Systems and methods for controlling agricultural material unloading rate

A device for controlling the rate at which agricultural material is unloaded from a supplying container, the device comprising:

• a metering gate configured to control the flow of agricultural material from the supplying container to a transfer element;
• an actuator coupled to the metering gate and configured to move the metering gate between an open position and a closed position;
• an electronic control device coupled to the actuator and configured to direct the operation of the actuator;
• and
• a sensor configured to detect a position of the metering gate and provide an operational input to the electronic control device;
• wherein a maximum transfer rate is programmable into the electronic control device,
• the directed operation of the actuator is based at least in part on the programmed maximum transfer rate and the position of the metering gate, and
• the transfer element is configured to transfer agricultural material from the supplying container to a receiving container.

A device for controlling the rate at which agricultural material is unloaded from a supplying container, the device comprising:

• a metering gate configured to control the flow of agricultural material from the supplying container to a transfer element;
• an actuator coupled to the metering gate and configured to move the metering gate between an open position and a closed position;
• an electronic control device coupled to the actuator and configured to direct the operation of the actuator;
• and
• a sensor configured to detect a position of the metering gate and provide an operational input to the electronic control device;
• wherein a transfer rate is programmable into the electronic control device,
• the directed operation of the actuator is based at least in part on the programmed transfer rate and the position of the metering gate, and
• the transfer element is configured to transfer agricultural material from the supplying container to a receiving container.

A device for controlling the rate at which agricultural material is unloaded from a supplying container, the device comprising:

• a metering gate configured to control the flow of agricultural material from the supplying container to a transfer element;
• an actuator coupled to the metering gate and configured to move the metering gate between an open position and a closed position;
• an electronic control device coupled to the actuator and configured to direct the operation of the actuator;
• and
• a sensor configured to detect a torque applied to the transfer element and provide an operational input to the electronic control device;
• wherein a transfer rate is programmable into the electronic control device,
• the directed operation of the actuator is based at least in part on the programmed transfer rate and the torque applied to the transfer element, and
• the transfer element is configured to transfer agricultural material from the supplying container to a receiving container.

A device for controlling the rate at which agricultural material is unloaded from a supplying container, the device comprising:

• a metering gate configured to control the flow of agricultural material from the supplying container to a transfer element;
• an actuator coupled to the metering gate and configured to move the metering gate between an open position and a closed position;
• an electronic control device coupled to the actuator and configured to direct the operation of the actuator;
• and
• a sensor configured to detect a speed of the transfer element and provide an operational input to the electronic control device;
• wherein a transfer rate is programmable into the electronic control device,
• the directed operation of the actuator is based at least in part on the programmed transfer rate and the speed of the transfer element, and
• the transfer element is configured to transfer agricultural material from the supplying container to a receiving container.

A device for controlling a rate at which agricultural material is unloaded from a supplying container, the device comprising:

• a metering gate configured to control the flow of agricultural material from the supplying container to a transfer element;
• an actuator coupled to the metering gate and configured to move the metering gate between an open position and a closed position;
• an electronic control device coupled to the actuator and configured to direct the operation of the actuator;
• and
• a weigh scale configured to detect a weight of agricultural material in the supplying container and provide an operational input to the electronic control device;
• wherein a transfer rate is programmable into the electronic control device,
• the directed operation of the actuator is based at least in part on the programmed transfer rate and the weight of the agricultural material in the supplying container, and
• the transfer element is configured to transfer agricultural material from the supplying container to a receiving container.

A device for controlling a rate at which agricultural material is unloaded from a supplying container, the device comprising:

• a metering gate configured to control the flow of agricultural material from the supplying container to a transfer element;
• an actuator coupled to the metering gate and configured to move the metering gate between an open position and a closed position;
• an electronic control device coupled to the actuator and configured to direct the operation of the actuator;
• and
• a sensor configured to detect a horsepower applied to the transfer element and provide an operational input to the electronic control device;
• wherein a transfer rate is programmable into the electronic control device,
• the directed operation of the actuator is based at least in part on the programmed transfer rate and the horsepower applied to the transfer element, and
• the transfer element is configured to transfer agricultural material from the supplying container to a receiving container.

A method of operating a gate positioning system, the method comprising:

• programming a maximum metering gate open position into an electronic control device,
• operating a transfer element,
• opening a metering gate;
• providing information on an open state of the metering gate to the electronic control device, and
• preventing the metering gate from opening past the programmed maximum metering gate open position.

A method of manufacturing a gate positioning system, the method comprising:

• installing a metering gate on a supplying container, wherein the metering gate is configured to be positioned to control the flow of agricultural material from the supplying container to a transfer element;
• installing an actuator for positioning the metering gate, wherein the actuator is coupled to the metering gate;
• installing a sensor configured to detect the position of the metering gate;
• and
• installing an electronic control device coupled to the sensor and the actuator;
• wherein the electronic control device is configured to direct the operation of the actuator,
• a maximum open position of the metering gate may be programmed into the electronic control device,
• the directed operation of the actuator is based at least in part on the programmed maximum open position of the metering gate and the position of the metering gate detected by the sensor, and
• the transfer element is configured to transfer agricultural material from the supplying container to a receiving container.

A method of manufacturing a gate positioning system, the method comprising:

• installing a metering gate on a supplying container, wherein the metering gate is configured to be positioned to control the flow of agricultural material from the supplying container to a transfer element;
• installing an actuator for positioning the metering gate, wherein the actuator is coupled to the metering gate;
• installing a sensor configured to detect the position of the metering gate;
• and
• installing an electronic control device coupled to the sensor and the actuator;
• wherein the electronic control device is configured to direct the operation of the actuator,
• a maximum transfer rate may be programmed into the electronic control device,
• the directed operation of the actuator is based at least in part on the programmed transfer rate and the position of the metering gate detected by the sensor, and
• the transfer element is configured to transfer agricultural material from the supplying container to a receiving container.

A device for controlling the rate at which agricultural material is unloaded from a supplying container, the device comprising:

• a metering gate configured to control the flow of agricultural material from the supplying container to a transfer element;
• an actuator coupled to the metering gate and configured to move the metering gate between an open position and a closed position;
• an electronic control device coupled to the actuator and configured to direct the operation of the actuator;
• and
• a sensor configured to detect an operating condition and provide an operational input to the electronic control device;
• wherein the directed operation of the actuator is based at least in part on the operational input, and
• the transfer element is configured to transfer agricultural material from the supplying container to a receiving container.

A method of operating a gate positioning system, the method comprising:

• operating a transfer element at a desired unloading rate,
• utilizing an electronic control device that directs the operation of an actuator coupled to a metering gate,
• using a sensor to provide an operational input to the electronic control device,
• controlling the position of the metering gate to control a flow of agricultural material from a supplying container to a transfer element, and
• maintaining the unloading rate at or near the desired unloading rate based at least in part on the operational input.