# US 2014/0196919 A1 · System And Method Of Tractor Control Based On Agricultural Implement Performance > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196919 A1 - Document ID: US20140196919A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/739,394 - Filed: 2013-01-11 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: CNH Canada, Ltd. - Applicants: Cnh Canada, Ltd. - Inventors: Trevor Kowalchuk - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196919A1 ## CPC - F16F 15/02: Suppression of vibrations of non-rotating, e.g. reciprocating systems; Suppression of vibrations of rotating systems by use of members not moving with the rotating systems ({F16F15/005 takes precedence } ; layered products B32B; suppression of vibration in ships B63; {relieving load on bearings, using magnetic means F16C39/06}) - 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 63/32: operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means {without automatic control} - A01C 7/205: {comprising pressure regulation means} - A01B 61/02: of the coupling devices between tractor and machine - A01B 67/00: Devices for controlling the tractor motor by resistance of tools - A01B 79/005: {Precision agriculture} - F16F: SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION - 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 A method and system for controlling operation of a tractor and/or agricultural implement towed by the tractor is disclosed. A vibration sensor is mounted to the agricultural implement to detect the magnitude of vibration, or bounce, on the agricultural implement. Because the magnitude of the vibration is a function of several operating parameters including, but not limited to, the speed at which the tractor is travelling and the downward pressure applied to the agricultural implement, one or more additional sensors are provided to monitor these operating parameters. Each of the sensors generates a feedback signal and transmits it to the controller. The controller is configured to generate an reference signal to control an actuator as a function of the magnitude of vibration and the measured operating parameter. The actuator receiving the reference signal is configured to control operation of the tractor or agricultural implement to reduce the magnitude of vibration. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for reducing vibration of a row unit on an agricultural implement configured to be towed behind a tractor, the agricultural implement having a first frame member coupled to a hitch member and a plurality of row units pivotally connected to the first frame member, the system comprising; at least one vibration sensor rigidly mounted to one of the row units, each vibration sensor configured to generate a feedback signal corresponding to a vibration magnitude of the row unit; a process sensor configured to generate a feedback signal corresponding to an operating parameter of the agricultural implement; a controller configured to receive the feedback signal from the vibration sensor and from the process sensor and to generate a reference signal as a function of the feedback signal from the process sensor; and an actuator configured to control the operating parameter as a function of the reference signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the vibration sensor is an accelerometer. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2 wherein the accelerometer is configured to generate a plurality of feedback signals, each feedback signal corresponding to an axis of motion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: the process sensor is configured to generate the feedback signal corresponding to a speed at which the agricultural implement is moving, and the actuator is a throttle member controlling the speed of an engine in the tractor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein: each row unit includes one of a pneumatic and a hydraulic cylinder applying a downward pressure on the corresponding row unit, the process sensor is configured to generate the feedback signal corresponding to the downward pressure, and the actuator is a solenoid controlling operation of the pneumatic or the hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein each of the row units includes a vibration sensor and wherein the controller is configured to receive the feedback signal from each of the vibration sensors. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the controller is further configured to compare each of the feedback signals to a preset value corresponding to a maximum vibration magnitude, and when one of the feedback signals is greater than the preset value, to control the operating parameter to reduce the vibration magnitude. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6 wherein the controller is further configured to determine an average value of each of the feedback signals, to compare the average value to a preset value corresponding to a maximum vibration magnitude, and when the average value is greater than the preset value, to control the operating parameter to reduce the vibration magnitude. ### Claim 9 A method of controlling performance of an agricultural implement, wherein the agricultural implement has a plurality of row units and is configured to be towed behind a tractor, the method comprising the steps of: receiving an initial command at a controller from one of an operator and a parameter stored in a memory device; generating a reference signal transmitted from the controller to an actuator configured to control at least one operating parameter of the agricultural implement as a function of the initial reference command; receiving a first feedback signal at the controller from a vibration sensor mounted on one of the row units; receiving a second feedback signal at the controller from a process sensor corresponding to the operating parameter of the agricultural implement being controlled by the initial reference command; and generating a modified reference signal transmitted from the controller to the actuator, wherein the reference signal is transmitted to the actuator to control the operating parameter. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 further comprising the step of comparing the first feedback signal to a preset value corresponding to a maximum vibration magnitude, wherein when the first feedback signal exceeds the preset value, the modified reference signal controls the operating parameter to reduce the vibration magnitude. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the controller is mounted in the tractor. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11 wherein the process sensor is configured to generate the second feedback signal corresponding to a speed at which the agricultural implement is moving, and the actuator is a throttle member controlling the speed of an engine in the tractor. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9 wherein the controller is mounted on the agricultural implement. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein: each row unit includes one of a pneumatic and a hydraulic cylinder applying a downward pressure on the corresponding row unit; the process sensor is configured to generate the second feedback signal corresponding to the downward pressure, and the actuator is a solenoid controlling operation of the pneumatic or the hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 15 A system for reducing vibration on an agricultural implement configured to be towed behind a tow vehicle, the system comprising; a vibration sensor mounted to the agricultural implement and configured to generate a feedback signal corresponding to a vibration magnitude of the agricultural implement; a process sensor configured to generate a feedback signal corresponding to an operating parameter of the agricultural implement; a controller configured to receive the feedback signal from the vibration sensor and from the process sensor and to generate a reference signal as a function of the feedback signal from the process sensor; and an actuator configured to control the operating parameter as a function of the reference signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein the vibration sensor is an accelerometer. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16 wherein the accelerometer is configured to generate a plurality of feedback signals, each feedback signal corresponding to an axis of motion. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein: the process sensor is configured to generate the feedback signal corresponding to a speed at which the agricultural implement is moving, and the actuator is a throttle member controlling the speed of an engine in the tow vehicle. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein: the agricultural implement has a first frame member coupled to a hitch member, the hitch member configured to connect to the tow vehicle; the agricultural implement has a plurality of row units, each of the row units pivotally connected to the first frame member; each of the row units includes one of a pneumatic and a hydraulic cylinder applying a downward pressure on the corresponding row unit; the process sensor is configured to generate the feedback signal corresponding to the downward pressure, and the actuator is a solenoid controlling operation of the pneumatic or the hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15 wherein the controller is further configured to compare each of the feedback signals to a preset value corresponding to a maximum vibration magnitude, and when one of the feedback signals is greater than the preset value, to control the operating parameter to reduce the vibration magnitude.