IP Library Granted Patent US 10,827,666
Granted Patent B2
US 10,827,666 · App. 16/155,042 · Granted Nov 10, 2020

System and method for controlling the speed of a seed-planting implement based on furrow closing assembly performance

Inventors: Christopher Schoeny (Yorkville, IL); Trevor Stanhope (Darien, IL); Darian E. Landolt (Evanston, IL)
Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
A01B67/00A01C5/068B60W10/04B60W10/10B60W10/18A01C21/00B60W2300/152B60W2420/52B60W2555/00B60W2710/10B60W2710/18B60W2720/10
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,827,666
App. No.
16/155,042
Granted
Nov 10, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

In one aspect, a system for controlling the speed of a seed-planting implement may include a furrow closing assembly configured to close a furrow formed in the soil by the seed-planting implement. Furthermore, the system may include a sensor configured to capture data indicative of an operational parameter of the furrow closing assembly. Additionally, the system may include an implement-based controller supported on the seed-planting implement and being communicatively coupled to the sensor. As such, the implement-based controller may be configured to initiate control of a drive parameter of a work vehicle configured to tow the seed-planting implement based on sensor data received from the sensor in a manner that adjusts the speed of the seed-planting implement.

Claims (32)

1. A system for controlling the speed of a seed-planting implement, the system comprising:

a furrow closing assembly including at least one ground engaging component configured to rotate relative to soil within a field as the seed-planting implement is moved across the field, the furrow closing assembly configured to close a furrow formed in the soil by the seed-planting implement;

a sensor configured to capture data indicative of an operational parameter of the furrow closing assembly; and

an implement-based controller supported on the seed-planting implement and being communicatively coupled to the sensor, the implement-based controller being configured to initiate control of a drive parameter of a work vehicle configured to tow the seed-planting implement based on sensor data received from the sensor in a manner that adjusts the speed of the seed-planting implement,

wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a vision-blocked sensor or a radio detection and ranging (RADAR) sensor configured to capture data indicative of soil flow through the furrow closing assembly.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the implement-based controller is further configured to monitor the detected operational parameter relative to at least one threshold parameter value associated with a performance of the furrow closing assembly and initiate control of the drive parameter in a manner that adjusts the speed of the seed-planting implement when the operational parameter exceeds or falls below the at least one threshold parameter value.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the operational parameter corresponds to at least one of a penetration depth, a rotational speed, a load, or an acceleration associated with the at least one ground engaging component.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the implement-based controller is configured to initiate control of the drive parameter of the work vehicle in a manner that reduces the speed of the seed-planting implement when at least one of the penetration depth falls below a predetermined penetration depth value, the rotational speed falls below a predetermined rotational speed value, the load exceeds a predetermined load value, or the acceleration exceeds a predetermined acceleration value.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the implement-based controller is configured to initiate control of the drive parameter of the work vehicle to adjust the speed of the seed-planting implement based on the operational parameter and a field condition of a field across which the seed-planting implement is being towed.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the implement-based controller is further configured to monitor the field condition based on at least one of stored field data or field data captured by a field sensor.

7. The system of claim 5 , wherein the field condition corresponds to a field roughness, the implement-based controller configured to initiate control of the drive parameter of the work vehicle in a manner that adjusts the speed of the seed-planting implement when it is determined that the monitored field roughness has exceeded a predetermined field roughness threshold.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the implement-based controller is configured to receive the sensor data from the sensor and transmit signals to a vehicle-based controller of the work vehicle requesting that the vehicle-based controller adjust the drive parameter.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle-based controller is configured to adjust the drive parameter of the work vehicle based on the signals received from the implement-based controller.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the drive parameter corresponds to a parameter of at least one of an engine, a transmission, or a braking actuator of the work vehicle.

11. A method for controlling the speed of a seed-planting implement, the method comprising:

monitoring, with an implement-based computing device installed on the seed-planting implement, an operational parameter of a furrow closing assembly of the seed-planting implement;

comparing, with the implement-based computing device, the monitored operational parameter to at least one threshold parameter value associated with a performance of the furrow closing assembly;

when the monitored operational parameter exceeds or falls below the least one threshold parameter value, initiating, with the implement-based computing device, control of a drive parameter of a work vehicle configured to tow the seed-planting implement in a manner that adjusts the speed of the seed-planting implement; and

receiving, with the implement-based computing device, data indicative of soil flow through the furrow closing assembly from a sensor.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the operational parameter corresponds to at least one of a penetration depth, a rotational speed, a load, or an acceleration associated with the at least one ground engaging component of the furrow closing assembly, the at least one ground engaging component configured to rotate relative to soil within a field as the agricultural implement is moved across the field.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

initiating, with the implement-based computing device, control of the drive parameter of the work vehicle in a manner that reduces the speed of the seed-planting implement when at least one of the penetration depth falls below a predetermined penetration depth value, the rotational speed falls below a predetermined rotational speed value, the load exceeds a predetermined load value, or the acceleration exceeds a predetermined acceleration value.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

initiating, with the implement-based computing device, control of the drive parameter of the work vehicle to adjust the speed of the seed planting implement based on the operational parameter and a field condition of a field across which the seed-planting implement is being towed.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:

monitoring, with the implement-based computing device, the field condition based on at least one of stored field data or field data received from a field sensor.

16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the field condition corresponds to a field roughness, the method further comprising:

initiating, with the implement-based computing device, control of the drive parameter of the work vehicle in a manner that adjusts the speed of the seed-planting implement when it is determined that the monitored field roughness has exceeded a predetermined field roughness threshold.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:

receiving, with the implement-based computing device, the sensor data from the sensor; and

transmitting, with the implement-based computing device, signals to a vehicle-based controller of the work vehicle requesting that the vehicle-based controller adjust the drive parameter.

18. The method of claim 11 , wherein the drive parameter corresponds to a parameter of at least one of an engine, a transmission, or a braking actuator of the work vehicle.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 19, 2021
From: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
To: BLUE LEAF I.P., INC.
Reel/Frame 055343/0448 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2018
From: SCHOENY, CHRISTOPHER; STANHOPE, TREVOR; LANDOLT, DARIAN E.
To: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 047107/0654 →
Continuity (1)
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