RETROFITTING KIT TO BE MOUNTED ON AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT

Abstract

The present invention relates to a retrofitting kit (3) having electrical and/or electronic components to be mounted on an agricultural implement (4), which can be mounted on/attached to a tractor (2) and which is operated in combination therewith.

Claims

1. A retrofitting kit (3) having electrical and/or electronic components to be mounted on an agricultural implement (4), which can be mounted on a tractor (2) and which can be operated in combination therewith, characterized in that the retrofitting kit (3) has implement-specific components for the permanent mounting on the agricultural implement (4), a portable computer unit (6), and a first interface (14) for the electronic connection of the implement-specific components (5) to the portable computer unit (6), which can be used as required, the portable computer unit (6) is designed to be removed from the agricultural implement 4 and to be operated on changing agricultural implements (4), wherein the implement-specific components (5) of the retrofitting kit (3) include sensors (10) for determining process-relevant data and technical transmission means, by means of which the data determined by the sensors (10) can be transmitted to the portable computer unit (6), wherein the portable computer unit (6) includes many building blocks, which are required for the electronic function help of various types of agricultural implements.

2. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first interface (14) has one or several electrical and/or electronic plug connections, which connect the portable computer unit (6) in the operating position to at least one of the implement-specific components (5), and an additional mechanical connection for fixing the position of the portable computer unit (6) in the operating position additionally exists between the implement-specific components (5) and the portable computer unit (6) in the operating position.

3. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the implement-specific components (5) and/or the portable computer unit (6) have a second interface (16) to the control electronics (34) of the tractor (2) and/or to an operating terminal (18) arranged in the tractor cab.

4. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and/or second interface (14, 16) are formed as data bus connection, via which a data exchange with other electronic components connected to the data bus can take place.

5. (canceled)

6. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the implement-specific components (5) include an implement-specific wire harness (8).

7. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the implement-specific components (5) include an actuator (12), which can be controlled by the portable computer unit (6).

8. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the implement-specific components (5) include electronic slave modules (20), which can be operated in functional dependence on the portable computer unit (6).

9. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first interface (14) for the electronic connection of the implement-specific components (5) to the exchangeable portable computer unit (6) has a connection for the electric voltage supply.

10. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable computer unit (6) has a communication module (22).

11. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable computer unit (6) has a positioning module (24).

12. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable computer unit (6) has a wirelessly communicating module (26).

13. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable computer unit (6) has one or several connections to a data bus network.

14. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable computer unit (6) has a separate rechargeable storage (28) for electrical energy.

15. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable computer unit (6) has a module for the communication with the tractor (2).

16. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the input of operating commands to the portable computer unit (6) and/or the output of information from the portable computer unit (6) to an operator takes place via an app software installed on a separate mobile device (32), and a wireless communication connection existing between the portable computer unit (6) and the separate mobile device (32) takes place on the separate mobile device (32).

17. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 3, characterized in that the input of operating commands to the portable computer unit (6) and/or the output of information from the portable computer unit (6) to an operator takes place via the second interface (16) to the control electronics (34) of the tractor (2) and/or to an operating terminal (18) arranged in the tractor cab.

18. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first interface (14) for the electronic connection of the implement-specific components (5) to an exchangeable portable computer unit (6) has an identification device (36), by means of which the portable computer unit (6) recognizes the respective agricultural implement (4) when being connected to the first interface (14).

19. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 18, characterized in that the portable computer unit (6) has a control program, which starts a control software, which is stored in the portable computer unit (6) via the implement recognition and/or which is available remotely via a data connection, in order to control the recognized agricultural implement (4).

20. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that, depending on the technical equipment and setting, the portable computer unit (6) stores data collected during the operation of the agricultural implement (4) on the portable computer unit (6) and/or transmits the collected data via a data connection to a remote computer (38).

21. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable computer unit (6) has a software, which guides the user through an operating process in a dialog system, wherein the software, in dialog with the operator, transmits relevant control commands output by the operator for the operation of the agricultural implement (4) to the control electronics (34) of the tractor (2).

22. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable computer unit (6) has a software, which can be operated in an automatic mode, wherein in the automatic mode, the software transmits control commands, which are relevant for the operation of the agricultural implement (4), to the control electronics (34) of the tractor (2).

23. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable computer unit (6) has a software, which can be operated in an automatic mode, wherein in the automatic mode, the software receives control commands, which are relevant for the operation of the agricultural implement (4), from the control electronics (34) of the tractor (2) and/or of the operating terminal (18), and transfers said control commands to the connected implement-specific components (5) for the execution thereof.

24. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retrofitting kit (3) also permits an operation of the agricultural implement (4) without a portable computer unit (6), which is in the operating position.

25. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the portable computer unit (6) is designed to exchange data with another external computer (38), which is wirelessly connected to the portable computer unit (6), via a communication module (22, 26), wherein the data is location and/or operating data of the agricultural implement (4) and/or data for controlling and regulating the agricultural implement (4), which is controlled by the portable computer unit (6).

26. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retrofitting kit (3) is designed for the use at a plow as an agricultural implement (4), wherein the retrofitting kit (3) has a sensor (10) for capturing the actual working width of the plow and/or for capturing an angle of rotation, the sensor (10) is connected to the portable computer unit (6), and the portable computer unit (6) has a software, via which the sensor value and/or a control signal derived from the sensor value can be transmitted to the control electronics (34) of the tractor (2) and/or via a communication module (22, 26) to another external computer (38), which is connected via the first or second interface (14, 16) and/or wirelessly to the portable computer unit (6).

27. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retrofitting kit (3) is designed for the use at a plow as an agricultural implement (4), wherein the portable computer unit (6) is designed to exchange data with another external computer (38), which is wirelessly connected to the portable computer unit (6), via a communication module (22, 26), wherein the data is data for controlling and regulating the plow, which is controlled by the portable computer unit (6).

28. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retrofitting kit (3) is designed for the use at a grubber or a compact disc harrow as an agricultural implement (4), wherein the retrofitting kit (3) has a sensor (10) for capturing the actual working depth of the grubber or of the compact disc harrow, the sensor (10) is connected to the portable computer unit (6), and the portable computer unit (6) has a software, via which the sensor value and/or a control signal derived from the sensor value can be transmitted to the control electronics (34) of the tractor (2) and/or via a communication module (22, 26) to another external computer (38), which is connected via the first or second interface (14, 16) and/or wirelessly to the portable computer unit (6).

29. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retrofitting kit (3) is designed for the use at a grubber or a compact disc harrow as an agricultural implement (4), wherein the portable computer unit (6) is designed to exchange data with another external computer (38), which is wirelessly connected to the portable computer unit (6), via a communication module (22, 26), wherein the data is data for controlling and regulating the grubber or the compact disc harrow, which is controlled by the portable computer unit (6).

30. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retrofitting kit (3) is designed for the use at a seeder as an agricultural implement (4), wherein the retrofitting kit (3) has a sensor (10) for capturing the work quality of the seeder, the sensor (10) is connected to the portable computer unit (6), and the portable computer unit (6) has a software, via which the sensor value and/or a control signal derived from the sensor value can be transmitted to the control electronics (34) of the tractor (2) and/or via a communication module (22, 26) to another external computer (38), which is connected via the first or second interface (14, 16) and/or wirelessly to the portable computer unit (6).

31. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retrofitting kit (3) is designed for the use at a seeder as an agricultural implement (4), wherein the portable computer unit (6) is designed to exchange data with another external computer (38), which is wirelessly connected to the portable computer unit (6), via a communication module (22, 26), wherein the data is data for controlling and regulating the seeder, which is controlled by the portable computer unit (6).

32. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 1, characterized in that the retrofitting kit (3) is designed for the use at a rotary harrow as an agricultural implement (4), wherein the retrofitting kit (3) has a sensor (10) for capturing the work quality of the rotary harrow, the sensor (10) is connected to the portable computer unit (6), and the portable computer unit (6) has a software, via which the sensor value and/or a control signal derived from the sensor value can be transmitted to the control electronics (34) of the tractor (2) and/or via a communication module (22, 26) to another external computer (38), which is connected via the first or second interface (14, 16) and/or wirelessly to the portable computer unit (6).

33. The retrofitting kit (3) according to claim 32, characterized in that the sensor (10) for capturing the work quality is an optical, radar, and/or ultrasonic sensor for analyzing the crumb structure of the soil.

Description

[0048] The invention will now be described in more detail on the basis of a preferred exemplary embodiment as well as with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:

[0049] FIG. 1: shows a schematic illustration of a tractor comprising an agricultural implement and a retrofitting kit installed thereon.

[0050] FIG. 1 shows a tractor 2, to which an agricultural implement 4 is attached. The agricultural implement 4 is equipped with a retrofitting kit 3. The retrofitting kit 3 consists of a portable computer unit 6 as well as of a number of implement-specific components 5.

[0051] While the portable computer unit 6 is designed to be capable of being easily removed from the agricultural implement 4 and of being operated on changing agricultural implements 4, the implement-specific components 5 are designed to permanently remain at the respective agricultural implement 4. The implement-specific components 5 are matched exactly to the individual need in the respective agricultural implement.

[0052] The implement-specific components 5 can be, for example, a wire harness 8, a sensor 10, an actuator 12, as well a first interface 14 and/or a second interface 16. It goes without saying that the above-mentioned components can also be present in plural.

