Agricultural planting system with automatic depth control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019216005-A1
Application number	US-201916365360-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 26, 2019
Priority date	Nov 7, 2014
Publication date	Jul 18, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An agricultural planting system for controlling the depth of an opener device in an agricultural planter includes an agricultural planter, an opener device, a gauge wheel, a GPS device, and a controller. The opener device is mounted on the agricultural planter for engaging the ground of a field. The gauge wheel is mounted on the agricultural planter for rotating on the ground of the field. The GPS device is coupled to the agricultural planter. The GPS device is configured to determine a location of the agricultural planter in the field. The controller is in electrical communication with the agricultural planter and the GPS device. The controller has predetermined settings associated with a map of the field. The controller is configured to select a relative elevation of the opener device and the gauge wheel based at least in part on the location determined by the GPS device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An agricultural planting system for controlling the depth of an opener device in an agricultural planter, the agricultural planting system comprising:
an agricultural planter; an opener device mounted on the agricultural planter for engaging the ground of a field; a gauge wheel mounted on the agricultural planter for rotating on the ground of the field; a GPS device coupled to the agricultural planter, the GPS device configured to determine a location of the agricultural planter in the field; and a controller in electrical communication with the agricultural planter and the GPS device, the controller having predetermined settings associated with a map of the field, the controller being configured to
select a relative elevation of the opener device and the gauge wheel based at least in part on the location determined by the GPS device, and
produce, based on the location, a signal for adjusting the depth of engagement into the ground of the opener device.

2 . The agricultural planting system of claim 1 , wherein the map of the field includes a topographical map, a soil temperature map, a soil moisture map, or in any combination thereof

3 . The agricultural planting system of claim 1 , wherein the relative elevation of the opener device and the gauge wheel is selected automatically in response to the map of the field.

4 . The agricultural planting system of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors positioned in a respective one of a plurality of zones of the field, the plurality of sensors configured to measure soil properties, wherein the map of the field is associated with the soil properties measured by the plurality of sensors.

5 . The agricultural planting system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of sensors is a plurality of remote sensors configured to capture a plurality of aerial images, each of the plurality of aerial images being associated with the respective one of the plurality of zones of the field.

6 . The agricultural planting system of claim 4 , wherein the soil properties measured by the plurality of sensors include a moisture level.

7 . The agricultural planting system of claim 4 , wherein the soil properties measured by the plurality of sensors include a surface elevation.

8 . An agricultural planting system for controlling the depth of an opener device in an agricultural planter, the agricultural planting system comprising:
an agricultural planter; an opener device mounted on the agricultural planter for engaging the ground of a field; a gauge wheel mounted on the agricultural planter for rotating on the ground of the field; at least one soil-moisture sensor configured to measure a moisture content of the soil in the ground; and a controller in electrical communication with the agricultural planter and the at least one soil-moisture sensor, the controller configured to
select a relative elevation of the opener device and the gauge wheel based at least in part on the moisture content measured by the at least one soil-moisture sensor, and
produce, based on the moisture content, a signal for adjusting the depth of engagement into the ground of the opener device.

9 . The agricultural planting system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one soil-moisture sensor includes a local sensor mounted on the agricultural planter and in contact with the ground being engaged by the opener device.

10 . The agricultural planting system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one soil-moisture sensor further includes a plurality of remote sensors, each of the plurality of remote sensors positioned in a respective one of a plurality of zones of the field, the controller being further configured to select the relative elevation of the opener device and the gauge wheel based at least in part on a comparison of the moisture content measured by the local sensor to the moisture contents measured by the plurality of remote sensors.

11 . The agricultural planting system of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of remote sensors is configured to capture a plurality of aerial images, each of the plurality of aerial images is associated with a respective one of the plurality of zones of the field.

12 . A method of controlling the depth of an opener device in an agricultural planter, the method comprising:
determining, via a GPS device, a location of an agricultural planter in a field, the agricultural planter including an opener device for engaging the ground of the field and a gauge wheel for rotating on the ground of the field; receiving, via an input device, a map of the field; and based at least in part on the location of the agricultural planter in the field and the map of the field, producing a signal for selecting a relative elevation of the opener device and the gauge wheel, thereby adjusting the depth of engagement into the ground of the opener device.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the map of the field includes a topographical map, a soil temperature map, a soil moisture map, or in any combination thereof

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the relative elevation of the opener device and the gauge wheel is selected automatically in response to the map of the field.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the input device is configured to receive signals from a plurality of sensors, each of the plurality of sensors positioned in a respective one of a plurality of zones of the field, the plurality of sensors configured to measure soil properties, and the map of the field is associated with the soil properties measured by the plurality of sensors.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the soil properties measured by the plurality of sensors include a moisture level.

17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of sensors is a plurality of remote sensors configured to capture a plurality of aerial images, each of the plurality of aerial images being associated with the respective one of the plurality of zones of the field.

Assignees

• Dawn Equipment Company

Inventors

• Bassett Joseph D

Classifications

• A01B79/005 Primary

  Precision agriculture · CPC title

• A01B49/06

  for sowing or fertilising · CPC title

• A01C7/203

  comprising depth regulation means · CPC title

• A01B63/22

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01C5/064 Primary

  with rotating tools · CPC title