Method for adjusting the working depth of an agricultural implement

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for adjusting a working depth of a plough implement (10), the plough implement comprising a plurality of ground engaging tools for penetrating and moving soil and a depth adjustment apparatus configured to adjust a working depth of at least one of the ground engaging tools, wherein the method comprises receiving control-data indicative of two or more field conditions of a field across which the plough implement is being moved; and automatically controlling an operation of the depth adjustment apparatus in a manner that adjusts a working depth of the at least one ground engaging tool on the basis of the control-data received.

1 . A method for adjusting a working depth of a plough implement, the plough implement comprising a plurality of ground engaging tools for penetrating and moving soil and a depth adjustment apparatus configured to adjust a working depth of at least one of the ground engaging tools, wherein the method comprises:
 receiving control-data indicative of two or more field conditions of a field across which the plough implement is being moved;   automatically controlling an operation of the depth adjustment apparatus in a manner that adjusts a working depth of the at least one ground engaging tool on the basis of the control-data received.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control-data comprises ground-contour-data that is indicative of ground contours of the field across which the plough implement is being moved and soil-data that is representative of at least one characteristic of the soil of the field. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the soil-data is representative of at least one characteristic of the soil below a ground surface of the field. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the soil-data is indicative of one or more of:
 a moisture content of the soil;   soil compaction levels of the soil;   a temperature of the soil;   a type of plant residues to be buried;   a soil type; and   an ability of the soil to drain water.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the soil-data and/or the ground-contour-data comprises live-data determined during a working operation of the plough implement. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the ground-contour-data is indicative of one or more of:
 a longitudinal inclination of the plough implement;   a lateral inclination of the plough implement;   an inclination of the ground surface of the field in a direction of travel of the plough implement; and   an inclination of the ground surface of the field laterally to a direction of travel of the plough implement.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein a plurality of candidate ground-contour-data is stored in a database and automatically controlling the operation of the depth adjustment apparatus includes:
 receiving location-data of the plough implement within the field; and   using the location-data to select one of the candidate ground-contour-data as the ground-contour-data.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the control-data comprises implement-data associated with the operation of the plough implement. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the implement-data is indicative of one or more of:
 a speed of the plough implement and/or the associated agricultural work vehicle;   a ploughing resistance experienced by the plough implement or the at least one ground engaging tool;   a wheel slip experienced by a wheel of the plough implement and/or the associated agricultural work vehicle;   a lateral distance between adjacent ground engaging tools of the plough implement;   a position of at least one of the ground engaging tools with respect to a ground surface of the field.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the plough implement comprises a plurality of depth adjustment apparatus, each depth adjustment apparatus being configured to independently adjust a working depth of at least one of the plurality of ground engaging tools, and wherein automatically controlling an operation of the depth adjustment apparatus comprises controlling an operation of two or more of the depth adjustment apparatus in a manner that changes a working depth of two or more of the plurality of ground engaging tools independently of each other. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , comprising retrieving and/or calculating a desired working depth corresponding to the control-data received. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , comprising identifying a current working depth of the at least one ground engaging tool and comparing the current working depth to the desired working depth and adjusting the working depth of the at least one ground engaging tool when a difference between the current and the desired working depth exceeds or falls below a predetermined threshold value. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one ground engaging tool is a skimmer. 
     
     
         14 . The method  claim 1 , wherein the plough implement comprises a main frame, which is transferable between a first configuration, in which a first ground engaging tool is in a working position, and a second configuration, in which a second ground engaging tool is in a working position, and wherein controlling the operation of the depth adjustment apparatus comprises simultaneously and equally adjusting the working depth of the first and the second ground engaging tool. 
     
     
         15 . An agricultural plough implement comprising:
 a plurality of ground engaging tools including at least one ground engaging tool for penetrating and moving soil and a depth adjustment apparatus configured to adjust a working depth of the at least one ground engaging tool;   a control unit for receiving control-data indicative of two or more field conditions of a field across which the plough implement is being moved;   wherein the control unit is configured to automatically control an operation of the depth adjustment apparatus in a manner that adjusts a working depth of the at least one ground engaging tool on the basis of control-data received by the control unit.