# US 2014/0156154 A1 · System and method for determining ground engaging tool position based on fluid pressure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0156154 A1 - Document ID: US20140156154A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/177,092 - Filed: 2014-02-10 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2010-03-22 - Assignees: CNH Canada, Ltd. - Applicants: CNH Canada,Ltd. - Inventors: Nicholas George Alfred Ryder; Cory Adrian Yuen; Anthony Charles Rapley; Michael J. Bloom - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140156154A1 ## CPC - A01B 63/002: {Devices for adjusting or regulating the position of tools or wheels (preventing overstrain A01B61/00; wheels adjustable relatively to the frame for drawn implements A01B3/16; tools or tool holders adjustable relatively to the frame for drawn implements A01B63/24)} - A01B 49/06: for sowing or fertilising - A01B 63/32: operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means {without automatic control} - A01C 7/203: {comprising depth regulation means} - A01C 21/00: Methods of fertilising {, sowing or planting} - A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21) - A01C: PLANTING; SOWING; FERTILISING (parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, in general A01B51/00 - A01B75/00) ## Abstract An agricultural implement is provided that includes a ground engaging tool configured to engage soil in a working position and to disengage the soil in a non-working position. The agricultural implement also includes an actuating cylinder coupled to the ground engaging tool and configured to transition the ground engaging tool between the working position and the non-working position based on a flow of fluid from a fluid supply system. In addition, the agricultural implement includes at least one sensor configured to output a signal indicative of a fluid pressure within the fluid supply system, and a controller configured to determine whether the ground engaging tool is in the working position or the non-working position based on the first signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of operating an agricultural implement system, comprising: receiving, at a controller of the agricultural implement system, a first signal from a first sensor, wherein the first signal is indicative of a first fluid pressure within a fluid supply system; and determining, using the controller, whether a ground engaging tool is in a working position or a non-working position based on the first signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising controlling, using the controller, a flow of fluid provided by the fluid supply system to an actuating cylinder coupled to the ground engaging tool to transition the ground engaging tool between the working position and the non-working position. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, comprising increasing fluid pressure supplied to a first side of the actuating cylinder to induce the ground engaging tool to transition to the working position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, comprising increasing fluid pressure supplied to a second side of the actuating cylinder to induce the ground engaging tool to transition to the non-working position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising outputting, from the controller, a second signal indicative of whether the ground engaging tool is in the working position or the non-working position based on the first signal from the first sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising receiving, at the controller, a second signal from a second sensor, wherein the second signal is indicative of a second fluid pressure within the fluid supply system, and wherein the first fluid pressure corresponds to a fluid pressure within a first side of an actuating cylinder, and the second fluid pressure corresponds to a fluid pressure within a second side of the actuating cylinder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, comprising comparing, using the controller, the first fluid pressure, the second fluid pressure, or a combination thereof, to one or more threshold values to determine whether the ground engaging tool is in the working position or the non-working position. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, comprising: initiating an agricultural product flow while the ground engaging tool is in the working position; and terminating the agricultural product flow while the ground engaging tool is in the non-working position. ### Claim 9 A method of operating an agricultural implement system, comprising: receiving, at a controller of the agricultural implement system, a first signal from a first sensor, wherein the first signal is indicative of a first fluid pressure within a fluid supply system; and determining, using the controller, whether a ground engaging tool is in a working position or a non-working position based on the first signal, wherein the controller determines ground engaging tool is in the working position when the first signal is outside a first threshold value for a threshold duration. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising controlling, using the controller, a flow of fluid provided by the fluid supply system to an actuating cylinder coupled to the ground engaging tool to transition the ground engaging tool between the working position and the non-working position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, comprising: increasing fluid pressure supplied to a first side of the actuating cylinder to induce the ground engaging tool to transition to the working position; and increasing fluid pressure supplied to a second side of the actuating cylinder to induce the ground engaging tool to transition to the non-working position. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The method of claim 10, comprising initiating an agricultural product flow while the ground engaging tool is in the working position. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, comprising terminating the agricultural product flow while the ground engaging tool is in the non-working position. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising outputting, from the controller, a second signal indicative of whether the ground engaging tool is in the working position or the non-working position based on the first signal from the first sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, comprising receiving, at the controller, a second signal from a second sensor, wherein the second signal is indicative of a second fluid pressure within the fluid supply system, and wherein the first fluid pressure corresponds to a fluid pressure within a first side of an actuating cylinder, and the second fluid pressure corresponds to a fluid pressure within a second side of the actuating cylinder. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method of claim 15, comprising comparing, using the controller, the first fluid pressure, the second fluid pressure, or a combination thereof, to one or more threshold values to determine whether the ground engaging tool is in the working position or the non-working position. ### Claim 17 A method of operating an agricultural implement system, comprising: receiving, at a controller of the agricultural implement system, a first signal from a first sensor, wherein the first signal is indicative of a first fluid pressure within a fluid supply system; receiving, at the controller, a second signal from a second sensor, wherein the second signal is indicative of a second fluid pressure within the fluid supply system, the first fluid pressure corresponds to a fluid pressure within a first side of an actuating cylinder, and the second fluid pressure corresponds to a fluid pressure within a second side of the actuating cylinder; controlling, using the controller, a flow of fluid provided by the fluid supply system to the actuating cylinder coupled to a ground engaging tool to transition the ground engaging tool between a working position and a non-working position; comparing, using the controller, the first fluid pressure, the second fluid pressure, or a combination thereof, to one or more threshold values; and determining, using the controller, whether the ground engaging tool is in the working position or the non-working position based at least in part on the comparison. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein the determination is delayed until the first fluid pressure, the second fluid pressure, or a combination thereof is outside of the one or more threshold values for a threshold duration. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, receiving, at the controller, a third signal indicative of a product delivery mode of operation, wherein the third signal instructs the controller to facilitate an automatic control of an agricultural product flow, a manual control of the agricultural product flow, or a combination thereof ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The method of claim 19, wherein the automatic control of the agricultural product flow comprises: initiating an agricultural product flow while the ground engaging tool is in the working position; and terminating the agricultural product flow while the ground engaging tool is in the non-working position.