IP Library Granted Patent US 11,602,092
Granted Patent B2
US 11,602,092 · App. 16/830,410 · Granted Mar 14, 2023

Frame control system for an agricultural implement

Inventor: Michael George Kovach (Morton, IL)
Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
A01B63/008A01B49/027A01B63/32A01B79/005G01B7/023G01S13/08G01S15/08G01S17/08
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,602,092
App. No.
16/830,410
Granted
Mar 14, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A frame control system for an agricultural implement includes a first sensor configured to be coupled to a sub-frame of the agricultural implement and directed toward a soil surface. The first sensor is configured to emit a first output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of the sub-frame above the soil surface. The frame control system also includes a first sub-frame actuator configured to be coupled to the sub-frame and to a main frame of the agricultural implement. The first sub-frame actuator is configured to control a first position of the sub-frame relative to the main frame along a vertical axis. In addition, the frame control system includes a controller configured to control the first sub-frame actuator such that a difference between the first height and a target height is less than a threshold value.

Claims (30)

1. A frame control system for an agricultural implement, comprising:

a first sensor configured to be positioned at a forward end portion of a sub-frame of the agricultural implement and directed toward a soil surface, wherein the sub-frame is configured to be positioned below a main frame of the agricultural implement, and the first sensor is configured to emit a first output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of the forward end portion of the sub-frame above the soil surface;

a second sensor configured to be positioned at a rearward end portion of the sub-frame and directed toward the soil surface, wherein the second sensor is configured to emit a second output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a second return signal indicative of a second height of the rearward end portion of the sub-frame above the soil surface;

a first sub-frame actuator configured to be coupled to the sub-frame and to the main frame, wherein the first sub-frame actuator is configured to control a first position of the forward end portion of the sub-frame relative to the main frame along a vertical axis;

a second sub-frame actuator configured to be coupled to the sub-frame and to the main frame, wherein the second sub-frame actuator is configured to control a second position of the rearward end portion of the sub-frame relative to the main frame along the vertical axis; and

a controller comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the first sensor, to the first sub-frame actuator, to the second sensor, and to the second sub-frame actuator, and the controller is configured to control the first sub-frame actuator and the second sub-frame actuator such that a difference between the first height and a first target height is less than a threshold value, and a difference between the second height and a second target height is less than the threshold value.

2. The frame control system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second sub-frame actuators such that a difference between the first height and the second height is less than a second threshold value.

3. The frame control system of claim 1 , wherein the first target height is different than the second target height.

4. The frame control system of claim 1 , wherein the first sensor comprises an infrared sensor, a radio detection and ranging sensor, a lidar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a capacitive sensor.

5. An agricultural implement, comprising:

a main frame configured to support a first plurality of ground engaging tools;

a sub-frame movably coupled to the main frame, wherein the sub-frame is positioned below the main frame, and the sub-frame is configured to support a second plurality of ground engaging tools; and

a frame control system, comprising:

a first sensor positioned at a forward end portion of the sub-frame and directed toward a soil surface, wherein the first sensor is configured to emit a first output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of the forward end portion of the sub-frame above the soil surface;

a second sensor positioned at a rearward end portion of the sub-frame and directed toward the soil surface, wherein the second sensor is configured to emit a second output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a second return signal indicative of a second height of the rearward end portion of the sub-frame above the soil surface;

a first sub-frame actuator coupled to the sub-frame and to the main frame, wherein the first sub-frame actuator is configured to control a first position of the forward end portion of the sub-frame relative to the main frame along a vertical axis;

a second sub-frame actuator coupled to the sub-frame and to the main frame, wherein the second sub-frame actuator is configured to control a second position of the rearward end portion of the sub-frame relative to the main frame along the vertical axis; and

a controller comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the first sensor, to the first sub-frame actuator, to the second sensor, and to the second sub-frame actuator, and the controller is configured to control the first sub-frame actuator and the second sub-frame actuator such that a difference between the first height and a first target height is less than a threshold value, and a difference between the second height and a second target height is less than the threshold value.

6. The agricultural implement of claim 5 , wherein the first sensor comprises an infrared sensor, a radio detection and ranging sensor, a lidar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a capacitive sensor.

7. The agricultural implement of claim 5 , wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second sub-frame actuators such that a difference between the first height and the second height is less than a second threshold value.

8. The agricultural implement of claim 5 , wherein the first target height is different than the second target height.

9. A frame control system for an agricultural implement, comprising:

a first sensor configured to be positioned at a left end portion of a sub-frame of the agricultural implement and directed toward a soil surface, wherein the sub-frame is configured to be positioned below a main frame of the agricultural implement, and the first sensor is configured to emit a first output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of the left end portion of the sub-frame above the soil surface;

a second sensor configured to be positioned at a right end portion of the sub-frame and directed toward the soil surface, wherein the second sensor is configured to emit a second output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a second return signal indicative of a second height of the right end portion of the sub-frame above the soil surface;

a first sub-frame actuator configured to be coupled to the sub-frame and to the main frame, wherein the first sub-frame actuator is configured to control a first position of the left end portion of the sub-frame relative to the main frame along a vertical axis;

a second sub-frame actuator configured to be coupled to the sub-frame and to the main frame, wherein the second sub-frame actuator is configured to control a second position of the right end portion of the sub-frame relative to the main frame along the vertical axis; and

a controller comprising a memory and a processor, wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the first sensor, to the first sub-frame actuator, to the second sensor, and to the second sub-frame actuator, and the controller is configured to control the first sub-frame actuator and the second sub-frame actuator such that a difference between the first height and a first target height is less than a threshold value, and a difference between the second height and a second target height is less than the threshold value.

10. The frame control system of claim 9 , wherein the controller is configured to control the first and second sub-frame actuators such that a difference between the first height and the second height is less than a second threshold value.

11. The frame control system of claim 9 , wherein the first target height is different than the second target height.

12. The frame control system of claim 9 , wherein the first sensor comprises an infrared sensor, a radio detection and ranging sensor, a lidar sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a capacitive sensor.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
To: BLUE LEAF I.P., INC.
Reel/Frame 064350/0881 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 30, 2020
From: KOVACH, MICHAEL GEORGE
To: CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC
Reel/Frame 053355/0436 →
Continuity (1)
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