System and method for detecting ground engaging tool float for an agricultural implement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11259454-B2
Application number	US-201715581704-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2017
Priority date	Apr 28, 2017
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

In one aspect, a system for detecting ground engaging tool float for an agricultural implement may include an implement having a ground engaging tool pivotally coupled to a frame and a biasing element coupled between the frame and the ground engaging tool. The biasing element may be configured to bias the ground engaging tool to a predetermined ground engaging tool position relative to the frame. The system may also include a sensor configured to detect a parameter indicative of a current position of the ground engaging tool relative to the frame. Additionally, the system may include a controller configured to monitor the current position of the ground engaging tool based on measurement signals received from the sensor and identify a time period across which the ground engaging tool is displaced from the predetermined ground engaging tool position. The controller may be further configured to compare the identified time period to a threshold time period to determine when a ground engaging tool float event is occurring during operation of the implement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for detecting ground engaging tool float for an agricultural implement, the system comprising:
an implement including a frame and a plurality of ground engaging tools pivotably coupled to the frame, each ground engaging tool being independently pivotable relative to the frame towards and away from a predetermined ground engaging tool position in which the corresponding ground engaging tool is in contact with soil present within a field across which the agricultural implement is traveling, the implement further including a plurality of fluid-driven actuators, each fluid-driven actuator being coupled between the frame and a respective ground engaging tool of the plurality of ground engaging tools, each fluid-driven actuator being configured to apply a bias to its respective ground engaging tool of the plurality of ground engaging tools such that its respective ground engaging tool is biased towards the predetermined ground engaging tool position in which the respective ground engaging tool is in contact with the soil independent of the remainder of the ground-engaging tools of the plurality of ground-engaging tools;
a pressure sensor provided in operative association with a first fluid-driven actuator of the plurality of fluid-driven actuators, the pressure sensor being configured to detect the fluid pressure associated with the first fluid-driven actuator, the fluid pressure being indicative of a current position of the respective ground engaging tool associated with the first fluid-driven actuator relative to the frame; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the pressure sensor, wherein the controller:
monitors the current position of the respective ground engaging tool based on measurement signals received from the pressure sensor;
identifies a time period across which the soil displaces the respective ground engaging tool from the predetermined ground engaging tool position against the bias applied to the respective ground engaging tool by the first fluid-driven actuator;
compares the identified time period to a threshold time period; and
determines that a ground engaging tool float event is occurring when the identified time period exceeds the threshold time period; and
initiates a control action associated with adjusting a fluid pressure supplied to the first fluid-driven actuator to reduce the displacement defined between the current position of the respective ground engaging tool and the predetermined ground engaging tool position when it is determined that the ground engaging tool float event is occurring.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller reduces a ground speed of the implement when it is determined that the ground engaging tool float event is occurring.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller notifies an operator of the implement of the occurrence of the ground engaging tool float event.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the predetermined ground engaging tool position for each of the plurality of ground engaging tools is set by a mechanical stop.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller compares a magnitude of the displacement of the respective ground engaging tool relative to the predetermined ground engaging tool position to a threshold displacement value and identifies the time period across which the displacement of the respective ground engaging tool exceeds the threshold displacement value and compare the identified time period to the threshold time period.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the control action is associated with increasing the fluid pressure supplied to the first fluid-driven actuator.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural implement comprises a tillage implement and the plurality of ground engaging tools comprise a plurality of shanks.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies the time period across which the respective ground engaging tool is displaced from the predetermined ground engaging tool position against the bias applied to the respective ground engaging tool by soil present within a field across with the agricultural implement is traveling.

9. A method for detecting ground engaging tool float events occurring during operation of an agricultural implement, the implement including a frame and a plurality of ground engaging tools pivotably coupled to the frame, each ground engaging tool being independently pivotable relative to the frame towards and away from a predetermined ground engaging tool position in which the corresponding ground engaging tool is in contact with soil present within a field across which the agricultural implement is traveling, the implement further including a plurality of fluid-driven actuators, each fluid-driven actuator being coupled between the frame and a respective ground engaging tool of the plurality of ground engaging tools, each fluid-driven actuator being configured to apply a bias to its respective ground engaging tool of the plurality of ground engaging tools such that its respective ground engaging tool is biased towards the predetermined ground engaging tool position in which the respective ground engaging tool is in contact with the soil independent of the remainder of the ground-engaging tools of the plurality of ground-engaging tools, the method comprising:
receiving, with a computing device, data indicative of a current position of a first ground engaging tool of the plurality of ground engaging tools relative to the frame;
identifying, with the computing device, a time period across which the soil displaces the first ground engaging tool from the predetermined ground engaging tool position against the bias applied to the first ground engaging tool by its respective fluid-driven actuator;
comparing, with the computing device, the identified time period to a threshold time period;
determining, with the computing device, that a ground engaging tool float event is occurring when the identified time period exceeds the threshold time period; and
initiating, with the computing device, a control action associated with adjusting a fluid pressure supplied to the respective fluid-driven actuator of the plurality of fluid-driven actuators associated with the first ground engaging tool to reduce the displacement defined between the current position of the first ground engaging tool and the predetermined ground engaging tool position when it is determined that the ground engaging tool float event is occurring.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
comparing, with the computing device, a magnitude of the displacement of the first ground engaging tool relative to the predetermined ground engaging tool position to a threshold displacement value;
identifying, with the computing device, the time period across which the displacement of the first ground engaging tool exceeds the threshold displacement value; and
comparing, with the computing device, the identified time period to the threshold time period.

11. The method of claim 9 , further comprising reducing a ground speed of the implement when it is determined that the ground engaging tool float event is occurring.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising notifying an operator of the implement of the occurrence of the ground engaging tool float event.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the control action is associated with increasing the fluid pressure supplied to the respective fluid-driven actuator of the plurality of fluid-driven actuators.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein identifying the time period comprises identifying, with the computing device, the time period across which the first grou

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Kovach Michael G
• Barrick Christopher
• Endsley John C
• Henry James W
• Meiners Tracey D
• Peterson Klint J

Classifications

• G01D5/12

  using electric or magnetic means (G01D5/06 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01B79/005 Primary

  Precision agriculture · CPC title

• A01B19/02

  with tools rigidly or elastically attached to a tool-frame · CPC title

• A01B63/111

  regulating working depth of implements · CPC title

• Y02A40/22

  Improving land use; Improving water use or availability; Controlling erosion · CPC title