Implement load management system

Abstract

An implement load management method includes sensing respective loads on at least one wheel supporting a central portion and one or more wheels supporting a wing portion, the central portion and the wing portion comprising segments of an implement; and actuating a fluid-type cylinder to cause pivotal movement between the central portion and the wing portion based on the sensed loads, wherein the actuating comprises causing fluid flow in either of two opposing directions through the fluid-type cylinder based on evaluation of a load on the one or more wheels supporting the central portion and the one or more wheels supporting the wing portion. Related implement load management systems are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An implement load management system, comprising:
 a frame comprising a central portion and first and second wing portions each pivotably coupled to the central portion;   plural wheels each comprising an axle coupled to the frame, the plural wheels coupled to the central portion and the first and second wing portions;   plural sensors, each configured to sense a load on one of the plural wheels; and   a control system configured to maintain selected axle loads on each wheel coupled to the central portion and each wheel coupled to the first and second wing portions by bi-directionally transferring during non-overlapping periods of time, based on input from the plural sensors, the control system comprising:
 a controller; 
 a first control valve in communication with the controller; and 
 a first cylinder configured to cause pivotal movement between the central portion and the first wing portion, the first cylinder comprising first and second ports fluidly coupled to the first control valve, wherein the controller is configured to push a first load in one direction by causing fluid to flow from the first control valve to the first port based on a first input from at least a portion of the plural sensors, and wherein the controller is further configured to pull a second load by causing fluid to flow from the first port to the first control valve based on a second input from the at least a portion of the plural sensors. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system further comprises:
 a second control valve in communication with the controller; and   a second cylinder configured to cause pivotal movement between the central portion and the second wing portion, the second cylinder comprising third and fourth ports fluidly coupled to the second control valve, wherein the controller is configured to push a third load by causing fluid to flow from the second control valve to the third port based on a third input from at least a portion of the plural sensors, and wherein the controller is further configured to pull a fourth load by causing fluid to flow from the third port to the second control valve based on a fourth input from the at least a portion of the plural sensors.   
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the control system further comprises:
 another controller in communication with the controller;   a second control valve in communication with the another controller; and   a second cylinder configured to cause pivotal movement between the central portion and the second wing portion, the second cylinder comprising third and fourth ports fluidly coupled to the second control valve, wherein the another controller is configured to push a third load by causing fluid to flow from the second control valve to the third port based on a third input from at least a portion of the plural sensors, and wherein the another controller is further configured to pull a fourth load by causing fluid to flow from the third port to the second control valve based on a fourth input from the at least a portion of the plural sensors.   
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first cylinder comprises a hydraulic cylinder. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first cylinder comprises a pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plural wheels are of at least two different size diameters. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the plural wheels are all of a same size diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each axle of each of the plural wheels is coupled to the frame by an arm, and wherein each of the plural sensors comprises a strain gauge secured to one of the respective arms. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame comprises a bar extending transverse to a direction of motion enabled by the plural wheels, and further comprising plural row units coupled to and laterally spaced along the bar. 
     
     
         10 . The system  claim 1 , wherein the fluid flows through the first cylinder from the first port to the second port based on the first input, and wherein the fluid flows through the first cylinder from the second port to the first port based on the second input. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to push the first load based on a ground pressure sensed by at least one of the plural sensors associated with at least one of the plural wheels corresponding to the central portion greater than a ground pressure sensed by at least one of the plural sensors associated with at least one of the plural wheels corresponding to the first wing portion, the push of the first load corresponding to a transfer of the first load from the central portion to the first wing portion. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to pull the second load based on a ground pressure sensed by at least one of the plural sensors associated with at least one of the plural wheels corresponding to the central portion less than a ground pressure sensed by at least one of the plural sensors associated with at least one of the plural wheels corresponding to the first wing portion, the pull of the second load corresponding to a transfer of the second load from the first wing portion to the central portion. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a pump fluidly coupled to the first control valve, wherein the control system causes the push of the first load or the pull of the second load without operator intervention. 
     
     
         14 . An implement load management system, comprising:
 a frame comprising a central portion and a wing portion pivotably coupled to the central portion;   plural wheels comprising a first wheel coupled to the central portion and a second wheel coupled to the wing portion;   plural sensors comprising a first sensor configured to sense a load on the first wheel and a second sensor configured to sense a load on the second wheel;   a controller;   a control valve in communication with the controller; and   a cylinder configured to cause pivotal movement between the central portion and the wing portion, the cylinder comprising first and second ports fluidly coupled to the control valve, wherein the controller is configured to cause fluid flow from the control valve to the first port based on inputs from the first and second sensors indicating a load of the first wheel greater than a load of the second wheel, the controller further configured to cause fluid to flow from the first port to the control valve based on inputs from the first and second sensors.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the plural wheels comprise at least one additional wheel coupled to the central portion, the wing portion, or a combination of the central portion and the wing portion, and wherein the plural sensors comprise at least one additional sensor coupled respectively to the at least one additional wheel, wherein the inputs based on the first and second sensors further include at least one input from the at least one additional sensor. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the cylinder comprises a hydraulic cylinder or a pneumatic cylinder. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising at least one additional control valve configured to operate in cooperation with the control valve. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plural sensors comprises a load cell or a strain gauge. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 14 , further comprising a pump fluidly coupled to the control valve. 
     
     
         20 . A method of managing loads on an implement, the method comprising:
 sensing loads on at least one wheel supporting a central portion of an implement and at least one wheel supporting a wing portion of the implement; and   actuating a fluid-type cylinder to cause pivotal movement between the central portion and the wing portion based on the sensed loads, wherein the actuating comprises causing fluid flow in either of two opposing directions through the fluid-type cylinder based on evaluation of a load on the at least one wheel supporting the central portion and a load on the at least one wheel supporting the wing portion.