Abstract:
An agricultural planter has a chassis with a tool bar and at least one row unit. Each row unit is carried by the tool bar and has a fluid actuator and a linkage assembly connecting it to the tool bar. The linkage assembly and fluid actuator allows the row unit to be raised and lowered. A control module is operable to individually raise and lower each row unit on the agricultural planter using the fluid actuator in response to either a manual input, an automatically determined requirement or condition of the at least one row unit, or an automatically determined operating condition of the agricultural planter. The control module is further operable to prevent the raising or lowering of an individual row unit on the agricultural planter based on either a configuration of the agricultural planter or the potential occurrence of an undesirable weight or drag distribution.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to agricultural planters, and, more particularly, to agricultural planters having individual row units that can be raised and lowered. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Agricultural planters are commonly used implements to plant seeds in soil. An agricultural planter can include a chassis that carries one or more storage tanks full of seeds or other particulate that is to be spread on a field for planting, a hitch mechanism that attaches to a tractor or other implement pulled by a tractor, and a tool bar to which row units can be connected so that they are carried by the chassis. 
         [0005]    Each row unit of the agricultural planter places seeds in the field. Typically, the row units are laterally arranged along a length of the tool bar so that as the planter is pulled across the field, each row unit plants seeds at predefined intervals along the path it is pulled across. To plant seeds, the row units perform four main operations as they are pulled: opening a trench in the soil; placing a seed into the formed trench at appropriate intervals; closing the formed trench to put soil on top of the placed seed; and packing soil on top of the seed to provide desirable soil contact with the placed seed. To open a trench in the soil, a furrowing disc, also called an opening disc, presses into the soil and rotates, dislocating soil as it rotates to form the trench. Once the trench is open, a seed is placed in the trench by a metering device which receives seeds from the main storage tank(s) or a row unit storage tank and typically utilizes a combination of differential air pressure and gravity to place the seed in the trench at predefined intervals along the pulled path so that adjacent seeds in the row are not too close to one another. One or more closing discs carried behind the furrowing disc are pressed into the soil and also rotate as the planter is pulled to replace soil dislocated by the furrowing disc in the trench or dislocate adjacent soil into the trench to cover the seed placed in the trench with soil. Finally, one or more pressing wheels carried behind the closing disc(s) exerts pressure on the soil covering the seed to press the soil down onto the seed and provide good soil contact with the seed. By having multiple row units working in unison as the planter is pulled across a field, many seeds can be effectively planted in an efficient manner. 
         [0006]    Agricultural planters, like other agricultural implements, are often very wide, in order to efficiently perform their function over a large area in a given pass by the implement. In order to accomplish this, and yet to be transportable by road, they are often built to be folded into a transport configuration and unfolded into a working configuration. Additionally, given this very wide working configuration, agricultural planters and other agricultural implements are commonly provided with articulating hinges or joints that allow them to conform to ground contours. Such wide agricultural planters often encounter conditions wherein it is suitable to operate certain row units, while deactivating other row units. It is known to raise and lower sections of row units in unison. However, it is sometimes needed to be able to raise and lower individual row units in order to respond to specific usage requirements, such as when the plantable ground is smaller than the usable width of the agricultural planter, or when natural ground conditions or obstacles call for it. 
         [0007]    Under these conditions, a sudden and/or uneven raising of row units can introduce unwanted uneven weight or drag distribution, with detrimental effects on the agricultural planter or on the tractor pulling it. Further, raising too many row units in one portion of the agricultural planter may cause it to sink excessively and compact the soil unnecessarily. Additionally, responding to a command to raise or lower an individual row unit without considering the state of the agricultural planter may result in the individual row unit being raised or lowered when the tool bar height prevents full travel of the row unit. 
         [0008]    What is needed in the art is an agricultural planter that is operable to automatically or manually respond to specific usage requirements of the row units, such as the plantable ground being less than the overall width of the agricultural planter, and to natural ground conditions, such as rough terrain, ditches, streams, obstacles, and the like, while recognizing and avoiding raising and lowering individual row units under certain conditions such as ground conditions or conditions that would result in unsafe uneven weight or drag distribution. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention to automatically or manually respond to specific usage requirements of the row units and to natural ground conditions while recognizing and avoiding raising and lowering individual row units under certain conditions such as ground conditions or conditions that would result in unsafe uneven weight or drag distribution. 
