Agricultural systems having stalk sensors and data visualization systems and related devices and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11064653-B2
Application number	US-201916445161-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 18, 2019
Priority date	Jun 18, 2018
Publication date	Jul 20, 2021
Grant date	Jul 20, 2021

Abstract

The disclosure relates to agricultural systems. The systems have stalk sensor assemblies and/or data visualization systems. The stalk sensor assemblies are configured for assessing the size and other characteristics about crops, such as corn and other grains entering an agricultural implement, such as a harvester. The stalk sensor assemblies may use an estimation of the stalk perimeter to establish stalk size and therefore further features about the crop. The visualization system utilizes data from the stalk sensor assemblies to calculate and display relevant information about the crop.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural system comprising at least one stalk sensor assembly, the at least one stalk sensor assembly comprising:
(a) one or more wheels constructed and arranged to engage with stalks so as to rotate;
(b) at least one resilient member operatively engaged with the one or more wheels, wherein the at least one resilient member allows the one or more wheels to move such that a plurality of stalks continue to traverse through stripper plates; and
(c) one or more pulse sensors in communication with the one or more wheels and constructed and arranged to detect rotation of the one or more wheels,
wherein the at least one stalk sensor assembly is constructed and arranged to measure stalk size from a degree of rotation of the one or more wheels.

2. The agricultural system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wheels is operationally coupled to one or more brakes, and wherein the one or more brakes are configured to reduce rotation of the one or more wheels.

3. The agricultural system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more wheels is operationally coupled to one or more proximity sensors constructed and arranged to monitor a displacement of the one or more wheels.

4. The agricultural system of claim 1 , further comprising a visualization system.

5. The agricultural system of claim 4 , wherein the visualization system comprises a user interface on an in-cab display.

6. An agricultural system, comprising at least one stalk sensor assembly in operational communication with a stripper plate, the assembly comprising:
(a) at least one wheel, wherein the wheel having a plurality of teeth to grip and thereby engage with a plurality of stalks so as to rotate while the stalks enter and traverse through the stripper plate:
(b) at least one resilient member operatively engaged with the at least one wheel, wherein the at least one resilient member allows the at least one wheel to rotate such that the stalks continue to traverse through the stripper plate; and
(c) at least one pulse sensor in communication with the wheel and constructed and arranged to detect degrees of rotation of the at least one wheel,
wherein the degrees of rotation of the at least one wheel are correlated to stalk size from a degree of rotation of the wheels.

7. The agricultural system of claim 6 , further comprising a visualization system in communication with the at least one sensor assembly.

8. The agricultural system of claim 7 , wherein the visualization system comprises a yield monitor.

9. The agricultural system of claim 8 , wherein the yield monitor is constructed and arranged to determine yield on a row-by-row basis.

10. The agricultural system of claim 7 , wherein the visualization system is constructed and arranged to calculate and display one or more of harvested plants, late emergence, missing plants, yield per plant, yield per area, yield per thousand, bushels per acre, bushels per thousand, economic loss, row-by-row area counting, and row plugs.

11. The agricultural system of claim 6 , further comprising a late emerged threshold defined by wheel rotation.

12. The agricultural system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one wheel is operationally coupled to one or more brakes, and wherein the one or more brakes are configured to reduce rotation of the at least one wheel.

13. The agricultural system of claim 6 , wherein the degrees of rotation of the at least one wheel are correlated to stalk count.

14. The agricultural system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one wheel comprises a plurality of teeth.

15. An agricultural system, comprising:
a sensor assembly in operational communication with a stripper plate comprising:
(a) a first wheel and a second wheel constructed and arranged to engage with stalks so as to rotate;
(b) a first pulse sensor in communication with the first wheel;
(c) a second pulse sensor in communication with the second wheel:
(d) a first resilient member operatively engaged with the first wheel; and

(e) a second resilient member operatively engaged with the second wheel, wherein the first and second resilient members allow the first and second wheels to move such that a plurality of stalks continue to traverse through the stripper plate,
wherein the first pulse sensor and the second pulse sensor measure degrees of rotation of the first wheel and the second wheel and wherein the degrees of rotation of the first wheel and the second wheel are correlated to stalk size from a degree of rotation of the first and second wheels.

16. The agricultural system of claim 15 , wherein the sensor assembly is constructed and arranged to estimate a stalk circumference from the degrees of rotation.

17. The agricultural system of claim 15 , further comprising a visualization system.

18. The agricultural system of claim 15 , further comprising at least one proximity sensor, and wherein the one or more proximity sensors are constructed and arranged to monitor the displacement of the first wheel and the second wheel.

19. The agricultural system of claim 18 , further comprising a row unit plug alarm.

Assignees

• Ag Leader Tech

Inventors

• Zielke Roger
• Eichhorn Scott
• Woodcock Tony
• Handsaker Logan
• Anderson Barry

Classifications

• G01B5/10

  of objects while moving · CPC title

• H04Q2209/84

  Measuring functions · CPC title

• A01D41/127 Primary

  Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines · CPC title

• A01D45/021

  Cornheaders · CPC title

• A01D45/023

  Gathering chains of belts · CPC title