Abstract:
An electronic circuit for a utility vehicle having a sensing apparatus for detecting data regarding the vehicle and a control for operating implements used in conjunction with the vehicle. The electronic circuit is operatively coupled to the sensing apparatus to provide more accurate data regarding use of the vehicle. The electronic circuit operates in two modes including: a first mode allowing the sensing apparatus to operate, and a second mode not allowing the sensing apparatus to operate. Typically, the electronic circuit is operatively coupled between a power source of the utility vehicle and the sensing apparatus for regulating the supply of power therebetween by operating in the two modes. Preferably, the electronic circuit is operatively linked to a control that operates implements used in conjunction with the vehicle. Thus, when the operator uses the control to operate an implement, the sensing apparatus is automatically regulated to provide more accurate data regarding the actual use of the utility vehicle.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to monitoring systems and sensing apparatus for utility vehicles, and more particularly to control circuitry for sensing systems and sensing apparatus used in utility vehicles, e.g. farm machinery and tractors. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Many modern utility vehicles, and particularly farm tractors, utilize various monitoring systems or sensing apparatus to monitor the activities of the vehicle. For example, common sensing apparatus monitors the distance the tractor has traveled and the time the tractor has been operated. In addition to detecting and displaying this data, the data can be inputted to computer systems, either alone or in combination, to determine further important characteristics regarding the operation of the vehicle and its operator. For example, by monitoring the distance a tractor has traveled, the computer system can determine the amount acreage covered. Furthermore, by using this data in conjunction with the amount of time the tractor has been operated the computer system can determine the efficiency of the operator&#39;s use of the tractor. 
     Unfortunately, the sensing apparatus and their computational counterparts provide information which does not accurately reflect the effective use of the vehicle. For example, the distance the tractor has traveled over the course of its operation does not directly translate into the amount of farming acres covered by the tractor. The distance traveled while turning the tractor around, backing up, moving from one row to another, from field to field, or even merely traveling from the storage facility to the particular field to be farmed, are distances detected and computed that were not spent working a field. The same principle holds true for the time sensor, and the various other sensors commonly employed. It can therefore be seen that the current system results in an inaccurate portrayal of computed values such as the number of acres covered and hours spent doing so. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In light of the above, a general object of the present invention is to provide a utility vehicle having sensing apparatus that produces more accurate data regarding the use of the vehicle. 
     In that regard, it is also an object of the present invention to accomplish the above objective with little or no additional effort required from the vehicle operator. 
     It is related object of the present invention to produce more accurate data regarding the effective use of a utility vehicle in a simple and economical manner. 
     In accordance with these objects, the present invention provides an electronic circuit for a utility vehicle having a sensing apparatus for detecting data regarding the vehicle and a control for operating implements used in conjunction with the vehicle. The electronic circuit is operatively coupled to the sensing apparatus to provide more accurate data regarding effective use of the vehicle. 
     It is a feature of the present invention that the electronic circuit operates in two modes including: a first mode allowing operation of the sensing apparatus, and a second mode disabling operation of the sensing apparatus. 
     It is another feature of the present invention to operatively couple the electronic circuit between a power source of the utility vehicle and the sensing apparatus to regulate the supply of power therebetween. In the first mode, the electronic circuit allows power flow to the sensing apparatus. In the second mode, the electronic circuit denies power flow to the sensing apparatus. 
     It is a further feature of the present invention to operatively link the electronic circuit to a control that operates implements used in conjunction with the vehicle. Thus, when the operator uses the control to operate an implement, the sensing apparatus is automatically regulated to provide more accurate data regarding the actual use of the utility vehicle. Further, the operator need not expend any additional effort for the sensing apparatus to provide more accurate data. 
     It is yet another feature of the present invention that the electronic circuit operates in either the first or second mode based upon the implement being in either an active position or an inactive position. This feature may be accomplished either through the operative coupling of the electronic circuit to the implement control, or through operative coupling of the electronic circuit to a remote sensing apparatus that detects the implement being in the active and inactive positions, such as a position sensor. 
    
    
     These and other object and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The accompanying drawings incorporated in and forming a part of the specification illustrate several aspects of the present invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the electronic circuit constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 shows the electronic circuit of FIG. 1 when the implement control is in a positive position; 
     FIG. 3 illustrates the electronic circuit of FIG. 1 when the implement control is in the neutral position subsequent being in the positive position; 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the electronic circuit of FIG. 1 when the implement control is in the negative position; and 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a tractor with which the present invention may be employed. 
    
    
     While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, there is no intent to limit it to those embodiments. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents as included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Utility vehicles such as farm tractors, utilize various sensing apparatus to monitor the activities of the vehicle that can be used to compute important information regarding the vehicle and its use. For example, various implements such as a rake, disc plow, sprayer, barrow, planter, or cultivator, etc. may be used with a tractor to work a field or its crop. The sensing apparatus records data that can be used, among other things, to calculate the acreage worked on by the implement, i.e. the amount of the crop cultivated, plowed, sprayed, or the like. It is also common for most modern utility vehicles to employ a hydraulically operated hitch, such as a three-point hitch, to attach and operate these various farm implements. 
