Planter Downforce And Uplift Monitoring And Control Feedback Devices, Systems And Associated Methods

Abstract

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to devices, systems and methods for on-the-go monitoring and controlled feedback in a supplemental downforce application. Certain implementations provide real-time monitoring of furrow depth via contact and non-contact approaches, some of which are combined with gauge wheel feedback to calibrate and otherwise control the application of supplemental downforce to the row unit. A combination of sensor types are employed in collecting furrow depth measurements, which can be used to adjust the supplemental downforce through a control system module. A gauge wheel load sensor may be used to modify the application of supplemental downforce.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A row unit downforce system comprising:
 a. a downforce actuator in operational communication with the row unit and constructed and arranged to apply supplemental downforce to the row unit and opening disks;   b. a monitoring system comprising at least one furrow depth sensor constructed and arranged to generate furrow depth values; and   c. a control system module,   wherein the control system module is constructed and arranged to generate actuator command signals in response to the furrow depth values.   
     
     
         2 . The row unit downforce system of  claim 1 , further comprising a shoe disposed between the opening disks, wherein the at least one sensor is disposed on the shoe. 
     
     
         3 . The row unit downforce system of  claim 1 , further comprising a gauge wheel load sensor in operational communication with the control system module. 
     
     
         4 . The row unit downforce system of  claim 3 , further comprising a downforce control system in operational communication with the control system module and constructed and arranged to generate actuator command signals for transmission and operation of the actuator. 
     
     
         5 . The row unit downforce system of  claim 4 , wherein the downforce control system comprises at least one control selected from the group consisting of a proportional-integral-derivative control, a machine learning control, a predictive model control and a lookup table. 
     
     
         6 . The row unit downforce system of  claim 4 , wherein downforce control system utilizes gauge wheel load and furrow depth to modify applied downforce. 
     
     
         7 . A system for the application of supplemental downforce to a row unit via an actuator comprising an on-the-go monitoring system comprising at least one sensor constructed and arranged to generate furrow depth values. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one furrow depth sensor is a non-contact sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one sensor is a non-contact furrow depth sensor rigidly mounted to the row unit and is positioned to measure a seed furrow bottom distance. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor further comprises a second non-contact ground level sensor. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 7 , comprising a rider disposed on a support arm and constructed and arranged to physically contact the furrow. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 7 , comprising a shoe comprising one or more sensors disposed on substantially vertical surfaces. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more sensors are disposed adjacent to a side or edge of the furrow. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more sensors are disposed adjacent to an outer circumferential edge of a gauge wheel. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more sensors are disposed adjacent to an outer circumferential edge of an opening disk. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the one or more sensors are constructed and arranged to detect an observed or actual revolution speed of a gauge wheels and/or an opening disk by sensing a rotating trigger mechanism. 
     
     
         17 . A row unit downforce system comprising:
 a. a downforce actuator in operational communication with the row unit and constructed and arranged to apply supplemental downforce to the row unit and opening disks; and   b. an on-the-go monitoring system comprising at least one furrow depth sensor constructed and arranged to generate furrow depth values.   
     
     
         18 . The row unit downforce system of  claim 17 , comprising a gauge wheel load sensor constructed and arranged to generate gauge wheel load values. 
     
     
         19 . The row unit downforce system of  claim 18 , comprising a feedback control system, wherein the control system module is constructed and arranged to generate actuator command signals in response to furrow depth values and gauge wheel load values. 
     
     
         20 . The row unit downforce system of  claim 17 , wherein the at least one furrow depth sensor is disposed on a shoe.