Down-pressure control for agricultural trench closing systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11589501-B2
Application number	US-201916528589-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 31, 2019
Priority date	Oct 24, 2012
Publication date	Feb 28, 2023
Grant date	Feb 28, 2023

Abstract

An agricultural row unit includes a soil-engaging tool supported from a pivot arm. A sensor generates an output signal relating to an orientation of the pivot arm relative to a frame member. An actuator is configured to applying a down pressure on the soil-engaging tool. A control system in signal communication with the sensor is responsive to the generated output signal to effect a change in applied down pressure on the soil-engaging tool by the actuator. The soil-engaging tool may be a closing wheel or a flap. One or more additional sensors may be provided on gauge wheel arms of the row unit with the control system being responsive to output signals of the additional sensors to effect the change in applied down pressure on the soil-engaging tool by the actuator.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural row unit, comprising:
a frame member supporting at least one opener disc disposed to open a trench in a soil surface as the agricultural row unit advances in a forward direction of travel;
a pivot arm pivotally supported at a forward end from said frame member and rearward of said at least one opener disc, a rearward end of said pivot arm extending rearward of said frame member;
a soil-engaging tool supported from said rearward end of said pivot arm, said soil-engaging tool disposed to engage a soil surface rearward of said at least one opener disc as the agricultural row unit advances in said forward direction of travel;
a first rotation sensor disposed to generate a first output signal relating to a continuous amount of rotation of said pivot arm relative to said frame member;
an actuator coupled to said pivot arm, said actuator configured to applying a down pressure on said soil-engaging tool; and
a control system in signal communication with said first rotation sensor, said control system responsive to said first output signal to effect a change in applied down pressure on said soil-engaging tool by said actuator.

2. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said soil-engaging tool is a closing wheel.

3. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said soil-engaging tool is a resilient flap extending transverse to said forward direction of travel.

4. The agricultural row unit of claim 3 , wherein said transversely extending flap includes wing sections angled forwardly toward said forward direction of travel.

5. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said actuator is a hydraulic actuator.

6. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said actuator is a pneumatic actuator.

7. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , wherein said actuator includes a down chamber and a lift chamber.

8. The agricultural row unit of claim 7 , wherein said control system includes a first solenoid valve in fluid communication with said down chamber and a second solenoid valve in fluid communication with said lift chamber, each of said first and second solenoid valves in fluid communication with a fluid source, whereby said control system communicates signals to said first and second solenoid valves for controlling fluid to said down chamber and said lift chamber in response to said first output signal to effect said change in applied downward pressure on said soil-engaging tool by said actuator.

9. The agricultural row unit of claim 8 , wherein said fluid source is a hydraulic fluid source and said actuator is a hydraulic actuator.

10. The agricultural row unit of claim 8 , wherein said fluid source is an air source and said actuator is a pneumatic actuator.

11. The agricultural row unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first gauge wheel arm pivotally supported at a first end from said frame member;
a first gauge wheel rotatably supported at a second end of said first gauge wheel arm, said first gauge wheel disposed to rollingly engage said soil surface as the agricultural row unit advances in said forward direction of travel;
a second sensor generating a second output signal relating to an orientation of said first gauge wheel arm relative to said frame member, said second sensor in signal communication with said control system;
wherein said control system is responsive to said first output signal and said second output signal to effect said change in applied down pressure on said soil-engaging tool by said actuator.

12. The agricultural row unit of claim 11 , wherein said change in applied down pressure is based on a summed signal equal to a difference between said first output signal and said second output signal.

13. The agricultural row unit of claim 12 , wherein said applied down pressure is increased when said summed signal exceeds a threshold.

14. The agricultural row unit of claim 13 , where said threshold is based on said second output signal reflecting that said orientation of said first gauge wheel arm relative to said frame member has exceeded a predetermined orientation.

15. The agricultural row unit of claim 11 , wherein said second sensor is a rotation sensor.

16. The agricultural row unit of claim 11 , further comprising:
a second gauge wheel arm pivotally supported at a first end from said frame member;
a second gauge wheel rotatably supported at a second end of said second gauge wheel arm, said second gauge wheel disposed to rollingly engage said soil surface as the agricultural row unit advances in said forward direction of travel;
a third sensor generating a third output signal relating to an orientation of said second gauge wheel arm relative to said frame member, said third sensor in signal communication with said control system;
wherein said control system is responsive to said first output signal, said second output signal and said third output signal to effect said change in applied down pressure on said soil-engaging tool by said actuator.

17. The agricultural row unit of claim 16 , wherein said change in applied down pressure is based on a summed signal equal to a difference between said first output signal and an average of said second output signal and said third output signal.

18. The agricultural row unit of claim 17 , wherein said applied down pressure is increased when said summed signal exceeds a threshold.

19. The agricultural row unit of claim 18 , where said threshold is based on said second and third output signals reflecting that said orientation of said first gauge wheel arm and said orientation of said second gauge wheel arm relative to said frame member has exceeded a predetermined average orientation.

20. An agricultural row unit, comprising:
a trench opening assembly including a frame member and at least one opener disc supported from said frame member, said at least one opener disc configured to open a trench in a soil surface into which seeds are deposited as the agricultural row unit advances in a forward direction of travel, said trench opening assembly further including a first gauge wheel arm pivotally supported at a first end from said frame member and further including a first gauge wheel rotatably supported at a second end of said first gauge wheel arm, said first gauge wheel disposed to rollingly engage said soil surface as the agricultural row unit advances in said forward direction of travel;
a pivot arm pivotally supported at a forward end from said frame member and rearward of said at least one opener disc, a rearward end of said pivot arm extending rearward of said frame member;
a soil-engaging tool supported from said rearward end of said pivot arm, said soil-engaging tool disposed to engage the soil surface rearward of said at least one opener disc;
a first rotation sensor disposed to generate a first output signal relating to a continuous amount of rotation of said pivot arm relative to said frame member;
an actuator coupled to said pivot arm, said actuator configured to applying a down pressure on said soil-engaging tool; and
a control system in signal communication with said first rotation sensor, said control system responsive to said first output signal to effect a change in applied down pressure on said soil-engaging tool by said actuator.

21. The agricultural row unit of claim 20 , wherein said soil-engaging tool is a closing wheel.

22. The agricultural row unit of claim 20 , wherein said soil-engaging tool is a resilient flap extending transverse t

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Sauder Derek
• Hodel Jeremy
• Muhlbauer Cory

Classifications

• A01B49/027

  with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller · CPC title

• A01B63/32

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means {without automatic control} · CPC title

• A01C5/068

  Furrow packing devices, e.g. press wheels · CPC title

• A01C7/205 Primary

  comprising pressure regulation means · CPC title

• A01B63/008

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