Method for controlling unload of a mobile farm implement
AssigneeUnverferth Manufacturing Company, Inc.
InventorsMichael D. Van Mill, Shawn W. Gerdeman, Ronald J. Schlimgen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of unloading mobile farm implements is presented. Unloading the mobile farm implement is accomplished by transmitting commands to unfold an auger arm and to open a container door and by monitoring weight measurements from the implement.
Claims5
A method of automating unloading of a mobile farm implement having a container carrying an agricultural material such as grain or seed, wherein the mobile farm implement is connected to a power takeoff and includes an auger arm for unloading the agricultural material, and wherein the auger arm is foldable between a stored position and an operating position with a handheld control device comprising a processor and a transceiver, the method comprising:
- receiving a first command to assist unloading of the agricultural material from the mobile farm implement;
- determining, by the processor, whether a speed of the mobile farm implement is below a first threshold;
- transmitting, by the transceiver, in response to a determination that the speed of the mobile farm implement is below the first threshold, a second command to the mobile farm implement to unfold the auger arm of the mobile farm implement;
- determining, by the processor, whether weight measurements of the agricultural material from the mobile farm implement have reached a steady value;
- determining, by the processor, whether a power takeoff speed is above a second threshold;
- transmitting, by the transceiver, in response to a determination that the weight measurements the agricultural materials have reached the steady value and that the power takeoff speed is above the second threshold, a third command to the mobile farm implement to open a container door;
- determining, by the processor, whether a subsequent weight measurement of the agricultural materials from the mobile farm implement is below a third threshold;
- and
- transmitting, by the transceiver, in response to a determination that the subsequent weight measurement of the agricultural materials is below the third threshold, a fourth command to the mobile farm implement to close the container door and a fifth command to the mobile farm implement to fold the auger arm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.