System and method for monitoring fluid conduit connections on an agricultural machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11071246-B2
Application number	US-201916260556-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 29, 2019
Priority date	Jan 29, 2019
Publication date	Jul 27, 2021
Grant date	Jul 27, 2021

Abstract

In one aspect, a system for monitoring fluid conduit connections of an agricultural machine may include a first fluid conduit having a first coupling device, a second fluid conduit having a second coupling device, and a third fluid conduit having a third coupling device. Each of the second and third coupling devices may, in turn, include an identification device. A controller of the system may be configured to receive an input from the identification device of one of the second fluid conduit or the third fluid conduit when the respective second coupling device or third coupling device is coupled to the first coupling device. Furthermore, the controller may be configured to identify the one of the second fluid conduit or the third fluid conduit as a connected fluid conduit based on the received input.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for monitoring fluid conduit connections of an agricultural machine, the system comprising:
a first fluid conduit of the agricultural machine, the first fluid conduit comprising a first coupling device;
a second fluid conduit of the agricultural machine, the second fluid conduit comprising a second coupling device configured to be coupled to the first coupling device in a manner that fluidly couples the first and second fluid conduits, the second coupling device including an identification device;
a third fluid conduit of the agricultural machine, the third fluid conduit comprising a third coupling device configured to be coupled to the first coupling device in a manner that fluidly couples the first and third fluid conduits, the third coupling device including an identification device; and
a controller configured to:
receive an input from the identification device of one of the second fluid conduit or the third fluid conduit when the respective second coupling device or third coupling device is coupled to the first coupling device; and
identify the one of the second fluid conduit or the third fluid conduit as a connected fluid conduit based on the received input;
compare the connected fluid conduit to a predetermined fluid conduit; and
initiate a control action when the connected fluid conduit differs from the predetermined fluid conduit.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control action comprises providing a notification to an operator of the agricultural machine that the connected fluid conduit differs from the predetermined fluid conduit.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control action comprises disabling a flow of fluid to the connected fluid conduit.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a flow parameter of fluid being provided to the first fluid conduit based on the connected fluid conduit.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a flow parameter of fluid being provided to the first fluid conduit based on a value of the flow parameter that was recorded when the connected fluid conduit was previously fluidly coupled to the first fluid conduit.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the identification devices correspond to resistors.

7. A system for monitoring fluid conduit connections of an agricultural machine, the system comprising:
a first fluid conduit of the agricultural machine, the first fluid conduit comprising a first coupling device;
a second fluid conduit of the agricultural machine, the second fluid conduit comprising a second coupling device configured to be coupled to the first coupling device in a manner that fluidly couples the first and second fluid conduits, the second coupling device including an identification device;
a third fluid conduit of the agricultural machine, the third fluid conduit comprising a third coupling device;
a fourth fluid conduit of the agricultural machine, the fourth fluid conduit comprising a fourth coupling device configured to be coupled to the third coupling device in a manner that fluidly couples the third and fourth conduits, the fourth coupling device including an identification device; and
a controller configured to:
receive an input from the identification device of the second fluid conduit when the second coupling device is coupled to the first coupling device;
receive an input from the identification device of the fourth fluid conduit when the fourth coupling device is coupled to the third coupling device; and
determine an order in which the second coupling device is coupled to the first coupling device and the fourth coupling device is coupled to the third coupling device based on the received inputs.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to compare the determined order to a predetermined order and initiate a control action when the determined order differs from the predetermined order.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control action comprises providing a notification to an operator of the agricultural machine that the determined order differs from the predetermined order.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the control action comprises disabling a flow of fluid to at least one of the second fluid conduit or the fourth fluid conduit.

11. The system of claim 7 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
adjust a flow parameter of fluid being provided to the first fluid conduit based on the second fluid conduit; and
adjust a flow parameter of fluid being provided to the third fluid conduit based on the fourth fluid conduit.

12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
adjust a flow parameter of fluid being provided to the first fluid conduit based on a value of the flow parameter that was recorded when the second fluid conduit was previously fluidly coupled to the first fluid conduit; and
adjust a flow parameter of fluid being provided to the third fluid conduit based on a value of the flow parameter that was recorded when the fourth fluid conduit was previously fluidly coupled to the third fluid conduit.

13. The system of claim 7 , wherein the identification devices correspond to resistors.

14. A method for monitoring fluid conduit connections of an agricultural machine, the agricultural machine comprising a first fluid conduit including a first coupling device, a second fluid conduit including a second coupling device configured to be coupled to the first coupling device in a manner that fluidly couples the first and second fluid conduits, and a third fluid conduit including a third coupling device configured to be coupled to the first coupling device in a manner that fluidly couples the first and third fluid conduits, the method comprising:
receiving, with a computing device, an input from one of an identification device associated with the second fluid conduit or an identification device associated with the third fluid conduit when the associated second or third coupling device is coupled to the first coupling device;
identifying, with the computing device, one of the second fluid conduit or the third fluid conduit as a connected fluid conduit based on the received input; and
initiating, with the computing device, a control action when the connected fluid conduit differs from a predetermined fluid conduit.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the control action comprises providing a notification to an operator of the agricultural machine that the connected fluid conduit differs from the predetermined fluid conduit.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the control action comprises disabling a flow of fluid to the second fluid conduit.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
adjusting, with the computing device, a flow parameter of fluid being provided to the first fluid conduit based on the connected fluid conduit.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising:
adjusting, with the computing device, a flow parameter of fluid being provided to the first fluid conduit based on a value of the flow parameter that was recorded when the connected fluid conduit was previously fluidly coupled to the first fluid conduit.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Turner Jack D
• Engel Gordon Anthony

Classifications

• A01B59/00

  Devices specially adapted for connection between animals or tractors and agricultural machines or implements · CPC title

• A01C7/081 Primary

  Seeders depositing seeds in rows using pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C7/102

  Regulating or controlling the seed rate · CPC title

• A01C19/00

  Arrangements for driving working parts of fertilisers or seeders {(A01C17/005 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• A01B59/04

  for machines pulled or pushed by a tractor · CPC title