Agricultural implements for soil and vegetation analysis

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018124992-A1
Application number	US-201715806014-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 7, 2017
Priority date	Nov 7, 2016
Publication date	May 10, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described herein are implements that include a vehicle having a system for sensing or testing soil and/or vegetation as the vehicle traverses a field.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An agricultural implement for sensing or acquiring at least one of soil and vegetation comprising:
a vehicle; a sampling implement supported by the vehicle for sensing or acquiring at least one of soil and vegetation; a location system for determining a position in a field; a memory storing a map, wherein the map defines locations for the sampling implement to sense a characteristic of at least one of soil and vegetation or acquire at least one of a soil sample or a vegetation sample at each of the locations; a controller, wherein when the vehicle reaches each of the locations as the vehicle traverses the field, the controller is configured to send a signal to the sampling implement to sense or acquire at least one of the soil and vegetation.

2 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle performs at least one agricultural operation while in motion.

3 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the map is at least one map chosen from yield, moisture, soil nutrient, organic matter content, electrical conductivity, and soil compaction.

4 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , the sampling implant further comprising:
a probe having a collection port; a plurality of bars linking the probe to the vehicle and configured to move the probe through an actuator, wherein the sampling implement is located to the side of or below the vehicle.

5 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , the sampling implement further comprising:
a probe having a collection port; a plunger connected with a plunger arm configured to extend into the collection port and eject a sample from the probe through an actuator.

6 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , the sampling implement further comprising:
a soil probe having a plurality of notches; a rod having a plurality of scooper discs and configured to scoop soil from the notches through an actuator.

7 . An agricultural implement for acquiring at least one of soil and vegetation comprising:
a vehicle; a location system for determining a position in a field; a sampling implement supported by the vehicle for acquiring at least one of soil and vegetation; and a sample processing system comprising at least one of a soil processing system and a vegetation processing system.

8 . The agricultural implement of claim 7 , the processing system further comprising:
a carousel having a plurality of sample holders, the shaft configured to move the carousel up or down through an actuator.

9 . The agricultural implement of claim 7 , the processing system further comprising:
a plurality of rails for holing a plurality of sample containers; a plurality of driver belts configured to convey the plurality of sample containers through an actuator.

10 . The agricultural implement of claim 7 , the processing system further comprising:
a screen with an outlet; a strainer auger configured to sift through a sample through an actuator.

11 . The agricultural implement of claim 7 , the processing system further comprising:
an extractant container; a test container; a needle configured to allow a single dose of content of the extractant container to flow from the extractant container to the test container.

12 . The agricultural implement of claim 11 , the processing system further comprising an extract arm attached to the extractant container or a needle arm attached to the needle configured to move the extractant container in or out of contact with the needle through an actuator.

13 . The agricultural implement of claim 11 , the processing system further comprising:
a mixer base having mixer teeth with ends forming a curve; a lid positioned above the mixer base coupled with lid arm and having lid teeth configured to interpose with the mixer teeth.

14 . The agricultural implement of claim 11 , the processing system further comprising:
a separator; an inner bowel secured into the separator and configured to receive a sample and fluid; a lid positioned above the inner bowl and configured to move up and down through a first actuator; one or more filter rings coupled to the inner bowl, wherein outer collection space is formed when the lid comes in contact with the one or more filter rings,
wherein the separator coupled to a shaft is configured to spin through a second actuator, causing the fluid to flow through the one or more filter rings to the outer collection space.

15 . An agricultural implement for acquiring at least one of soil and vegetation comprising:
a vehicle; a sampling implement supported by the vehicle for acquiring at least one of soil and vegetation; at least one processing system comprising at least one of a soil processing system and a vegetation processing system for preparing a test sample; and a testing implement comprising a test strip for contacting the test sample.

16 . The agricultural implement of claim 15 , the testing implement further comprising:
a dispensing wheel; a collecting wheel; at least one roller between the dispensing wheel and collecting wheel; a test strip holder wound from the dispensing wheel around the roller to the collecting wheel; a motor for driving the collecting wheel; a colorimeter; and a plurality of test strips disposed on the test strip holder for contacting a solution, the colorimeter configured to test one of the plurality of test strips after the test strip contacts the solution containing a sample and indicate a color corresponding to a concentration of a chemical in the solution.

17 . The sample testing device of claim 15 , at least one the plurality of test strips being associated with an identification disposed on the test strip holder and indicating a location where the sample was taken.

18 . The agricultural implement of claim 15 , the testing implement further comprising:
a pouch strip having a plurality of pouches; a plurality of drive strips to permit driving of the pouch strip.

19 . A sampling implement comprising:
a first body having one or more piston conduits; a fluid channel disposed through the first body; a second body disposed adjacent to the first body and having the same number of piston conduits as the first body disposed through the second body; a channel disposed on a surface of the second body adjacent to the first body and providing fluid communication from the fluid channel of the first body to the piston conduits of the second body; a center body disposed through the first body and the second body and terminating in a tip that is adjacent to the second body opposite the first body, the center body having the same number of piston conduits as the first body; a central fluid conduit disposed in the center body in fluid communication with fluid conduits disposed from the central fluid conduit to fluid inlets on a surface of the tip adjacent to the second body; and one or more pistons disposed in the piston conduits of the first body that are extendable through the piston conduits in the second body and the center body.

Assignees

• Climate Corp

Inventors

• Koch Dale
• Swanson Todd
• Levy Kent
• Vaccari Adam
• Stoller Jason

Classifications

• G01N2001/085

  Grabs · CPC title

• G01N1/28

  Preparing specimens for investigation {including physical details of (bio-)chemical methods covered elsewhere, e.g. G01N33/50, C12Q}(mounting specimens on microscopic slides G02B21/34; means for supporting the objects or the materials to be analysed in electron microscopes H01J37/20 {; laboratory gas handling apparatus B01L5/00}) · CPC title

• G01N2001/4061

  Solvent extraction · CPC title

• G01N1/08

  involving an extracting tool, e.g. core bit · CPC title

• A01B79/02

  combined with other agricultural processing, e.g. fertilising, planting · CPC title