Back to results
US 7,588,089 B2Granted
Implement weight and center of gravity determination based on hitch cylinder pressure
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorsHaibo Guo, Yanming Hou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A theorem and method for determining the weight and center of gravity of a ground-engaging implement connected to a three-point hitch on an agricultural tractor or other prime mover using hitch cylinder pressure and hitch position as calibration inputs to a hitch control system.
Claims4
A method for controlling a ground-engaging implement coupled to an agricultural tractor, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a ground-supported agricultural tractor having a three-point hitch movable in upward and downward directions by at least one hydraulic actuating cylinder;
- providing a ground-engaging implement attached to the hitch of the tractor;
- providing a hitch control apparatus for managing the upward/downward position of the hitch to maintain a desired draft load or position on the tractor, the hitch control apparatus having programming implementing theory and equations to derive implement weight and center of gravity location;
- providing an actuating cylinder pressure sensor for measuring hydraulic pressure in the actuating cylinder and communicating a pressure value to the hitch control apparatus;
- providing a hitch position sensor for measuring upward/downward position of the hitch and communicating a position value to the hitch control apparatus;
- positioning the implement in a first position with no portion of its weight supported by the ground;
- generating a first pressure value by the actuating cylinder pressure sensor;
- generating a first position value by the hitch position sensor;
- communicating the first pressure value and the first position value to the hitch control apparatus;
- positioning the implement in a second position;
- generating a second pressure value by the actuating cylinder pressure sensor;
- generating a second position value by the hitch position sensor;
- communicating the second pressure value and the second position value to the hitch control apparatus;
- and
- deriving from the first and second pressure and position values of the hitch, in accordance with the programming of the hitch control apparatus, an implement weight and a location of an implement center of gravity by the hitch control apparatus;
- wherein said center of gravity of said implement is derived from the ratio of said first and second generated pressure values.
13 more elements
A method for controlling a ground-engaging implement coupled to an agricultural tractor, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a ground-supported agricultural tractor having a three-point hitch movable in upward and downward directions by at least one hydraulic actuating cylinder;
- providing a ground-engaging implement attached to the hitch of the tractor;
- providing a hitch control apparatus for managing the upward/downward position of the hitch to maintain a desired draft load or position on the tractor, the hitch control apparatus having programming implementing theory and equations to derive implement weight and center of gravity location;
- providing an actuating cylinder pressure sensor for measuring hydraulic pressure in the actuating cylinder and communicating a pressure value to the hitch control apparatus;
- providing a hitch position sensor for measuring upward/downward position of the hitch and communicating a position value to the hitch control apparatus;
- positioning the implement in a first position with no portion of its weight supported by the ground;
- generating a first pressure value by the actuating cylinder pressure sensor;
- generating a first position value by the hitch position sensor;
- communicating the first pressure value and the first position value to the hitch control apparatus;
- positioning the implement in a second position;
- generating a second pressure value by the actuating cylinder pressure sensor;
- generating a second position value by the hitch position sensor;
- communicating the second pressure value and the second position value to the hitch control apparatus;
- and
- deriving from the first and second pressure and position values of the hitch, in accordance with the programming of the hitch control apparatus, an implement weight and a location of an implement center of gravity by the hitch control apparatus;
- wherein said weight of said implement vehicle is derived from hitch dimensions and as a linear function of the pressure value at a hitch position.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.