         [0010]    The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural planter having a chassis with a tool bar and at least one row unit. Each row unit is carried by the tool bar and has a fluid actuator and a linkage assembly connecting it to the tool bar. The linkage assembly and fluid actuator allows the row unit to be raised and lowered. A control module is operable to individually raise and lower each row unit on the agricultural planter using the fluid actuator in response to either a manual input, an automatically determined requirement or condition of the at least one row unit, or an automatically determined operating condition of the agricultural planter. The control module is further operable to prevent the raising or lowering of an individual row unit on the agricultural planter based on either a configuration of the agricultural planter or the potential occurrence of an undesirable weight or drag distribution. 
         [0011]    The invention in another form is directed to a control system for an agricultural planter having a chassis with a tool bar and at least one row unit. Each row unit is carried by the tool bar and is operable to be raised and lowered by a fluid actuator. The control system is operable to individually raise and lower each row unit on the agricultural planter using the fluid actuator in response to either a manual input, an automatically determined requirement or condition of the at least one row unit, or an automatically determined operating condition of the agricultural planter. The control system is further operable to prevent the raising or lowering of an individual row unit on the agricultural planter based on either a configuration of the agricultural planter or the potential occurrence of an undesirable weight or drag distribution. 
         [0012]    The invention in another form is directed to a method for operating an agricultural planter having a chassis with a tool bar and at least one row unit. Each row unit is carried by the tool bar and is operable to be raised and lowered by a fluid actuator. The method takes the steps of individually raising and lowering each row unit on the agricultural planter using the fluid actuator in response to either a manual input, an automatically determined requirement or condition of the at least one row unit, or an automatically determined operating condition of the agricultural planter. The method takes the further steps of preventing the raising or lowering of each individual row unit on the agricultural planter based on either a configuration of the agricultural planter or the potential occurrence of an undesirable weight or drag distribution. 
         [0013]    An advantage of the present invention is that it allows for individual raising and lowering of row units while recognizing and avoiding unsafe uneven weight or drag distribution and other such detrimental effects. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0015]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an embodiment of an agricultural planter according to the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is a top view of the agricultural planter shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a rear view of the agricultural planter shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is a left view of the agricultural planter shown in  FIGS. 1-3 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is a right view of the agricultural planter shown in  FIGS. 1-4 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an isometric view of an embodiment of a row unit of an agricultural planter according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is a schematic of an embodiment of an electrical and hydraulic arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a control method carried out on the controller depicted in  FIG. 7 ; 
           [0023]      FIG. 9  is a further representation of inputs and outputs of the controller depicted in  FIG. 7 ; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 10  is a further representation of the relationship of conditions and outputs of the controller depicted in  FIG. 7 . 
       
    
    
       [0025]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0026]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIGS. 1 through 5 , there is shown an embodiment of an agricultural planter  5  according to the present invention which generally includes a chassis  10  forming a support structure for components of the agricultural planter  5 . The agricultural planter  5  can be formed by a hitch assembly  12  at a front of the agricultural planter  5  connected to a tool bar  14 , main wheels  16  carried by the chassis  10  near the rear of the agricultural planter  5 , one or more storage tanks  18 ,  20  and  22  that can be filled with seed or other agriculture material carried by the chassis  10 , and a plurality of row units  24  connected to the tool bar  14  and arranged laterally across a length of the tool bar  14  so that they are carried by the chassis  10 . 
         [0027]    The hitch assembly  12  can include a hitch  26  configured to be connected to a tractor or other agricultural implement (not shown) so that the agricultural planter  5  can be pulled in a forward direction of travel  110 . The hitch  26  can be integrally formed with or connected to a hitch bar  28  that is connected to the tool bar  14  by bracing bars  30  and one or more folding cylinders  32 . As can be seen, the agricultural planter  5  can also have various hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical lines (unnumbered) throughout to support various cylinders and systems that are included on the agricultural planter  5 . A marking device  36  can be connected to each lateral end of the tool bar  14  and extendable so that a marking disc  38  of the marking device  36  can create a line in the soil as the agricultural planter  5  is pulled that helps a user in positioning the agricultural planter  5  to create subsequent rows. A stair assembly  40  can be mounted to the back of the agricultural planter  5  to allow for an operator to access the storage tanks  20  and  22 . 
