LOAD SENSING PIN

• US 20160255760A1
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Published: 09/08/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Koch, Justin, Sauder, Gregg A., Sauder, Derek A.
• Granted Patent: US 10,548,254 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 plurality of row units operably supported above a soil surface of a field, each of said row units having a furrow opening assembly for opening a furrow in the soil surface as the row unit traverses the field, each of said row units having a subframe;

a depth adjusting mechanism capable of modifying a depth of the furrow opened by the furrow opening assembly, said depth adjusting mechanism applying a load on said subframe; 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.

2. The agricultural implement of claim 1, further comprising:

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

3. The agricultural implement of claim 1, wherein said load sensor is substantially rotationally restrained in relation to said depth adjusting mechanism.

4. The agricultural implement of claim 1, further comprising:

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

5. The agricultural implement of claim 1 wherein said trench 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.

6. The agricultural implement of claim 4 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.

7. The agricultural implement of claim 6, 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.

8. 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.

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