[0053] The used sensors 10 are in each case designed so as to match, in order to be able to fulfill the control purpose, for which they are installed on the agricultural implement 4. The sensors 10 can be, for example, speed, laser, or ultrasonic sensors. Cameras, which are coupled to an image evaluation software, are also possible as sensor 10. Radar sensors can also be used, in order to assess the work quality of an agricultural implement 4. Other suitable sensor types are also possible.

[0054] An actuator 12 can be, for example, an electrical switch, a hydraulic or pneumatic switch valve, a hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric motor, a hydraulic cylinder, a mechanically, hydraulically, or electrically operated coupling, a speed controller, or another component, which changes an operating state in the implement by means of a movement. An actuator 12 can have an electronic component, which converts an electrical or electronic control signal, which was output by the portable computer unit 6, into a control command, which can be implemented by the actuator 12.

[0055] The first interface 14 has one or several electrical plug connections. The plug connections preferably also serve the purpose of ensuring the power supply of the portable computer unit 6. The portable computer unit 6 can be connected via the first interface 14 to the power supply of the tractor 2, which consists of a battery placed there and/or of an alternator. Due to this power supply, the portable computer unit 6 either does not require a separate storage for electrical energy, or the electrical storage can be significantly smaller than would be necessary to operate the portable computer unit 6 for hours with the electrical energy stored in said storage.

[0056] The electrical and/or electronic plug connections include further connections for connecting the portable computer unit 6 to the implement-specific components 5. The electrical and/or electronic connections can be established via the wire harness 8, which can be designed to keep a connecting cable to the portable computer unit 6 ready for each of the available implement-specific components 5. To reduce the number of the wires contained in the wire harness 8, one or several of the electrical and/or electronic plug connections can also be a bus connection, via which a data bus communication is possible. At least one data bus connection is thus also advantageous in order to be able to communicate with the bus network in the tractor 2 via the second interface 16. The portable computer unit 6 can represent an addition to the bus network in the tractor 2, the portable computer unit 6, however, can additionally or alternatively also organize and operate a separate bus network with the implement-specific components 5.

[0057] The first interface 14 additionally also has a mechanical connection for fixing the position of the portable computer unit 6. This can be a positive mount, by means of which the portable computer unit 6 is held in the operating position. In addition to the positive connection, further mechanical securing means can be provided, in order to keep the portable computer unit in the installation position. For instance, special clips, clamps, bolts, and the like can be available there, which, on the one hand, provide for a good preferably positive position fixation, but which can also be displaced easily, in order to easily unlock the portable computer unit 6 for a removal. The locking elements can preferably be operated in a tool-free manner.

[0058] The above descriptions relating to the design of the first interface 14 also apply analogously for the second interface 16.

[0059] In the exemplary embodiment, an operating terminal 18 is arranged in the driver cab of the tractor 2. The operating terminal 18 has a graphic display as well as further operating elements, such as, for example, buttons and/or softkeys. The operating terminal 18 can also be controlled via a touch-sensitive user interface of the screen. The operating terminal 18 is connected to the bus network of the tactor 2. Via the bus network in the tractor 2, the operating terminal 18 can communicate with the portable computer unit 6 via the second interface 16 and the first interface 14. The portable computer unit 6 can thus transmit data, which is displayed to a user on the operating terminal 18, to the operating terminal 18, and vice versa, operating instructions made by a user on the operating terminal 18 can be transmitted to the portable computer unit 6. It is possible in this way for a user to operate and control the towed agricultural machine 4 by means of the communication between the portable computer unit 6 and the operating terminal 18.

[0060] The implement-specific components 5 can also have a slave module 20, which executes secondary computation, maintenance, and control functions. The slave module 20 can be organized such that it communicates with the portable computer unit 6 only if any interference states occur, or if the slave module 20 requires operating specifications, which the computer unit 6 provides.

[0061] The portable computer unit 6 can have a communication module 22, which provides for a wireless mobile communication with a radio network. The communication module 22 can be used for the purpose that the portable computer unit 6 exchanges data with external computers 38. The external computer 38 can be a farm or business computer, respectively, which the farmer or contractor can use to plan and control the machine use, as well as for precision farming applications. The data exchange can take place bidirectionally thereby, so that the portable computer unit 6 receives data from the external computer 38 as well as transmits operating data from the agricultural implement 4 to the external computer 38. However, the communication can also be organized in only one direction. The external computer can also be a range of services from the Internet. The manufacturers of the agricultural implements 4, agencies, agricultural machinery manufacturers, other service providers in the agricultural sector or subcontractors of consumable materials, such as seeds, fertilizer or plant protecting agent manufacturers, can thus be involved and interested in a data exchange. A communication with the external computers 38 of these involved parties is possible via the communication module 22.

[0062] However, a data exchange is not limited to the communication module 22. A wireless data communication can also be organized, for example, via the operating terminal 18, if the latter has a corresponding communication module 22. A data communication with an eternal computer 38 can also take place via the control electronics 34 of the tractor 2, if it has a communication module 22, or the communication module 22 or a wirelessly communicating module 26 of the portable computer unit 6 communicate with a mobile device 32 as smart device, such as, for example, a mobile phone, a tablet, or a laptop, which then have a separate communication module 22.

[0063] The portable computer unit 6 can furthermore have a positioning module 24. The positioning module 24 can determine the respective geographical position of the towed agricultural implement 4 at a desired point in time at a specified clock rate. When working with the agricultural implement 4, this is expedient in particular when georeferenced operating data is to be collected and is to be stored or transferred for evaluation purposes, or if the cultivation of the field is to take place in a positionally accurate manner and is controlled accordingly. The positioning module 22 can determine the position by means of GPS, Glonass, Galileo, or Beidou data. The accuracy of this position data can be improved further with the reception of correction signals. For this purpose, the positioning module 24 can be equipped for receiving the respective correction signals.

[0064] The equipment of the portable computer unit 6 with a wirelessly communicating module 26 is also advantageous because an app, which provides for a display of data, which the portable computer unit 6 transmits to the mobile device 32, such as, for example, status and operating data displays of the agricultural implement 4, can be installed on the mobile device 32. However, control commands can also be transmitted via the app, which is installed on the mobile device 32, to the portable computer unit 6, which the latter then converts into corresponding control commands for the implement-specific components 5 and transmits them. A control of the agricultural implement 4 is thus possible via the portable computer unit 6 and the app on the mobile device 32.

[0065] In addition, the portable computer unit 6 can communicate with the control electronics 34 of the tractor 2. Via this communication, it is possible that the portable computer unit 6 influences operating parameters of the tractor 2, such as, for example, the forward driving speed, the speed of the power take-off shaft, switch positions of hydraulic valves, the pump speed, and pressures of the hydraulic or load-sensing pump, respectively, in the tractor 2, or also electrical or electronic switches in the tractor 2. It is likewise possible that the control electronics 34 transmits data to the portable computer unit 6, which the latter evaluates, in order to optionally issue control commands to the implement-specific components 5, which are arranged downstream. Due to the communication of the portable computer unit 6 with the control electronics 34, a machine system is created, the parts of which can be operated so as to be networked with one another.

[0066] The portable computer unit 6 has a central computer 30, on which the software required for the operation of the portable computer unit 6 is stored, and on which said software can be operated. The software is in particular software, which is suitable to control the respective towed agricultural implement 4, on which the portable computer unit 6 is installed. The central computer 30 can accordingly have a plurality of software packages, which are programmed for the operation of various agricultural implements 4. The central computer 30 handles the communication with the individual implement-specific components 5, the further modules, which are available in the portable computer unit 6, comprising the external computers 38 and the operating terminal 18 or the control electronics 34, respectively, on the tractor 2 via the software stored thereon. The respective software also determines, from where data required for the operation of the agricultural implement is downloaded, or where this data is stored. The software stored on the portable computer unit 6 can also be organized such that partial routines of the software run on external computers 38, and the portable computer unit 6 only downloads selected data packages from the external computers 38, which are required for the current operation of the agricultural implement 4.

[0067] The software stored on the central computer 30 makes it possible that the portable computer unit 6 and the agricultural implement 4 are operated in an automatic mode. When the portable computer unit 6 runs in the automatic operation, it is not required that an operator manually intervenes in the operation of the portable computer unit 6 and/or of the agricultural implement 4.

[0068] The agricultural implements 4 can be, for example, a plow, a grubber, a compact disc harrow, a rotary harrow, a seeder, or some other implement for soil cultivation, stubble cultivation, the soil compacting, the sowing, the crop protection, the forage harvest, the slurry application, or some other agricultural implements.

[0069] So that the portable computer unit 6 can recognize the type of agricultural implement 4, on which it is currently mounted, it is advantageous when the first interface 14 has an identification device 36. The identification device 36 can contain information, which makes it possible for the portable computer unit 6 to adapt to the respective agricultural implement 4. The identification device 36 can thereby have additional information relating to previously selected operating parameters for setting the implement-specific components 5. It is likewise possible that information relating to the communication with external computers 38 and/or with the tractor 2 is stored in the identification device 36. Job-related data for the operation of the respective agricultural implement 4 can also already be stored in the identification device 36.

[0070] The invention is not limited to the above-described exemplary embodiment. It is not difficult for the person of skill in the art to modify the exemplary embodiment in a manner, which appears to be suitable for him, in order to adapt it to a concrete application.