Method and device for identification of an implement

A method is provided for recording or documentation of an operation of one or more implements configured to be hitched to a utility vehicle. The method includes generating an identification information item associated with each implement, and providing the identification information item with an identification coding. The identification coding is different for each of the one or more implements.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to German Application Ser. No. 102017201040.1, filed Jan. 23, 2017, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a method and a device for recording or documentation of the operation of an implement that can be hitched to a utility vehicle. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a system for documentation of the operation of an implement that can be hitched to a utility vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Utility vehicles, e.g., an agricultural utility vehicle, are often hitched to so-called implements (for example, accessory equipment or ballast weight) in order to carry out specific operations such as field operations. An identification or documentation of the operation of the utility vehicle and the implement can be desirable in this case.

A method and a device for the analysis or documentation of the operation of an agricultural utility vehicle is known from DE 10 2014 202 181 A1. In this case an assessment can be made about the operating status (for example, road transport or field operation) of the combination of the utility vehicle and the implement that may be hitched to it.

There is need, however, of identifying different operating statuses of an implement at low technical and economic expense that cannot be achieved by conventional methods or systems known in the art.

SUMMARY

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method serves to record or document the operation of an implement that can be hitched to a utility vehicle. A characteristic identification information item is generated for each implement. The identification information item can contain a plurality of individual information items, which refer to the relevant implement. The identification information item can be considered as a data set, with which an individual implement is associated. The identification information item contains at least one identification coding (for example, an ID number), which is different for every implement hitched to the utility vehicle. Thus, each implement is unambiguously identifiable.

The identification coding and other specific data associated with the relevant implement together form the identification information item. In this way an overview and documentation of all implements as well as their operation, in particular their current position or current operating status, can be made available at low technical and economic expense even in the case of larger agricultural operations and a correspondingly large number of utility vehicles and implements.

In particular, the identification coding can be associated with an implement as soon as it is hitched to a utility vehicle for the first time, i.e., after the start of the method or after the start of a suitable device for recording or documentation.

The utility vehicle may be an agricultural vehicle, in particular, a tractor. The implement hitched to the utility vehicle is designed as accessory equipment (for example, attachment for soil working, seeder, bailer, mower, front loader, transport trailer) or as a ballast weight (for ballast for the utility vehicle). The implement is hitched to the utility vehicle via a hitch (in particular, a three-point hitch), which is disposed on a support structure of the utility vehicle.

As already mentioned, the identification information item contains additional data, which are associated with the relevant implement. The additional data support a suitable description of the implements that are present and thus facilitate a clear documentation of the implements.

In one embodiment, the identification information item contains, as additional data, a mass or weight of the implement. In this case, the mass or weight is measured without technical measuring expense, since the data are measured on the utility vehicle anyway by means of an arrangement that acts as a three-point hitch scale (for example, a three-point hitch and associated sensors) and is, for example, standardly available on an electronic bus of the utility vehicle.

In another embodiment, the identification information item contains, as additional data, an identifier (for example, identification number) of an RFID unit (for example, passive RFID transponder) which is disposed on the implement. The RFID unit corresponds with an RFID reader, which is disposed on the utility vehicle. One or more RFID readers are disposed in the region of the front or rear three-point hitches of the utility vehicle. The data of the RFID readers can then be made available on an electronic bus of the utility vehicle.

In addition, the identification number contains, as additional data or as characteristic parameters of the implement, its center-of-gravity coordinates relative to a suitable reference point on the utility vehicle.

Moreover, the identification number contains at least one operating parameter that characterizes or represents the relevant implement. The at least one operating parameter contains, in particular, a current operating status or a current position of the relevant implement.

For example, the implement can have the operating status “raised” or “parked.” This is dependent on whether the implement is hitched to the utility vehicle (status “raised”) or not (status “parked”). This distinction can advantageously be detected or registered without additional technical expense by means of a three-point hitch scale that is present on the utility vehicle anyway, by evaluating various data from sensors of the three-point hitch scale.

The operating status “raised” of the implement is defined still more specifically, in that a status variant is associated with the operating status. The status variant is determined as a status classification of the utility vehicle, so that no additional technical means are necessary on the implement in order to analyze or recognize the operating status of the utility vehicle. In particular, at least the following statuses are envisioned for the status classification: “stopped,” “in road transport,” and “in field operation.”

