Patent classifications
A01B63/00
Road travel system for an agricultural vehicle
An agricultural vehicle having a chassis, wheels, a power unit, and a header. The header has a center section, at least one wing section extending laterally from the center section, and a wing section support. The center section is movable relative to the chassis, the wing section is movable relative to the center section, and the wing support is movable relative to the wing section. The combine has a control system that is configured to determine that the combine is configured to drive at a road-driving speed, and in response to such determination: operate a center section actuator to move the center section to a raised center section position, operate a wing section actuator to move the wing section to a raised wing section position, and operate a wing support actuator to move the wing support to a raised wing support position.
SMART SPRAYER FOR PRECISION AGRICULTURE
An illustrative smart sprayer for a precision agricultural implement includes a mount for coupling the sprayer to a modular tool arm of the implement, and a spray head, an airflow generator, a solenoid valve, and an inspirator mixer located within a containment shroud. The smart sprayer is one of alternative agricultural tools that can be selectively coupled to and be operated by a control system of the common platform precision agricultural implement, including a machine vision module for identifying and locating commodity plants, non-commodity plants, and positioning the agricultural tools laterally and vertically relative to commodity plant lines.
Method for Operating an Attachment Arranged on a Pick-up Apparatus of a Self-Propelled Combine Harvester
The present invention relates to a method for operating an attachment arranged on a pick-up apparatus of a self-propelled combine harvester, wherein the attachment comprises a central portion and two side portions which are each connected to the central portion by a frame joint so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis oriented in the direction of travel, wherein the respective side portion is pivotable about the pivot axis transversely to the direction of travel relative to the central portion by means of an actuator that is activated by a control apparatus, wherein a vertical distance of the attachment from the ground is adaptively set by at least one hydraulic cylinder on the pick-up apparatus, wherein, for the ground guidance of the attachment, the positioning of the side portions relative to the central portion is controlled or regulated independently of vertical and transverse guidance, activated by the combine harvester, of the attachment.
Dynamic supplemental downforce control system for planter row units
A dynamic supplemental downforce control system for a planter row unit. The system includes closed-loop feedback circuit that cooperates with a downforce actuator to dynamically control fluid flow to the downforce actuator to maintain balance between the actual gauge wheel downforce and a desired gauge wheel downforce during planting operations.
Method and system for controlling the height of an agricultural implement relative to the ground
In one aspect, a method for automatically controlling a height of an implement of an agricultural work vehicle relative to a ground surface may include monitoring, with one or more computing devices, the height of the implement relative to the ground surface. The method may also include determining, with the one or more computing devices, an implement height error by comparing the height of the implement with a predetermined target height. The method may also include calculating, with the one or more computing devices, a proportional signal based on the implement height error raised to a power greater than one. The method may also include adjusting, with the one or more computing devices, the height of the implement relative to the ground surface based on the proportional signal.
Orientation control system for an agricultural implement
An orientation control system for an agricultural implement includes a first sensor configured to be positioned at a left end portion of a frame. The first sensor is configured to emit a first output signal toward a soil surface and to receive a first return signal indicative of a first height of the left end portion. The orientation control system also includes a second sensor configured to be positioned at a right end portion of the frame. The second sensor is configured to emit a second output signal toward the soil surface and to receive a second return signal indicative of a second height of the right end portion. In addition, the orientation control system includes a controller configured to control first, second, and third actuators such that a difference between the first height and the second height is less than a threshold value.
Agricultural implement
An agricultural implement comprising: a ground engaging tool; and an actuator mechanism (366; 466; 566). The actuator mechanism is configured to provide a bias force to the ground engaging tool such that it is biased towards a working position. The agricultural implement also includes a controller that is configured to automatically set the level of the bias force that is provided by the actuator mechanism based on control-data.
DOWN FORCE CONTROL TO ALLOW FOR EASIER DEPTH ADJUSTMENT
A row unit, including a frame with an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion having a parallel linkage, the lower portion having a gauge wheel depth control linkage, the gauge wheel depth control linkage coupled to plural gauge wheels; a first device coupled to the upper portion and configured to provide an adjustable down force; and an electric actuator coupled to the gauge wheel depth control linkage, the electric actuator configured to provide adjustable positioning of the gauge wheels.
MOUNTING STRUCTURE FOR DOWN-PRESSURE SYSTEM FOR OPENER ASSEMBLY OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT
A down-pressure system for an agricultural implement has a linear actuator connected between a frame assembly and an opener assembly. A mounting structure for connecting the linear actuator to the opener assembly includes a bushing and an alignment member attached to the linear actuator. The bushing has protrusions extending transversely from opposite sides of a longitudinal axis of the linear actuator. Each protrusion has a curved engagement surface for engaging a flat surface on the opener assembly to prevent bending stresses on the linear actuator when the opener assembly is raised and lowered. The alignment member is arranged to lock the bushing into a predetermined rotational position about a longitudinal axis of the linear actuator relative to the opener assembly. The alignment member comprises a first structure that mates with a corresponding structure on the bushing, and a second structure that engages opposite sides of the opener assembly.
AGRICULTURAL MACHINE AND AGRICULTURAL ASSISTANCE SYSTEM
An agricultural machine includes a traveling vehicle body, a position detector to detect a position of the traveling vehicle body, a lifting device to link a working device to the traveling vehicle body, and an automatic operation controller to perform an automatic operation to cause the traveling vehicle body to travel and cause the working device to perform an agricultural job based on a travel route and the position of the traveling vehicle body. The lifting device is operable to, during the automatic operation, place the working device in a work position in which the working device performs the agricultural job, and the automatic operation controller is operable to cause the lifting device to keep the working device in the work position even after stopping the traveling vehicle body and/or the working device to end the automatic operation at a location short of an unworked area of the agricultural field.