Load sensing pin

• US 8,561,472 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2008
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Precision Planting LLC (AGCO Corporation)
• Inventors: Sauder, Gregg A., Sauder, Derek A., Koch, Justin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo, Lisa
• Assistant Examiner(s): DAVIS HOLLINGTON, OCTAVIA L
• Application Number:
  US12/522,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20100180695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,115 Days
• Field of Search: 737/60, 738/62, 733/81
• US Class Current: 73/760
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 49/027 with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/008 Vertical adjustment of tools A01B63/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 5/064 with rotating tools
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/08 Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows
• CPC Class Codes: A01C 7/205 comprising pressure regulation means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/2218 the supports being of the column type, e.g. cylindric, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/0038 applying a pushing force
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 5/136 Force sensors associated with a vehicle traction coupling vehicle connections B60D; control of vehicle brakes B60T
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/402 characterised by control arrangements for positioning, e.g. centring a tool relative to a hole in the workpiece, additional detection means to correct position G05B19/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45017 Agriculture machine, tractor

Abstract

A load sensing pin disposed to receive a load applied in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of the pin. A load sensor is substantially fixedly oriented with respect to the applied load or alternatively with respect to the pin which is rotationally restrained with respect to a support structure. The load sensor is disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to strain of the pin resulting from the applied load.

Claims

1. A load sensing pin, comprising:

a pin pivotally supporting a depth adjusting mechanism of a row unit of an agricultural planter, whereby pivotal movement of the depth adjusting mechanism about said pin positionally adjusts a gauge wheel with respect to an opening disc to control penetration depth of the opening disc into a ground surface, said pin receiving an applied load from the depth adjusting mechanism resulting from loading on the gauge wheel;

said pin having a load sensor substantially fixedly oriented with respect to said applied load, said load sensor generating a load signal corresponding to strain of said pin resulting from said applied load.

2. The load sensing pin of claim 1, wherein said pin is restrained from rotation about a longitudinal axis of said pin.

3. The load sensing pin of claim 2 further comprising:

electrically conductive wires coupled to said load sensor to operably communicate said generated load signal to processing circuitry.

4. The load sensing pin of claim 3 wherein said pin includes a bore through which said electrically conductive wires extend.

5. The load sensing pin of claim 1 wherein said pin is under 4-point bending stress.

6. The load sensing pin of claim 1 wherein said pin is under 3-point bending stress.

7. The load sensing pin of claim 1 wherein said load sensor comprises a strain gauge transducer.

8. The load sensing pin of claim 7 wherein said strain gauge transducer is a Wheatstone bridge circuit.

9. On a row-unit of an agricultural planter, wherein said row unit includes a gauge wheel, an opening disc and a depth adjusting mechanism pivotally movable about a pin, whereby pivotal movement of the depth adjusting mechanism about said pin positionally adjusts the gauge wheel with respect to the opening disc to control penetration depth of the opening disc into a ground surface, said pin receiving an applied load from the depth adjusting mechanism resulting from loading on the gauge wheel, said pin having a load sensor substantially fixedly oriented with respect to said applied load, said load sensor generating a load signal corresponding to strain of said pin resulting from said applied load.

10. On the row unit of claim 9, said pin having a substantially fixed angular orientation about a longitudinal axis of said pin.

11. On the row unit of claim 10,

said generated load signal being operably communicated to processing circuitry by electrically conductive wires.

12. On the row unit of claim 11, said pin having a bore through which said electrically conductive wires extend.

13. On the row unit of claim 9, said pin being under 4-point bending stress.

14. On the row unit of claim 9, said pin being under 3-point bending stress.

15. On the row unit of claim 9, said load sensor comprising a strain gauge transducer.

16. On the row unit of claim 15, said strain gauge transducer being a Wheatstone bridge circuit.

17. On a row-unit of an agricultural planter, wherein the row-unit includes a gauge wheel, an opening disc and a depth adjusting mechanism pivotally movable about a load sensing pin, whereby pivotal movement of the depth adjusting mechanism about said load sensing pin adjusts the gauge wheel with respect to the opening disc to control penetration depth of the opening disc into a ground surface, said load sensing pin, comprising:

a pin substantially rotationally restrained in relation to the depth adjusting mechanism, said load sensing pin disposed to receive a load applied in a direction substantially transverse to a longitudinal axis of said load sensing pin, said applied load resulting from loading on the gauge wheel; and

a load sensor disposed to generate a load signal corresponding to strain of said load sensing pin resulting from said applied load.

18. On the row unit of claim 17,

said generated load signal being operably communicated to processing circuitry by electrically conductive wires.

19. On the row unit of claim 18, said pin having a bore through which said conductive wires extend.

20. On the row unit of claim 17, said pin being under 4-point bending stress.

21. On the row unit of claim 17, said pin being under 3-point bending stress.

22. On the row unit of claim 17, said load sensor comprising a strain gauge transducer.

23. On the row unit of claim 22, said strain gauge transducer being a Wheatstone bridge circuit.

24. On a row-unit of an agricultural planter, wherein said row unit includes a gauge wheel, an opening disc and a depth adjusting mechanism pivotally movable about a pin, whereby pivotal movement of the depth adjusting mechanism about said pin positionally adjusts the gauge wheel with respect to the opening disc to control penetration depth of the opening disc into a ground surface, said pin receiving an applied load from the depth adjusting mechanism resulting from loading on the gauge wheel, said pin having a load sensor substantially fixedly oriented with respect to said depth adjusting mechanism, said load sensor generating a load signal corresponding to strain of said pin resulting from said applied load.

25. On the row unit of claim 24, said depth adjusting mechanism comprising a height adjusting arm.

26. On the row unit of claim 25, said pin being restrained from rotation about a longitudinal axis of said pin.

27. On the row unit of claim 26, said generated load signal being operably communicated to processing circuitry by electrically conductive wires.

28. On the row unit of claim 27, said pin having a bore through which said electrically conductive wires extend.

29. On the row unit of claim 26, said pin being under 4-point bending stress.

30. On the row unit of claim 26, said pin being under 3-point bending stress.

31. On the row unit of claim 26, said load sensor comprising a strain gauge transducer.

32. On the row unit of claim 31, said strain gauge transducer being a Wheatstone bridge circuit.