Method for controlling an unload operation on a mobile farm implement

• US 9,187,259 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2014
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Van Mill, Michael D., Gerdeman, Shawn W., Schlimgen, Ronald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cheung, Mary
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, YUEN H
• Application Number:
  US14/213,744
• Publication Number:
  US 20140288789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 613 Days
• Field of Search: 701/50
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 90/10 Unloading means
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/00 Control devices, e.g. for safety, warning or fault-correcting
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 43/08 Control devices operated by article or material being fed, conveyed or discharged and controlling the discharging devices B65G47/42
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/02 for weighing wheeled or rolling bodies, e.g. vehicles

Abstract

A method of automating unloading for a mobile farm implement is presented. The method includes determining whether the speed of the mobile farm implement is below a first threshold. In response to a determination that the speed of the mobile farm implement is below the first threshold, a conveyor is moved to an operating position, where it is used to unload agricultural material from the mobile farm implement. Upon termination of the unloading of the agricultural material, the controller folds the conveyor to a storage or transport position.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an unload operation of a mobile farm implement having a container carrying an agricultural material such as grain or seed, wherein the mobile farm implement is connected to a power takeoff and includes a conveyor for unloading the agricultural material, and wherein the conveyor is movable between a stored position and an operating position, the method comprising steps of:

measuring a speed of the mobile farm implement;

determining with a controller if the speed is below a first threshold; and

when the controller determines that the speed is below the first threshold, sending a command from the controller to move the conveyor into the operating position.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

measuring a power takeoff speed;

determining with the controller if the power takeoff speed is above a second threshold; and

when the controller determines that the power takeoff speed is above a second threshold, unloading the agricultural material from the mobile farm implement.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising steps of:

weighing an amount of the agricultural material in the mobile farm implement;

determining with the controller if the weight of the amount of the agricultural material is below a third threshold; and

when the controller determines that the weight is below the third threshold, stopping the unloading.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising a step of:

when the controller determines that the weight is below the third threshold, sending a command from the controller to move the conveyor into the stored position.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of unloading the agricultural material from the mobile farm implement includes the step of sending a command from the controller to open a container door.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of stopping unloading includes a step of sending a command from the controller to close the container door.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of, prior to the unloading step, determining with the controller if a weight of the amount of the agricultural material is a steady value, and, unloading the agricultural material from the farm implement when the controller determines that the weight is a steady value.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the unloading step includes engaging the power takeoff to facilitate transfer of the agricultural material.