New Developments from Industry

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New Developments from Industry
Dennis Steele Research and Development Continental
Eagle Corp.
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COTTON SEED VARIETIES
Today there are many different cotton seed
varieties.
Each variety has its own set of characteristics.
Some are easy to ginsome are difficult.
Some yield high fiber qualitiessome not.
Some yield high turnoutssome not so high.
All have different seed weights when compared on
a per bale basis.
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COTTON SEED VARIETIES
These different varieties present a challenge to
todays gin manager.
How does the gin manager know how much seed is
in the storage area?
How does the gin manager determine how much
seed to credit to one grower versus another?
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CURRENT OPTIONS TO ESTIMATE SEED WEIGHT

• The formula or factoring.
• This works if you have a long history of records
• and the growing season is the same every year.
• What if you have a different type of growing
• season, or what if you get a new variety?

• Seed scales.
• These are very good estimates of seed weight.
  However,
• they are typically of two types the balance
  beam type
• or the load cell type. These consist of many
  mechanical
• parts, require attention for maintenance and
  cleanliness
• and require a lot of space and equipment
• modification to install.

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Continental Eagle Corp. has a third option
for estimating seed weight
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Continental Eagle Corp. together with Ohmart/Vega
Corp. has developed a new method of weighing
cotton seed at the cotton gin.
It requires minimal (if any) modifications to
existing equipment to install.
It has no moving parts.
It requires minimal maintenance during the
ginning season.
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The system uses radiation-based technology
designed to measure the weight of cotton
seed continuously as it travels in an auger box.
Information is sent to two totalizer
displays. One display can be used to accumulate
the weight for the year. One display can be used
to accumulate the weight since the meter was
zeroed.
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WEIGHMAX NUCLEAR SEED SCALE
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OLD TECHNOLOGY NEW APPLICATION
Ohmart/Vega has been producing radiation-based
measuring equipment since 1950.
A few of the products currently being weighed
using Ohmart/Vega systems include
Coal Potatoes Gold Wood chips Gypsum board
Now Continental Eagle Corp. is applying
Ohmart/Vegas technology and expertise to weigh
cotton seed
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PRINCIPLES of OPERATION
Sealed Emitter (radioactive source in a holder)
Beam of low level radiation
Detector
4-20 ma signal to remote display
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PRINCIPLES of OPERATION
Sealed Emitter (source) Contains 1 mCi of Cs-137
inside a lead free, all welded, 304 stainless
steel, fireproof housing.
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PRINCIPLES of OPERATION
Radiation beam A fan shaped (collimated) beam
passes perpendicular to and thru the flow of
cotton seed to the detector. The greater the
amount of seed passing thru the beam, the less
the amount of radiation reaching the detector.
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PRINCIPLES of OPERATION
Detector Consists of an ion chamber and
electronics. The radiation passes thru the
cotton seed and strikes the ion chamber producing
an electrical signal proportional to the
amount of radiation detected. Using this and the
RPM of the auger, the electronics convert
this information into a 4-20 ma signal to be used
by the display.
Ion chamber
Electronics Nema 4X enclosure
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ADVANTAGES OF NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY
Radiation emitted from the source is stable
and predictable over time.
Absorption of radiation by materials is constant
and predictable.
Technology for collecting radiation and
converting this information into a useable signal
is reliable and proven.
Not affected by external surroundings such as
dust, humidity, and abrasion.
NO MOVING PARTS
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RADIATION
The source in this application is Cs-137. The
radiation it gives off consists of Gamma
rays. Gamma rays are penetrating, but in general
do not have the ability to make things
radioactive. The amount of radiation is about
1.00 mRem/h at 12 from the source. (It
decreases as distance increases).
COMPARISONS
Americans receive about 300 mRem a year just
walking around. Passengers in an airplane at
39,000 ft. receive about .8mRem/h. A chest x-ray
is about 10 mRem.
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