Automatic volume-based frame weight distribution system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12575476-B2
Application number	US-202217731643-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 28, 2022
Priority date	Apr 28, 2022
Publication date	Mar 17, 2026
Grant date	Mar 17, 2026

Abstract

An agricultural machine may include a first plurality of sensors configured to measure characteristics of product stored on the machine for use during the machine's operation. The machine may also include a second plurality of sensors configured to measure characteristics associated with operation of the machine, in particular, in the form of feedback from ground engaging mechanisms of the machine, such as row units and wheel assemblies coupled to a frame of the machine. Based on the measured characteristics of the stored product and the measured characteristics associated with the machine's operation, a controller may adjust actuators coupled between adjacent sections of the frame to transfer weight of the stored product between certain sections of the frame, which in turn optimizes the machine's operational characteristics.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A system for automatically redistributing weight across a frame of an agricultural machine during operation thereof, the system comprising:
the frame including: a center section, a first wing section coupled to the center section, and a second wing section coupled to the center section and positioned opposite the first wing section; a product storage system supported by the center section and including one or more tanks configured to store product usable in an operation of the agricultural machine; a first actuator coupled to the center section and to the first wing section; a second actuator coupled to the center section and to the second wing section; and at least one sensor configured to measure or detect a characteristic associated with the product stored in the product storage system; a first wheel assembly sensor configured to measure or detect a first characteristic associated with a first downward force applied at a first wheel assembly coupled to the first wing section; a second wheel assembly sensor configured to measure or detect a second characteristic associated with a second downward force applied at a second wheel assembly coupled to the second wing section; a controller operatively coupled to the first actuator, the second actuator, and the at least one sensor; wherein the controller is configured to determine the volume of product in the product storage system based on at least one measured or detected characteristic associated with the product and received from the at least one sensor; wherein the controller is configured to determine, using the volume of product, a weight of the product in the product storage system available for transfer; wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator to redistribute weight across the frame based on a comparison of the first and second characteristics and a corrected determined weight available for transfer, the corrected determined weight being calculated before each such adjustment of at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator for weight redistribution by reconciling information from at least a discrete sensor and a singulation sensor or a tank camera, wherein the reconciliation is performed using an error constant or a learning module.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to measure the shape of a collection of product in the product storage system;
wherein the at least one sensor is one of a LIDAR sensor, ultrasonic sensor, or stereo camera sensor; and wherein the controller determines the volume of product in the product storage system based on the measured shape of the collection of product in the product storage system.

3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a user interface operatively coupled to the controller and configured to send a signal to the controller indicative of a quantity of seeds in the one or more tanks of the product storage system; and wherein the at least one sensor includes a first sensor configured to measure the singulation rate of seeds output from the product storage system; and wherein the controller determines the volume of product in the product storage system based on the determined quantity of seeds in the product storage system and the measured singulation rate received by the controller from the first sensor.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the user interface is configured to send a signal to the controller indicative of the quantity of fertilizer in the one or more tanks of the product storage system;
wherein the at least one sensor further includes a second sensor configured to measure a flow rate of fertilizer output from the product storage system; and wherein the controller determines the volume of product in the product storage system based on the indicated quantity of fertilizer in the product storage system and the measured flow rate of fertilizer received by the controller from the second sensor.

5 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a learning module operatively coupled to the controller and the at least one sensor;
wherein the at least one sensor is configured to capture images of a collection of product in the one or more tanks of the product storage system; and wherein the learning module includes instructions that when executed: (i) compare the captured images to prior images of collections of product in product storage tanks, and (ii) identify a volume of the collection of product in the one or more tanks of the product storage system based on stored relationships between the prior images and corresponding volumes of product; wherein the controller determines the volume of product in the product storage system based on the identified volume received from the learning module.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor includes:
a first sensor positioned at a first height in the product storage system and a second sensor positioned at a second height in the product storage system below the first sensor; wherein the first sensor is configured to detect whether a collection of product in the product storage system is positioned level with or above a first sensor and the second sensor is configured to detect whether the collection of product in the product storage system is positioned level with or above the second sensor; and wherein the controller determines the volume of product in the product storage system in response to receiving an indication from the second sensor that the collection of product is no longer equal to or above the second sensor.

7 . A system for automatically redistributing weight across a frame of an agricultural machine during operation thereof, the system comprising:
the frame including: a center section, a first wing section coupled to the center section, and a second wing section coupled to the center section and positioned opposite the first wing section; a product storage system supported by the center section and including one or more tanks configured to store product usable in an operation of the agricultural machine; a first actuator coupled to the center section and to the first wing section; a second actuator coupled to the center section and to the second wing section; and at least one sensor configured to measure or detect a characteristic associated with the product stored in the product storage system; a first wheel assembly sensor configured to measure or detect a first characteristic associated with a first downward force applied at a first wheel assembly coupled to the first wing section; a second wheel assembly sensor configured to measure or detect a second characteristic associated with a second downward force applied at a second wheel assembly coupled to the second wing section; a controller operatively coupled to the first actuator, the second actuator, and the at least one sensor, wherein the controller is configured to adjust at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator to redistribute weight across the frame based on a comparison of the first and second characteristics and the determined weight available for transfer; a first sensor positioned at a first height in the product storage system and a second sensor positioned at a second height in the product storage system below the first sensor, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect whether a collection of product in the product storage system is positioned level with or above a first sensor and the second sensor is configured to detect whether the collection of product in the product storage system is positioned level with or above the second sensor; a third sensor configured to measure at least one of a singulation rate of see

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Rains Gerald E
• Shi Bin
• Cowles Kevin P
• Walter Jason D
• Kenny Shawn A
• Peterson Olaf J

Classifications

• G01F22/00

  Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A01C7/06

  Seeders combined with fertilising apparatus · CPC title

• A01B63/002

  Devices for adjusting or regulating the position of tools or wheels (preventing overstrain A01B61/00; wheels adjustable relatively to the frame for drawn implements A01B3/16; tools or tool holders adjustable relatively to the frame for drawn implements A01B63/24) · CPC title

• A01B73/044

  the axis being oriented in a longitudinal direction (A01B73/042 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01B63/145

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