0092 Primary

  Regulating or controlling systems (the delivery being related to the movement of a vehicle B05B9/06) · CPC title

• A01M9/003 Primary

  Pneumatic field dusters, e.g. self-propelled, drawn or tractor-mounted · CPC title

• A01C21/005

  Following a specific plan, e.g. pattern · CPC title

• A01C15/04 Primary

  using blowers · CPC title