The field of invention generally relates to agricultural planters, and specifically to closing wheel sensors on the planters to monitor rotation of the closing wheels.
All modern agricultural seed planting row units utilize a system that opens a seed furrow via angled disc openers, furrow forming “shoes” or flat blades. After the seed furrow is formed and the seed is placed in the furrow, the furrow must be closed with dirt to insure proper germination, emergence and growth.
Seed furrows are nearly all closed with wheels, discs, finger wheels, inverted finger disc, coulters and/or various rolling soil forming systems (collectively and generically referred to as closing wheels), all of which turn, rotate or roll about an axis. These systems push, pull and/or roll the soil to close the seed furrow and firm the soil around the seed that has been placed in the furrow.
Because these furrow closers are rolling systems, there can be situations where rocks, wire, corn plant root balls (large corn plant roots with soil still attached, from the previous season, that have been loosened with tillage), cover crop straw residue, and other foreign objects can be lodged in the closing wheels and cause the rolling closing systems to become plugged and stop or slow turning of the closing wheels. Additionally, these rolling furrow-closing systems roll on a bearing that can also fail and cause the wheels or discs to stop turning.
When the closing wheels/discs stop or slow their turning or rolling, the seed that has been planted, along with related fertilizer and insecticides that have been applied, can be pushed out of the seed furrow and will not grow properly. This condition creates loss to the farmer not only in wasted seed, fertilizer and insecticides, but also creates an economic loss of income from the crop in that row that did not grow, or did not maximize yield, or will require replanting the row for proper germination and growth of the plant.
Many of today's planters are quite large (60 ft-120 ft wide) and are equipped with many row units. Monitoring these row units to ensure that all closing wheel systems are operating correctly is very difficult, especially when planting in dusty conditions and in the dark. Because of the size of the planters and the new high-speed planters, visually monitoring the furrow closing wheel systems from the tractor is nearly impossible, and many acres of crops can be planted before the malfunctioning closing systems are detected.
Therefore, a primary objective of the present invention is the provision of a method and means for monitoring operation of the closing wheels to assure proper planting of seeds in the furrows.
Another objective of the present invention is the provision of a system for sensing proper and/or improper rotation of closing wheels to indicate whether seed furrows are being properly closed during the planting operation.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a sensor system for an agricultural planter which generates signals corresponding to rotation or non-rotation of the planter closing wheels.
Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a method of monitoring rotation of a furrow-closing wheel on an agricultural planter by detecting rotation of movement of in indicia on the closing wheels, such as bolts and nuts, during each rotation of the closing wheel.
Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a sensing system which notifies a farmer when closing wheels on an agricultural planter are not rotating properly.
A further objective of the present invention is the provision a method and means for generating signals corresponding to rotational speed of closing wheels on a planter row unit to indicate whether the closing wheels are rotating at the proper speed, a slowed speed, or have stopped rotation.
These and other objectives have become apparent from the following description of the invention.
The closing wheel sensor system uses sensors to detect rotation of the wheels, disc, finger wheels inverted finger disc, coulters and/or various rolling soil forming systems (referred hereinafter, collectively, as “closing wheels” or “closers”), to detect when these systems stop turning, and alert the planter operator of the faulty condition.
The sensors are located on or adjacent to the closing wheel systems, which can have a large variety of designs. These sensors can detect rotation by sensor “pulses” from the sensor against a pulse generating component, such as a metal bolt, a finger, a hole, or a notch on a closing wheel to generate pulses. This pulsing or non-pulsing information is sent to the tractor cab-mounted computer control console, that continuously monitors all closing wheels and alerts the operator of the planter or autonomous vehicle control system when one or more of the closing wheels is not properly rotating. The pulse generating sensors may take various forms. Non-contact sensors can be used, such as optical, rotary, shaft, magnetic, or torque sensors. Alternatively, contact type sensors could also be used, such as a “whisker” type finger that contacts a disc, bolt or some type of mechanical system to break the electrical current and cause the alarm to sound.
As the wheels, disc, finger wheels, inverted finger disc, coulters and/or various rolling soil forming systems turn, the sensor can detect this rotation from the pulse generating component. If the closer rotation changes from a pre-determined rate, i.e., slows or stops, the sensor will alert the operator of the rotational change in a closing wheel, so that the problem can be fixed and returned to optimal planting.
Additionally, as agricultural systems become more automated and autonomous, detection of conditions that cause the planter to not work correctly will become more critical to avoid wasted seed and lost profits.
This system can eliminate wasted seed, fertilizer, insecticide, fuel and economic loss to the farmer, by alerting the operator of a malfunction in the closing system.
The above structure of the row unit 10, including the closer disc 24 and closer wheel 26, is conventional.
The present invention is directed toward sensors 42 which sense the rotational speed of the closers 22. Each closer 22 has its own sensor 42 which is mounted to an arm 44 extending from the frame 20 such that the sensor 42 is positioned adjacent to the nut and bolt assemblies 32, 34, 36, 38, or 40. Preferably, as seen in
One example of a commercially available sensor 42 is an inductive sensor, IGC 207, model number IGB308 BAPK/US-104 sold by IFM Effector, Inc. in Malvern, Pa.
The nut and bolt assemblies 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 provide a pulse function when the closer 22 is rotating as sensed by the sensor 42 when the assembly rotates past the sensor 42. If the closer 24 is not rotating, the sensor 42 does not sense a pulse from the nut and bolt assemblies, thereby generating a signal to the computer microprocessor to notify the operator that rotation of the closer has stopped. Since non-rotating closers adversely affect the seed planted in the furrow, the operator can stop the tractor and correct the problem. This eliminates waste and maximizes crop yield by assuring proper rotation of the closers 22 for closing the furrows to achieve proper seed planting.
As a further option, the sensors 42 can also detect when the closer 22 is rotating at a slower speed than the ground speed of the tractor, and generate an appropriate signal to warn the operator of this problem, which may arise from an accumulation of mud or other debris on the closer disc 24 or wheel 26. The problem can then be corrected to restore the desired rotation to the closer 22, and thus restore proper planting with furrow closure.
The nut and bolt assemblies 32-40 are one example of a pulse generation/detection component for sensing by the sensors 42. Other components on the closers 22 can also be used for the pulse generation, such as a projection, a finger, a hole, or a notch on a closing wheel 22, which the sensor will detect to generate the signals.
Thus, the sensors 42 may generate a first signal corresponding to the proper rotation of the closers 22, a second signal indicating a slower than desired rotation of the closers 22, and/or a third signal indicating that rotation of the closer 22 has fully stopped due to some type of obstruction that needs to be cleared.
The embodiments, variations, and figures described above are provided as an indication of the utility and versatility of the present invention. Other embodiments that do not provide or otherwise utilize all of the features, processes and advantages set forth herein may also be utilized, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Such modifications and variations are considered to be within the scope of the principles of the invention as defined by the claims set forth below.
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 63/201,957, filed May 20, 2021. The provisional patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, including without limitation, the specification, claims, and abstract, as well as any figures, tables, appendices, or drawings thereof.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63201957 | May 2021 | US |