Method and apparatus for controlling draft of an agricultural implement
US5684691A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 17, 1995 |
| Grant date | Nov 4, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 17, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC A)Human Necessities
- CPC primaryA01B63/112
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A control system for regulating the elevational position of an implement carried or trailed by a vehicle, such as a tractor, includes draft force sensors for detecting the draft force produced by interaction of the implement with the ground, and a command device for setting a reference level of draft force. A control circuit coupled to the sensors and to the command device generates a draft force error signal representing the deviation of the sensed draft force from the desired level, and a draft force derivative signal representing the rate of change of the sensed draft force. The control circuit generates control signals for raising and lowering the implement following a predetermined control routine in response at least to the draft error signals. The rate of movement of the implement in response to the control signals is limited in response to the draft force error signal and the draft derivative signal. The limit on the rate of movement of the implement is preferably determined through fuzzy logic wherein the draft error signals and draft derivative signals are classified into sets and the rate limit is derived from the degree of membership of the signals in the sets. The cont…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.