Agricultural machine with tire inflation control
First Claim
1. A self-propelled agricultural machine comprising:
- a frame;
an operator cab supported by the frame;
first and second wheels having first and second inflatable tires mounted thereon, respectively, the first and second inflatable tires being configured to support the frame on opposing locations;
a tire inflation controller in communication with the first and second inflatable tires, the tire inflation controller being operable to at least one of inflate and deflate either of the first and second inflatable tires;
first and second load sensors located proximal to the first and second inflatable tires, respectively, the first and second load sensors being configured to sense first and second loads corresponding to the first and second inflatable tires, respectively; and
a system controller in communication with the tire inflation controller and the first and second load sensors, the system controller executing a program stored in a non-transient medium operable to;
(a) compare the first load sensed by the first load sensor to the second load sensed by the second load sensor so as to determine a load differential between the first and second loads;
(b) determine a center of mass of the self-propelled agricultural sprayer from the load differential; and
(c) command the tire inflation controller to at least one of inflate and deflate either of the first and second inflatable tires according to at least one of the load differential and the center of mass.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system for changing pressure in one or more tires of a self-propelled agricultural machine according to a load differential determined using load sensors on opposing locations of the machine. A load differential may be caused by a disproportionate distribution of forces and/or weight on the machine. Load sensors proximal to the tires may allow determining corresponding loads on the tires and, in turn, the load differential. As a result, tires experiencing greater loads may be inflated, whereas tires experiencing lesser loads may be deflated. In addition, a Human Machine Interface (HMI) may be provided in the operator cab to allow an operator to have further control over tire inflation on the fly while operating the machine.
22 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A self-propelled agricultural machine comprising:
-
a frame; an operator cab supported by the frame; first and second wheels having first and second inflatable tires mounted thereon, respectively, the first and second inflatable tires being configured to support the frame on opposing locations; a tire inflation controller in communication with the first and second inflatable tires, the tire inflation controller being operable to at least one of inflate and deflate either of the first and second inflatable tires; first and second load sensors located proximal to the first and second inflatable tires, respectively, the first and second load sensors being configured to sense first and second loads corresponding to the first and second inflatable tires, respectively; and a system controller in communication with the tire inflation controller and the first and second load sensors, the system controller executing a program stored in a non-transient medium operable to; (a) compare the first load sensed by the first load sensor to the second load sensed by the second load sensor so as to determine a load differential between the first and second loads; (b) determine a center of mass of the self-propelled agricultural sprayer from the load differential; and (c) command the tire inflation controller to at least one of inflate and deflate either of the first and second inflatable tires according to at least one of the load differential and the center of mass. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A self-propelled agricultural sprayer comprising:
-
a frame; an operator cab supported by the frame; a pair of wing booms pivotably mounted to the frame, the wing booms being configured to spray an agricultural field; first, second, third and fourth wheels having first, second, third and fourth inflatable tires mounted thereon, respectively, the first and second inflatable tires being configured to support the frame on left and right opposing sides at a front of the frame, respectively, and the third and fourth inflatable tires being configured to support the frame on left and right opposing sides at a back of the frame, respectively; a tire inflation controller in communication with the first, second, third and fourth inflatable tires, the tire inflation controller being operable to at least one of inflate and deflate any of the first, second, third and fourth inflatable tires; first, second, third and fourth load sensors located proximal to the first, second, third and fourth inflatable tires, respectively, the first, second, third and fourth load sensors being configured to sense first, second, third and fourth loads corresponding to the first, second, third and fourth inflatable tires, respectively; and a system controller in communication with the tire inflation controller and the first, second, third and fourth load sensors, the system controller executing a program stored in a non-transient medium operable to; (a) compare one of the first load sensed by the first load sensor, the second load sensed by the second load sensor, the third load sensed by the third load sensor and the fourth load sensed by the fourth load sensor to another one of the first load sensed by the first load sensor, the second load sensed by the second load sensor, the third load sensed by the third load sensor and the fourth load sensed by the fourth load sensor so as to determine a load differential; (b) determine a center of mass of the self-propelled agricultural sprayer from the load differential; and (c) command the tire inflation controller to at least one of inflate and deflate at least one of the first, second, third and fourth inflatable tires according to at least one of the load differential and the center of mass. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification