Search

BR-112022003057-B1 - SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TESTING AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS

BR112022003057B1BR 112022003057 B1BR112022003057 B1BR 112022003057B1BR-112022003057-B1

Abstract

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR TESTING AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS. The present invention relates to a portable system for testing or demonstrating an agricultural implement comprising a case (104) carrying a power supply (206), a plurality of electrical couplers (120) configured to receive wiring gears associated with test devices, a simulator module (214) configured to simulate at least one operating parameter of the agricultural implement in which the test devices are carried, and a control system. The control system includes a graphical user interface (110) and processing circuit, electrically operable coupled to the graphical user interface (110) and the wiring gears. The processing circuit is configured to monitor and display information pertaining to the operation of the test devices. A method for testing or demonstrating an agricultural implement includes connecting a test device to an electrical coupler of the portable system, sending a control signal to the test device, and monitoring the performance of the test device with the control system. The control signal is based, at least in part, on data input.

Inventors

  • Ben Schlipf
  • Matthew Klopfenstein

Assignees

  • PRECISION PLANTING LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260310
Application Date
20200604
Priority Date
20191007

Claims (15)

  1. 1. Portable system (100) for testing or demonstrating an agricultural implement, the system (100) comprising a case (104), the case (104) carrying: a power supply (206); a plurality of electrical couplers (120), configured to receive wiring gears associated with the test devices; a simulator module (214) configured to simulate at least one operating parameter of the agricultural implement in which the test devices are carried; and a control system (102) comprising: a graphical user interface (110); and an electrically operable processing circuit coupled to the graphical user interface (110) and the wiring gears, the processing circuit configured to monitor and display information pertaining to the operation of the test devices, characterized in that: the simulator module (214) is configured to send simulated data to the control system (102) to indicate GPS location, radar speed, implement height status and/or gyroscopic rotation rate; the control system (102) is configured to operate the test devices as if they were traveling through a field and thus evaluating the test devices without moving them.
  2. 2. Portable system (100), according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises a distributed controller (116), configured to control the test devices and communicate with the control system (102).
  3. 3. Portable system (100), according to claim 1, characterized in that each of the power supply (206), the electrical couplers (120), the simulator module (214) and the control system (102) are attached to the case (104).
  4. 4. Portable system (100), according to claim 3, characterized in that each of the power supply (206), the electrical couplers (120), the simulator module (214) and the control system (102) are interoperable while attached to the case (104).
  5. 5. Portable system (100), according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the case (104) comprises a base (106) and a lid (108).
  6. 6. Portable system (100), according to claim 5, characterized in that the power supply (206), the electrical couplers (120), the simulator module (214) and the control system (102) are contained within the case (104).
  7. 7. Portable system (100), according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control system (102) further comprises a mechanical user interface (112).
  8. 8. Method for testing or demonstrating an agricultural implement, characterized in that it comprises: providing the portable system (100), defined in any one of claims 1 to 4; connecting at least one test device to at least one of the electrical couplers (120); sending a control signal to at least one test device, the control signal based, at least in part, on data input; and monitoring the performance of at least one test device with the control system (102), wherein monitoring the performance of at least one test device comprises monitoring the performance of at least one test device without moving an implement carrying at least one test device.
  9. 9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that the method is performed without electrically connecting at least one test device, directly or indirectly, to a towing vehicle.
  10. 10. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that it further comprises connecting at least one test device to a liquid source.
  11. 11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that monitoring the performance of at least one test device comprises monitoring or controlling the flow of liquid from the liquid source through at least one test device.
  12. 12. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that it further comprises simulating field conditions in which the test device is expected to operate.
  13. 13. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that monitoring the performance of at least one test device comprises controlling at least one test device with the control system (102).
  14. 14. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that monitoring the performance of at least one test device comprises displaying data related to the performance of at least one test device on a portable multifunction device.
  15. 15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that the portable multifunctional device comprises a desktop computer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUEST [001] This application claims the benefit of the filing data of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 62/911,715, "Systems and Methods for Testing Agricultural Implements," filed October 7, 2019, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. FIELD [002] The modalities of this disclosure generally refer to systems and test methods for validating and calibrating agricultural equipment, such as seeders, fertilizer applicators, etc. BACKGROUND [003] Crop yields are affected by a variety of factors, such as seed placement, soil quality, weather, irrigation and nutrient applications. Seeds are typically planted in furrows, formed by discs or other mechanisms of a row seeding unit. [004] Adding materials (such as fertilizers) adjacent to the seed furrows during planting is a good way to distribute the materials to the soil, so that the growing plants can access the material during a later stage of growth. This eliminates a step across the field, reducing soil compaction from separate planting, and material application steps. Some fertilizer is placed adjacent to the seed furrow, and when the plant grows and extends into the area where the fertilizer was placed, the plant can then use the fertilizer. [005] There are several implements that distribute fertilizer to the soil adjacent to the furrow, in a row-of-seeders unit. These implements generally have tines or blades to open a space adjacent to the furrow, and include a liquid distribution tube for distributing the fertilizer. The amount of liquid is controlled to control the amount of fertilizer. Such implements are described, for example, in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2018/0263180, "Systems and Devices for Controlling and Monitoring Applications of Liquids from Agricultural Fields," published on September 20, 2018; in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2019/0254226, "Systems, Methods and Apparatus for Applying Agricultural Material," published on August 22, 2019; and Publication of U.S. Patent Application 2019/0246556, "Implements and Application Units Having a Fluid Applicator with Nozzles for Applying Fluids to Agricultural Plants in Agricultural Fields" published on August 15, 2019. BRIEF SUMMARY [006] A portable system for testing or demonstrating an agricultural implement, comprising a case carrying a power supply, a plurality of electrical couplers configured to receive wiring gears associated with test devices, a simulator module configured to simulate at least one operating parameter of the agricultural implement, in which test devices are carried, and a control system. The control system comprises a graphical user interface and operable processing circuitry electrically coupled to the graphical user interface and the wiring gear. The processing circuitry is configured to monitor and display information relating to the test devices. [007] A method for testing or demonstrating an agricultural implement includes connecting at least one test device to at least one of the electrical couplers of the portable system, sending a control signal to at least one test device, and monitoring the performance of at least one test device with the control system. The control signal is based, at least in part, on data input. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [008] Although the descriptive report ends with the claims, which particularly point out and distinctly claim those that are considered to be embodiments of the present disclosure, several features and advantages of the embodiments of the disclosure can be more readily verified from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a simplified perspective view of a portable system for testing or demonstrating an agricultural implement; FIG. 2 is a simplified perspective view of a bottom side of the portable system of FIG. 1, with the outer portion hidden to show the inside of the portable system; FIG. 3 is a simplified top view of the portable system of FIG. 1; and FIG. 4 is a simplified flowchart illustrating a method of testing or demonstrating an agricultural implement. DETAILED DESCRIPTION [009] The illustrations presented herein are not actual views of any seeder or portion thereof, but are merely idealized representations, which are employed to describe exemplary modalities of the present disclosure. Additionally, common elements among the figures may contain the same numerical designation. [0010] The following description provides specific details of embodiments of the present disclosure in order to give a complete description thereof. However, a person of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced without employing many of these specific details. In fact, the embodiments of the disclosure can be practiced in conjunction with conventional techniques employed in the industry. Furthermore, the desc