Agricultural trench depth sensing systems, methods, and apparatus
First Claim
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1. An agricultural row unit comprising:
- a row unit frame supporting an opening disc adapted to open a trench in a soil surface as the row unit advances in a forward direction of travel, said row unit frame further supporting a gauge wheel pivotally mounted to said row unit frame by a gauge wheel arm, said row unit frame further supporting and a depth adjustment assembly having a plurality of selectable position, each of said selectable positions establishing a selected trench depth by limiting an amount of upward travel of said gauge wheel relative to said opener disc, whereby said selected trench depth corresponds to a height of said row unit frame relative to said soil surface;
a depth sensor connected to said row unit frame, said depth sensor including;
a pivot arm operably pivotally connected relative to said row unit frame at a pivot point rearward of said opening discs and said gauge wheels;
a first finger connected to said pivot arm; and
a second finger connected to said pivot arm;
wherein said first finger and second finger are each disposed to engage said soil surface adjacent to said trench opened in said soil surface by said opener disc, and wherein said first finger engages a first side of said trench, and said second finger engages an opposite of said trench; and
a sensor disposed to measure rotation of said depth sensor about said pivot point, whereby said measured rotation corresponds to a measured height of said row unit frame relative to said soil surface and an actual trench depth irrespective of said selected trench depth.
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Abstract
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for determining the depth of a trench opened by an agricultural planter. Sensors are provided for detecting the position of a ground-engaging element of the planter such as a gauge wheel or seed firmer of a row unit of the planter. Apparatus and methods are provided for installing such sensors onto a row unit of the planter. Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for controlling downpressure on a row unit based on the trench depth. Methods are provided for mapping trench depth measured by the depth sensors.
20 Citations
12 Claims
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1. An agricultural row unit comprising:
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a row unit frame supporting an opening disc adapted to open a trench in a soil surface as the row unit advances in a forward direction of travel, said row unit frame further supporting a gauge wheel pivotally mounted to said row unit frame by a gauge wheel arm, said row unit frame further supporting and a depth adjustment assembly having a plurality of selectable position, each of said selectable positions establishing a selected trench depth by limiting an amount of upward travel of said gauge wheel relative to said opener disc, whereby said selected trench depth corresponds to a height of said row unit frame relative to said soil surface; a depth sensor connected to said row unit frame, said depth sensor including; a pivot arm operably pivotally connected relative to said row unit frame at a pivot point rearward of said opening discs and said gauge wheels; a first finger connected to said pivot arm; and a second finger connected to said pivot arm; wherein said first finger and second finger are each disposed to engage said soil surface adjacent to said trench opened in said soil surface by said opener disc, and wherein said first finger engages a first side of said trench, and said second finger engages an opposite of said trench; and a sensor disposed to measure rotation of said depth sensor about said pivot point, whereby said measured rotation corresponds to a measured height of said row unit frame relative to said soil surface and an actual trench depth irrespective of said selected trench depth. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification