Cnh Industrial America LLC

Christopher Schoeny

Chad Michael Johnson

Trevor Philip Stanhope

Brian John Anderson

Kregg Jerome Raducha

Marvin A Prickel

Jason Czapka

Darian E Landolt

Johnathon R Dienst

Michael J Connors

Grant T MacDonald

Henry Tran

Travis Lester Harnetiaux

Ryan R Raetzman

Richard H Justice

Brent David Elwing

Kevin Michael Smith

Scott Allen Long

Douglas V Montgomery

Darlan E Landolt

Brian Anderson

Jason T Czapka

In one aspect, a system for controlling the operation of a residue removal device of a seed-planting implement may include a residue removal device configured to remove residue from a path of the seed-planting implement. The system may also include a sensor configured to capture data indicative of a residue characteristic associated with a portion of the field within a detection zone positioned forward of the residue removal device relative to a direction of travel of the seed-planting implement. Furthermore, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. As such, the controller may be configured to monitor the residue characteristic associated with the portion of the field within the detection zone based on data received from the sensor. Additionally, the controller may be further configured to control the operation of the residue removal device based on the monitored residue characteristic.

System and method for controlling the operation of a residue removal device of a seed-planting implement based on a residue characteristic of the field

A draft load control system for an agricultural implement includes a row unit, a down force system configured to apply a force within or to the row unit, a draft load sensor disposed on the row unit and configured to generate a sensor signal indicative of a draft load on the row unit, and a controller that includes a memory and a processor. The controller is configured to receive the sensor signal from the draft load sensor indicative of the draft load on the row unit, and in response to the draft load exceeding a threshold range, perform a control operation, a monitoring operation, or both.

Draft load control system for an agricultural implement

In one aspect, a calibration method for a seed meter may include controlling an air pressure source to apply an initial air pressure to a seed transport member of the seed meter defining a plurality of seed cells. The method may further include controlling the seed meter to rotate the seed transport member relative to a seed chamber of the seed meter containing a plurality of seeds. The method may additionally include performing a calibration cycle for the seed meter, which may include monitoring a first parameter indicative of a number of empty seed cells as the seed transport member rotates, iteratively adjusting the air pressure from the initial air pressure as the first parameter is being monitored, and when the first parameter crosses a first threshold, recording the associated air pressure as a minimum air pressure for the seed meter.

Methods and related systems for automatically calibrating seed meters

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a particle belt housing having a particle engagement aperture configured to receive a particle and a particle exit aperture configured to expel the particle toward a trench in soil. The particle delivery system includes a particle belt having a particle engagement section configured to receive the particle via the particle engagement aperture and a particle exit section configured to expel the particle via the particle exit aperture. The particle exit section is positioned adjacent to the particle exit aperture, the particle belt extends generally parallel to the trench at the particle exit section, the particle engagement section is positioned adjacent to the particle engagement aperture, and the particle belt at the particle engagement section extends at an angle between zero degrees and ninety degrees relative to the particle belt at the particle exit section.

Particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a particle belt having a particle acceleration section. The particle belt is configured to receive a particle from a particle metering and singulation unit, to accelerate the particle at the particle acceleration section, and to expel the particle toward a trench in soil. The particle delivery system includes a first wheel engaged with the particle belt at a first location and a second wheel engaged with the particle belt at a second location. The particle acceleration section extends between the first location and the second location, a substantially no-slip condition exists between the first wheel and the particle belt at the first location and between the second wheel and the particle belt at the second location, and the second wheel is configured to rotate faster than the first wheel to accelerate the particle at the particle acceleration section.

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes an inner particle belt having a base and a plurality of flights extending outwardly from the base. Each pair of opposing flights of the plurality of flights is configured to receive a particle from a particle metering and singulation unit, and each flight is configured to rotate relative to the base. The particle delivery system includes an outer particle belt having a plurality of apertures, where each flight of the plurality of flights extends through a respective aperture of the plurality of apertures, and the outer particle belt is configured to drive rotation of the flight relative to the base as the inner particle belt and the outer particle belt rotate, such that rotation of the flight relative to the base accelerates the particle toward a trench in soil.

