Grain cart control spout and related methods

An automated grain unloading control system for a grain cart including a grain transfer element configured to transfer grain from the grain cart to a receiving container, the grain transfer element including a control spout configured to direct a stream of discharged grain, the control system comprising:

• at least one first sensor configured to detect at least a portion of the receiving container and at least a portion of an upper surface of a grain mound in the receiving container;
• at least one second sensor configured to detect at least one of an orientation of the grain transfer element or an orientation of the control spout;
• and
• a processor configured to compare the detected portion of the receiving container, the detected portion of the upper surface, and at least one of the orientation of the grain transfer element or the orientation of the control spout, and control the operation of the grain transfer element to direct a transfer of grain from the grain cart to the receiving container and control the movement of the control spout around a generally horizontal first axis of rotation to direct the stream of discharged grain forwardly and rearwardly into the receiving container and control the movement of the control spout around a second axis of rotation generally parallel to a left side wall and a right side wall of the grain cart between a generally downward discharge direction and a laterally outward discharge direction based at least in part on a result of the comparison of the detected portion of the receiving container, the detected portion of the upper surface, and at least one of the orientation of the grain transfer element or the orientation of the control spout.

A method of operating an automated grain unloading control system, the method comprising:

• operating at least one first sensor to detect at least a portion of a receiving container divided into compartments separated by one or more partitions;
• operating the at least one first sensor to detect at least a portion of the one or more partitions;
• operating the at least one first sensor to detect at least a portion of an upper surface of a grain mound in the receiving container;
• receiving a maximum weight limit of a compartment;
• operating at least one second sensor to detect an orientation of a grain transfer element;
• transferring grain from a supplying container to the receiving container based at least in part on a comparison of the detected portion of the receiving container, the detected portion of the one or more partitions, the detected portion of the upper surface, and the orientation of the grain transfer element;
• detecting a weight of grain unloaded into a compartment;
• and
• stopping the transfer of grain upon determining that the weight of grain unloaded into the compartment has reached the weight limit of the compartment.

An automated grain unloading control system for a supplying container with a grain transfer element configured to transfer grain from the supplying container to a receiving container, the control system comprising:

• one or more sensors configured to detect an orientation of the grain transfer element, at least a portion of the receiving container, at least a portion of an upper surface of a grain mound in the receiving container, an interface of an upper surface of a grain mound in the receiving container and a wall of the receiving container, and at least a portion of an upper edge of the wall;
• and
• a processor configured to compare the detected portion of the receiving container, the detected portion of the upper surface, and the orientation of the grain transfer element, and control the operation of the grain transfer element to direct a transfer of grain from the supplying container to the receiving container based at least in part on a result of the comparison of the detected portion of the receiving container, the detected portion of the upper surface, and the orientation of the grain transfer element,
• wherein the processor is configured to determine a minimum freeboard by calculating a vertical distance between a highest point of the detected interface and a lowest point of the detected portion of the upper edge,
• wherein the processor is configured to determine a maximum freeboard by calculating a vertical distance between a lowest point of the detected interface and a highest point of the detected portion of the upper edge, and
• wherein the processor is configured to direct the transfer of grain toward a portion of the receiving container with the maximum freeboard.