Precision Planting, Inc.

Ben L Schlipf

Dale M Koch

Jason J Stoller

Justin L Koch

Todd Swanson

Ian Radtke

Justin Werner McMenamy

Brent Wiegand

Jeremy J Hodel

Phil D Baurer

Dillon Sloneker

Justin McMenamy

Keith Beyer

Adam Vaccari

Brendan John O'Rourke

Matthew Klopfenstein

Ryan Allgaier

Jared Benckendorf

Tristan Herrmann

Dillion Sloneker

Dale Koch

Brendan O'ROURKE

A planter system includes seed sensors for determining seed placement in a furrow to then target at least one of fluid and solid application with respect to the seed. Plant sensors determine locations of plants within a field and then target at least one of fluid and solid application with respect to the plant.

Targeted fluid/solid dispensing based on sensed seed data or sensed plant data

Apparatus for adjusting the depth of a trench opened by a row unit () of an agricultural planter. The row unit () includes a trench depth adjustment assembly () configured to modify the trench depth. The trench depth adjustment assembly () includes a depth adjustment body () pivotally connected via a pivot () to a frame member () of the row unit (). An electric motor () is operable to cause rotation of a shaft () operably coupled with the depth adjustment body (), whereby rotation of the shaft () causes the depth adjustment body () to pivotally move about the pivot () thereby changing a position of contact of the depth adjustment body () with a gauge wheel arm (), thus changing the amount of upward travel of the gauge wheel () with respect to a trench opening disc () and thus the depth of the trench.

Agricultural trench depth systems, methods, and apparatus

Systems and implements sense, analyze, and display different soil parameters. A soil sensing system includes a mechanical component of an agricultural implement and at least one sensor disposed on the mechanical component. The sensor generates an electromagnetic field through a region of soil as the agricultural implement traverses a field. The sensor comprises at least one radar transmitter and at least one radar receiver and the sensor measures different soil parameters including a soil dielectric constant.

Soil sensing systems and implements for sensing different soil parameters

A portable system for testing or demonstrating an agricultural implement includes a case () carrying a power supply (), a plurality of electrical couplers () configured to receive wiring harnesses associated with test devices, a simulator module () configured to simulate at least one operating parameter of the agricultural implement on which test devices are carried, and a control system. The control system includes a graphical user interface () and processing circuitry operably electrically coupled to the graphical user interface () and to the wiring harnesses. The processing circuitry is configured to monitor and display information pertaining to operation of the test devices. A method for testing or demonstrating an agricultural implement includes connecting a test device an electrical coupler of the portable system, sending a control signal to the test device, and monitoring performance of the test device with the control system. The control signal is based at least in part on the data input.

Systems and methods for testing agricultural implements

Described herein are expandable network architectures with communication systems having multiple networks for communications between machines and implements for field operations including planting and harvesting operations. In one embodiment, a communication system includes a first communication module including at least one port of a first network, at least one input port and at least one output port of a second network, and a first network gateway to translate between a first protocol for the first network and a second protocol for the second network. A second communication module is communicatively coupled to tike first communication module. The second communication module includes at least one port of the first network, and at least at least one input port and at least one output port of the second network. The second communication module is configurable to expand a network architecture of the communication system by being capable of communicatively coupling to at least one additional communication module.

Expandable network architecture for communications between machines and implements

A system () for testing an agricultural implement includes a frame () configured to receive a device () to be tested. The frame carries a filter (), a pump (), a pressure relief valve () in fluid communication with the pump outlet, a frame output tube () to deliver the flow of fluid from the pump outlet to the device to be tested, a frame return tube () to receive the flow of fluid from the device to be tested, and a recycle flow outlet (). A method of testing includes connecting a device to the frame output tube and the frame return tube, pumping a fluid from the frame output tube to the frame return tube through the device, and measuring a flow rate of the fluid through the device.

Test frame and methods for fluidly testing agricultural devices

A method of graphically mapping liquid product applied to a field by an agricultural sprayer having a plurality of spray nozzles. The method includes generating an application map on an aerial image of the field, the application map including a droplet size map displaying said droplet sizes being sprayed by each of the plurality of spray nozzles or a gang of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field. The application map may also include an application rate map displaying said application rates being sprayed by each of the plurality of spray nozzles or the gang of spray nozzles as the agricultural sprayer traverses the field.

Method of mapping droplet size of agricultural sprayers

Seed sensors are present for determining seed placement in a furrow to then target at least one of fluid and solid application with respect to the seed. Plant sensors are present for determining location of plants within a field and then targeting at least one of fluid and solid application with respect to the plant.

A row unit () of an agricultural planter with an apparatus for adjusting the depth of a trench opened by the row unit (). The row unit () includes a trench depth adjustment assembly (T) configured to modify the trench depth. The trench depth adjustment assembly (T) includes a depth adjustment body () pivotally connected via a pivot to a frame member () of the row unit (). An electric motor () is operable to cause rotation of a shaft () operably coupled with the depth adjustment body (), whereby rotation of the shaft () causes the depth adjustment body () to pivotally move about the pivot () thereby changing a position of contact of the depth adjustment body () with a gauge wheel arm (), thus changing the amount of upward ravel of the gauge wheel () with respect to a trench opening disc () and thus the depth of the trench.

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and implements for sensing, analyzing, and displaying different soil parameters. A soil sensing system includes a mechanical component of an agricultural implement and at least one sensor disposed on the mechanical component. The sensor generates an electromagnetic field through a region of soil as the agricultural implement traverses a field. The sensor comprises at least one radar transmitter and at least one radar receiver and the sensor measures different soil parameters including a soil dielectric constant.

Embodiments of the present disclosure includes a method of calibrating a pump in a system to determine a minimum pump duty cycle needed. The system comprises a pump, a plurality of application lines downstream of the pump, and a flow control device in each application line. The method determines the minimum pump duty cycle to achieve total flow in the system, achieves a minimum pressure in the system, and ensures that the flow control device is not at or beyond a maximum open position.

Method of calibrating a pump output

System for adjusting the depth of a trench opened by a row unit () of an agricultural planter. The row unit () includes a trench depth adjustment assembly (R) configured to modify the trench depth. The trench depth adjustment assembly (R) includes a depth adjustment body () pivotally connected via a pivot () to a frame member () of the row unit (). An electric motor () is operable to cause rotation of a shaft () operably coupled with the depth adjustment body (), whereby rotation of the shaft () causes the depth adjustment body () to pivotally move about the pivot () thereby changing a position of contact of the depth adjustment body () with a gauge wheel arm (), thus changing the amount of upward travel of the gauge wheel (50) with respect to a trench opening disc () and thus the depth of the trench.

A system for obtaining spatial measurements between objects such as crops in an agricultural field. The system includes a measurement device including a motorized reel containing a wound length of measuring line, and electronic encoder with shaft rotated in opposing directions by dispensing or retrieving measuring line. A pivotably movable spring-biased tension arm maintains tension in the line when being rewound. The tension arm is responsive to changes in line tension and configured to automatically start the motor to rewind the line onto the reel based on angular position of the arm. A gear train includes a translatable shuttle gear which selectively couples the reel to the motor based on movement of the tension arm. The encoder converts rotary motion of its shaft into linear field measurements. In one implementation, the tension arm comprises an inboard arm and outboard arm with translatable pulley coupled thereto by an articulated joint.

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Tremont, IL, United States of America

Ben L Schlipf