System and method of calibrating the meter of a product distribution machine

摘要

A system and method of calibrating a meter of a product distribution machine, such as an agricultural air seeder is shown. The system uses one or both of optical and mass flow sensors to measure the product flow rate. The sensors are used to measure mass flow rate during a calibration process while the machine is in use. To improve sensor accuracy during the calibration process, the meter speed is changed to change the product flow rate to a rate at which the sensor accuracy is increased.

主权项

1. A product distribution machine for movement over the ground comprising:
a tank adapted to hold a product to be distributed; a meter for controlling discharge of product from the tank; a product flow passage through which product flows downstream of the meter; a mass flow sensor adapted to measure product flow rate through the product flow passage, the mass flow sensor generating an output signal indicative of the flow rate of product past the mass flow sensor; a meter drive having variable speed; and a controller to control the speed of the meter drive and to change the speed of the meter drive during a meter calibration process from a first meter speed to a second meter speed where at the second meter speed the accuracy of the mass flow sensor is greater than at the first meter speed.