Agricultural toolbar apparatus, systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11730077-B2
Application number	US-202016931641-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2020
Priority date	Jun 3, 2011
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for shifting weight between a tractor and toolbar and between sections of the toolbar, for controlling operative height of a toolbar and sections of a toolbar and for folding a toolbar between a work position and a transport position. A ground engaging wheel and an actuator are coupled to the toolbar. In one embodiment, a fluid control system is responsive to a command signal to modify the actuator pressure such that the actuator pressure corresponds to a desired pressure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An agricultural planter comprising:
a toolbar;
a plurality of planter row units attached to the toolbar by parallel arm linkages, wherein each row unit comprises:
a row unit frame; and
an opener disc assembly mounted to the row unit frame; and

a height sensor comprising a rotary potentiometer attached to at least one of the plurality of planter row units, the height sensor configured to determine a height of at least one of the opener disc assemblies relative to the toolbar, wherein the rotary potentiometer is coupled to a follower arm configured to rollingly contact a surface of a parallel arm of a corresponding parallel arm linkage.

2. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the toolbar comprises a plurality of toolbar sections, wherein at least one row unit is disposed on each toolbar section.

3. The agricultural planter of claim 2 , wherein a first toolbar section of the plurality of toolbar sections is pivotally connected to a second toolbar section of the plurality of toolbar sections.

4. The agricultural planter of claim 2 , wherein the toolbar comprises a center section, a left wing section coupled to the center section, and a right wing section coupled to the center section.

5. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the follower arm is biased against the parallel arm.

6. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the height sensor comprises a string potentiometer.

7. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the height sensor comprises an LVDT displacement transducer.

8. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the height sensor comprises a proximity sensor.

9. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , further comprising at least one downforce actuator configured to apply a vertical force to one of the parallel arm linkages.

10. The agricultural planter of claim 9 , wherein the height sensor comprises an LVDT displacement transducer configured to measure a length of the downforce actuator.

11. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the opener disc assembly of each row unit comprises opening discs and gauge wheels.

12. The agricultural planter of claim 1 , wherein the row units each comprise at least one material hopper carried by the row unit frame.

13. The agricultural planter of claim 12 , wherein the row units each comprise a seed meter configured to deliver seed from the at least one material hopper to a ground surface.

14. A method of adjusting a height of an agricultural planter comprising a toolbar having a plurality of toolbar sections, a plurality of planter row units attached to the toolbar with parallel arm linkages, and a height sensor attached to at least one of the plurality of planter row units, the method comprising:
determining a height with respect to a soil surface of at least one opener disc assembly mounted to a row unit frame of the at least one of the plurality of planter row units using the height sensor;
comparing the determined height with a reference height; and
pivoting at least one toolbar section relative to another toolbar section responsive to the comparison of the determined height with the reference height.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising changing a height of the toolbar if a difference between the determined height and the reference height is greater than a preselected error.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein determining a height with respect to a soil surface of at least one opener disc assembly comprises receiving an electrical signal from the height sensor.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein determining a height with respect to a soil surface of at least one opener disc assembly comprises measuring an angle of a corresponding parallel arm linkage of the at least one row unit relative to the toolbar.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Sauder Gregg A
• Koch Dale M

Classifications

• A01B63/22 Primary

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01B63/145 Primary

  for controlling weight transfer between implements and tractor wheels · CPC title

• A01B73/06

  foldable about a vertical axis · CPC title

• A01B73/065

  to a position essentially forward of the axis, in relation to the direction of travel · CPC title

• A01B76/00

  Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00 · CPC title