Seed implement incorporating a down pressure sensing and adjustment system

• US 9,826,677 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2014
• Issued: 11/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Original Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd (CNH Industrial N.V.)
• Inventors: Gervais, Joel, Henry, James W
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ERDMAN, CHAD G
• Application Number:
  US14/571,603
• Publication Number:
  US 20160165789A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/105 Seed sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/205 comprising pressure regulation means

Abstract

Data is collected from sensors related to the opener assembly for seeders, such as for discs and hoe drills, in order to better determine how the opener assembly reacts while operating in various conditions and to more precisely control operation of the opener assembly. Accordingly, a control system and a sensor array are utilized to provide automatic and continuous down pressure adjustments (according to a certain user specified range) at various speeds to substantially maintain a relatively constant seed depth. The sensor array could also be monitored and controlled by an operator to control settings (such as with respect to seed depth and/or opener down pressure) of the seeding implement from the cab to provide manual down pressure adjustments at various speeds. In various aspects, seeding speed and/or tractor speed may also be parameters controlled via the sensor feedback according to a certain user specified range of sensor variation.

Claims

1. A seeding implement, comprising:

a frame;

a linkage coupled to the frame;

an opener coupled to the linkage for cutting a furrow into a ground surface;

a down pressure mechanism operable to apply an adjustable down pressure onto the opener, the down pressure mechanism configured to exert a user settable down pressure onto the opener;

a first inclinometer operatively connected to a pivot position of the linkage proximal to the frame, the first inclinometer configured to measure an angle of the linkage relative to the frame and provide corresponding electrical output signal;

a second inclinometer operatively connected to a pivot position of the linkage proximal to the opener, the second inclinometer configured to measure an angle of the linkage relative to the opener and provide a corresponding electrical output signal; and

a controller operatively connected to the first and second inclinometers for receiving the electrical output signals therefrom, the controller being configured to adjust the down pressure mechanism to the user set down pressure based on the electrical output signals.

2. The seeding implement of claim 1, further comprising a sensor providing an electrical output signal, the sensor configured to measure a sensed value related to at least one of the frame and the opener and wherein the controller is operatively connected to the sensor and receives the electrical output signal from the sensor.

3. The seeding implement of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a hydraulic pressure sensor operatively connected to the down pressure mechanism, the hydraulic pressure sensor being configured to measure the down pressure on the opener.

4. The seeding implement of claim 2, further comprising a depth setting arm operatively connected to the opener and operable to set a cutting depth for the opener, and wherein the sensor is a load sensor operatively connected to the depth setting arm and being configured to measure a strain value.

5. The seeding implement of claim 1, wherein the opener includes at least one of a cutting disc and a hoe.

6. The seeding implement of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically adjust the down pressure mechanism to the user set down pressure according to a user specified range.

7. The seeding implement of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive feedback from an operator in the cab to manually adjust the user set down pressure.

18. The seeding implement of claim 2, wherein the sensor is a first accelerometer operatively connected to the frame, and further comprising a second accelerometer operatively connected to the opener, wherein the first accelerometer is configured to measure an acceleration of the frame and the second accelerometer is configured to measure an acceleration of the opener.

8. A seeding implement, comprising:

a frame;

linkage pivotably coupled to the frame;

an opener coupled to the linkage for cutting a furrow into a ground surface;

a down pressure mechanism operatively connected to the opener, the down pressure mechanism being configured to exert a user settable down pressure onto the opener;

a first inclinometer operatively connected to a pivot position of the linkage proximal to the frame for measuring an angle between the linkage and the frame and generating a first electrical output signal in response thereto;

a second inclinometer operatively connected to a pivot position of the linkage proximal to the opener for measuring an angle between the linkage and the opener and generating a second electrical output signal in response thereto; and

a controller operatively connected to the first and second inclinometers and receiving the first and second electrical output signals therefrom, the controller being configured to adjust the down pressure mechanism to the user set down pressure based on the first and second electrical output signals.

9. The seeding implement of claim 8, further comprising a first accelerometer operatively connected to the frame for measuring an acceleration of the frame and generating a third electrical output signal in response thereto, wherein the controller is operatively connected to the first accelerometer and receives the third electrical output signal therefrom.

10. The seeding implement of claim 9, further comprising a second accelerometer operatively connected to the opener for measuring an acceleration of the opener and generating a fourth electrical output signal in response thereto, wherein the controller is operatively connected to the second accelerometer and receives the fourth third electrical output signal therefrom.

11. The seeding implement of claim 8, further comprising a hydraulic pressure sensor operatively connected to the down pressure mechanism for measuring a down pressure and generating a third electrical output signal in response thereto.

12. The seeding implement of claim 8, further comprising a depth setting arm operatively connected to the opener and operable to set a cutting depth for the opener, and further comprising a load sensor operatively connected to the depth setting arm for measuring a strain value and generating a third electrical output signal in response thereto.

13. A down pressure adjustment system for a seeding implement including a frame, a linkage coupled to the frame, and an opener coupled to the linkage for cutting a furrow into a ground surface, the down pressure adjustment system comprising:

a down pressure mechanism connectable to the opener for applying a user selected down pressure onto the opener;

an accelerometer providing a first electrical output signal, the accelerometer configured to measure an acceleration of at least one of the frame and the opener;

a first inclinometer providing a second electrical output signal, the first inclinometer configured to measure an angle of at least one of the linkage relative to the frame;

a second inclinometer providing a third electrical output signal, the second inclinometer configured to measure an angle of at least one of the linkage relative to the opener; and

a controller receiving the first, second and third electrical output signals, wherein the controller is configured to adjust the down pressure mechanism to the user set down pressure based on the first, second and third electrical output signals.

14. The down pressure adjustment system of claim 13, further comprising a hydraulic pressure sensor operatively connected to the down pressure mechanism for measuring a down pressure and generating a fourth electrical output signal in response thereto.

15. The down pressure adjustment system of claim 14, further comprising a load sensor operatively connected to a depth setting arm of the opener for measuring a strain value and generating a fifth electrical output signal in response thereto.

16. The down pressure adjustment system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically adjust the down pressure mechanism to the user set down pressure according to a user specified range.

17. The down pressure adjustment system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to receive feedback from an operator in the cab to manually adjust the user set down pressure.