System and related methods for adjusting down pressure loads on a disc opener of a seeder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10779456-B2
Application number	US-201815935167-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 26, 2018
Priority date	Mar 26, 2018
Publication date	Sep 22, 2020
Grant date	Sep 22, 2020

Abstract

A system for adjusting down pressure loads on a disc opener of a seeder includes a depth adjustment assembly having a gauge wheel and a gauge wheel arm coupled between the disc opener and the gauge wheel. An actuator is configured to apply a down pressure load on the disc opener. Moreover, the system may include a sensor provided in operative association with the gauge wheel or a component coupled between the gauge wheel and the gauge wheel arm. The sensor may be configured to detect a parameter indicative of the down pressure load applied on the disc opener. Additionally, a controller of the system may be configured to control an operation of the actuator based on measurement signals received from the sensor to regulate the down pressure load applied on the disc opener.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for adjusting down pressure loads on a disc opener of a seeder, the system comprising:
a frame member;
a disc opener supported on the frame member for rotation relative thereto, the disc opener being configured to penetrate the ground to form a furrow;
a depth adjustment assembly including a gauge wheel and a gauge wheel arm coupled between the disc opener and the gauge wheel, the depth adjustment assembly being configured to control a penetration depth of the disc opener;
an actuator configured to apply a down pressure load on the disc opener;
a sensor mounted on the gauge wheel or on a component coupled between the gauge wheel and the gauge wheel arm, the sensor being configured to detect a parameter indicative of the down pressure load applied on the disc opener; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, the controller being configured to control an operation of the actuator based on measurement signals received from the sensor to regulate the down pressure load applied on the disc opener.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component is a wheel bearing provided in association with the gauge wheel.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the component is a shaft coupled between the gauge wheel and the gauge wheel arm.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the shaft comprises a fastener provided in association with the gauge wheel.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein, when the detected parameter exceeds a maximum threshold, the controller is configured to control the operation of the actuator such that the down pressure load on the disc opener is reduced.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein, when the detected parameter falls below a minimum threshold, the controller is configured to control the operation of the actuator such that the down pressure load on the disc opener is increased.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a strain gauge or a load cell.

8. A system for adjusting down pressure loads on a disc opener of a seeder, the system comprising:
a frame member;
a disc opener supported on the frame member for rotation relative thereto, the disc opener being configured to penetrate the ground to form a furrow;
a depth adjustment assembly configured to control a penetration depth of the disc opener, the depth adjustment assembly including a gauge wheel and a depth control arm coupled to the gauge wheel, the depth adjustment arm being moveable relative to the frame member;
an actuator configured to apply a down pressure load on the disc opener;
a sensor provided in operative association with the frame member, the sensor positioned between the depth control arm and the frame member and being configured to detect a parameter indicative of the down pressure load applied on the disc opener; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor, the controller being configured to control an operation of the actuator based on measurement signals received from the sensor to regulate the down pressure load applied on the disc opener.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the frame member defines a plurality of apertures, each aperture being associated with a predetermined penetration depth of the disc opener, the depth adjustment assembly further comprising:
a gauge wheel arm coupled to the gauge wheel; and
a spindle coupled between the depth control arm and the gauge wheel arm, a portion of the depth control arm being configured to engage one of the plurality of apertures defined by the frame member to set the penetration depth of the disc opener;
wherein the sensor is positioned within one of the apertures defined within the frame member such that the sensor is positioned between the frame member and the portion of the depth control arm engaging the aperture.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein, when the detected parameter exceeds a maximum threshold, the controller is configured to control the operation of the actuator such that the down pressure load on the disc opener is reduced.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein, when the detected parameter falls below a minimum threshold, the controller is configured to control the operation of the actuator such that the down pressure load on the disc opener is increased.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the sensor comprises a strain gauge or a load cell.

13. A seeder, comprising:
a toolbar;
a rockshaft moveable relative to the toolbar;
an actuator coupled between the toolbar and the rockshaft, the actuator being configured to move the rockshaft relative to the toolbar;
a plurality of disc opener units adjustably coupled to the toolbar and the rockshaft, each disc opener unit comprising:
a frame member coupled to the toolbar and the rockshaft;
a disc opener supported on the frame member for rotation relative thereto, the disc opener being configured to penetrate the ground to form a furrow;
a depth adjustment assembly including a gauge wheel and a gauge wheel arm coupled between the disc opener and the gauge wheel, the depth adjustment assembly being configured to control a penetration depth of the disc opener;

a plurality of sensors, each sensor being mounted directly to at least one of the frame member, the gauge wheel, or a component coupled between the gauge wheel and the gauge wheel arm of one of the disc opener units, the sensor being configured to detect a parameter indicative of the down pressure load applied to the corresponding disc opener; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the controller being configured to control an operation of the actuator based on measurement signals received from the plurality of sensors to adjust the position of the rockshaft relative to the toolbar to regulate the down pressure load being applied on the disc opener of each disc opener unit.

14. The seeder of claim 13 , wherein each component is a wheel bearing provided in association with the corresponding gauge wheel.

15. The seeder of claim 13 , wherein each component is a shaft coupled between the corresponding gauge wheel and the corresponding gauge wheel arm.

16. The seeder of claim 15 , wherein each shaft comprises a fastener provided in association with the corresponding gauge wheel.

17. The seeder of claim 13 , wherein each frame member defines a plurality of apertures, each aperture being associated with a predetermined penetration depth of the disc opener, each depth adjustment assembly further comprising:
a spindle coupled to the corresponding gauge wheel arm; and
a depth control arm coupled to the corresponding spindle, a portion of the corresponding depth control arm being configured to engage one of the plurality of apertures defined by the corresponding frame member to set the penetration depth of the corresponding disc opener
wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors is positioned within one of the apertures defined within the frame member such that the sensor is positioned between the frame member and the portion of the depth control arm engaging the aperture.

18. The seeder of claim 17 , wherein each sensor is positioned between the depth control arm of one of the disc opener units and the corresponding frame member.

19. The seeder of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
control the operation of the actuator such that the down pressure load on each disc opener is reduced when the detected parameters exceed a maximum threshold; and
control the operation of the actuator such that the down pressure load on each disc opener is increased when the detected

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Kowalchuk Trevor L

Classifications

• A01C7/203

  comprising depth regulation means · CPC title

• A01C7/205

  comprising pressure regulation means · CPC title

• A01C5/064

  with rotating tools · CPC title

• A01B63/28 Primary

  operated by the machine or implement · CPC title

• A01B63/008

  Vertical adjustment of tools (A01B63/10 takes precedence) · CPC title