System and method for electronic fluid measurement
An agricultural product application implement includes a system and method for indicating an amount of fluid stored. A pressure transducer installed at the sump of a fluid tank electronically measures and displays a fluid depth. Instrumentation, such as an instrument cluster unit for the implement, is programmed via software to convert the voltage output of the pressure transducer to a volume measurement displayed in the operator's line of sight. Software within the instrument cluster unit for self-calibrating accounts for varying densities of different chemical solutions. The pressure transducer is used in conjunction with a transfer medium to prevent corrosive chemical solutions from contacting the pressure transducer.
1. A method for indicating an amount of fluid stored in a self-propelled agricultural product application implement comprising:
(a) holding a fluid within a tank having an interior volume;
(b) sensing an amount of pressure within the tank resulting from the fluid using a pressure transducer disposed on a base of the interior volume of the tank and communicating a first electrical signal corresponding to the amount of pressure;
(c) determining an amount of fluid within the tank based on the amount of pressure communicated by the first electrical signal and the interior volume, and communicating a second electrical signal corresponding to the amount of fluid;
(d) displaying the amount of fluid within the tank as communicated by the second electrical signal to a display visible by an operator of the implement while the operator is in a forward-facing position; and
(e) providing a transfer medium above the pressure transducer for protecting the pressure transducer from the fluid.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising calibrating for different types of fluids having differing densities based on a calibration curve.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising providing an input for selecting a type of fluid held within the tank.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sensing a temperature within the interior volume of the tank and determining the amount of fluid based on the temperature sensed from within the tank.