     As shown in FIG. 5, an implement  28  is coupled to a tractor  20  via a basic three-point hitch  25 . At least one implement control  24 , shown as a lever  24  in the figure, in the cabin of the tractor  20  hydraulically actuates the hitch  25  in the rear of the tractor  20 . As will be readily understood by those having skill in the art, the implement control may comprise push buttons, or other electronic or hydraulic controls. As will also be understood, the hitch  25  is used to position the implement  28  between active and inactive positions. In the preferred embodiment shown, the control lever  24  moves the implement  28  upwards or downwards between active and inactive positions. Additional levers may also be found in the cabin of the tractor to control other aspects of the attached farm implements, such as rotating, pivoting, pumping fluid, etc., as determined by the particular implement and hitch used. 
     When the tractor  20  is moving it is not always desirable for the sensing apparatus to be detecting and processing data. For example, traveling to and from the field to be worked, or between various fields, does not require the farm implement to be engaged with the ground or to be operating. Thus, by using the implement control  24  to hydraulically actuate the hitch, the operator can raise or lower the respective farm implement, and may use other levers to control other operable features of the farm implement. Essentially, when lowered the farm implement is in an active position, and when raised is in an inactive position. 
     It is thus an aspect of the present invention to operatively couple an electronic circuit to the sensing apparatus which controls the apparatus based upon the implement being in the active or inactive position. Notably, the circuit does not allow the sensing apparatus to operate when the implement is inactive, and thus the sensing apparatus does not receive or process data regarding the tractor. Therefore, referring again to the above example, the sensing apparatus does not detect distance data when the implement is inactive, i.e. when traveling to the field, between fields, turning around or the like. This results in a more accurate computation of the acreage cultivated, plowed or generally worked as the case may be. 
     Turning to FIG. 1, a diagram of an embodiment of the electronic circuit  30  is depicted. The circuit  30  is operatively coupled to the tractor&#39;s power supply  26 , although the circuit  30  may be independently supplied with power specifically for use with the present invention. To control the supply of power to the circuit  30 , it may be desirable to dispose a switch  44  between the power supply  26  and the remainder of the circuit  30  to control the power therethrough. Switch  44  is regulated by coil  43  which is connected to and regulated by the ignition switch  42 . Thus, when the vehicle is turned on, as controlled by the ignition switch  42 , coil  43  is energized and closes switch  44  to supply the circuit  30  with power. FIGS. 1-4 illustrate the switch  44  in this condition. Likewise, the circuit  30  is powered down when the ignition switch  42  is off, which de-energizes coil  43  and opens switch  44 . The electronic circuit  30  is responsive to the tractor&#39;s implement control  24  which has been shown as a lever  24  for operating one of the various implements  28  (see FIG. 5) connected via a hitch  25  and used in conjunction with the utility vehicle or tractor  20 . The control lever  24  is operable between a positive position (see FIG. 2) to lower or activate the hitch  25 , and a negative position (see FIG. 4) to raise or deactivate the hitch  25 , although the quiescent state for the control lever  24  is in the neutral position as shown in FIG.  1 . That is, when the control  24  comprises a lever as in the present embodiment, the lever  24  is biased to the neutral position. 
     The circuit  30  is coupled to the sensing apparatus  29  to regulate the supply of power thereto, and thus the device&#39;s ability to detect and record data. A first sensing switch  32  detects the control  24  being in the positive position, while the second sensing switch  34  detects the control  24  being in the negative position. The first sensing switch  32  is normally open and the second sensing switch  34  is normally closed. These switches  32 ,  34  are individually transitioned to their opposite state when control  24  is in the positive and negative position, respectively, and then return to their normal state when control  24  returns to its neutral position. The first sensing switch  32  is coupled between to the second sensing switch  34  and the power supply  26 . Sensing switches  32 ,  34  are coupled to a relay coil  36  and a green light  38  which are grounded. The relay coil  36  actuates switch  50 , which is a single pole double throw (SPDT) switch. Switch  50  comprises terminals  52 ,  54 ,  56 , wherein terminal  52  is coupled to the power supply  26  and connects to either terminal  54  or terminal  56  as determined by relay coil  36 . Terminal  56  is coupled to the second sensing switch  34 . When terminal  52  is connected to terminal  56 , power is supplied to the sensing apparatus  29 , which is not powered when terminal  52  is connected to terminal  54 , to achieve the above-noted objects. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, an embodiment of the invention may utilize a double pole, double throw switch (DPDT). As such, another switch  60  is included. This switch  60  includes a terminal  62  coupled to the power supply  26 . Terminal  62  connects to either terminal  64  or terminal  66  as determined by the relay coil  36 . Terminal  64  is coupled to red light  40  which is grounded. Still further, an embodiment may utilize a triple pole, triple throw switch. In such a case, switch  70  is also controlled by relay coil  36 , wherein terminal  72  communicates with either terminal  74  or terminal  76 , terminal  72  being illustrated as grounded in this embodiment. Both terminal  74  and terminal  76  are coupled to any desired devices  46 ,  48  which may be run from power supply  26 . It may also be desirable to separately run devices  46 ,  48  with their own separate power supplies. Thus, switch  70  determines which device  46 ,  48  is coupled to terminal  72  and grounded to complete the circuit and power the respective device  46  or  48 . 
