Universal controller for material distribution device.

摘要

A monitoring and control system is provided for a mobile material distribution apparatus wherein the rate of material distribution per unit of area varies as a predetermined function of the ground speed of the mobile apparatus and of the rate of operation of a variable rate delivery structure for delivering material at a controllable rate to material a distribution structure for distributing the material along the path of travel of the mobile apparatus. The monitoring and control system comprises a ground speed sensor (12) for developing a ground speed signal corresponding to the ground speed of the mobile apparatus and a delivery rate sensor (22) for developing a delivery rate signal corresponding to a rate of delivery of material by the variable rate delivery structure. The monitoring and control system includes a monitoring and control circuit responsive to the ground speed signal and to the delivery operation of the variable rate delivery structure to achieve and maintain a desired rate of distribution of material along the path of travel of the mobile distribution apparatus. The monitoring and control circuit further comprises a processor circuit responsive to the ground speed and delivery rate signals for producing the control signals and a memory circuit for storing data and instructions for enabling the processing circuit to respond to delivery rate signals from each of a plurality of different types of delivery rate sensors.