Agricultural feed mixer with ingredient sensing automatic transmission control

A method for generating a control cycle for gear control of a transmission of a feed mixer having at least one mixing chamber, the method comprising:

• initiating a learning mode of a control program;
• receiving a cycle identifier;
• receiving a number value representing the number of successive feed ingredients to be added to the mixing chamber during the cycle;
• starting a prime mover and engaging a power-take-off shaft interconnected with a transmission;
• receiving a transmission speed signal and comparing with a predetermined shift speed signal, and if the transmission speed signal is greater than the predetermined shift speed signal, then communicating an upshift command to the transmission to change to a higher gear;
• receiving an indication that a subsequent ingredient is being added to the mixing chamber and increment an ingredient number value in an ingredient register so as to be consistent with the current number of the successive ingredients being added;
• receiving an indication to store the ingredient number value in the ingredient register as a first shift point indicator value;
• at least one of, identifying that all ingredients have been added to the mixing chamber, and receiving an indication that all ingredients have been added;
• unloading the mixed ingredients from the mixing chamber;
• disengaging the power-take-off shaft;
• receiving an indication that the transmission speed signal is less than a pre-determined minimum stop speed;
• and
• identifying the control cycle as complete.

A method for executing a pre-programmed control cycle for shifting gears in a feed mixer transmission comprising:

• selecting a pre-programmed control cycle for operating a feed mixer during preparation of a batch recipe having a plurality of ingredients;
• detecting an input by a control unit indicating the start of the control cycle;
• starting a prime mover and engaging a power-take-off shaft interconnected with a feed mixer transmission to rotationally engage the transmission;
• receiving a transmission speed signal and comparing with a predetermined minimum engagement speed signal, and if the transmission speed signal is greater than the predetermined minimum engagement speed signal, then communicating a shift command to the transmission to change to a higher gear;
• sequentially loading the plurality of ingredients into a mixing chamber, while incrementing the numerical value stored in an ingredient register upon receipt of a signal from at least one of a user and a scale indicator, indicating a subsequent ingredient is being loaded;
• and
• comparing the numerical value stored in an ingredient register with a first shift point indicator value associated with the selected pre-programmed control cycle, if the numerical value stored in an ingredient register is greater than the first shift point indicator value, then communicating a shift command to the transmission to change to a lower gear.

A method for shifting gears in a transmission of a feed mixer, the method comprising:

• receiving a speed signal from a speed sensor indicating a rotational speed of at least one of a transmission input shaft and a transmission output shaft;
• sending a shift command to the transmission to shift into a lowest gear upon receiving an indication from the speed sensor that the rotational speed is substantially zero;
• receiving a transmission temperature signal and comparing to a pre-determined maximum operating temperature;
• receiving a transmission oil pressure signal and comparing to a pre-determined minimum operating pressure;
• providing an indication that a transmission gear shift is allowable upon sensing that the rotational speed is greater than a pre-determined minimum speed, the transmission temperature is below the pre-determined maximum temperature, and the transmission oil pressure is above a pre-determined minimum pressure;
• and
• sensing if a transmission gear shift has occurred, and if so then sending a command to shift the transmission to a lower gear if either the transmission temperature signal exceeds the pre-determined maximum operating temperature, or if the transmission oil pressure signal is less than the pre-determined minimum operating pressure.