Agricultural sampling system and related methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12460633-B2
Application number	US-202117995215-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 7, 2021
Priority date	Apr 30, 2020
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

An automated computer-controlled sampling system and related methods for collecting, processing, and analyzing agricultural samples for various chemical properties such as plant available nutrients. The sampling system allows multiple samples to be processed and analyzed for different analytes or chemical properties in a simultaneous concurrent or semi-concurrent manner. Advantageously, the system can process soil samples in the “as collected” condition without drying or grinding. The system generally includes a sample preparation sub-system which receives soil samples collected by a probe collection sub-system and produces a slurry (i.e. mixture of soil, vegetation, and/or manure and water), and a chemical analysis sub-system which processes the prepared slurry samples for quantifying multiple analytes and/or chemical properties of the sample. The sample preparation and chemical analysis sub-systems can be used to analyze soil, vegetation, and/or manure samples. A soil collection system is disclosed which captures and directs samples to the sampling system for processing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A soil sample collection apparatus comprising:
a support frame configured for mounting to a vehicle; and a collection apparatus comprising:
a coulter blade rotatably coupled to the frame;
a knife assembly coupled to the support frame; and
a collection spool movably mounted to the knife assembly, the collection spool defining a longitudinal axis and comprising a collection cavity configured to capture a soil sample; and
a spool drive mechanism operably coupled to the collection spool and configured to rotate the collection spool;
wherein the collection spool is rotatable between an open position configured for capturing the soil sample, and a closed position configured for retaining the soil sample in the collection cavity; wherein the collection spool has an elongated cylindrical tubular body and is rotatably and axially slideably received in a complementary configured elongated slot in the knife assembly.

2 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the spool drive mechanism includes a rotatable gear drive operably coupling the collection spool, the rotatable gear drive operable to rotate the collection spool between the open and closed positions.

3 . The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the spool drive mechanism further comprises a spool positioning actuator operably coupled to the collection spool, the spool drive mechanism operable to move the collection spool in a vertical axial direction between a lower position configured for capturing the soil sample, and an upper position configured for ejecting the soil sample from the collection cavity.

4 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the spool positioning actuator is electrically, pneumatically, or hydraulically powered.

5 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , further comprising a sample ejector slideably disposed at least partially within the collection cavity of the collection spool, the sample ejector configured and operable to eject the captured soil sample from the collection cavity when the collection spool is moved from the lower position to upper position.

6 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the sample ejector has an angled scraper end configured to wedge the soil sample out from the collection cavity.

7 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the sample ejector is rotationally interlocked with the collection spool via the collection cavity such that rotating the rotatable gear drive rotates the collection spool in turn therewith between the open and closed positions.

8 . The apparatus according to claim 5 , wherein the sample ejector is fixedly mounted to the rotatable gear drive in a stationary position relative to the collection spool such that as the collection spool is raised or lowered, the sample ejector slides up and down within the collection cavity of the collection spool.

9 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the rotatable gear drive comprises a motor having a drive gear and a driven gear operably interfaced with the collection spool via the sample ejector.

10 . The apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the spool positioning actuator comprises a piston rod operably coupled to the collection spool, the piston rod configured to be extendible to lower the collection spool into the knife assembly and retractable to raise the collection spool out of the knife assembly.

11 . The apparatus according to claim 10 , wherein the piston rod is coupled to the collection spool by a swivel coupling, the swivel coupling configured to allow the collection spool to freely rotate relative to the piston rod when the collection spool is rotated by the rotatable gear drive.

12 . The apparatus according to claim 11 , wherein the swivel coupling comprises a collar fixedly coupled to the piston rod, and a fastening member rotatably supported by the collar and fixedly attached to the collection spool, the fastening member and collection spool rotatable relative to the collar.

13 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising at least one bearing rotatably supporting the fastening member on the collar.

14 . The apparatus according to claim 12 , further comprising a tubular connector fixedly coupled to the collar and piston rod top form a rigid connection therebetween.

15 . The apparatus according to claim 14 , wherein the tubular connector comprises a longitudinal through passage which receives the fastening member of the swivel coupling therein.

16 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the knife assembly is pivotably coupled to the coulter blade to be configured for movement in an arcuate path between a first angled position and a second angled position.

17 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , wherein the knife assembly is vertically oriented in the second angled position and obliquely angled to vertical in the first angled position.

18 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising a knife positioning actuator operably coupled to the knife assembly, the knife positioning actuator operable to move the knife assembly between the first and second angled positions.

19 . The apparatus according to claim 16 , further comprising a pivot arm linkage pivotably coupled at opposite ends to a central hub rotatably supporting the coulter blade and the knife assembly.

20 . The apparatus according to claim 19 , wherein the hub defines a pivot axis of the knife assembly.

21 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the collection apparatus is mounted to a movable carriage supported by the support frame, the movable carriage vertically movable between an upper position configured for transport and a lower position configured for collecting the soil sample.

22 . The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the moveable carriage comprises a plurality of rollers which rollingly engage a pair of guide rails configured for raising and lowering the carriage and collection apparatus.

23 . The apparatus according to claim 22 , wherein each guide rail is engaged by a pair of front rollers, a pair of rear rollers, and a pair of lateral outboard rollers to stabilize movement of the moveable carriage.

24 . The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the moveable carriage is coupled to a carriage actuator operable to raise and lower the carriage on the pair of guide rails.

25 . The apparatus according to claim 21 , wherein the support frame comprises a horizontal primary frame section configured for direct or indirect detachable mounting to the vehicle, a rearward-most collection apparatus frame section which supports the collection apparatus, and a vertical intermediate rail frame section which supports a carriage chassis to which the moveable carriage is movably mounted.

26 . The apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising a second collection spool rotatably supported by the knife assembly and operably coupled to the spool drive mechanism, wherein the second collection spool is rotatable independently of the collection spool between an open position configured for capturing the soil sample, and a closed position configured for retaining the soil sample in a collection cavity of the second collection spool.

27 . A method for capturing a soil sample from an agricultural field comprising:
providing a collection apparatus comprising a rotatable coulter blade, and a knife assemb

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• O'Neall Matthew
• Harman Reid

Classifications

• G01N33/245

  for agricultural purposes · CPC title

• G01N33/24

  Earth materials (G01N33/42 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01N1/4077 Primary

  by other techniques involving separation of suspended solids · CPC title

• G01N1/38

  Diluting, dispersing or mixing samples · CPC title

• F04B43/06

  Pumps having fluid drive · CPC title