Weigh system with hitch overload and rollover detection

Abstract

A weigh system for a mobile farm implement including a plurality of sensors and an indicator. The indicator may receive signals directly from each individual sensor related to the weight or load at the location of the sensor. The indicator may then use the information to determine if the mobile farm implement is in danger of hitch overload or rollover.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A weight sensor warning system for a farm implement including a bin for holding material and a hitch, comprising:
 a first sensor configured to measure a load on a first side of the bin;   a second sensor configured to measure a load on a second side of the bin;   a third sensor configured to measure a load at the hitch; and   an indicator connected to each sensor such that the indicator receives each load measurement, wherein the indicator is configured to receive a first load measurement from the first sensor, a second load measurement from the second sensor, and a third measurement output from the third sensor, said indicator being configured to calculate a first weight from the first load measurement, a second weight from the second load measurement, and a third weight from the third load measurement.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the indicator is configured to calculate a total weight of the farm implement using the first load measurement, the second load measurement, and the third load measurement. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , further comprising an alarm, wherein the indicator is configured to activate the alarm if a maximum weight is exceeded by the total weight in the bin. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising an alarm, wherein the indicator is configured to activate the alarm if the first weight exceeds a maximum first weight, the second weight exceeds a maximum second weight, or a third weight exceeds a maximum third weight. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the alarm is a visible or audible alarm. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the alarm is located on the indicator. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the third sensor measures the load at the hitch in more than one direction. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the third sensor measures the load at the hitch in a transverse direction, a vertical direction, and a longitudinal direction. 
     
     
         9 . A method of measuring the weight of a farm implement including at least a first sensor, a second sensor, a third sensor and an indicator in communication with each sensor, comprising the steps of:
 receiving with the indicator a first load measurement from the first sensor;   receiving with the indicator a second load measurement from the second sensor;   receiving with the indicator a third load measurement from the third sensor; and   calculating with the indicator a first weight using the first load measurement, a second weight using the second load measurement, and a third weight using the third load measurement.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 sending a first query from the indicator to the first sensor;   sending a second query from the indicator to the second sensor; and   sending a third query from the indicator to the third sensor.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of calculating with the indicator a total weight using the first load measurement, the second load measurement, and the third load measurement. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising the step of displaying with the indicator the total weight. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the steps of:
 positioning the third sensor at a hitch of the farm implement;   determining with the indicator if the third weight exceeds a hitch threshold; and   activating with the indicator an alarm if the hitch threshold is exceeded.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:
 positioning a plurality of sensors at a hitch of the farm implement;   receiving at the indicator a plurality of load measurements from the plurality of hitch sensors, including a shear load measurement, an upward load measurement and a downward load measurement;   determining with the indicator a shear load from the shear load measurement, an upward load from the upward load measurements, and a downward load from the downward load measurement; and   determining with the indicator if the shear load exceeds a shear threshold, the upward load exceeds an upward load threshold and the downward load exceeds a downward load threshold.   
     
     
         15 . A method of determining whether a farm implement is in danger of rollover, wherein the farm implement includes a bin, a first sensor positioned at a first side of the bin, a second sensor positioned at a second side of the bin, and an indicator in communication with each sensor, comprising the steps of:
 receiving at the indicator a first load measurement from the first sensor;   receiving at the indicator a second load measurement from the second sensor;   calculating with the indicator a first weight using the first load measurement and a second weight using the second load measurement;   comparing with the indicator the first weight to the second weight to determine if a rollover threshold has been exceeded; and   activating with the indicator an alarm if a rollover threshold has been exceeded.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 sending a first query from the indicator to the first sensor; and   sending a second query from the indicator to the second sensor.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising the steps of:
 if the rollover threshold has been exceeded, determining with the indicator if a rollover time threshold has been exceeded; and   if the rollover threshold and the rollover time threshold have been exceeded, activating an alarm with the indicator.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the rollover threshold is a maximum ratio by which the first weight may exceed the second weight or the second weight may exceed the first weight. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the maximum ratio is 150%.