IP Library Granted Patent US 10,379,547
Granted Patent B2
US 10,379,547 · App. 15/660,402 · Granted Aug 13, 2019

System and method for calibrating a material metering system

Inventors: Dennis George Thompson (Saskatoon, CA); Nicholas George Alfred Ryder (Saskatoon, CA)
Assignee: CNH Industrial Canada, Ltd.
G05D7/0605A01C7/107A01C15/006A01C7/08A01C7/102B65D88/26
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,379,547
App. No.
15/660,402
Granted
Aug 13, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for controlling a material flow rate from a metering system, includes determining, via a controller, a change in weight of material in a storage tank. The method further includes determining, via the controller, a swept area of an agricultural implement associated with the change in weight based at least in part on a width of the agricultural implement and a change in position of the agricultural implement. Further, the agricultural implement is configured to receive the material from the storage tank. The method also includes determining, via the controller, a calibration of the metering system based at least in part on the change in weight and the swept area. In addition, the method includes controlling, via the controller, a rotation rate of a meter roller of the metering system based at least in part on the calibration to control the material flow rate.

Claims (39)

1. A method for controlling a material flow rate from a metering system, comprising:

determining, via a controller, a change in weight of material in a storage tank;

determining, via the controller, a swept area of an agricultural implement associated with the change in weight based at least in part on a width of the agricultural implement and a change in position of the agricultural implement, wherein the agricultural implement is configured to receive the material from the storage tank;

determining, via the controller, a calibration of the metering system based at least in part on the change in weight and the swept area; and

controlling, via the controller, a rotation rate of a meter roller of the metering system based at least in part on the calibration to control the material flow rate.

2. The method of claim 1 , comprising:

receiving, via the controller, a first signal indicative of an initial weight; and

receiving, via the controller, a second signal indicative of a weight after covering the swept area, wherein determining the change in weight is based on the first signal and the second signal.

3. The method of claim 2 , comprising receiving, via the controller, the first signal and the second signal when the storage tank is stopped.

4. The method of claim 3 , comprising outputting, via the controller, a third signal indicative of not covering a minimum swept area if the swept area is less than one acre.

5. The method of claim 1 , comprising receiving, via the controller, a signal indicative of an acceleration of the storage tank, and determining, via the controller a change in weight based on the acceleration.

6. The method of claim 5 , comprising determining, via the controller, a baseline force caused by gravity.

7. The method of claim 1 , updating, via the controller, an initial calibration with the calibration, wherein the initial calibration is determined by rotating a meter roller a number of times, and determining an amount of weight of material deposited.

8. The method of claim 1 , comprising setting, via the controller, an initial flow rate based on an amount of material deposited per rotation of a meter roller.

9. The method of claim 1 , comprising determining, via the controller, an output, wherein the output is the weight of material divided by the swept area.

10. A controller comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the controller is configured to:

control a material flow rate from a metering system;

determine a change in weight of material in a storage tank;

determine a swept area of an agricultural implement associated with the change in weight based at least in part on a width of the agricultural implement and a change in position of the agricultural implement, wherein the agricultural implement is configured to receive the material from the storage tank;

determine a calibration of the metering system based at least in part on the change in weight and the swept area; and

control a rotation rate of a meter roller of the metering system based at least in part on the calibration to control the material flow rate.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:

receive a first signal indicative of an initial weight; and

receive a second signal indicative of a weight after covering the swept area, wherein determining the change in weight is based on the first signal and the second signal.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the first signal and the second signal when the storage tank is stopped.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to output a third signal indicative of not covering a minimum swept area if the swept area is less than one acre.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to update an initial calibration with the calibration, wherein the initial calibration is determined by rotating a meter roller a number of times, and determining an amount of weight of material deposited.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to determine an output, wherein the output is the weight of material divided by the swept area.

16. One or more non-transitory, machine-readable media comprising instructions configured to cause a processor to:

control a material flow rate from a metering system;

determine a change in weight of material in a storage tank;

determine a swept area of an agricultural implement associated with the change in weight based at least in part on a width of the agricultural implement and a change in position of the agricultural implement, wherein the agricultural implement is configured to receive the material from the storage tank;

determine a calibration of the metering system based at least in part on the change in weight and the swept area; and

control a rotation rate of a meter roller of the metering system based at least in part on the calibration to control the material flow rate.

17. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media comprising instructions of claim 16 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause a processor to receive a first signal indicative of an initial weight; and

receive a second signal indicative of a weight after covering the swept area, wherein determining the change in weight is based on the first signal and the second signal.

18. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media comprising instructions of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause a processor to receive the first signal and the second signal when the storage tank is stopped.

19. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media comprising instructions of claim 17 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause a processor to determine an output, wherein the output is the weight of material divided by the swept area.

20. The one or more non-transitory, machine-readable media comprising instructions of claim 16 , wherein the instructions are configured to cause a processor to output a third signal indicative of not covering a minimum swept area if the swept area is less than one acre.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2017
From: THOMPSON, DENNIS GEORGE; RYDER, NICHOLAS GEORGE ALFRED
To: CNH INDUSTRIAL CANADA, LTD.
Reel/Frame 043419/0026 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190033895A1 · Jan 31, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,584,780