IP Library Granted Patent US 12687416
Granted Patent B2
US 12687416 · App. 18/462,808 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Volume determination system, a vehicle having a volume determination system, and methods of operating such a vehicle

Inventors: Evan Thomas Smith (Spirit Lake, IA); Michael J. Runck (Jackson, IA)
Assignee: AGCO Corporation
G01F17/00
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12687416
App. No.
18/462,808
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle includes a holding tank having a plurality of segments, each segment configured to hold an individual product, a plurality of suspension assemblies supporting the vehicle, and a volume determination system. The volume determination system is configured to receive an indication when a first segment of the plurality of segments of the holding tank is being filled with a first product via a first filling process, responsive to an input that the first filling process of the first segment is complete, receive first pressure measurements from the plurality of suspension assemblies, based at least partially on the received first pressure measurements, determine a volume of the first product within the first segment of the plurality of segments of the holding tank, and cause the determined volume of the first product within the first segment of the plurality of segments to be output to an operator of the vehicle.

Claims (32)

1 . A vehicle, comprising:

a holding tank comprising a plurality of segments, each segment configured to hold an individual product;

one or more product sensors for sensing product being added to the holding tank;

a plurality of suspension assemblies supporting the vehicle;

a plurality of pressure sensors for measuring a pressure associated with each suspension assembly of the plurality of suspension assemblies; and

a volume determination system comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the volume determination system to:

receive an indication from the one or more product sensors when a first segment of the plurality of segments of the holding tank is being filled with a first product via a first filling process;

responsive to an input that the first filling process of the first segment is complete, receive first pressure measurements from the plurality of pressure sensors;

based at least partially on the received first pressure measurements, determine a volume of the first product within the first segment of the plurality of segments of the holding tank; and

cause the determined volume of the first product within the first segment of the plurality of segments to be output to an operator of the vehicle.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the volume determination system further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the volume determination system to:

receive an indication from the one or more product sensors when a second segment of the plurality of segments of the holding tank is being filled with a second product via a second filling process;

responsive to an input that the second filling process of the second segment is complete, receive second pressure measurements from the plurality of pressure sensors;

based at least partially on the received second pressure measurements, determine a volume of the second product within the second segment of the plurality of segments of the holding tank; and

cause the determined volume of the second product within the second segment of the plurality of segments to be output to the operator of the vehicle.

3 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the volume determination system further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the volume determination system to receive usage data related to an application of the first product during an application process.

4 . The vehicle of claim 3 , wherein receiving usage data related to the application of the first product comprises receiving data related to at least one of a time period for which the first product has been applied or an application rate at which the first product has been applied.

5 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the volume determination system further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the volume determination system to receive third pressure measurements from the plurality of pressure sensors after the application of the first product.

6 . The vehicle of claim 5 , wherein the volume determination system further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the volume determination system to update the determined volume of the first product based at least partially on the received third pressure measurements and the received usage data related to the application of the first product.

7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the volume determination system further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the volume determination system to cause the determined volume of the first product within the first segment of the plurality of segments to be displayed on a display panel of a operator cabin.

8 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein each suspension assembly of the plurality of suspension assemblies comprises:

at least one suspension cylinder mounted between a chassis and a respective ground-engaging element of the vehicle;

a hydraulic fluid;

a pump for pressurizing the hydraulic fluid within the at least one suspension cylinder; and

at least one pressure sensor of the plurality of pressure sensors interfacing with the hydraulic fluid and operably coupled to the volume determination system.

9 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the volume determination system further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the volume determination system to receive pressure measurements prior to the first filling process.

10 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein determining the volume of the first product within the first segment of the plurality of segments of the holding tank of the vehicle comprises determining the volume of the first product within the first segment of the holding tank of the vehicle based at least partially on a known density of the first product.

11 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the volume determination system further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the volume determination system to adjust operation of the vehicle based at least partially on the determined volume of the first product within the first segment of the plurality of segments of the holding tank.

12 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the volume determination system further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the volume determination system to provide volume data to a remote device.

13 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the volume determination system further comprises instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the volume determination system to determine an area over which the first product can be applied based at least partially on the determined volume of the first product within the first segment of the plurality of segments of the holding tank.