System and method for controlling proportion of liquid in substrate material worked by machine

Abstract

A machine includes a material working mechanism movable relative to a frame to vary working depth of the material working mechanism. A control system monitors certain parameters, and controls a liquid dispensing mechanism to control application of a liquid such as water or an emulsion to be applied to material being worked by the material working mechanism based upon the parameters. The control system functions to produce a desired proportion of the liquid such as a liquid percent density in worked material.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A machine for working material of a substrate, the machine comprising:
 a frame;   ground-engaging elements coupled to the frame;   a material working mechanism movable among a plurality of positions to work the material of the substrate at a plurality of different working depths;   a liquid delivery mechanism configured to dispense a liquid to the material of the substrate: and   a control system for controlling and varying a flow rate of the dispensed liquid from the liquid delivery mechanism, wherein the flow rate is based on a desired proportion of dispensed liquid in the worked material.   
     
     
         2 . The machine of claim I wherein the flow rate is a function of at least one of a rotor depth of the material working mechanism and a ground speed of the machine. 
     
     
         3 . The machine of claim I wherein the liquid delivery mechanism includes a spray bar having a plurality of spray nozzles. 
     
     
         4 . The machine of  claim 3  wherein the flow rate is a function of a number of spray nozzles within the plurality of spray nozzles that are open. 
     
     
         5 . The machine of claim I wherein the liquid delivery mechanism comprises a pump, and the control system varies the flow rate of the dispensed liquid by varying a pumping speed of the pump. 
     
     
         6 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein an input to the control system includes at least one of a density of the dispensed liquid and a density of the material to be worked. 
     
     
         7 . The machine of  claim 1  wherein the control system is configured to stop dispensing liquid when a ground speed of the machine is below a predetermined value. 
     
     
         8 . A system for controlling a proportion of a liquid in material of a substrate worked by a machine, the system comprising:
 a first monitoring mechanism to monitor a ground speed of the machine   a second monitoring mechanism to monitor a rotor depth of a material working mechanism of the machine; and   a control mechanism coupled with the first monitoring mechanism and the second monitoring mechanism, the control mechanism configured to control and vary a flow rate of liquid dispensed to the material of the substrate as a function of the ground speed, rotor depth and a desired proportion of liquid in the worked material.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the control mechanism is configured to calculate the flow rate based upon one or more inputs from a user input device, the one or more inputs including at least one of a density of the material of the substrate and a density of the liquid. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the control mechanism is further configured to control and vary a flow rate of liquid dispensed as a function of a number of spray nozzles that are open, the spray nozzles selected from a plurality of spray nozzles. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8  wherein the control mechanism is configured to stop dispensing liquid when the ground speed is below a predetermined value. 
     
     
         12 . A method of controlling a proportion of a liquid in material of a substrate worked by a machine, the method comprising:
 operating the machine such that a material working mechanism works the material of the substrate;   dispensing a liquid to the material being worked; and   controlling and varying a flow rate of the dispensed liquid as a function of a desired proportion of the liquid in the worked material.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein controlling and varying a flow rate of the dispensed liquid is further a function of at least one of a ground speed of the machine, a rotor depth of the material working mechanism, a ground material density and a liquid material density. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein dispensing a liquid to the material being worked includes spraying the liquid through a plurality of spray nozzles, the plurality of spray nozzles housed on a spray bar. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein dispensing a liquid to the material being worked includes independently controlling operation of each of the spray nozzles in the plurality of spray nozzles. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein dispensing a liquid to the material being worked includes commanding a pump to pump the liquid to the spray nozzles. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16  wherein controlling and varying a flow rate of the dispensed liquid includes controlling a pumping speed of the pump based upon the flow rate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  wherein operating the machine comprises operating the machine at a plurality of ground speeds and a plurality of working depths of a rotor of the machine. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising:
 disabling flow of the dispensed liquid in response to a ground speed being below a predetermined value.