Implement weight management systems, methods, and apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10517204-B2
Application number	US-201715798165-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 30, 2017
Priority date	Nov 8, 2013
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for managing implement weight. In some embodiments, a position sensor is used to determine a position of the wing section and a downforce applied to the wing is modified in order to lower the wing section. In some embodiments, the position sensor indicates the position of a wing wheel assembly of the wing section. In other embodiments, the position sensor indicates the position of a center wheel assembly of a center section of the implement.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A weight transfer control system for an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement having a wing section, the wing section having a wing wheel disposed to rollingly support the wing section, the weight transfer control system comprising:
a wing flex actuator configured to modify downforce applied to the wing section of the implement;
a wing flex valve in fluid communication with the wing flex actuator;
a wing position sensor;
processing circuitry in data communication with the wing position sensor, the processing circuitry configured to determine a position of the wing section; and
a shut-off valve configured to selectively cut off fluid flow to the wing flex valve.

2. The weight transfer control system of claim 1 , wherein the wing position sensor comprises:
an electromagnetic field generator; and
an electromagnetic field detector, wherein a distance between the electromagnetic field detector and the electromagnetic field generator changes when the wing section is raised.

3. The weight transfer control system of claim 2 , wherein the distance reaches a maximum distance when the wing section is in a raised position.

4. The weight transfer control system of claim 3 , further comprising:
a wing wheel actuator configured to raise and lower the wing wheel;
a pin mounted to one of the wing section and the wing wheel actuator;
a slot formed in one of the wing section and the wing wheel actuator; and
wherein the maximum distance is reached when said pin contacts a limiting edge of the slot.

5. The weight transfer control system of claim 2 , wherein the electromagnetic field generator comprises a magnet, and wherein the electromagnetic field detector comprises a Hall-effect sensor.

6. The weight transfer control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a row unit pivotally mounted to the wing section;
a row unit downforce actuator disposed to modify a downforce applied to the row unit; and
a row unit downforce control valve, the row unit downforce control valve in fluid communication with the row unit downforce actuator.

7. The weight transfer control system of claim 6 , further comprising:
a center wheel lift actuator; and
a center wheel position sensor.

8. The weight transfer control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a center wheel lift actuator; and
a center wheel position sensor.

9. The weight transfer control system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a hitch actuator configured to shift weight between the implement and a tractor drawing the implement; and
a hitch valve configured to select a pressure in the hitch actuator.

10. The weight transfer control system of claim 9 , wherein the hitch valve is configured to cause the hitch actuator to impose a net force on the implement.

11. The weight transfer control system of claim 9 , wherein the shut-off valve is configured to cut off fluid flow to the hitch valve.

12. The weight transfer control system of claim 6 , wherein the row unit downforce control valve is configured to operate independent of the shut-off valve.

13. A method of transferring weight of an agricultural implement, comprising:
drawing an implement across a field;
passing a fluid from a wing flex valve to a wing flex actuator to modify a wing downforce applied to a wing section of the implement by the wing flex actuator;
monitoring a wing section position of the wing section with a wing position sensor; and
terminating fluid flow to the wing flex valve with a shut-off valve after determining the wing section position to be within a selected range.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein terminating fluid flow to the wing flex valve with a shut-off valve comprises terminating fluid flow after identifying a wing-raised condition.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein passing a fluid from a wing flex valve to a wing flex actuator comprises increasing a downforce applied to the wing section.

16. The method of claim 13 , wherein monitoring a wing section position of the wing section comprises detecting a distance between an electromagnetic field generator and an electromagnetic field detector.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein monitoring a wing section position of the wing section comprises detecting a location of a pin within a slot.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising modifying a downforce applied to a row unit carried by the wing section independent of the wing downforce.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Sauder Derek
• Stoller Jason

Classifications

• A01B73/065

  to a position essentially forward of the axis, in relation to the direction of travel · CPC title

• A01B63/11 Primary

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

• A01C7/203

  comprising depth regulation means · CPC title

• A01C7/205

  comprising pressure regulation means · CPC title