System and method for wirelessly monitoring the operational status of tools of an agricultural implement

An agricultural implement, comprising:

• a frame;
• a plurality of shank assemblies supported relative to the frame, each shank assembly comprising:
• an attachment structure configured to be coupled to the frame;
• a shank pivotably coupled to the attachment structure at a pivot point;
• a shear pin at least partially extending through both the attachment structure and shank to prevent pivoting of the shank about the pivot point when the shear pin is in an operable working condition;
• and
• a conductive member extending at least partially within the shear pin to form an electrical circuit therein;
• and
• a plurality of wireless circuit monitors, each wireless circuit monitor of the plurality of wireless circuit monitors being electrically coupled to the conductive member of a respective shank assembly of the plurality of shank assemblies such that the wireless circuit monitor is configured to detect a circuit parameter associated with the electrical circuit of the respective shank assembly, each wireless circuit monitor being further configured to wirelessly transmit data indicative of the detected circuit parameter;
• an antenna configured to receive the data transmitted wirelessly from the plurality of wireless circuit monitors;
• and
• a controller communicatively coupled to the antenna, the controller configured to monitor the data received by the antenna and identify a change in the working condition of the shear pin of a given shank assembly of the plurality of shank assemblies based on a detected variation in the data.

A method for wirelessly monitoring the operational status of a ground-engaging tool pivotally coupled to a frame of an agricultural implement, the method comprising:

• receiving data transmitted wirelessly from a wireless circuit monitor that is indicative of a circuit parameter associated with an electrical circuit formed within a shear pin extending through the ground-engaging tool, the shear pin configured to prevent pivoting of the ground-engaging tool about a respective pivot point when the shear pin is in an operable working condition;
• monitoring, with a computing device, the circuit parameter associated with the electrical circuit based on the data received from the wireless circuit monitor;
• and
• determining, with the computing device, that a change in the working condition of the shear pin has occurred based on a detected variation in the data.