Load sensing pin for an agricultural implement

• US 10,548,254 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Issued: 02/04/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Sauder, Gregg A., Sauder, Derek A., Koch, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Hollington, Octavia
• Application Number:
  US15/155,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20160255760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,359 Days
• Field of Search: 73760, 73761
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/027 with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/008 Vertical adjustment of tools A01B63/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/08 Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/205 comprising pressure regulation means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2218 the supports being of the column type, e.g. cylindric, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0038 applying a pushing force
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/136 Force sensors associated with a vehicle traction coupling vehicle connections B60D; control of vehicle brakes B60T
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/402 characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45017 Agriculture machine, tractor

Abstract

A load sensing pin disposed to receive a load applied in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the pin. A load sensor is substantially fixedly oriented with respect to the applied load or alternatively with respect to the pin which is rotationally restrained with respect to a support structure. The load sensor is disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to strain of the pin resulting from the applied load.

Claims

1. An agricultural implement, comprising:

a row unit operably supported above a soil surface of a field, said row unit having a furrow opening assembly for opening a furrow in the soil surface as said row unit traverses the field, said row unit further having a subframe;

a depth adjusting mechanism applying a load on said subframe and capable of modifying a depth of the furrow opened by said furrow opening assembly, said depth adjusting mechanism having an adjusting arm and a rocker; and

a load sensor substantially fixedly oriented with respect to said depth adjusting mechanism and disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to said applied load;

processing circuitry in communication with said load sensor, said processing circuitry generating load values corresponding to said load signals; and

a restraint which substantially fixedly orients said load sensor with respect to said depth adjusting mechanism.

2. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein said furrow opening assembly comprises:

an opening disk blade disposed to open said furrow; and

a gauge wheel disposed to rollingly contact the soil surface, said gauge wheel limiting said depth of said furrow, wherein said applied load increases as a force between said gauge wheel and said soil surface increases.

3. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein a correlation of said load signal to known loads is programmed into a microcontroller of said processing circuitry.

4. The agricultural implement of claim 3, wherein said processing circuitry is configured to automatically regulate downforce as the agricultural implement traverses a field.

5. An agricultural implement, comprising:

a row unit operably supported above a soil surface of a field, said row unit having a furrow opening assembly for opening a furrow in the soil surface as said row unit traverses the field, said row unit further having a subframe;

a depth adjusting mechanism applying a load on said subframe and capable of modifying a depth of the furrow opened by said furrow opening assembly, said depth adjusting mechanism having an adjusting arm and a rocker; and

a load sensor substantially fixedly oriented with respect to said depth adjusting mechanism and disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to said applied load;

processing circuitry in communication with said load sensor, said processing circuitry generating load values corresponding to said load signals; and

wherein said load sensor is substantially rotationally restrained in relation to said depth adjusting mechanism.

6. The agricultural implement of claim 5, wherein said furrow opening assembly comprises:

an opening disk blade disposed to open said furrow; and

a gauge wheel disposed to rollingly contact the soil surface, said gauge wheel limiting said depth of said furrow, wherein said applied load increases as a force between said gauge wheel and said soil surface increases.

7. The agricultural implement of claim 5, wherein a correlation of said load signal to known loads is programmed into a microcontroller of said processing circuitry.

8. The agricultural implement of claim 7, wherein said processing circuitry is configured to automatically regulate downforce as the agricultural implement traverses a field.

9. An agricultural implement, comprising:

a row unit operably supported above a soil surface of a field, said row unit having a furrow opening assembly for opening a furrow in the soil surface as said row unit traverses the field, said row unit further having a subframe;

a depth adjusting mechanism applying a load on said subframe and capable of modifying a depth of the furrow opened by said furrow opening assembly, said depth adjusting mechanism having an adjusting arm and a rocker; and

a load sensor substantially fixedly oriented with respect to said depth adjusting mechanism and disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to said applied load;

processing circuitry in communication with said load sensor, said processing circuitry generating load values corresponding to said load signals; and

a restraint which substantially rotationally restrains said load sensor with respect to said depth adjusting mechanism.

10. The agricultural implement of claim 9 wherein said furrow opening assembly comprises:

an opening disk blade disposed to open said furrow; and

a gauge wheel disposed to rollingly contact the soil surface, said gauge wheel limiting said depth of said furrow, wherein said applied load increases as a force between said gauge wheel and said soil surface increases.

11. The agricultural implement of claim 9, wherein a correlation of said load signal to known loads is programmed into a microcontroller of said processing circuitry.

12. The agricultural implement of claim 11, wherein said processing circuitry is configured to automatically regulate downforce as the agricultural implement traverses a field.

13. An agricultural implement, comprising:

a row unit operably supported above a soil surface of a field, said row unit having a furrow opening assembly for opening a furrow in the soil surface as said row unit traverses the field, said row unit further having a subframe;

a depth adjusting mechanism applying a load on said subframe and capable of modifying a depth of the furrow opened by said furrow opening assembly, said depth adjusting mechanism having an adjusting arm and a rocker; and

a load sensor substantially fixedly oriented with respect to said depth adjusting mechanism and disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to said applied load;

processing circuitry in communication with said load sensor, said processing circuitry generating load values corresponding to said load signals; and

wherein said depth adjusting mechanism is pivotally joined to said subframe by a pin, said applied load transferred between said depth adjusting mechanism to said subframe by said pin.

14. The agricultural implement of claim 13, further comprising:

an opening disk blade disposed to open said furrow; and

a gauge wheel disposed to rollingly contact a soil surface, said gauge wheel limiting said depth of said furrow, wherein said load increases as a force between said gauge wheel and said soil surface increases, and

wherein pivotal adjustment of said depth adjusting mechanism about said pin modifies a maximum height of said gauge wheel relative to said opening disk blade.