Electronic draft control for trailed implements
OwnerChris Foster, Johnny Keplinger +2inventors
InventorsChris Foster, Johnny Keplinger, Kevin M. Smith, John Posselius
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A draft load control system for an agricultural tractor towing a trailed, ground-engaging implement that monitors implement height using sensors located on the tractor or sensors coupled to an on-board control communications system and adjusts the implement position in relation to the ground based on draft load, implement height, and tractor wheel-slip to maintain a more accurate, consistent draft load on the tractor while maintaining the implement engaged with the ground and preventing the tractor-implement ground speed from being reduced to zero.
Claims22
A draft load control system for adjusting the vertical position of a ground-engaging implement relative to the nominal surface of the ground as the implement is being towed by a self-propelled vehicle, the vehicle having at least one ground-engaging drive surface for propelling the vehicle along the ground and an on-board control communication system, the implement having a connected implement positioning apparatus for vertically moving the implement is response to a position control signal, the draft load control system comprising:
- an input apparatus for receiving a draft load setpoint and an implement height setpoint from an operator and generating a corresponding draft load setpoint signal having a value and an implement height setpoint signal having a value;
- an implement height sensing apparatus for measuring the vertical position of the implement relative to a nominal surface of the ground and generating a running height signal having a value generally representative of an instantaneous implement height;
- a draft load measuring apparatus for measuring the draft load applied on the vehicle by the implement as the implement is propelled along the ground by the vehicle and generating a running draft load signal having a value varying with the generally instantaneous magnitude of the draft load;
- and
- a controller disposed on the vehicle communicatively coupled to said input apparatus, said implement height sensing apparatus, and said draft load measuring apparatus by said communication system, said controller receiving said draft load setpoint signal, said implement height setpoint signal, a hitch position signal, said implement running height signal, and said running draft load signal, deriving, in accordance with its programming, an implement position control signal, and sending said control signal via said communication system to said implement positioning apparatus, wherein said controller is configured to maintain a substantially constant draft load on the vehicle by varying the implement height with respect to the ground surface.
A method for controlling the draft load of a ground-engaging implement towed by an agricultural tractor, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a ground-supported agricultural tractor having an engine for motive power, at least one ground-engaging drive surface, a hydraulic system having at least one remote hydraulic valve, an on-board control communication system, and an operator's platform;
- providing a ground-engaging implement connected to the tractor and thereby propelled by the tractor, the implement having an implement positioning apparatus movable in upward and downward directions responsive to an implement position control signal which manages the remote hydraulic valve to direct a flow of fluid from the tractor hydraulic system;
- providing a draft load sensor for measuring a running draft load applied on the tractor by the implement as it is towed across and engaged with the ground;
- providing an implement height sensor for determining the running height of the implement relative to the nominal surface of the ground;
- providing a draft load controller disposed on the tractor for managing the implement position, the controller being communicatively coupled to the implement height sensing apparatus and the draft load measuring apparatus by the communication system;
- providing an operator input apparatus at the operator platform to establish at least a desired draft load value and communicate the desired draft load value to the load controller via the communication system;
- setting the desired draft load value using the operator input apparatus;
- communicating the desired draft load value to the controller;
- operating the tractor to cause the implement to engage the ground thereby creating an actual running draft load on the tractor;
- generating a running draft load value by the draft load sensor;
- generating a running implement height value by the implement height sensor;
- communicating the running draft load value and the running implement height value to the controller;
- comparing the running draft load value to the desired draft load value;
- calculating an error signal based on the difference between the running draft load value and the desired draft load value;
- generating an implement position control signal having a value,
- communicating the implement position control signal to the implement position actuator;
- and
- changing the implement position based on the value of the implement position control signal thereby causing the error signal to be substantially zero and managing a substantially constant draft load on the tractor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.