     FIG. 1 shows the electronic circuit  30  in its quiescent state, with sensing apparatus  29  being de-energized. The control  24  is in its neutral position, while sensing switch  32  is open, sensing switch  34  is closed, terminal  52  of switch  50  contacts terminal  54 , terminal  62  of switch  60  contacts terminal  64 , and terminal  72  of switch  70  contacts terminal  74 . Thus, switches  50 ,  60 ,  70  are shown in their positions when coil  36  is de-energized. Since sensing switch  32  is open, current from power supply  26  flows through terminal  62  to terminal  64  which lights red light  40  indicating that sensing apparatus is de-energized. Since coil  36  is de-energized, device  46  is energized by virtue of the ground supplied by terminal  72  of switch  70  contacting terminal  74 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates the circuit  30  when control  24  is held in the positive position, which relates to the implement  28  being activated or lowered, i.e. in an active position. When control  24  is held in this positive position, first sensing switch  32 , which is normally open, detects this action and becomes closed. Accordingly, green light  38  and relay coil  36  are coupled to power supply  26 , thereby lighting green light  38  and energizing coil  36 . By energizing the relay coil  36 , switches  50 ,  60 ,  70  are transitioned. More particularly, terminal  52  now contacts terminal  56 , which completes the circuit for sensing apparatus  29 . Switch  60  is thrown as terminal  62  contacts terminal  66  so that red light  40  no longer illuminates. At switch  70 , terminal  72  is in communication with terminal  76  to power device  48 . Notably, the sensing apparatus  29  is powered to detect data regarding the vehicle  20 . 
     As the control  24  is released it returns to its neutral position as shown in FIG.  3 . In response, sensing switch  32  returns to its normally open position. Nonetheless, terminal  52  is in communication with terminal  56 , and since the second sensing switch  34  remains closed, the relay coil  36  remains energized. It will be recognized that sensing apparatus  29  is continually supplied with power so that it may detect data such as distance traveled or hours spent, etc. 
     FIG. 4 illustrates the circuit  30  when the control  24  is held in the negative position which deactivates or raises the hitch  25 . In this case, the second sensing switch  34 , which is normally closed, opens in response to the control  24 . Accordingly, the relay coil  36  becomes de-energized allowing switches  50 ,  60 ,  70  to return to their natural positions. Terminal  52  of switch  50  contacts terminal  54  while terminal  62  of switch  60  contacts terminal  64  to energize red light  40 , wherein terminal  72  of switch  70  contacts terminal  74  to power device  46 . As terminal  52  no longer contacts terminal  56 , no power is supplied to the sensing apparatus  29  and hence it can no longer detect information regarding the use of the utility vehicle  20 . It will be recognized that when the control  24  is released it returns to its neutral position and the system returns to the state shown in FIG.  1 . 
     While the foregoing description and the figures have described the sensing apparatus  29  as being coupled to the electronic circuit  30  downstream and adjacent to terminal  56  of switch  50 , it will be readily recognized to those having skill in the art that this particular location is not necessary to employ the present invention. For example, the sensing apparatus  29  could be coupled to terminal  66  of switch  60 , or any other terminal as desired. Likewise, sensing apparatus  29  could also be coupled to the circuit  30  adjacent relay coil  36  and light  38 , either upstream or downstream thereof. Furthermore, while the foregoing description and figures have described a preferred embodiment of the electronic circuit  30 , various other circuitry designs could likewise be employed to regulate the ability of the sensing apparatus  29  to detect and record data regarding the vehicle in accordance with the above teachings. 
     It is an aspect of the present invention that the ability of the sensing apparatus  29  to receive and detect data is regulated based upon the position or operation of a vehicle or farm implement. For example, while the preferred embodiment has detected information regarding the implement through the implement control or lever  24 , a remote position or implement sensor may be connected to the tractor to detect the operation of an implement, i.e. whether the implement is active or inactive. The hitch  25  itself could be adapted to operate as a position sensor for the implement. Based on a signal from the position or implement sensor that transitions sensing switches  32 ,  34 , the electronic circuit  30  can regulate the ability of a sensing apparatus to detect data regarding a utility vehicle. 
     The foregoing description of various preferred embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Obvious modifications or variations are possible in light of the above teachings. The embodiments discussed were chosen and described to provide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and its practical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the art to utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All such modifications and variations are within the scope of the invention as determined by the appended claims when interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they are fairly, legally, and equitably entitled.