Depth control for ground engaging tools of an implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10813264-B2
Application number	US-201816100724-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 10, 2018
Priority date	Aug 10, 2018
Publication date	Oct 27, 2020
Grant date	Oct 27, 2020

Abstract

The present inventors have recognized that hydraulic cylinders for raising and lowering ground engaging tools of an implement can be synchronously controlled with respect to a prioritized primary set of tools, such as a section of tillage shanks for ripping compacted soil, which cylinder adjustment affects all other sections due to the arrangement of the primary set on the frame. A user can electronically command new ground engaging depths for the primary set and/or any secondary set of ground engaging tools. If the primary set is updated, the system can synchronously control the primary set and the other sections to adjust respective cylinders to achieve desired depths. However, if only a second set is updated, and not the primary set, the system can control only the second set to adjust its cylinder to the desired depth without affecting the primary set or any other second set.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural implement, comprising:
a frame supported by a plurality of wheels;
a plurality of ground engaging tools supported by the frame, the plurality of ground engaging tools including a primary set and at least one secondary set, wherein each set includes a hydraulic cylinder arranged with respect to the frame for raising and lowering the set, and wherein each set is configured to engage the ground at a ground engaging depth when lowered to be in contact with the ground;
a hydraulic system comprising a pump configured to supply hydraulic fluid and a plurality of electronically controlled valves, wherein each electronically controlled valve is configured to meter hydraulic fluid with respect to a hydraulic cylinder;
operator controls for configuring a ground engaging depth for each set; and
a controller in communication with the hydraulic system and the operator controls, the controller configured to execute a program stored in a non-transient medium to:
upon receiving from the operator controls a change for a ground engaging depth for the primary set, calculate a cylinder length target for a hydraulic cylinder of the primary set and for each secondary set for achieving the ground engaging depth for each set, and control the hydraulic system to adjust the hydraulic cylinder of the primary set and each secondary set to the cylinder length target calculated for the primary set and for each secondary set, respectively; and
upon receiving from the operator controls a change for a ground engaging depth for a secondary set, calculate a cylinder length target for a hydraulic cylinder of only the secondary set for achieving the ground engaging depth for the set, and control the hydraulic system to adjust the hydraulic cylinder of only the secondary set to the cylinder length target calculated for the secondary set, independent of the primary set.

2. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , further comprising a hydraulic cylinder arranged with respect to the frame for changing an angle of the frame with respect to the ground, wherein upon receiving from the operator controls a change for a ground engaging depth for the primary set, the controller further executes to calculate a cylinder length target for the hydraulic cylinder arranged with respect to the frame and control the hydraulic system to adjust the hydraulic cylinder arranged with respect to the frame to the cylinder length target.

3. The agricultural implement of claim 2 , wherein the operator controls further configure the angle of the frame with respect to the ground.

4. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the primary set comprises tillage shanks for ripping compacted soil.

5. The agricultural implement of claim 4 , wherein the secondary set comprises disc blades for cutting agricultural residue, and wherein the disc blades are arranged forward of the tillage shanks.

6. The agricultural implement of claim 5 , further comprising a secondary set comprising leveling discs for distributing soil, wherein the leveling discs are arranged rearward of the tillage shanks.

7. The agricultural implement of claim 6 , further comprising baskets for breaking soil clods, wherein the baskets are arranged rearward of the leveling discs.

8. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein a maximum ground engaging depth for the primary set is greater than a maximum ground engaging depth for any secondary set.

9. The agricultural implement of claim 8 , wherein the maximum ground engaging depth for the primary set is at least 14 inches.

10. The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein each hydraulic cylinder includes a sensor for providing feedback with respect to cylinder length, and wherein the controller executes a closed loop control system with the feedback to adjust each hydraulic cylinder to a cylinder length within a tolerance band of the cylinder length target.

11. A method for changing ground engaging depths for tools of an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement comprising a frame supported by a plurality of wheels, a plurality of ground engaging tools supported by the frame, the plurality of ground engaging tools including a primary set and at least one secondary set, wherein each set includes a hydraulic cylinder arranged with respect to the frame for raising and lowering the set, and wherein each set is configured to engage the ground at a ground engaging depth when lowered to be in contact with the ground, and a hydraulic system comprising a pump configured to supply hydraulic fluid and a plurality of electronically controlled valves, wherein each electronically controlled valve is configured to meter hydraulic fluid with respect to a hydraulic cylinder, the method comprising:
configuring a ground engaging depth for each set;
upon receiving a change for a ground engaging depth for the primary set, calculating a cylinder length target for a hydraulic cylinder of the primary set and for each secondary set for achieving the ground engaging depth for each set, and controlling the hydraulic system to adjust the hydraulic cylinder of the primary set and for each secondary set to the cylinder length target calculated for the primary set and for each secondary set; and
upon receiving a change for a ground engaging depth for a secondary set, calculating a cylinder length target for a hydraulic cylinder of only the secondary set for achieving the ground engaging depth for the set, and controlling the hydraulic system to adjust the hydraulic cylinder of only the secondary set to the cylinder length target calculated for the secondary set, independent of the primary set.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising upon receiving a change for a ground engaging depth for the primary set, calculating a cylinder length target for a hydraulic cylinder arranged with respect to the frame for changing an angle of the frame with respect to the ground, and controlling the hydraulic system to adjust the hydraulic cylinder arranged with respect to the frame to the cylinder length target.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising configuring the angle of the frame with respect to the ground.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein controlling the hydraulic system to adjust the hydraulic cylinder of each set to the cylinder length target calculated for the set is executed in a closed loop control system with feedback from a sensor provided with respect to each hydraulic cylinder.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein controlling the hydraulic system to adjust the hydraulic cylinder of only the secondary set to the cylinder length target calculated for the set is executed in a closed loop control system with feedback from a sensor provided with respect to each hydraulic cylinder;
to operatively engage the alignment system for aligning the skid on the frame.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Wu Duqiang
• Allen William
• Gulati Navneet
• Glennon Michael

Classifications

• A01B63/008

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

• A01B63/111 Primary

  regulating working depth of implements · CPC title

• A01B63/102

  characterised by the location of the mounting on the tractor, e.g. on the rear part · CPC title

• F15B15/2861

  using magnetic means · CPC title