         [0028]    The chassis  10  of the agricultural planter  5  is further divided into a center section  44  that remains in fixed relation perpendicular with the hitch assembly  12  both when the agricultural planter  5  is in a working configuration and when the agricultural planter  5  is folded for transport, a right hand wing section  60 , and a left hand wing section  80 . The right hand wing section  60  has at least one right hand wing section wheel  68 , and the left hand wing section  80  has at least one left hand wing section wheel  88 . The right hand wing section  60  and the left hand wing section  80  are foldable forward about the hitch bar  28  using folding cylinders  32  when the agricultural planter  5  is folded for transport. When the agricultural planter  5  is in its working configuration as shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , it is sufficiently wide that it is provided with a right hand wing horizontal pivot joint  62  and a left hand wing horizontal pivot joint  82 , which allows right hand wing section  60  and left hand wing section  80 , respectively, to articulate up and down in order to conform to ground contours. 
         [0029]    Each of the row units  24  located on the tool bar  14  of the respective center section  44 , right hand wing section  60 , and left hand wing section  80 , is provided with furrowing discs  50 , closing discs  52 , and pressing wheels  54 . Such a row unit  24  is shown in  FIG. 6 . The row unit  24  shown in  FIG. 6  is further provided with a frame  56 , a hopper  58 , and a seed distributing mechanism  46 . A linkage assembly  48  connects the row unit  24  to the tool bar  14  (not shown in  FIG. 6 ), and provides for vertical motion of the row unit  24  relative to the tool bar  14 . A row unit hydraulic lift cylinder  42  is connected to the linkage assembly  48  and to the tool bar  14 , and is usable to lift the individual row unit  24  up and off the ground. 
         [0030]    Each individual row unit  24  has its own hydraulic lift cylinder  42  with its own electronically controlled solenoid valve  70 . Each electronically controlled solenoid valve  70  is connected to a control module  72 , which is also connected to an electronically controlled raise/lower valve  74  and to pressure transducers  76  and  86 . Hydraulic supply  78  and return  84  lines lead from and to a towing tractor (not shown) and provide hydraulic pressure. The control module  72  is operable either automatically or on command of an operator to raise an individual row unit  24  by first determining whether there is hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic supply line  78 , second activating raise/lower valve  74 , and then opening the individual row unit&#39;s electronically controlled solenoid valve  70 . The control module  72  is further operable either automatically or on command of an operator to lower an individual row unit  24  by deactivating raise/lower valve  74  and then opening the individual row unit&#39;s electronically controlled solenoid valve  70 . 
         [0031]    Note that the hydraulic lift cylinder  42  indicated in  FIG. 7  is indicated as a single acting push type cylinder, although a double acting push/pull type cylinder may be used, and is represented as such in  FIG. 6 , wherein the row unit  24  is lifted from the ground when the cylinder is acting in pull. In this case, the raise/lower valve  74  and individual electronically controlled solenoid valve  70  would be replaced by individual direction control valves. In the arrangement where a single acting cylinder is used, a method is represented in  FIGS. 8, 9, and 10  that the control module  72  undertakes when raising or lowering individual row units  24 . 
         [0032]    At step  120 , the control module  72  determines whether a command has been given to raise an individual row unit  24 . If so, the control module  72  places the raise/lower valve  74  in the on state at step  124 . Then control module  72  determines through pressure transducer  76  whether there is hydraulic pressure in hydraulic supply line  78  at step  128 . If so, the control module  72  places the individual row unit&#39;s electronically controlled solenoid valve  70  in the on state at step  134 . If not, the control module  72  sends a “tractor remote not ready” message to the operator at step  132 . If no command has been given to raise an individual row unit  24  at step  120 , the control module  72  determines if a row unit lower command has been given at step  122 . If not, the routine ends. If so, the control module  72  places the raise/lower valve  74  in the off state at step  126 . Then control module  72  determines through pressure transducer  76  whether there is pressure in hydraulic supply line  78 . If there is pressure in hydraulic supply line  78 , the control module  72  sends a “tractor remote not ready” message to the operator at step  132 . If not, the control module  72  places the individual row unit&#39;s electronically controlled solenoid valve  70  in the on state at step  134 . 
