Method for controlling an unload operation on a mobile farm implement

• US 10,028,441 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2017
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Van Mill, Michael D., Gerdeman, Shawn W., Schlimgen, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Yuen H
• Application Number:
  US15/425,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20170142902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 90/10 Unloading means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/00 Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/02 for weighing wheeled or rolling bodies, e.g. vehicles

Abstract

A method of automating unloading for a mobile farm implement is presented. The method includes determining whether the speed of the mobile farm implement is below a first threshold. In response to a determination that the speed of the mobile farm implement is below the first threshold, a conveyor is moved to an operating position, where it is used to unload agricultural material from the mobile farm implement. Upon termination of the unloading of the agricultural material, the controller folds the conveyor to a storage or transport position.

Claims

1. A mobile farm implement comprising:

a container for carrying an agricultural material;

a conveyor configured to move between a plurality of positions including at least one position for unloading the agricultural material from the container;

a first sensor for sensing a speed condition of the mobile farm implement and providing information indicative of the speed condition of the mobile farm implement;

a controller in communication with the first sensor and configured to determine whether the speed condition of the mobile farm implement exceeds a first threshold; and

wherein the controller is further configured to lock the conveyor in a position such that the conveyor is prevented from being moved when the speed condition of the mobile farm implement exceeds the first threshold.

2. The mobile farm implement of claim 1, wherein the first sensor provides information indicative of a speed associated with the mobile farm implement and the controller is configured to lock the conveyor in a first position when the speed exceeds the first threshold.

3. The mobile farm implement of claim 1, further comprising a second sensor for providing information indicative of the position of the conveyor.

4. The mobile farm implement of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to lock the conveyor in the position based on information from the first and second sensors.

5. The mobile farm implement of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to lock the conveyor in a stored position based on information from the first and second sensors.

6. The mobile farm implement of claim 3, wherein the controller receives information from the first sensor indicative of a speed of a power take off.

7. The mobile farm implement of claim 1, wherein the conveyor includes upper and lower conveyor sections connected by a joint that allows the upper conveyor section to move between operating and stored positions by folding.

8. The mobile farm implement of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to lock the upper conveyor section in a current position of the upper conveyor section when the speed condition exceeds the first threshold.

9. The mobile farm implement of claim 7, further comprising a second sensor for providing information indicative of a current position of the upper conveyor section.

10. The mobile farm implement of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to lock the upper conveyor section in a position based on information from the first and second sensors.

11. The mobile farm implement of claim 10, wherein the controller receives information from the first sensor indicative of a speed of a power take off.

12. The mobile farm implement of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to lock the upper conveyor section in the stored position based on information from the first and second sensors.

13. The mobile farm implement of claim 7, wherein the first sensor provides information indicative of a speed associated with the mobile farm implement.

14. The mobile farm implement of claim 7, wherein the controller receives information from the first sensor indicative of a speed of a power take off.

15. The mobile farm implement of claim 1, wherein the controller receives information from the first sensor indicative of a speed of a power take off.