Weight-based task-specific speed control of an agricultural product applicator with air strut suspension

A self-propelled agricultural product applicator having a propulsion unit and three or more ground engaging wheels operatively joined to a frame adapted for supporting at least one agricultural product container and distributor arrangement, with the frame being adapted for supporting at least one agricultural product container and defining forward and rear ends of the frame, a longitudinally extending central axis of the frame extending from the rear to the front of the frame in a direction of travel of the applicator, and a vertical axis of the frame, the wheels each being joined to the frame by a weight-based task-specific speed control system comprising:

• a controllable ride-height trailing arm suspension system independently joining each wheel to the frame, with each trailing arm suspension system including an upper suspension arm, a lower suspension arm, an extensible air strut and an angular position sensor operatively interconnected to one another and disposed between a rolling axis the ground engaging wheel independently supported by that suspension system and a point of attachment of the suspension system to the frame such that the angular position sensor detects a relative angular position between the upper and lower suspension arms at a present extension of the air strut;
• an air power source for providing a controlled flow of pressurized air to the air strut of each of the suspension systems, to thereby control ride-height by controlling extension of each of the air struts;
• a speed control arrangement operatively connected to the propulsion unit for controlling ground speed of the applicator;
• and
• an electronic control unit operatively connected to the angular position sensors, and the speed control arrangement;
• the electronic control unit being configured for receiving a desired task input and signals from the angular position sensors indicative of a present relative angular position of the upper and lower suspension arms of each suspension system, and determining a present suspended load supported by the suspension systems;
• the electronic control unit also being configured for determining a maximum ground speed of the self-propelled agricultural product applicator corresponding to the present suspended load and desired task input, and commanding the speed control arrangement to limit ground speeds while operating in accordance with the desired task input to ground speeds less than or equal to the maximum ground speed corresponding to the present suspended weight while performing the desired task.

A method for providing weight-based task-specific speed control for a self-propelled agricultural product applicator having a propulsion unit and three or more ground engaging wheels operatively joined to a frame adapted for supporting at least one agricultural product container and distributor arrangement and defining forward and rear ends of the frame, a longitudinally extending central axis of the frame extending from the rear to the front of the frame in a direction of travel of the applicator, and a vertical axis of the frame, the method for providing task-specific ride-height control comprising:

• independently joining each wheel to the frame with a controllable ride-height trailing arm suspension system, with each trailing arm suspension system including an upper suspension arm, a lower suspension aim, an extensible air strut and an angular position sensor operatively interconnected to one another and disposed between a rolling axis the ground engaging wheel independently supported by that suspension system and a point of attachment of the suspension system to the frame such that the angular position sensor detects a relative angular position between the upper and lower suspension arms at a present extension of the air strut;
• providing a controlled flow of pressurized air from an air power source to the air strut of each of the suspension systems, to thereby control ride-height by controlling extension of each of the air struts;
• providing a speed control arrangement operatively connected to the propulsion unit for controlling ground speed of the applicator;
• operatively connecting an electronic control unit to the angular position sensors and the speed control arrangement;
• receiving, a desired task input and signals from the angular position sensors, at the electronic control unit, the signals from the angular position sensor being indicative of a present relative angular position of the upper and lower suspension arms of each suspension system;
• determining a present suspended load supported by the suspension systems;
• and
• utilizing the electronic control unit for determining a maximum ground speed of the self-propelled agricultural product applicator corresponding to the present suspended load and desired task input, and commanding the speed control arrangement to limit ground speeds while operating in accordance with the desired task input to ground speeds less than or equal to the maximum ground speed corresponding to the present suspended weight while performing the desired task.