Mounted implement weight transfer

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10021822-B2
Application number	US-201514788318-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2015
Priority date	Jun 30, 2015
Publication date	Jul 17, 2018
Grant date	Jul 17, 2018

Abstract

A seed planting apparatus includes a toolbar mounted on a tractor for traversing the ground in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the toolbar. A plurality of seeding units are spaced laterally across the toolbar for ground penetration and planting of seeds. A ground engaging wheel is provided and a linkage connects the wheel to the toolbar for up and down movement relative to the ground. An actuator interconnects the toolbar to at least one of the linkage and wheel for selectively elevating the wheel. A bulk seed hopper is supported adjacent the wheel and a control system determines a parameter associated with the toolbar and raises and lowers the wheel to transfer weight from the bulk feed hopper to and from the toolbar.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A farm implement comprising:
a toolbar mounted for traversing the ground in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said toolbar;
ground engaging tools supported by said toolbar and providing a force to said toolbar;
at least one ground engaging support;
a linkage connecting said ground engaging support to said toolbar for up and down movement relative to the ground;
a component having a weight supported adjacent said ground engaging support, wherein the component is arranged relative to the toolbar such that the component is configured to be elevated or lowered relative to the toolbar;
an actuator interconnecting said toolbar and at least one of said linkage and ground engaging support, wherein said actuator is configured to elevate or lower the component relative to said toolbar by elevating or lowering said ground engaging support;
at least one sensor configured to determine at least one of a height, force and weight transfer to said toolbar; and,
a control system configured to actuate, responsive to signals from said at least one sensor, said actuator to elevate and lower said component relative to said toolbar by elevating or lowering the ground engaging support to transfer one of force and weight between said toolbar and said component as the vehicle travels over varying terrain.

2. The farm implement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said ground support is at least one wheel.

3. The farm implement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said component is at least one bulk tank.

4. The farm implement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said component has a predetermined mass.

5. The farm implement as claimed in claim 3 , wherein said implement is a planter and at least one of said bulk tanks contain at least one of seeds, chemical and fertilizer.

6. The farm implement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor measures force on said tool bar and provides a signal to said control system.

7. The farm implement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor measures distance of the toolbar from the ground and provides a signal to said control system.

8. The farm implement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said at least one sensor measures weight transfer to said toolbar and provides a signal to said control system.

9. A planter assembly comprising:
a toolbar mounted for traversing the ground in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said toolbar;
a plurality of seeding assemblies mounted on said tool bar and spaced laterally relative to the direction of travel of a tractor;
at least one ground engaging support for said toolbar;
a linkage connecting said ground engaging support to said toolbar for up and down movement relative to the ground;
a component having a weight supported adjacent said ground engaging support, wherein the component is arranged relative to the toolbar such that the component is configured to be elevated or lowered relative to the toolbar;
an actuator connecting said tool bar to at least one of said linkage and ground engaging support, wherein said actuator is configured to elevate or lower the component relative to said toolbar by elevating said ground engaging support; and,
a control system configured to actuate said actuator to elevate and lower said component relative to said toolbar by elevating or lowering the ground engaging support to transfer at least one of force and weight between said toolbar and said component as the vehicle travels over varying terrain, wherein said control system comprises at least one sensor configured to determine at least one of a height, force and weight transfer to said toolbar.

10. The planter assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said ground support is at least one wheel.

11. The planter assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said component is at least one bulk tank.

12. The planter assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said component has a predetermined mass.

13. The planter assembly as claimed in claim 11 , wherein at least one of said bulk tanks contain at least one of seeds, chemical and fertilizer.

14. The planter assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said at least one sensor determines the height of said toolbar above the ground, and wherein said control system is configured to receive signals from said sensor to vary the weight transfer from said component to and from said toolbar to maintain a given height above the ground.

15. The planter assembly as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said at least one sensor determines the weight transfer to said toolbar, and wherein said control system is configured to receive signals from said sensor to vary the weight transfer from said component to and from said toolbar to maintain a given height above the ground.

16. A method of weight transfer in a farm implement having a toolbar supporting a plurality of ground engaging tools and having a component of said implement, said method comprising the steps of:
mounting said component on a ground support that is connected to said toolbar through a linkage such that the component is configured to be elevated or lowered relative to the toolbar;
determining at least one parameter characterized by at least one of a force on said toolbar, a distance of said toolbar from the ground, and a weight transfer to said toolbar, wherein said parameter is defined from at least one sensor output; and,
elevating or lowering said component relative to the toolbar to transfer at least one of weight and force between said toolbar and said component responsive to said at least one parameter.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Totten Nathaniel Kip
• Boriack Cale N

Classifications

• A01C7/203

  comprising depth regulation means · CPC title

• A01B63/22 Primary

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/205

  comprising pressure regulation means · CPC title

• A01B63/145

  for controlling weight transfer between implements and tractor wheels · CPC title