US 12,457,920 B2
Intermediate tanks for frame weight distribution
Andrew W. Harmon, Geneseo, IL (US); and Gerald E. Rains, Eldridge, IA (US)
Assigned to Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed by Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/122,195.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/401,766, filed on Aug. 29, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0065139 A1, Feb. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. A01C 17/00 (2006.01); A01C 7/20 (2006.01)
CPC A01C 17/008 (2013.01) [A01C 7/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for distributing commodity for an agricultural machine comprising:
a frame including: a center section, a first wing section pivotably coupled to the center section, and a second wing section pivotably coupled to the center section and positioned opposite the first wing section;
a product storage system including: (i) at least one central commodity tank configured to store commodity usable in an operation of the agricultural machine; (ii) a first intermediate tank positioned on the first wing section of the frame and configured to receive commodity from the at least one central commodity tank; and (iii) a second intermediate tank positioned on the second wing section of the frame and configured to receive commodity from the at least one central commodity tank;
a manifold coupled to the at least one central commodity tank, wherein the manifold is movable to control a volume of commodity distributed to the first intermediate tank and the second intermediate tank;
a first group of row units configured to receive commodity from the first intermediate tank and to distribute the commodity to terrain traversed by the agricultural machine;
a second group of row units configured to receive commodity from the second intermediate tank and to distribute the commodity to the terrain traversed by the agricultural machine;
a first plurality of sensors configured to measure the downforce of the first group of row units;
a second plurality of sensors configured to measure the downforce of the second group of row units; and
a controller operatively coupled to the first plurality of sensors and the second plurality of sensors and configured to receive signals therefrom indicative of the measured downforce of the first group of row units and the second group of row units;
wherein the controller is operatively coupled to the manifold and configured to move the manifold in response to the measured downforce of the first group of row units and the second group of row units.