Agricultural system
First Claim
1. A gauge wheel load sensor for an agricultural planter having a row unit that includes a pivotably mounted gauge wheel and a down pressure controller for controlling a down pressure applied on at least a portion of the row unit, the load sensor comprising:
- a mechanical element mounted for movement in response to the down pressure applied on the at least a portion of the row unit;
a fluid-containing device containing a movable element coupled to the mechanical element for changing the fluid pressure in the fluid-containing device in response to the movement of the mechanical element; and
a transducer coupled to the fluid-containing device for producing an output signal in response to changes in the fluid pressure, the transducer providing the output signal to the down pressure controller for controlling the down pressure applied on the at least a portion of the row unit.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for controlling the down pressure applied to a soil-engaging component of an agricultural implement includes a down pressure actuator coupled to the soil-engaging component, and an energy storage device and a piston-containing cylinder are coupled to each other by a system containing pressurized fluid. A check valve is coupled between the energy storage device and the down pressure actuator to control the flow of the pressurized fluid from the energy storage device to the cylinder. A controllable relief valve and variable orifice are coupled between the down pressure actuator and the energy storage device to control the flow of the pressurized fluid from the cylinder to the energy storage device. A controller supplies control signals to the relief valve and variable orifice to control the flow of the pressurized fluid from the cylinder to the energy storage device based on the pressure of the pressurized fluid.
440 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A gauge wheel load sensor for an agricultural planter having a row unit that includes a pivotably mounted gauge wheel and a down pressure controller for controlling a down pressure applied on at least a portion of the row unit, the load sensor comprising:
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a mechanical element mounted for movement in response to the down pressure applied on the at least a portion of the row unit; a fluid-containing device containing a movable element coupled to the mechanical element for changing the fluid pressure in the fluid-containing device in response to the movement of the mechanical element; and a transducer coupled to the fluid-containing device for producing an output signal in response to changes in the fluid pressure, the transducer providing the output signal to the down pressure controller for controlling the down pressure applied on the at least a portion of the row unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A gauge wheel load sensor for an agricultural planter having a row unit that includes a pivotably mounted gauge wheel and a down pressure controller for controlling the down pressure on at least a portion of the row unit, the load sensor comprising:
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a mechanical element mounted for movement in response to the down pressure applied on the at least a portion of the row unit; a fluid-containing device containing a movable element coupled to the mechanical element for changing the fluid pressure in the fluid-containing device in response to the movement of the mechanical element; a transducer coupled to the fluid-containing device for producing an output signal in response to changes in the fluid pressure, the transducer providing the output signal to the down pressure controller for controlling the down pressure applied on the at least a portion of the row unit; and an energy storage device coupled to the fluid-containing device for receiving a limited amount of fluid in response to changes in the fluid pressure to damp pressure spikes in the output signal of the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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16. An agricultural planter row unit comprising:
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a pivotably mounted gauge wheel; a down pressure controller for controlling the elevation of the agricultural planter row unit; a pair of gauge wheel support arms mounted to the gauge wheel for pivoting movement independently of each other; a gauge wheel equalizer arm extending transversely across the pair of gauge wheel support arms and mounted for pivoting movement about an axis extending in a direction of travel of the agricultural planter row unit; and a pair of contact rollers mounted on opposite ends of the gauge wheel equalizer arm, each of the pair of contact rollers engaging different ones of the pair of gauge wheel support arms for pivoting the gauge wheel equalizer arm in response to independent vertical movements of the pair of gauge wheel support arms, the pivoting of the gauge wheel equalizer arm being without producing sliding friction between the pair of gauge wheel support arms and the gauge wheel equalizer arm. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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Specification