Thus, without additional technical expense on the implement itself, at least the following different operating statuses can be identified and correspondingly documented for the implement: “Parked,” “raised - stopped,” “raised - in road transport,” “raised - in field operation.”

An “attachment position” of the implement hitched to the utility vehicle is envisioned as a suitable operating parameter. The attachment position again can easily be measured without additional technical expense by means of a three-point hitch scale that is present on the utility vehicle anyway, by evaluating various data from sensors of the three-point hitch scale. In this way it can be technically easily identified and documented if the implement is, for example, mounted on the front side or the rear side of the utility vehicle without needing to expensively equip the implement itself with additional technical means for this.

Further, position information with respect to the implement is appropriate as operating parameter, where the data of said position again are measured without technical devices on the implement itself by deriving it from a current position of the utility vehicle. In particular, the position of the implement is defined on the basis of the current position coordinates of the utility vehicle, where said position coordinates are made available as data by means of a sensor unit of the utility vehicle for sensing signals of a position determining system (for example, GPS, Glonass, Galileo).

The operating parameter “position” can also be utilized so that the current position of the operating vehicle is recorded when the implement is unhitched from the utility vehicle and is parked at a parking position. Through this the identification information item of the implement also implies its current parking position or its current parking place. This supports an unambiguous documentation and oversight of all of the implements of an operation or vehicle fleet. With the recorded current parking position of a plurality of implements, it is also possible for a user, in particular a driver of the utility vehicle, to be guided directly to an available implement that also matches the job assignment to be carried out by means of a navigation system.

A vehicle information item, the data of which represent one or more utility vehicles, is envisioned as operating parameter characterizing the implement. In this way the vehicle information item can provide information about the utility vehicle to which the implement is currently hitched or about the utility vehicles to which the implement was hitched in the past. To generate the vehicle information item one can again do without any technical expense on the implement. Rather one can fall back on data that are available in the electronic equipment of the utility vehicle (for example, the electronic bus). As soon as the implement is hitched to a utility vehicle, the operating parameter “vehicle information item” can receive vehicle-specific data of the current utility vehicle.

In particular, the currently hitched utility vehicle in each case is registered with said operating parameter so that in the course of the operation of the implement a history of the utility vehicles used in combination with said implement can also be recorded and documented.

In another embodiment a useful life in terms of time is envisioned as operating parameter of the implement. Through this, a useful life of the implement in various operating statuses can be identified or documented.

Overall, by means of the identification information item explained above, operating statuses and position data with respect to an implement can be analyzed, documented, and queried, without specific technical equipment (for example, control device, telematics unit) on the implement itself being required. Rather one refers chiefly or entirely to data that are generated on the utility vehicle or are standardly available there (for example on a telematics unit or on an electronic bus of the utility vehicle). Through this the technical and economic expense for recording or documentation of the operation of any implement remains low. Thus, it is also possible in a technically simple way to analyze or document, without electrical control devices or telematics units, the operation of those implements that are operated, for example soil working devices or ballast weights.

Problems in the art may also be solved by a device for recording or documentation of the operation of an implement that can be hitched to a utility vehicle.

The device is programmed to generate an identification information item associated with the implement that is hitched in each case. The identification information item contains an identification coding, which is different for each implement hitched to the utility vehicle. Through this it is also possible in the case of a larger agricultural operation or a larger vehicle fleet to be able to distinguish unambiguously each individual implement from the others.

The device can be any electronic apparatus. For example, it can be designed as an on-board computer of the utility vehicle or as a separate computer (for example, laptop, tablet, smartphone).

The device is designed as a component of a telematics unit of the utility vehicle or as a telematics unit of the utility vehicle. Through this, standard electronic components of the utility vehicle can be used to achieve the desired recording or documentation of the operation of various implements. The telematics unit of the utility vehicle utilizes a satellite-based positioning system, the vehicle's own control devices, and mobile telephony for recording and documentation of positions and operating statuses of the utility vehicle. In this way an uneconomical equipping of the implements themselves with additional technologies such as specific electronics, control devices, etc., can be dispensed with.

