GROUND MARKING CONTROL FOR GROUND TREATMENT VEHICLE AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME

Abstract

A ground treatment vehicle, and system thereof, having a treating reservoir configured to hold a ground treating material and a treating material delivery system configured to deliver the treating material to a ground surface. The vehicle also having a marker reservoir for holding a marking fluid and a marker system configured to deliver the marking fluid to the ground surface. The vehicle also including a treating material control having a first treating setting in which treating material delivery system is enabled and a second treating setting in which treating material delivery system is disabled. The vehicle also including a marker fluid control having a first marker setting in which the marker system is enabled, a second marker setting in which the marker system disabled, and a third marker setting in which the marker system matches the treating material delivery system.

Description

Claims

1. A ground treatment vehicle comprising: a chassis supported upon a ground surface by ground engaging members;a treating reservoir attached to the chassis and configured to hold a ground treating material;a treating material delivery system configured to deliver the treating material from the treating reservoir to the ground surface;a marker reservoir for holding a marking fluid;a marker system configured to deliver the marking fluid from the marker reservoir to the ground surface;a treating material control configured to control the treating material delivery system, wherein the treating material control comprises: a first treatment setting, wherein the treating material delivery system is enabled so that the treating material is transferred to the ground surface; and a second treatment setting, wherein the treating material delivery system is disabled; anda marker fluid control configured to control flow of the marker fluid from the marker reservoir to a marker nozzle operatively attached to the chassis, wherein the marker fluid control comprises: a first marker setting, wherein the marker system is enabled to deliver the marking fluid to the ground surface; a second marker setting, wherein the marker system is disabled; and a third marker setting, wherein the marker system is enabled when the treating material control is in the first treatment setting, and disabled when the treating material control is in the second treatment setting.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the treating material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of liquid and granular materials.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the marker system comprises a pump and the marking fluid comprises a foaming agent.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the treating material control is configured as a foot-actuated switch located upon a standing operator platform attached to the chassis.

5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the treating material control is configured as a hand-operated switch located on an operator control panel attached to the chassis.

6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the marker fluid control is configured as a three-position switch located on an operator control panel attached to the chassis.

7. The vehicle of claim 1, treating material delivery system comprises a pump configured to deliver a liquid treating material from the treating reservoir to the ground surface.

8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the treating material delivery system comprises a broadcast spinner configured to deliver a granular treating material from the treating reservoir to the ground surface.

9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the marker nozzle comprises: a first marker nozzle configured to disperse marking fluid at a first lateral position relative to the chassis; anda second marker nozzle configured to disperse marking fluid at a second lateral position relative to the chassis, wherein the first and second lateral positions define a treating width of the vehicle.

10. A system for controlling a visual marker system configured to identify a lateral treatment path boundary resulting from application of a ground treating material by a ground treatment vehicle, wherein the system comprises: a treating reservoir attached to a chassis of the vehicle and configured to hold a volume of ground treating material;a treating material delivery circuit configured to selectively deliver the treating material from the treating reservoir to a ground surface;a marker reservoir attached to the chassis for holding a volume of marking fluid;a marker circuit configured to deliver the marking fluid from the marker reservoir to the ground surface;a treating material control configured to control the treating material delivery circuit, wherein the treating material control comprises: a first treatment setting, wherein the treating material delivery circuit is enabled so that the treating material is transferred to the ground surface; and a second treatment setting, wherein the treating material delivery circuit is disabled; anda marker fluid control configured to control flow of the marker fluid from the marker reservoir to a marker nozzle operatively attached to the chassis, wherein the marker fluid control comprises: a first marker setting, wherein the marker circuit is enabled to deliver the marking fluid to the ground surface; a second marker setting, wherein the marker circuit is disabled; and a third marker setting, wherein the marker circuit is enabled when the treating material control is in the first treatment setting, and disabled when the treating material control is in the second treatment setting.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the marker circuit further comprises a pump configured to selectively port the marking fluid to the marker nozzle.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the treating material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of liquid and granular materials.

13. The system of claim 10, wherein the treating material control is configured as a foot-actuated switch located upon a standing operator platform attached to the chassis.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the treating material control is configured as a hand-operated switch located on an operator control panel attached to the chassis.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the marker fluid control is configured as a three-position switch located on an operator control panel attached to the chassis.

16. A system for controlling a visual marker system configured to identify a lateral treatment path boundary resulting from application of a ground treating material by a ground treatment vehicle, wherein the system comprises: a treating reservoir attached to a chassis of the vehicle and configured to hold a volume of ground treating material;a treating material delivery circuit configured to selectively deliver the treating material from the treating reservoir to a ground surface;a marker reservoir attached to the chassis for holding a volume of marking fluid;a marker circuit configured to deliver the marking fluid from the marker reservoir to the ground surface;a treating material control configured to control the treating material delivery circuit, wherein the treating material control comprises: a first treatment setting, wherein the treating material delivery circuit is enabled so that the treating material is transferred to the ground surface; and a second treatment setting, wherein the treating material delivery circuit is disabled; anda marker fluid control configured to control flow of the marker fluid from the marker reservoir to a marker nozzle operatively attached to the chassis, wherein the marker fluid control comprises: an independent marker configuration, wherein the marker circuit is enabled to deliver the marking fluid to the ground surface or disabled from delivering the marking fluid regardless of the treatment setting of the treating material control; and a dependent marker configuration, wherein the marker circuit is enabled when the treating material control is in the first treatment setting and disabled when the treating material control is in the second treatment setting.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the independent configuration comprises: an on position, wherein the marker circuit is enabled to deliver the marking fluid regardless of the treatment setting of the treating material control; andan off position, wherein the marker circuit is disabled regardless of the treatment setting of the treating material control.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the treating material comprises a material selected from the group consisting of liquid and granular materials.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the treating material control is configured as a foot-actuated switch located upon a standing operator platform attached to the chassis.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the treating material control is configured as a hand-operated switch located on an operator control panel attached to the chassis.