VEHICULAR SPREADER WITH DIGITAL ELECTRONIC GROUND SPEED LINK

摘要

VEHICULAR SPREADER WITH DIGITAL ELECTRONIC GROUND SPEED LINK In a system for spreading material from a vehicle, the ground speed of the vehicle is sensed by a low torque transducer which generates a train of electrical pulses or digital signal having a repetition rate representative of the vehicle's ground speed. The digital signal energizes a stepper motor. The shaft of the stepper motor is coupled to a mechanical comparator which is also responsive to the speed of a conveyor, which delivers the material to be spread, for controlling the conveyor drive motor so that the speed of the conveyor tracks the ground speed of the vehicle even at very low speeds. Proportioning of the ground speed signals is accomplished electronically by a digital counter circuit. Override of the ground speed control signal is actuated by the operator. The override may require continued operator actuation; or the override, once actuated may last for a predetermined time or a predetermined distance travelled by the vehicle. In the latter two cases, the time and distance may be adjusted.