System for Coordinating Agricultural Vehicle Control for Loading a Truck
First Claim
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1. A method for coordinating control of at least one agricultural vehicle for loading a trailer of a truck and trailer combination with a harvested crop material, the method comprising:
- receiving harvested crop material into a grain cart towed by a tractor;
moving the grain cart to a truck and trailer combination defined by an over the road truck towing a trailer for hauling crop material;
initiating a trailer loading sequence;
determining a target total weight value of crop material to load into the trailer based on axle weight ratings of the axles of the truck and trailer combination;
determining a target weight distribution value of the trailer for distributing the crop material in the trailer based on the axle weight ratings of the axles of the truck and trailer combination;
activating a grain cart unloading system for transferring the crop material from the grain cart to the trailer to load the trailer;
controlling the tractor with a tractor controller of a control system to automatically move the tractor relative to the trailer while the grain cart unloading system is activated to load the trailer based on the determined target total weight of crop material and target weight distribution values.
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Abstract
A system is provided that automatically assesses weight rating characteristics of a truck and trailer combination. The system coordinates movement and unloading functions of the grain cart to automatically load the trailer to correspond to a target total weight value and a target weight distribution value based on axle weight ratings of the axles of the truck and trailer combination.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for coordinating control of at least one agricultural vehicle for loading a trailer of a truck and trailer combination with a harvested crop material, the method comprising:
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receiving harvested crop material into a grain cart towed by a tractor; moving the grain cart to a truck and trailer combination defined by an over the road truck towing a trailer for hauling crop material; initiating a trailer loading sequence; determining a target total weight value of crop material to load into the trailer based on axle weight ratings of the axles of the truck and trailer combination; determining a target weight distribution value of the trailer for distributing the crop material in the trailer based on the axle weight ratings of the axles of the truck and trailer combination; activating a grain cart unloading system for transferring the crop material from the grain cart to the trailer to load the trailer; controlling the tractor with a tractor controller of a control system to automatically move the tractor relative to the trailer while the grain cart unloading system is activated to load the trailer based on the determined target total weight of crop material and target weight distribution values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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- 3. The method of claim I wherein the control system identifies the truck and trailer combination and determines the target total weight of crop material and target weight distribution values based on the identified truck and trailer combination.
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17. The method of claim I wherein the control system controls the tractor and grain cart to automatically approach the truck and trailer combination to initiate transfer of crop material from the grain cart to the trailer, including
detecting with sensors within a predetermined field of view and distance range for a truck and trailer combination; -
identifying a proposed truck and trailer combination; confirming the proposed truck and trailer combination as suitable for loading; moving the tractor to approach the truck and trailer combination with the grain cart; positioning an unloading tube of the grain cart over the trailer; and transferring crop material from the grain cart into the trailer.
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18. A method for coordinating control of at least one agricultural vehicle for loading a trailer of a truck and trailer combination with a harvested crop material, the method comprising:
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receiving harvested crop material into a grain cart towed by a tractor; moving the grain cart to a truck and trailer combination having axle weight rating values stored in a database corresponding to ratings of axles of the truck and trailer combination; determining a loading path plan based on the axle weight rating values of the truck and trailer combination and a value of at least one of (i) a target total weight value of crop material to load into a trailer of the truck and trailer combination, and (ii) a target weight distribution value of the trailer for distributing the crop material in the trailer; and controlling the tractor with a tractor controller to automatically move the tractor relative to a trailer of the truck and trailer combination based on the loading path plan. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A system for coordinating control of at least one agricultural vehicle for loading a trailer of a truck and trailer combination with a harvested crop material, the system comprising:
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a tractor; a grain cart towed by the tractor; a control system including a tractor controller operatively communicating with a grain cart controller for controlling operation of the grain cart, and a truck and trailer identification system for identifying weight rating information of a truck and trailer combination stored in a database accessible by the control system; and a sensor system arranged with respect to at least one of the tractor and grain cart for determining loading status of a trailer of the truck and trailer combination and communicating with the control system for automatically coordinating control of at least one of the tractor and the grain cart for achieving a target total weight value and a target weight distribution value of the truck and trailer combination.
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Specification