LOAD SENSING PIN

• US 20100180695A1
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
• Inventors: Koch, Justin L., Sauder, Derek A., Sauder, Gregg A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,561,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.45
• 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. A load sensing pin, comprising:

a pin disposed to receive a load applied in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said pin;

a load sensor substantially fixedly oriented with respect to said applied load, said load sensor disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to strain of said pin resulting from said applied load.

2. The load sensing pin of claim 1 further comprising a restraint to substantially fixedly orient said pin with respect to said applied load.

3. The load sensing pin of claim 2 further comprising:

electrically conductive wires coupled to said load sensor to operably communicate said generated load signal to processing circuitry.

4. The load sensing pin of claim 3 wherein said pin includes a bore through which said conductive wires extend.

5. The load sensing pin of claim 1 wherein said pin is under 4-point bending stress.

6. The load sensing pin of claim 1 wherein said pin is under 3-point bending stress.

7. The load sensing pin of claim 1 wherein said load sensor comprises a strain gauge transducer.

8. The load sensing pin of claim 7 wherein said strain gauge transducer is a Wheatstone bridge circuit.

9. On a row-unit of an agricultural planter, a load sensing pin, comprising:

a pin disposed to receive a load applied in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said pin, said applied load resulting from loading on a depth regulation member of the row unit;

a load sensor substantially fixedly oriented with respect to said applied load, said load sensor disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to strain of said pin resulting from said applied load.

10. The load sensing pin of claim 9 further comprising a restraint to substantially fixedly orient said pin with respect to said applied load.

11. The load sensing pin of claim 10 further comprising:

electrically conductive wires coupled to said load sensor to operably communicate said generated load signal to processing circuitry.

12. The load sensing pin of claim 11 wherein said pin includes a bore through which said conductive wires extend.

13. The load sensing pin of claim 9 wherein said pin is under 4-point bending stress.

14. The load sensing pin of claim 9 wherein said pin is under 3-point bending stress.

15. The load sensing pin of claim 9 wherein said load sensor comprises a strain gauge transducer.

16. The load sensing pin of claim 15 wherein said strain gauge transducer is a Wheatstone bridge circuit.

17. On a row-unit of an agricultural planter, a load sensing pin, comprising:

a pin substantially rotationally restrained in relation to a support structure, said pin disposed to receive a load applied in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said pin, said applied load resulting from loading on a depth regulation member of the row unit;

a load sensor disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to strain of said pin resulting from said applied load.

18. The load sensing pin of claim 17 further comprising:

electrically conductive wires coupled to said load sensor to operably communicate said generated load signal to processing circuitry.

19. The load sensing pin of claim 18 wherein said pin includes a bore through which said conductive wires extend.

20. The load sensing pin of claim 17 wherein said pin is under 4-point bending stress.

21. The load sensing pin of claim 17 wherein said pin is under 3-point bending stress.

22. The load sensing pin of claim 17 wherein said load sensor comprises a strain gauge transducer.

23. The load sensing pin of claim 22 wherein said strain gauge transducer is a Wheatstone bridge circuit.