System and method for improved ride control for a work vehicle when transporting a drawn implement

1. A method for providing improved ride control for a work vehicle when transporting a drawn implement, the method comprising:

monitoring a load applied through at least one drawbar-related component of the work vehicle while the drawn implement is being transported by the work vehicle, the drawn implement being located at a transport position relative to a driving surface of the work vehicle such that a ground engaging tool of the drawn implement is located above the driving surface;

detecting a variation in the monitored load over time;

comparing the detected load variation in the monitored load to a predetermined load variance threshold; and

controlling an operation of at least one of an implement suspension system of the drawn implement or a vehicle suspension system of the work vehicle so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load when the load variation exceeds the predetermined load variance threshold, wherein controlling the operation of the least one of the implement suspension system of the drawn implement or the vehicle suspension system of the work vehicle comprises controlling the operation of the implement suspension system such that the ground-engaging tool is raised or lowered relative to the driving surface as the drawn implement is being transported so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the load applied through the at least one drawbar-related component comprises monitoring a vertical load transmitted through the at least one drawbar-related component from the drawn implement.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the at least one drawbar-related component comprises at least one of a drawbar or a drawbar support member of the work vehicle.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein monitoring the vertical load transmitted through the at least one drawbar-related component comprises receiving signals indicative of the vertical load transmitted through the at least one drawbar-related component from at least one sensor provided in operative association with the drawbar-related component.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a load sensor positioned between the drawbar and one of the drawbar support member or a pivot bracket of the work vehicle.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a strain gauge positioned on at least one of the drawbar or the drawbar support member.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a load-sensing bolt or a load-sensing washer provided in operative association with at least one of the drawbar or the drawbar support member.

8. A method for providing improved ride control for a work vehicle when transporting a drawn implement, the method comprising:

monitoring a load applied through at least one drawbar-related component of the work vehicle while the drawn implement is being transported by the work vehicle, the drawn implement being located at a transport position relative to a driving surface of the work vehicle such that a ground engaging tool of the drawn implement is located above the driving surface;

detecting a variation in the monitored load over time;

comparing the detected load variation in the monitored load to a predetermined load variance threshold; and

controlling an operation of at least one of an implement suspension system of the drawn implement or a vehicle suspension system of the work vehicle so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load when the load variation exceeds the predetermined load variance threshold, wherein controlling the operation of the least one of the implement suspension system of the drawn implement or the vehicle suspension system of the work vehicle comprises controlling the operation of the vehicle suspension system such that a front axle of the work vehicle is raised or lowered relative to a chassis of the work vehicle as the drawn implement is being transported so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load.

9. A method for providing improved ride control for a work vehicle when transporting a drawn implement, the method comprising:

monitoring a load applied through at least one drawbar-related component of the work vehicle while the drawn implement is being transported by the work vehicle, the drawn implement being located at a transport position relative to a driving surface of the work vehicle such that a ground engaging tool of the drawn implement is located above the driving surface;

detecting a variation in the monitored load over time;

comparing the detected load variation in the monitored load to a predetermined load variance threshold; and

controlling an operation of at least one of an implement suspension system of the drawn implement or a vehicle suspension system of the work vehicle so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load when the load variation exceeds the predetermined load variance threshold, wherein controlling the operation of the least one of the implement suspension system of the drawn implement or the vehicle suspension system of the work vehicle comprises raising or lowering a front axle of the work vehicle relative to a chassis of the work vehicle while simultaneously raising or lowering the ground-engaging tool relative to the driving surface as the drawn implement is being transported so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load.

10. A system for providing improved ride control for a work vehicle when transporting a drawn implement, the drawn implement being located at a transport position relative to a driving surface of the work vehicle such that a ground engaging tool of the drawn implement is located above the driving surface, the system comprising:

at least one drawbar-related component extending between the work vehicle and the drawn implement;

at least one sensor provided in operative association with the at least one drawbar-related component so as to detect a load applied through the at least one drawbar-related component; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller including a processor and associated memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the controller to:

monitor the load applied through the at least one drawbar-related component while the drawn implement is being transported by the work vehicle;

detect a variation in the monitored load over time;

compare the detected load variation in the monitored load to a predetermined load variance threshold; and

control an operation of at least one of an implement suspension system of the drawn implement or a vehicle suspension system of the work vehicle so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load when the load variation exceeds the predetermined load variance threshold, wherein controller is configured to control the operation of the implement suspension system such that the ground-engaging tool is raised or lowered relative to the driving surface as the drawn implement is being transported so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a vertical load transmitted through the drawbar from the drawn implement.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one drawbar-related component comprises at least one of a drawbar or a drawbar support member of the work vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a load sensor positioned between the drawbar and one of the drawbar support member or a pivot bracket of the work vehicle.

14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a strain gauge positioned on at least one of the drawbar or the drawbar support member.

15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one sensor comprises a load-sensing bolt or a load-sensing washer provided in operative association with at least one of the drawbar or the drawbar support member.

16. System for providing improved ride control for a work vehicle when transporting a drawn implement, the drawn implement being located at a transport position relative to a driving surface of the work vehicle such that a ground engaging tool of the drawn implement is located above the driving surface, the system comprising:

at least one drawbar-related component extending between the work vehicle and the drawn implement;

at least one sensor provided in operative association with the at least one drawbar-related component so as to detect a load applied through the at least one drawbar-related component; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller including a processor and associated memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the controller to:

monitor the load applied through the at least one drawbar-related component while the drawn implement is being transported by the work vehicle;

detect a variation in the monitored load over time;

compare the detected load variation in the monitored load to a predetermined load variance threshold; and

control an operation of at least one of an implement suspension system of the drawn implement or a vehicle suspension system of the work vehicle so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load when the load variation exceeds the predetermined load variance threshold, wherein the controller is configured to control the operation of the vehicle suspension system such that a front axle of the work vehicle is raised or lowered relative to a chassis of the work vehicle as the drawn implement is being transported so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load.

17. System for providing improved ride control for a work vehicle when transporting a drawn implement, the drawn implement being located at a transport position relative to a driving surface of the work vehicle such that a ground engaging tool of the drawn implement is located above the driving surface, the system comprising:

at least one drawbar-related component extending between the work vehicle and the drawn implement;

at least one sensor provided in operative association with the at least one drawbar-related component so as to detect a load applied through the at least one drawbar-related component; and

a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller including a processor and associated memory, the memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, configure the controller to:

monitor the load applied through the at least one drawbar-related component while the drawn implement is being transported by the work vehicle;

detect a variation in the monitored load over time;

compare the detected load variation in the monitored load to a predetermined load variance threshold; and

control an operation of at least one of an implement suspension system of the drawn implement or a vehicle suspension system of the work vehicle so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load when the load variation exceeds the predetermined load variance threshold, wherein the controller is configured to raise or lower a front axle of the work vehicle relative to a chassis of the work vehicle while simultaneously raising or lowering the ground-engaging tool relative to the driving surface as the drawn implement is being transported so as to reduce the detected load variation in the monitored load.