The problem posed at the start is additionally solved by a system for documentation of the operation of an implement that can be hitched to a utility vehicle by means of an identification information item generated for each implement. A sending unit of the system transmits the generated identification information item to a data center that is external with reference to the utility vehicle (for example, a server station). The system allows workers of an agricultural operation, for example, to be able to access the documented identification information item and to display the current position of one or more implements via a suitable end device (for example, smartphone, laptop, tablet). In this way, operations managers and drivers of the utility vehicles have oversight over all implements. By means of the documented identification information items, it is also possible to check technical features of the combination of utility vehicle and implement without an extra expense. For example, whether a tractor is optimally ballasted for its relevant agricultural job assignment can be checked.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

InFIG. 1, a utility vehicle10is shown in the form of an agricultural tractor. It has a support structure12, front wheels14, and rear wheels16. An operator station is situated in a cab18.

A three-point hitch20is mounted at the rear of the utility vehicle10. The three-point hitch20serves to raise or tow any desired implement22, which is represented schematically and only in part. The three-point hitch20includes a hydraulic top link24, which is mounted on a hinge in the rear region of the support structure12. In addition, the three-point hitch20comprises two lower arms26, which are arranged side by side and which are likewise mounted by hinges at the rear region of the support structure12. Each lower lift arm26is connected via a lift element28(for example, lift spindle) to one end of a lift arm30, which is connected by hinge to the support structure12of the utility vehicle10. The lift arm30can be pivoted with respect to the support structure12via a hydraulic lift cylinder32that is supported against the support structure12.

FIG. 1shows a plurality of sensors on the utility vehicle10, which serve to make measurements or to record various physical quantities, in particular at individual components of the rear three-point hitch20and a front three-point hitch21(which are shown schematically and not true to scale). From the sensor data, among other things, a gravitational force or mass m of the rear implement22or a front implement23can be determined. A three-point hitch or associated sensors are effective as a three-point hitch scale.

Sensors34are designed as an inertial or acceleration sensor disposed permanently on the vehicle (alternatively, tilt or rate or rotation sensor). The hydraulic pressure at lift cylinders32is measured by means of a pressure sensor36. A top link angle between the top link24and a vehicle horizontal running in the lengthwise direction of the utility vehicle10is determined by means of an inertial or tilt sensor38. A force sensor40measures a tensile force at the lower lift arm26. A sensor42measures the lift height and thus a position of the rear three-point hitch20. Pressure sensors44,46measure the hydraulic pressure of the top link24. A control device48, which can provide information via the so-called mast height of the rear three-point hitch20, is optionally disposed on implement22.

The front three-point hitch21in turn has a hydraulic top link50and two lower lift arms52, which are arranged side by side. They are on the one hand each hinged to the support structure12and on the other hand connected to the implement23. The implement23inFIG. 1is shown as a ballast weight, but can also have any other form.

A top link angle between the top link50and a vehicle horizontal running in the lengthwise direction of the utility vehicle10is measured by means of an inertial sensor54. The hydraulic pressure of the top link50is measured by means of pressure sensors56,58. A pressure sensor60measures the hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic lift cylinder62that is supported against the support structure12and is at the same time connected to a lower lift arm50. A sensor64measures a position, in particular a lift height, of the rear three-point hitch20.

In each case according to the embodiment, individual ones of the sensors can be omitted or can be replaced by other sensors, so that different arrangements with a different combination of sensors can result in order to record information items with respect to the three-point hitches20,21or the implements22,23.

In addition, a control device66, which can, among other things, process the sensor data of the front three-point hitch21or the rear three-point hitch22and can be connected to an electronic bus (for example, CAN bus) of the utility vehicle10, is disposed on the utility vehicle10. In addition, an RFID unit68(for example, transponder) with an RFID identification number KN can be disposed on an implement (i.e., inFIG. 1the ballast weight23). An RFID reader70disposed on utility vehicle10records the data or the RFID identification number KN of the RFID unit68. In another embodiment, the rear implement20can also have an RFID unit, which corresponds with a corresponding RFID reader.

The utility vehicle10additionally provides a receiving antenna72to receive the signals from satellites of a position determining system (for example, GPS, Galileo, Glonass) and a control device74as a component of a telematics unit76of the utility vehicle10. The telematics unit76is connected to a mobile radio antenna78, which communicates with a mobile radio antenna80of an external data center82related to the utility vehicle10(for example, server station or the like at the agricultural operation or at the vehicle manufacturer) for purposes of data transfer.

