초록 ▼

A harvester has an operator cab, a motor, a carriage driven by the motor, a crop cutter and collector, a processing body, and an ultra-low flow agricultural forage preservative applicator system for applying a biological solution to forage during harvesting. The forage preservative applicator has a

A harvester has an operator cab, a motor, a carriage driven by the motor, a crop cutter and collector, a processing body, and an ultra-low flow agricultural forage preservative applicator system for applying a biological solution to forage during harvesting. The forage preservative applicator has a biological solution reservoir, a flush reservoir, a peristaltic pump, a valve operative to either couple the pump with the biological solution or the flush solution, and a dispensing tube, where the biological fluid containing pathways are of functionally like cross-section in the region between the biological solution reservoir outlet and the dispensing tube outlet. A flow detector which does not obstruct the fluid pathway is provided to monitor biological solution flow rate, and a moisture detector and harvest rate detector may be used for automatic control.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An agricultural forage preservative applicator system for delivering a biological solution to forage during harvesting, comprising: a reservoir for storing a volume of biological solution;a pump having an inlet and an outlet;a dispensing tube fluidly connected to said pump outlet defining a fluid

1. An agricultural forage preservative applicator system for delivering a biological solution to forage during harvesting, comprising: a reservoir for storing a volume of biological solution;a pump having an inlet and an outlet;a dispensing tube fluidly connected to said pump outlet defining a fluid flow path for operatively dispensing said biological solution into the forage being harvested; anda flow detector within said fluid flow path between said pump outlet and said forage and operative to monitor biological solution flow rate;wherein a biological fluid pathway extending between a biological solution reservoir outlet and a dispensing tube outlet is of functionally equal cross-section entirely throughout, resulting in an unobstructed flow path and avoiding potential clogging. 2. The agricultural forage preservative applicator system of claim 1, further comprising: a second reservoir for storing a flush solution; anda valve fluidly connected to said first and second reservoirs and said pump and operative to selectively couple said pump in a first position to said first reservoir and in a second position to said second reservoir. 3. The agricultural forage preservative applicator system of claim 1, wherein said flow detector further comprises a thermal mass flow sensor. 4. The agricultural forage preservative applicator system of claim 1, wherein said pump further comprises a peristaltic pump. 5. The agricultural forage preservative applicator system of claim 1, further comprising a means to compare a fluid output from said pump to a level calculated based upon an output from said flow detector, and signal a discrepancy therebetween. 6. The agricultural forage preservative applicator system of claim 1, wherein said pump further comprises an RPM measurement apparatus that measures the rotation rate of said pump. 7. The agricultural forage preservative applicator system of claim 6, further comprising a controller operative to calculate an expected flow rate based upon said pump RPM measurement and compare said expected flow rate with an output from said flow detector and signal an error when said calculated flow rate and said flow detector output differ consequentially. 8. The agricultural forage preservative applicator system of claim 1, wherein said biological solution further comprises bacterial inoculants.