         [0033]      FIG. 10  shows a logic diagram representing the above method where:
       RowUnitNSolCmd is the state of the individual row unit electronically controlled solenoid valve.   RowUnitRaise is the state of the command to raise a row unit  24 .   RowUnitLower is the state of the command to lower a row unit  24 .   PressSwitch is the state of the pressure transducer  76 .   RaiseLower is the state of the raise/lower valve  74 .       
 
         [0039]    Control module  72  is operable to be automatically or manually configured to respond to specific usage requirements or conditions of the row units  24  of the agricultural planter  5  or to the operating conditions of the agricultural planter  5 . For example, when the plantable ground is less than the overall width of the agricultural planter  5 , the individual row units  24  outside the plantable ground can be raised. When natural ground conditions such as rough terrain, ditches, streams, obstacles, and the like are encountered, the control module  72  is operable to lift the individual row units  24  likely to encounter such obstacles. Further, through GPS connectivity and other mapping routines, the control module  72  is operable to raise individual row units  24  when encountering boundaries with other areas where crops have already been planted, or when encountering property lines. A communication network (not shown) between the control module  72  and the individual row units  24  gives information to the control module  72  on the raised or lowered status of the individual row units  24 , along with sensory information regarding obstacles and the like through sensors commonly known and used in the art (not shown). 
         [0040]    A further use for individual control of row units  24  is the ability to use the agricultural planter  5  for multiple row width plantings. For example, the agricultural planter  5  may be arranged with row units  24  every 15 inches along the tool bar  14 . By raising every other row unit  24 , the agricultural planter  5  may be used for plantings spaced at 30 inches, without extensive and time consuming rearrangement. Further, raising unneeded row units  24  conserves fuel consumed by the towing tractor by eliminating unnecessary drag. 
         [0041]    Importantly, the control module  72  is programmed to recognize and prevent raising and lowering individual row units  24  under certain conditions. For example, the control module  72  is programmed to prevent raising and lowering row units  24  when the tool bar height prevents full travel of the row unit. This may be encountered when the tool bar  14  is passing over a particularly high obstacle, such that forcibly lowering the individual row unit  24  would put too much of the weight of the agricultural planter  5  upon it, thereby damaging it. This may also occur when the tool bar  14  is raised, and the agricultural planter  5  is either in the transport configuration or transitioning from the working configuration to the transport configuration and back again, wherein raising the individual row unit  24  may cause it to interfere with another component of the agricultural planter, or may result in the agricultural planter  5  having an undesired uneven weight balance or too high of a center of gravity. 
         [0042]    Furthermore, the control module  72  is programmed to limit the number and distribution of row units raised off of the ground at one time, in order to prevent uneven weight or drag distribution. For example, if all row units  24  on one wing section  60  or  80  are raised at the same time while all row units on the center section  44  and/or opposite wing section  80  or  60  are left engaged with the ground, the uneven drag across the width of the agricultural planter  5  will cause a torque about a vertical axis of the agricultural planter  5 . Depending on ground or terrain conditions, this torque may produce a detrimental effect on the agricultural planter  5  or the towing tractor, especially if such torque occurs suddenly instead of incrementally. Therefore, the control module  72  may delay raising a certain number of row units  24 , or raise them incrementally. Another example may be if the agricultural planter  5  is operating in soft ground conditions, lifting too many row units  24  at one time may excessively load one or more of the wing section wheels  68  or  88  for the ground conditions, causing it to sink into the ground excessively, thereby compacting the ground. Therefore, the control module  72  may delay raising a certain number of row units  24  even though they are unneeded, and can be otherwise shut off, until the agricultural planter has left the plantable area. 
         [0043]    While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.