In the usual way, the cab18also has an operations and display unit84for the operator or driver of the utility vehicle10. As operator interface the operations and display unit84is actively and appropriately connected, for example, to an electronic bus (for example CAN) of the utility vehicle10.

FIG. 2shows individual components of the utility vehicle10that may be used for a recording and documentation of the operation of the implement22or the ballast weight23. The individual components have already been designated and explained essentially inFIG. 1. They are connected to an electronic vehicle bus86(for example CAN bus).

The telematics unit76is active as a device for recording or documentation of the operation of an implement, i.e., the implement22hitched to the utility vehicle10or the ballast weight23hitched to the utility vehicle10. Here, the telematics unit76is programmed so that the relevant implement22,23is assigned an identification coding ID as a component of an identification information item ID-Info when it is first hitched to the utility vehicle10. The identification information item ID-Info for each implement contains a plurality of characteristic data in order to differentiate the individual implements, for example, on an agricultural operation or a vehicle fleet, and to document them clearly.

The identification information item ID-Info contains the mass m of the implement22,23as additional characteristic parameters. The mass m can be determined in a known way via the data of the relevant three-point hitch20,21and the associated sensors and made available in a corresponding control device88(for the three-point hitch scale of the rear three-point hitch20) or control device90(for the three-point hitch scale of the front three-point hitch21). The telematics unit76can then access the data concerning the mass m.

As additional characteristic parameters, the telematics unit76records a center of gravity S of the relevant implement22,23relative to a defined reference point on the support structure12. The data can likewise be determined in a known way and made available in the control devices88,90. In addition, the telematics unit76can access the RFID identification number KN of the RFID unit68via the RFID reader70and append said data of the identification information item ID-Info to the relevant implement.

In addition, the identification information item ID-Info contains a plurality of operating parameters of the implement22,23that is to be recorded. The following are envisioned as operating parameters in the embodiment example:an operating status BZ to distinguish if the implement is hitched to the three-point hitch and raised or is unhitched from the three-point hitch and parked,a status variation BZ-Var in the operating status BZ=“raised” to distinguish if the implement is stopped, in road transport, or in field operation,a position Pos-G,an attachment position Pos-T to differentiate whether the implement is hitched to the rear or the front of the utility vehicle10,a useful life Δt of the implement in various operating statuses, anda vehicle information item T-X for recording the utility vehicle10with which the implement is currently hitched or was hitched in the past.

The operating status BZ can be recorded via the data of the control devices88,90, since the status data of the three-point hitches20,21are provided there. The status variation BZ-Var is recorded in the telematics unit76via a status classification of the utility vehicle10. The position Pos-G is recorded as a current position of the utility vehicle10by means of the receiving antenna72. The attachment position Pos-T can again be recorded via the data of the control devices88,90. The useful life Δt is derived from a time period of the three-point hitches20,21and the utility vehicle10in certain operating statuses that is made available at the vehicle bus86or in the telematics unit76. The vehicle information item T-X can be generated or actualized by the telematics unit76or by the external data center82.

The identification information item ID-Info generated in the telematics unit76of a utility vehicle10can, as a data set representing the hitched implement22or23, be sent via the mobile radio antenna78to the external data center82and stored there for documentation. Individual data of the identification information item ID-Info can be actualized in dependence on changed statuses of the implement22,23in the telematics unit76and again sent from there to the external data center82.

If an implement22,23hitched to utility vehicle10is unhitched and parked at a parking position, the parking position then corresponds to a current position Pos-G of the utility vehicle10. The position Pos-G is recorded in the telematics unit76as the current parking place of the implement22,23and is sent to the data center82for documentation. An authorized user (for example, operations manager of an agricultural operation or driver of another utility vehicle) can access the documentation in the data center82via a suitable end device92(for example, smartphone, laptop, tablet) and can display the location Pos-G of said implement. A system94which makes available clear documentation and oversight over all existing implements for all authorized users is formed through this. For example, one can check via the said operating parameters of the implements22,23to see if the utility vehicles10are hitched to the appropriate implements for their relevant job assignment, in particular are appropriately ballasted with a ballast weight23.

Thus, with the aforementioned method, the telematics unit76, and the system94, it is possible in a cost-effective way at low technical expense to record, communicate, and document positions and operating statuses of implements that are not themselves equipped with electronic components for recording their positions and operating statuses.