US 2024/0298560 A1 · SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING SHANK ATTACHMENT MEMBER LOSS OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT

Abstract

Agricultural implements typically include ground-engaging tools, such as replaceable shanks and shank attachment members (e.g., tillage points), to condition the soil of a field. Unfortunately, when a shank attachment member falls off or otherwise decouples from its respective shank during operation, the shank attachment member is typically difficult to find and expensive to replace. The shank may also need to be replaced if the implement is operated for an extended period without a shank attachment member. As such, an agricultural implement includes radar sensors configured to emit output signals directed at a portion of a field positioned aft of the shanks and to receive reflections of the output signals as echo signals, and a computing system configured to determine when the shank attachment member has detached from the shank based on the echo signals.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An agricultural implement, comprising:

a frame;
a ground-engaging tool coupled to the frame, the ground-engaging tool including a shank and a shank attachment member coupled to the shank;
a first radar sensor configured to emit output signals directed at a portion of a field positioned aft of the ground-engaging tool, the first radar sensor further configured to receive reflections of the output signals as echo signals;
and
a computing system communicatively coupled to the first radar sensor, the computing system configured to:
determine a density profile of the portion of the field positioned aft of the ground-engaging tool based on the echo signals received by the first radar sensor;
and
determine when the shank attachment member has detached from the shank based on the determined density profile.

5 more elements

A system for determining shank attachment member loss of a ground-engaging tool of an agricultural implement, the system comprising:

a ground-engaging tool, wherein the ground-engaging tool includes a shank and a shank attachment member coupled to the shank;
a first radar sensor, wherein the first radar sensor is configured to emit output signals directed at a portion of a field positioned aft of the ground-engaging tool, the first radar sensor further configured to receive reflections of the output signals as echo signals;
a second radar sensor, wherein the second radar sensor is configured to emit output signals directed at a portion of a field positioned fore of the ground-engaging tool, the second radar sensor further configured to receive reflections of the output signals as echo signals;
and
a computing system communicatively coupled to the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor, the computing system configured to:
determine a density profile of the portion of the field positioned aft of the ground-engaging tool based on the echo signals received by the first radar sensor;
determine a density profile of the portion of the field positioned fore of the ground-engaging tool based on the echo signals received by the second radar sensor;
compare the determined density profiles of the portions of the field positioned aft and fore of the ground-engaging tool based on the echo signals received by the first radar sensor and the second radar sensor;
and
determine that the shank attachment member has detached from the shank based on the comparison of the determined density profiles.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for determining shank attachment member loss of an agricultural implement

Life of this patent

System and method for determining shank attachment member loss of an agricultural implement

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20