PRIMER SYSTEM FOR AGRICULTURE PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION MACHINES

摘要

A primer system for agricultural product distribution machines, such as a n agricultural air seeder, a precision planter, a sprayer, or the like, includ es a tank or a bin for holding the product, a distribution system for conveying and distributing th e product from the tank and a driving mechanism for driving the product from the tank into the distribution system at a certain rate. The driving mechanism can run automatically or can be selectively operated, based on commands received from a microcontroller. The microcontroller may receive signals from a user interface and from sensing equipment, such as a ground speed detector, a pressure sensor, a flow metre, or the like. In a regular mode of operation, the controller runs the driving mechanism automatically at a rate calculated bas ed on the signals received from the above mentioned systems. Most agricultural machines have t he automated mode of operation of the driving mechanism, conditioned by the ground speed of the tractor being higher than a minimum speed. A bypass mode of operation of the driving mechanism can be selected by pressing a primer button on the user interface. The prime r button triggers a bypass signal, instructing the microcontroller to run the driving mechanis m at a predetermined dispensing rate, regardlessof other factors, such as the detected ground speed. The bypass mode of operation could also be activated upon reception, at the microcontroller, of bypass signals from sensors such as an implement height detector, determining the height of an implement of the agricultural product distribution machine relative to the ground.