Downforce load sensor for a planter row unit

1 . A planter row unit, comprising:

a row unit frame having a forward end toward a forward direction of travel of the planter row unit;

an opening assembly supported by the row unit frame, the opening assembly having first and second opening disks configured to form a furrow in a soil surface when the row unit is drawn in the forward direction of travel, the opening assembly further having first and second gauge wheels, the first and second gauge wheels supported by respective first and second gauge wheel arms pivotally attached to the row unit frame, each of the first and second gauge wheel arms carrying a load transferred by the first and second gauge wheels;

a first abutment member extending upwardly from the first gauge wheel arm;

a second abutment member extending upwardly from the second gauge wheel arm;

a depth selector movable to selectable positions along the row unit frame;

a stop member extending transverse to the forward direction of travel and positioned such that the stop member abuts with the first and second abutment members, whereby each of the first and second abutment members transfers the load from the first and second gauge wheel arms to the stop member;

a load sensing connector rod extending vertically through the stop member such that the load transferred to the stop member by the first and second abutment members is applied to the load sensing connector rod in a horizontal direction, whereby the load sensing connecting rod is subject primarily to bending stresses, the load sensing connector rod including a load sensor configured to generate load signals corresponding to the bending stresses.

2 . The planter row unit of claim 1 , wherein the stop member is horizontally pivotable about the load sensing connector rod.

3 . The planter row unit of claim 2 , wherein the stop member equalizes the load transferred by the first and second gauge wheel arms to the first and second abutment members by horizontally pivoting about the load sensing connector rod.

4 . The planter row unit of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the load sensing connector rod extending through the stop member includes bearing ribs which bear against the stop member and through which the horizontal load is applied by the stop member to the load sensing connector rod.

5 . The planter row unit of claim 1 , wherein a portion of the load sensing connector rod extending through the stop member includes a flat surface positioned directly opposite to where the horizontal load is applied to the load sensing connector rod by the stop member and wherein the load sensor comprises a strain gauge applied to the flat surface.

6 . The planter row unit of claim 1 , further comprising processing circuitry in signal communication with the load sensor, the processing circuitry generating downforce load values corresponding to the load signals.

7 . The planter row unit of claim 6 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to display the generated downforce load values to an operator.

8 . The planter row unit of claim 6 , further comprising an actuator configured to apply supplemental downforce to the planter row unit, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to automatically regulate the supplemental downforce to maintain the generated downforce load values within a threshold range as the agricultural implement traverses a field.

9 . The planter row unit of claim 8 , wherein the load values are stored in memory and associated with Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates to generate a field map showing the downforce load values generated across the field for each row unit of the planter as it traverses the field.

10 . The planter row unit of claim 6 , wherein the load signals are correlated to known downforce load values programmed into a microcontroller of the processing circuitry.

11 . The planter row unit of claim 10 , wherein the processing circuitry is configured to display the correlated downforce load values to an operator.

12 . The planter row unit of claim 10 , further comprising an actuator configured to apply supplemental downforce to the planter row unit, wherein the processing circuitry is configured to automatically regulate the supplemental downforce to maintain the downforce load signals within a threshold range as the agricultural implement traverses a field.

13 . The planter row unit of claim 12 , wherein the load values are stored in memory and associated with Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates to generate a field map showing the downforce load values generated across the field for each row unit of the planter as it traverses the field.

14 . The planter row unit of claim 1 , further including a coupler configured to couple the load sensing connector rod with the depth selector, whereby, movement of the depth selector along the row unit frame toward the forward direction of travel moves the stop member forwardly along the row unit frame, thereby decreasing the upward pivotal movement of the gauge wheel arms, and whereby movement of the depth selector along the row unit frame away from the forward direction of travel moves the stop member rearwardly along the row unit frame, thereby increasing the upward pivotal movement of the gauge wheel arms.

15 . The planter row unit of claim 14 , wherein a lower end of the load sensing connector rod is pivotally attached to the row unit frame about a pivot axis such that the lower end of the load sensing connector rod is horizontally and vertically restrained relative to the row unit frame, and wherein an upper end of the load sensing connector rod is substantially horizontally restrained by the coupler.

16 . The planter row unit of claim 1 , wherein the stop member includes a first stop arm extending extending transverse to the forward direction of travel and a second stop arm extending transverse to the forward direction of travel, the first arm abutting with the first abutment member and the second arm abutting with the second abutment member.