US-12622341-B2 - Agricultural system and method for determining a position of a gauge wheel of a row unit for a seed-planting implement

Abstract

A row unit for a seed-planting implement includes a frame and a disk opener supported relative to the frame and configured to form a furrow within a field. The row unit further includes a gauge wheel arm supported relative to the frame, and a gauge wheel coupled to the gauge wheel arm. Additionally, the row unit includes a sensor assembly having a rotational sensor, a first sensor arm, and a second sensor arm. A proximal end of the first sensor arm is coupled to the rotational sensor, a proximal end of the second sensor arm is coupled to a distal end of the first sensor arm, and a distal end of the second sensor arm is coupled to the gauge wheel arm. The rotational sensor is configured to generate data indicative of a position of the gauge wheel arm based on movement of the first sensor arm.

Inventors

• Trevor STANHOPE
• Michael Christopher Conboy

Assignees

• CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20220420

Claims (19)

1. 1 . A row unit for a seed-planting implement, the row unit comprising: a frame; a disk opener supported relative to the frame, the disk opener configured to form a furrow within a field across which the seed-planting implement is traveling; a row cleaner supported on the frame forward of the disk opener relative to a forward direction of travel of the row unit, the row cleaner being configured to reduce residue on the surface of the field in front of the furrow; a gauge wheel arm supported relative to the frame, the gauge wheel arm comprising an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion being disposed at an angle relative to the upper portion about a rotational joint, the gauge wheel arm being rotatable relative to the frame about the rotational joint; a gauge wheel rotatably coupled to the lower portion of the gauge wheel arm, the gauge wheel configured to roll along a surface of the field; and a gauge sensor assembly, comprising: a rotational sensor supported relative to the frame, the rotational sensor being supported on the frame at a location at which the row cleaner is supported on the frame; a first sensor arm extending between a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end of the first sensor arm being coupled to the rotational sensor; and a second sensor arm extending between a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end of the second sensor arm being coupled to the first distal end of the first sensor arm, the second distal end of the second sensor arm being coupled to the upper portion of the gauge wheel arm, wherein the rotational sensor is configured to generate data indicative of a rotational position of the gauge wheel arm based at least in part on movement of the first sensor arm relative to the rotational sensor.
2. 2 . The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the rotational sensor has a rotational input shaft rotatable relative to a sensor body, the rotational sensor being configured to generate the data based at least in part on a rotational position of the rotational input shaft relative to the sensor body, the first proximal end of the first sensor arm being rotationally fixed to the rotational input shaft.
3. 3 . The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the rotational sensor is supported on the frame at a location rearward of the second distal end of the second sensor arm relative to a forward direction of travel of the row unit.
4. 4 . The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the rotational sensor is supported on the frame at a location forward of the second distal end of the second sensor arm relative to a forward direction of travel of the row unit.
5. 5 . The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the gauge sensor assembly further includes a tab rotationally fixed to the gauge wheel arm, the second distal end of the second sensor arm being coupled to the gauge wheel arm via the tab.
6. 6 . The row unit of claim 1 , further comprising a computing system communicatively coupled to the rotational sensor, the computing system being configured to: receive the data generated by the rotational sensor indicative of the rotational position of the gauge wheel arm; and determine at least one of a position of the gauge wheel or a penetration depth of the disk opener based at least in part on the data generated by the rotational sensor.
7. 7 . The row unit of claim 6 , wherein the computing system is further configured to: compare each of the at least one of the position of the gauge wheel or the penetration depth of the disk opener to a respective pre-set value; and perform a control action based at least in part on the comparison of the at least one of the position of the gauge wheel or the penetration depth of the disk opener to the respective pre-set value.
8. 8 . The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the rotational sensor is positioned above the gauge wheel along a vertical direction.
9. 9 . The row unit of claim 1 , wherein the upper portion of the gauge wheel arm is configured to rest against a depth stop, the depth stop being selectively movable relative to the frame to adjust the rotational position of the gauge wheel arm relative to the frame.
10. 10 . A seed-planting implement, comprising: a toolbar; and a plurality of row units coupled to the toolbar, each row unit comprising: a frame; a disk opener supported relative to the frame, the disk opener configured to form a furrow within a field across which the seed-planting implement is traveling; a gauge wheel arm supported relative to the frame; a gauge wheel coupled to the gauge wheel arm, the gauge wheel configured to roll along a surface of the field; a row cleaner supported on the frame forward of the disk opener relative to a forward direction of travel of the row unit, the row cleaner being configured to reduce residue on the surface of the field in front of the furrow; and a gauge sensor assembly, comprising: a rotational sensor supported on the frame at a location at which the row cleaner is supported on the frame; a first sensor arm extending between a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first proximal end of the first sensor arm being coupled to the rotational sensor; and a second sensor arm extending between a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end of the second sensor arm being coupled to the first distal end of the first sensor arm, the second distal end of the second sensor arm being coupled to the gauge wheel arm, wherein the rotational sensor is configured to generate data indicative of a rotational position of the gauge wheel arm based at least in part on movement of the first sensor arm relative to the rotational sensor.
11. 11 . A method for determining a position of a gauge wheel of a row unit for a seed-planting implement, the row unit comprising a frame, a disk opener supported relative to the frame, the disk opener configured to form a furrow within a field across which the seed-planting implement is traveling, a row cleaner supported on the frame forward of the disk opener relative to a forward direction of travel of the row unit, the row cleaner being configured to reduce residue on the surface of the field in front of the furrow, and a gauge wheel arm supported relative to the frame, the gauge wheel arm comprising an upper portion and a lower portion disposed at an angle relative to each other about a rotational joint, the gauge wheel arm being rotatable relative to the frame about the rotational joint, the gauge wheel being rotatably coupled to the lower portion of the gauge wheel arm and being configured to roll along a surface of the field, the method comprising: receiving, with a computing system, data indicative of a rotational position of the gauge wheel arm, the data being generated by a rotational sensor supported relative to the frame and coupled to the gauge wheel arm via a linkage assembly, the rotational sensor being supported on the frame at a location at which the row cleaner is supported on the frame, the linkage assembly including a first sensor arm extending between a first proximal end and a first distal end, with the first proximal end of the first sensor arm being coupled to the rotational sensor, the linkage assembly further including a second sensor arm extending between a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second proximal end of the second sensor arm being coupled to the first distal end of the first sensor arm, the second distal end of the second sensor arm being coupled to the upper portion of the gauge wheel arm; determining, with the computing system, the position of the gauge wheel based at least in part on the data generated by the rotational sensor; and performing, with the computing system, a control action based at least in part on the position of the gauge wheel.
