System and method for independent calibration of meter rollers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016120107-A1
Application number	US-201514932821-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 4, 2015
Priority date	Nov 4, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure describes an agricultural product distribution system having first and second product meters configured to meter first and second amounts of agricultural product from a product tank over first and second periods of time, respectively. The system also includes first and second motors coupled to the first and second product meters, respectively, and configured to turn the first and second product meters a first number of turns and a second number of turns, respectively, over the first and second periods of time to meter the first and second amounts of agricultural product. Further, the system includes a controller configured to receive inputs indicative of the first amount of agricultural product, the first number of turns, the second amount of agricultural product, and the second number of turns and to compare the signals to determine first and second calibration rate of the first and second product meters.

First claim

1 . An agricultural product distribution system, comprising:
a first product meter configured to meter a first amount of agricultural product from a product tank over a first period of time; a second product meter configured to meter a second amount of agricultural product from the product tank over a second period of time; a first motor coupled to the first product meter and configured to turn the first product meter a first number of turns over the first period of time to meter the first amount of agricultural product; a second motor coupled to the second product meter and configured to turn the second product meter a second number of turns over the second period of time to meter the second amount of agricultural product; and a controller configured to receive a first input indicative of the first amount of agricultural product and a second input indicative of the first number of turns and to compare the first and second inputs to determine a first calibration rate of the first product meter, and to receive a third input indicative of the second amount of agricultural product and a fourth input indicative of the second number of turns and to compare the third and fourth inputs to determine a second calibration rate of the second product meter.

2 . The agricultural product distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the first period of time and the second period of time are substantially simultaneous.

3 . The agricultural product distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the controller selectively determines the first period of time and the second period of time.

4 . The agricultural product distribution system of claim 3 , wherein the controller comprises user input features configured to enable an operator to selectively determine the first period of time and the second period of time.

5 . The agricultural product distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to independently adjust, based on the first calibration rate, the second calibration rate, or both, first and second turn rates of the first and second motors, respectively.

6 . The agricultural product distribution system of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to independently adjust the first and second turn rates of the first and second motors, respectively, based on an average of the first and second calibration rates.

7 . The agricultural product distribution system of claim 1 , comprising one or more sensors configured to detect the first amount of agricultural product and the second amount of agricultural product.

8 . The agricultural product distribution system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a load cell configured to output signals indicative of a first weight of the first amount of agricultural product and a second weight of the second amount of agricultural product, wherein the first and third inputs comprise the signals indicative of the first and second weights.

9 . The agricultural product distribution system of claim 7 , wherein the one or more sensors are communicatively coupled to the controller and are configured to provide the first and third inputs.

10 . The agricultural product distribution system of claim 1 , wherein the controller comprises one or more user input features configured to enable an operator to manually enter one or more of the first, second, third, or fourth inputs.

11 . The agricultural product distribution system of claim 1 , comprising a first collection container configured to collect the first amount of agricultural product and a second collection container configured to collect the second amount of agricultural product.

12 . A control system configured to control an agricultural product distribution system, the control system comprising:
a controller configured to receive a first signal indicative of a first amount of product dispensed by a first product meter from a product tank, a second signal indicative of a first number of turns of the first product meter that produces the first amount of product, a third signal indicative of a second amount of product dispensed by a second product meter from the product tank, and a fourth signal indicative of a second number of turns of the second product meter that produces the second amount of product, wherein the controller is configured to:
compare the first and second signals to determine a first calibration rate of the first product meter, to compare the third and fourth signals to determine a second calibration rate of the second product meter, or both;
to adjust a first turn rate of the first product meter based on the first calibration rate, the second calibration rate, or both; and
to adjust a second turn rate of the second product meter based on the first calibration rate, the second calibration rate, or both.

13 . The control system of claim 12 , comprising one or more sensors configured to detect the first amount of agricultural product and the second amount of agricultural product.

14 . The control system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise a load cell configured to output the first signal indicative of a first weight of the first amount of product and the second signal indicative of a second weight of the second amount of product.

15 . The control system of claim 12 , wherein the controller comprises one or more user input features configured to enable an operator to manually enter one or more of first, second, third, or fourth inputs corresponding to the first, second, third, and fourth signals, respectively.

16 . The control system of claim 12 , comprising a first collection container configured to collect the first amount of agricultural product and a second collection container configured to collect the second amount of agricultural product.

17 . The control system of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to average the first calibration rate and the second calibration rate to determine an average calibration rate, and to adjust the first turn rate and the second turn rate based on the average calibration rate.

18 . A method of operating a product distribution calibration system for an agricultural implement, comprising:
collecting a first amount of agricultural product dispensed by a first product meter from a product tank and a second amount of agricultural product dispensed by a second product meter from the product tank; counting a first number of turns of the first product meter that produces the first amount of agricultural product and a second number of turns of the second product meter that produces the second amount of agricultural product; determining, via a processor, a first calibration rate for the first product meter based on the first amount of agricultural product and the first number of turns; and determining, via the processor, a second calibration rate for the second product meter based on the second amount of agricultural product and the second number of turns.

19 . The method of claim 18 , wherein collecting the first amount of agricultural product and counting the first number of turns is selectively activated over a first period of time by the controller, collecting the second amount of agricultural product and counting the second number of turns is selectively activated over a second period of time by the controller, and the first period of time and the second period of time are not simultaneous.

20 . The method of claim 18 , comprising independently adjusting a first turn rate of the first product meter based on the first calibra

Assignees

• Cnh Ind Canada Ltd

Inventors

• Chahley Dennis W
• Engel Gordon Anthony
• Turner Jack Donald
• Thompson Dennis George
• Erker Gregory Jacob
• Kowalchuk Trevor Lawrence
• Rapley Anthony Charles

Classifications

• A01C7/107 Primary

  Calibration of the seed rate · CPC title

• A01C7/102

  Regulating or controlling the seed rate · CPC title

• A01C7/12

  Seeders with feeding wheels · CPC title

• A01C19/02

  by a motor · CPC title

• G01F25/00

  Testing or calibration of apparatus for measuring volume, volume flow or liquid level or for metering by volume · CPC title