Aerator with active turf calibration of ground sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9510497-B2
Application number	US-201414171139-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 3, 2014
Priority date	Feb 3, 2014
Publication date	Dec 6, 2016
Grant date	Dec 6, 2016

Abstract

An aerator with active turf calibration of a ground sensor that provides signals to a controller relating to changes in slope of a ground surface. The controller adjusts the position of a coring head based on signals from the ground sensor. The controller determines an offset from a neutral position of the ground sensor based on signals from the ground sensor on a flat surface during aeration compared to the neutral position of the ground sensor on a flat surface from static calibration.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An aerator with active turf calibration of a ground sensor, comprising:
a ground sensor providing signals to a controller relating to slope of a ground surface in a direction of travel;
the controller adjusting the position of a coring head following the ground sensor to maintain the coring head at a position perpendicular to the ground surface based on the signals from the ground sensor;
calibrating the ground sensor by collecting a plurality of offset samples, each sample generated by comparing a neutral position of the ground sensor while operating the coring head to aerate a ground surface by reciprocally driving a plurality of tines into the surface, to the neutral position of the ground sensor on the same ground surface when the coring head is not operating; and
checking if the ground surface is sufficiently flat for active turf calibration by determining if a plurality of groups of offset samples are within a specified value of each other.

2. The aerator with active turf calibration of a ground sensor of claim 1 wherein the calibration is based on a plurality of sample signals obtained from the ground sensor on a flat surface during aeration.

3. The aerator with active turf calibration of a ground sensor of claim 1 wherein the controller adjusts the position of the coring head by flexing a frame of the aerator.

4. The aerator with active turf calibration of a ground sensor of claim 1 further comprising a potentiometer that provides signals to the controller in response to pivotal movement of the ground sensor.

5. An aerator with active turf calibration of a ground sensor of claim 1 wherein the ground sensor is a turf guard.

6. An aerator with active turf calibration of a ground sensor, comprising:
a ground sensor pivotably mounted to the aerator and providing position signals corresponding to slope of a ground surface relative to a flat surface in a direction of travel;
a controller receiving the position signals from the ground sensor and moving a coring head to a position perpendicular to the ground sensor in response to the position signals;
the controller calibrating an offset from the neutral position of the ground sensor by collecting offset samples made by comparing position signals from the ground sensor on a ground surface during aeration, to position signals from the ground sensor before aeration; and
the controller checking if the ground surface is flat by determining if an average of a first group of offset samples is within a specified value of an average of a second group of offset samples.

7. An aerator with active turf calibration of a ground sensor of claim 6 wherein the controller calculates an average of the offset from the neutral position of the ground sensor.

8. An aerator with active turf calibration of a ground sensor, comprising:
a controller saving a static calibration neutral position of a ground sensor on a ground surface before aeration;
the ground sensor providing a plurality of sample signals to the controller corresponding to the position of the ground sensor during aeration on the ground surface in the direction of travel, and positioning a coring head perpendicular to the ground sensor;
the controller determining an offset from the static calibration neutral position by comparing the plurality of sample signals to the static calibration neutral position; and
the controller checking if the ground surface is sufficiently flat for active turf calibration by comparing a plurality of groups of sample signals to each other.

9. The aerator with active turf calibration of a ground sensor of claim 8 , wherein the controller provides signals to a coring head to move in response to signals indicating the ground sensor is outside of the static calibration position plus the offset.

10. The aerator with active turf calibration of a ground sensor of claim 9 , further comprising a flexible frame of the aerator that moves the coring head.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Zabel Loren A
• Perkins Marquez
• Hall Stanley K
• Sipper Zackary P

Classifications

• A01B71/02

  Setting or adjusting mechanisms · CPC title

• A01B45/023 Primary

  Perforators comprising spiking tools actively driven in a reciprocating movement through a crankshaft or eccentric mechanism · CPC title