Header flotation calibration system
First Claim
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1. A system for calibrating a header flotation system of an agricultural vehicle having a header, the header flotation system configured to manage a downforce of the header against the ground, the system comprising:
- a controller configured to a) monitor the position of the header as the header is propelled across the ground and floats in a flotation mode, b) determine an acceleration value of the header as it moves between two positions while in the flotation mode, c) calculate a change in the header weight based on the acceleration value, and d) calibrate the header flotation system by calculating a revised upforce signal configured to maintain constant a predetermined downforce of the header against the ground based upon the change in the calculated weight of the header while in the flotation mode.
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Abstract
A system for calibrating a header flotation system of an agricultural vehicle having a header is provided that includes a control circuit configured to monitor the height of the header and to calculate an upforce that will maintain a desired downforce of the header against the ground. This calculation is based at least upon the position of the header during flotation.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A system for calibrating a header flotation system of an agricultural vehicle having a header, the header flotation system configured to manage a downforce of the header against the ground, the system comprising:
a controller configured to a) monitor the position of the header as the header is propelled across the ground and floats in a flotation mode, b) determine an acceleration value of the header as it moves between two positions while in the flotation mode, c) calculate a change in the header weight based on the acceleration value, and d) calibrate the header flotation system by calculating a revised upforce signal configured to maintain constant a predetermined downforce of the header against the ground based upon the change in the calculated weight of the header while in the flotation mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A computer-implemented method of calibrating a header flotation system of an agricultural vehicle having a header that floats among several positions, comprising the steps of:
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electronically monitoring the header position while the header is propelled across the ground and operating in a flotation mode; recording an uppermost position reached by the header and a time at which the uppermost position was reached; recording a lowermost position reached by the header and a time at which the lowermost position was reached; determining an acceleration value of the header as it moves between the uppermost and lowermost positions while in the flotation mode; electronically calculating a change in the header weight based on the acceleration value; and electronically calibrating the header flotation system by calculating a revised upforce signal that will maintain a predetermined downforce of the header against the ground based upon detection of movement of the header between the uppermost position and the lowermost position of the header via a position sensor and determination of changes in the header weight while in the flotation mode. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9)
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Specification