Agricultural system
First Claim
1. An agricultural planter having a row unit that includesa pivotably mounted gauge wheel,a down pressure controller for controlling the down pressure on at least a portion of the row unit,a mechanical element mounted for movement in response to the down pressure applied to the row unit,a fluid-containing device coupled to said mechanical element for changing the fluid pressure in response to changes in the downward pressure applied to the row unit, anda transducer coupled to said fluid-containing device for producing an output signal in response to changes in said fluid pressure.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A gauge wheel load sensor for an agricultural planter having a row unit that includes a pivotably mounted gauge wheel and a down pressure controller for controlling the down pressure on at least a portion of the row unit. The load sensor includes a mechanical element mounted for movement in response to the downward force applied to the row unit; a fluid-containing device containing a movable element coupled to the mechanical element for changing the fluid pressure in response to the movement of the mechanical element; and a transducer coupled to the fluid-containing device for producing an output signal in response to changes in the fluid pressure. An energy storage device, such as an accumulator, may be coupled to the fluid-containing device for receiving a limited amount of fluid in response to changes in the fluid pressure to damp pressure spikes in the output signal of the transducer.
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Citations
10 Claims
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1. An agricultural planter having a row unit that includes
a pivotably mounted gauge wheel, a down pressure controller for controlling the down pressure on at least a portion of the row unit, a mechanical element mounted for movement in response to the down pressure applied to the row unit, a fluid-containing device coupled to said mechanical element for changing the fluid pressure in response to changes in the downward pressure applied to the row unit, and a transducer coupled to said fluid-containing device for producing an output signal in response to changes in said fluid pressure.
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8. An agricultural planter having a row unit that includes
a pivotably mounted gauge wheel, a down pressure controller for controlling the down pressure on at least a portion of the row unit, a mechanical element mounted for movement in response to the downward force applied to the row unit, a fluid-containing device coupled to said mechanical element for changing the fluid pressure in said device in response to changes in the downward pressure applied to the row unit, a transducer coupled to said fluid-containing device for producing an output signal in response to changes in said fluid pressure, and an energy storage device coupled to said fluid-containing device for receiving a limited amount of fluid in response to changes in said fluid pressure to damp pressure spikes in the output signal of said transducer.
Specification