Implement weight management systems, methods, and apparatus
AssigneePrecision Planting LLC
InventorsDerek Sauder, Jason Stoller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for managing implement weight. In some embodiments, a position sensor is used to determine a position of the wing section and a downforce applied to the wing is modified in order to lower the wing section. In some embodiments, the position sensor indicates the position of a wing wheel assembly of the wing section. In other embodiments, the position sensor indicates the position of a center wheel assembly of a center section of the implement.
Claims19
A weight transfer control system for an agricultural implement, the agricultural implement having a wing section, said wing section having a wing wheel disposed to rollingly support said wing section, the weight transfer control system, comprising:
- a wing flex actuator configured to modify downforce applied to said wing section of the implement;
- a wing flex valve in fluid communication with the wing flex actuator;
- a wing position sensor disposed to generate a first signal when said wing section is rollingly supported by said wing wheel, and to generate a second signal when said wing section is not rollingly supported by said wing wheel, said first signal being different from said second signal;
- and
- processing circuitry in data communication with said wing position sensor, said processing circuitry configured to determine a position of said wing section based on said first and second signals.
A method of transferring implement weight, comprising:
- drawing an implement across a field;
- applying a first wing downforce to a wing section of said implement;
- monitoring a wing section position of said wing section;
- comparing said wing section position to a wing lowered value of said wing section position;
- identifying a wing raised condition based on said wing section position;
- after identifying said wing raised condition, reducing said wing downforce;
- and
- after reducing said wing downforce, again comparing said wing section position to said wing lowered value.
A method of transferring implement weight, comprising:
- drawing an implement across a field;
- applying a first wing downforce to a first wing section of said implement;
- applying a second wing downforce to a second wing section of said implement;
- monitoring a center wheel position of a center wheel supporting said implement;
- comparing said center wheel position to a center lowered value;
- identifying a center raised condition based on said center wheel position;
- after identifying said center raised condition, decreasing said first wing downforce and said second wing downforce;
- identifying another center raised condition;
- and
- upon identifying said another center raised condition, placing a wing flex actuator valve in a float mode such that no pressure is applied by a wing flex actuator.
A method of transferring implement weight, comprising:
- drawing an implement across a field;
- and
- determining an estimated load on a wheel of said implement based on a sum of estimated actuator forces.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.