Methods, systems, and apparatuses for bulk material meter calibration
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsJeremy M. Strief, Robert Kaldenbach, Mandar M Kale, Sandeep Ekhe, Pradeep Kale, Prasad Manjrekar, Elijah B. Garner, Andrew W. Harmon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An example container for collecting bulk material dispensed from a meter during a calibration operation may include a canister comprising an open end to receive bulk material, a coupler configured to releasably couple to a meter, and at least one weight sensor extending between the enclosure and the coupler. The weight sensor may be configured to detect weight of the bulk material deposited into the enclosure via the open end.
Claims27
A container for collecting bulk material dispensed from a meter during a calibration operation, the container comprising:
- a canister comprising an open end to receive bulk material;
- a coupler configured to releasably couple to a meter;
- and
- at least one weight sensor extending between the canister and the coupler, the weight sensor configured to detect weight of the bulk material deposited into the canister via the open end,
- wherein the canister is moveable relative to the coupler, and
- further comprising a guide coupled to the coupler, the guide defining a direction of movement of the canister relative to the coupler.
A method for providing weight information of a bulk material dispensed by a meter into and sensed by a container coupled to the meter, the method comprising:
- coupling a container comprising a weight sensor to a meter such that bulk material dispensed from the meter is received into the container;
- sensing a weight of the dispensed bulk material received into the container with the weight sensor;
- and
- communicating the sensed weight of the bulk material, via electronic signals, to an electronic controller of the meter,
- wherein the container comprises a canister and a coupler moveable relative to the canister and wherein sensing a weight of the dispensed bulk material received into the container with the weight sensor comprises sensing an amount of displacement of the canister relative to the coupler in response to the bulk material received into the canister.
A computer-implemented method performed by one or more processors for automatically calibrating a bulk material meter, the method comprising the following operations:
- operating a bulk material meter to dispense an amount of bulk material into a container coupled to the meter, the container comprising an electronic weight sensor;
- sensing, with the electronic weight sensor, a weight of the bulk material received into the container;
- transmitting the sensed weight of the bulk material to an electronic controller of the meter;
- and
- calibrating the meter using the sensed weight of the bulk material,
- wherein the container comprises:
- a coupler;
- and
- a canister movably coupled to the coupler, and
- wherein sensing, with an electronic weight sensor, a weight of the bulk material received into the container comprises sensing an amount of displacement of the canister relative to the coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.