Commodity metering system for work vehicle and calibration method for same

Abstract

A metering system includes a plurality of metering elements that are independently controllable. A calibration method of the present disclosure includes generating calibration factors for the individual metering elements. Also, a method of the present disclosure includes operating the metering elements according to the respective calibration factor.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A calibrating system for calibrating a metering system, the calibration system comprising:
 a work vehicle comprising:
 a commodity container; and 
 a metering system, wherein the metering system comprises a metering element configured to dispense a commodity from the commodity container; 
   a receptacle removably mounted to the work vehicle and positioned with respect to the metering system to receive the commodity from the commodity container metered from the metering element;   a load cell configured to detect a weight related to an amount of commodity metered through the metering element; and   a control system comprising at least one processor, the control system configured to:
 receive the detected weight from the load cell related to the amount of commodity metered through the metering element; 
 determine a calibration factor for operating the metering element based on the detected weight; 
 generate a control command for the metering element according to the calibration factor; and 
 operate the metering element according to the control command. 
   
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the load cell is disposed at a first lateral end of the receptacle and wherein the control system being configured to receive the detected weight from load cell related to the amount of commodity metered through the metering element comprises the control system being configured to:
 use a beam load calculation to determine the weight of the amount of commodity metered through the metering element based on a lateral distance from the load cell to a location below the metering element and the detected weight.   
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the metering element operates at a first angular speed and wherein the control system operates the metering element according to the control command by varying the angular speed of the metering element. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein the metering element comprises an actuator that rotates the metering element and wherein the control system controls the actuator according to the control command to vary the angular speed of the metering element. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the load cell comprises a plurality of load cells, wherein each load cell detects a portion of the total weight of the amount of commodity metered through the metering element, and wherein the control system being adapted to receive the detected weight from load cell related to the amount of commodity metered through the metering element comprises the control system being configured to sum the detected weight portions to determine the total weight of the amount of commodity metered through metering element. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the receptacle comprises a flexible bag. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 21 , wherein the load cell forms part of the receptacle. 
     
     
         28 . A work vehicle comprising:
 a chassis;   a commodity container supported on the chassis;   a metering system comprising a metering element operable to dispense an amount of commodity from the commodity container;   a receptacle, wherein the receptacle is removably mounted to the chassis and positioned with respect to the metering system to receive the amount of commodity from the commodity container metered by the metering element;   a load cell configured to detect a weight of the amount of commodity metered through the metering element; and   a control system comprising at least one processor, the control system configured to control operation of the metering element using a calibration factor.   
     
     
         29 . The work vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the control system configured to control operation of the metering element using a calibration factor comprises the control system configured to:
 receive the detected weight from the load cell related to the amount of commodity metered through the metering element;   determine the calibration factor for operating the metering element based on the detected weight;   generate a control command for the metering element according to the calibration factor; and   operate the metering element according to the control command.   
     
     
         30 . The work vehicle of  claim 28 , further comprising a bracket located at a first lateral side of the chassis to support a first lateral end of the receptacle, and wherein the load cell is disposed at a second lateral end of the receptacle adjacent a second lateral side of the chassis. 
     
     
         31 . The work vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the load cell comprises a first load cell disposed at a first lateral end of the receptacle and a second load cell disposed at a second lateral end of the receptacle, wherein the first load cell is removably attachable to a first lateral side of the chassis, and wherein the second load cell is removably attachable to a second lateral side of the chassis. 
     
     
         32 . The work vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the control system operates the metering element according to the control command by varying an angular speed of the metering element. 
     
     
         33 . The work vehicle of  claim 32 , wherein the metering element comprises an actuator that rotates the metering element, and wherein the control system controls the actuator according to the control command to vary the angular speed of the metering element. 
     
     
         34 . The work vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the load cell comprises a plurality of load cells, wherein each load cell detects a portion of the total weight of the amount of commodity metered through the metering element, and wherein the control system being configured to receive the detected weight from load cell related to a first amount of commodity metered through the metering element comprises the control system being configured to sum the detected weight portions to determine the total weight of the amount of commodity metered through the metering element. 
     
     
         35 . The work vehicle of  claim 28 , wherein the load cell is incorporated into the receptacle. 
     
     
         36 . A removable receptacle for collecting a commodity dispensed from a metering system of an air seeding cart, the removable container comprising:
 a collection body configured to be removably attachable to a chassis of the work vehicle, the collection body including an open end configured to receive a quantity of dispensed commodity; and   a load cell attached to the collection body that detects a weight of the receptacle including a contents thereof.   
     
     
         37 . The removable receptacle of  claim 36 , wherein the load cell comprises a plurality of load cells attached the collection body. 
     
     
         38 . The removable receptacle of  claim 36 , wherein the collection body comprises a bag. 
     
     
         39 . The removable receptacle of  claim 38 , wherein the bag is flexible. 
     
     
         40 . The removable receptacle of  claim 38 , wherein the bag comprises a breathable material.