In one aspect, a calibration method for a seed meter may include controlling an operation of a singulator to apply an initial aggressiveness setting for the singulator. The method may further include controlling the seed meter to rotate a seed transport member of the seed meter relative to a seed chamber of the seed meter containing a plurality of seeds. The method may additionally include performing a calibration cycle, which may include monitoring a first parameter indicative of a number of occurrences of seed multiples as the seed transport member rotates, iteratively adjusting the aggressiveness setting from the initial aggressiveness setting as the first parameter is being monitored, and when the first parameter crosses a first threshold, recording the associated aggressiveness setting as a minimum aggressiveness setting for the singulator.

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a first particle disc configured to meter particles and a second particle disc configured to receive the particles from the first particle disc and to transfer the particles toward a trench in soil. The particle delivery system includes a vacuum source configured to reduce air pressure within a first vacuum passage to couple the particles to one or more first apertures of the first particle disc. The vacuum source is also configured to reduce air pressure within a second vacuum passage to couple the particles to one or more second apertures of the second particle disc. A rotation rate of the first particle disc is controllable to establish a particle spacing between the particles within the trench. A rotation rate of the second particle disc is controllable to expel the particles at a particle exit speed.

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a particle disc configured to receive a plurality of particles from a particle metering and singulation unit, and a particle belt configured to receive each particle of the plurality of particles from the particle disc and to expel the particle to a trench in soil. The particle disc is configured to accelerate each particle of the plurality of particles to a target particle transfer speed.

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a particle metering and singulation unit configured to meter a plurality of particles from a particle storage area and a particle belt disposed a selected distance apart from the particle metering and singulation unit. The particle belt is configured to receive the plurality of particles from the particle metering and singulation unit. The selected distance between the particle metering and singulation unit and the particle belt enables the plurality of particles to accelerate under an influence of gravity to a particle speed at the particle belt within a target percentage of a belt speed of the particle belt.

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a particle belt housing configured to be disposed adjacent to a particle metering and singulation unit and a particle belt disposed within the particle belt housing. The particle belt includes a base, a plurality of flights extending from the base, a particle engagement section configured to receive a particle from the particle metering and singulation unit, and a particle exit section configured to expel the particle toward a trench in soil. The particle delivery system includes a flex system coupled to the particle belt housing proximate to the particle exit section of the particle belt, where the flex system is configured to drive each flight of the plurality of flights to temporarily flex, such that the flight drives the particle to accelerate through the particle exit section in response to straightening of the flight.

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a first particle belt configured to receive a particle from a particle metering and singulation unit, a second particle belt configured to receive the particle from the first particle belt and to expel the particle to a trench in soil, and a particle transfer assembly configured to facilitate transfer of the particle from the first particle belt to the second particle belt. The first particle belt is configured to accelerate the particle to a target particle transfer speed, and the second particle belt is configured to accelerate the particle to a target particle exit speed greater than the target particle transfer speed.

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a particle belt having a particle engagement section configured to receive a particle from a particle metering and singulation unit and a particle exit section configured to expel the particle toward a trench in soil. The particle delivery system includes an air flow system configured to establish an air flow toward the particle engagement section of the particle belt to accelerate the particle toward the particle belt, such that a particle speed of the particle reaches a target particle speed, is within a target percentage of a belt speed of the particle belt, or both, as the particle reaches the particle engagement section of the particle belt. The air flow toward the particle engagement section is a substantial portion of a total air flow established by the air flow system relative to other sections of the particle belt.

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a particle belt having a particle acceleration section. The particle belt is configured to receive a particle, to accelerate the particle at the particle acceleration section, and to expel the particle toward a trench in soil. The particle delivery system includes a first hub assembly engaged with the particle belt at a first location and a second hub assembly engaged with the particle belt at a second location. The particle acceleration section is disposed generally at the first location, a substantially no-slip condition exists between the first hub assembly and the particle belt at the first location and between the second hub assembly and the particle belt at the second location, and the first hub assembly and the second hub assembly are configured to stretch the particle belt at the particle acceleration section to accelerate the particle.

A particle delivery system of an agricultural row unit includes a shuttle track configured to be disposed adjacent to a particle metering and singulation unit, shuttles movably disposed along the shuttle track, and a track belt disposed inwardly of the shuttle track. Each shuttle is configured to receive a particle from the particle metering and singulation unit at a particle reception section of the shuttle track and release the particle toward a trench in soil at a particle deposition section of the shuttle track. The track belt includes paddles, and each paddle is configured to move a respective shuttle along a particle transfer section of the shuttle track from the particle reception section to the particle deposition section.

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Yorkville, IL, United States of America

Christopher Schoeny