System and method for detecting bent ground-engaging shanks on an agricultural implement

A system for detecting bent ground-engaging shanks on an agricultural implement, the system comprising:

• a shank assembly configured to be supported on a frame member of a frame of the agricultural implement, the frame extending in a longitudinal direction between a forward end of the frame and an aft end of the frame, the frame further extending in a lateral direction between a first side of the frame and a second side of the frame;
• the shank assembly including an attachment section and a ground-engaging shank pivotably coupled to the attachment section;
• first and second fasteners configured to couple the attachment section to the frame member;
• a first load sensor in operative association with the first fastener, the first load sensor configured to generate data indicative of a first load being applied to the first fastener by the shank assembly;
• a second load sensor in operative association with the second fastener, the second load sensor configured to generate data indicative of a second load being applied to the second fastener by the shank assembly;
• and
• a computing system communicatively coupled to the first and second load sensors, the computing system configured:
• determine a first magnitude of the first load acting on the first fastener in the lateral direction based on the data generated by the first load sensor;
• determine a second magnitude of the second load acting on the second fastener in the lateral direction based on the data generated by the second load sensor;
• compare the first magnitude to a first threshold value;
• compare the second magnitude to the first threshold value;
• and
• determine that the ground-engaging shank is bent when at least one of the first magnitude or the second magnitude exceeds the first threshold value,
• wherein after it is determined that the ground-engaging shank is bent, the computing system is further configured to:
• compare the first magnitude to a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value;
• and
• compare the second magnitude to the second threshold value.

A method for detecting bent ground-engaging shanks on an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement includes a shank assembly supported on a frame member of the agricultural implement, the shank assembly including an attachment section and a ground-engaging shank pivotably coupled to the attachment section, the agricultural implement further including first and second fasteners coupling the attachment section to the frame member, the method comprising:

• receiving, with a computing system, first load sensor data indicative of a first load being applied to the first fastener by the shank assembly;
• determining, with the computing system, a first magnitude of the first load acting on the first fastener in the lateral direction based on the received first load sensor data;
• receiving, with the computing system, second load sensor data indicative of a second load being applied to the second fastener by the shank assembly;
• determining, with the computing system, a second magnitude of the second load acting on the second fastener in the lateral direction based on the received second load sensor data;
• comparing, with the computing system, the first magnitude to a first threshold value;
• comparing, with the computing system, the second magnitude to the first threshold value;
• determining, with the computing system, that the ground-engaging shank is bent when at least one of the first magnitude or the second magnitude exceeds the first threshold value;
• and
• initiating, with the computing system, a control action when it is determined that the ground-engaging shank is bent,
• wherein after it is determined that the ground-engaging shank is bent, the method further comprises:
• comparing, with the computing system, the first magnitude to a second threshold value that is greater than the first threshold value;
• and
• comparing, with the computing system, the second magnitude to the second threshold value.