12. 12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising comparing, with the computing system, the position of the gauge wheel to a pre-set value, wherein performing the control action comprises performing the control action based at least in part on the comparison of the position of the gauge wheel to the pre-set value.
13. 13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the control action comprises controlling, with the computing system, operation of a gauge wheel actuator to adjust the position of the gauge wheel when the position of the gauge wheel is different from the pre-set value.
14. 14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the control action comprises controlling, with the computing system, operation of a user interface to indicate that the position of the gauge wheel is different from the pre-set value.
15. 15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the pre-set value is received from at least one of an operator via a user interface or a prescription map.
16. 16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the control action comprises controlling, with the computing system, operation of a user interface to indicate the position of the gauge wheel or a position of the disk opener.
17. 17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein receiving the data indicative of the rotational position of the gauge wheel arm comprises receiving the data generated by the rotational sensor, the rotational sensor having a rotational input shaft rotatable relative to a sensor body, the first proximal end of the first sensor arm being rotationally fixed to the rotational input shaft, the rotational sensor being configured to generate the data based at least in part on a rotational position of the rotational input shaft relative to the sensor body.
18. 18 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the rotational sensor is supported on the frame at a location rearward of the second distal end of the second sensor arm relative to a forward direction of travel of the row unit.
19. 19 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the rotational sensor is supported on the frame at a location forward of the second distal end of the second sensor arm relative to a forward direction of travel of the row unit.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present disclosure relates generally to planting operations performed using a planting implement, such as a planter or a seeder, and, more particularly, to systems and methods for determining a position of a gauge wheel of a row unit of the planting implement. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Planting implements, such as planters, are generally known for performing planting operations within a field. A typical planter includes a plurality of row units, with each row unit including various ground engaging tools for creating a furrow within the soil, placing a seed within the furrow, and closing the soil around the seed. Typically, the depth of the furrow is set by manually adjusting the position of a gauge wheel configured to roll along the surface of the field. However, such manual adjustment requires an operator to check the position of the gauge wheel of each row unit before operation. With an increasing number of row units, checking the position of the gauge wheels is becoming increasingly time consuming and it may be easy to overlook a row unit. Further, if the gauge wheel position suddenly changes during operation, an operator might not know until the next inspection, which might lead to losses in yield due to the depth of the furrow being different than desired. Accordingly, an improved agricultural system and method for determining a position of a gauge wheel of a row unit of the planting implement would be welcomed in the technology. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention. In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a row unit for a seed-planting implement. The row unit may include a frame and a disk opener supported relative to the frame, with the disk opener being configured to form a furrow within a field across which the seed-planting implement is traveling. The row unit may further include a gauge wheel arm supported relative to the frame, and a gauge wheel coupled to the gauge wheel arm, with the gauge wheel configured to roll along a surface of the field. Additionally, the row unit may include a gauge sensor assembly having a rotational sensor supported relative to the frame, a first sensor arm, and a second sensor arm. The first sensor arm extends between a first proximal end and a first distal end, with the first proximal end of the first sensor arm being coupled to the rotational sensor. The second sensor arm extends between a second proximal end and a second distal end, with the second proximal end of the second sensor arm being coupled to the first distal end of the first sensor arm, and with the second distal end of the second sensor arm being coupled to the gauge wheel arm. The rotational sensor is configured to generate data indicative of a rotational position of the gauge wheel arm based at least in part on movement of the first sensor arm relative to the rotational sensor. In another aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a seed-planting implement having a toolbar, and a plurality of row units coupled to the toolbar. Each row unit may include a frame and a disk opener supported relative to the frame, the disk opener being configured to form a furrow within a field across which the seed-planting implement is traveling. Each row unit may further include a gauge wheel arm supported relative to the frame and a gauge wheel coupled to the gauge wheel arm, the gauge wheel being configured to roll along a surface of the field. Additionally, each row unit may include a gauge sensor assembly having a rotational sensor supported relative to the frame, a first sensor arm, and a second sensor arm. The first sensor arm extends between a first proximal end and a first distal end, with the first proximal end of the first sensor arm being coupled to the rotational sensor. The second sensor arm extends between a second proximal end and a second distal end, with the second proximal end of the second sensor arm being coupled to the first distal end of the first sensor arm, and with the second distal end of the second sensor arm being coupled to the gauge wheel arm. The rotational sensor is configured to generate data indicative of a rotational position of the gauge wheel arm based at least in part on movement of the first sensor arm relative to the rotational sensor. In an additional aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a method for determining a position of a gauge wheel of a row unit for a seed-planting implement, where the row unit includes a frame, a disk opener supported relative to the frame, with the disk opener being configured to form a furrow within a field across which the seed-planting implement is traveling, and a gauge wheel arm supported relative to the frame, with the gauge wheel being coupled to the gauge wheel arm and being configured to roll alo