Patent classifications
A01D41/00
System and method for coordinated control of agricultural vehicles
A control system for an agricultural vehicle includes a first transceiver configured to receive a first signal from a second transceiver of a target vehicle. The first signal is indicative of a first determined position and a first determined velocity of the target vehicle. The control system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the first transceiver. The controller is configured to automatically control the agricultural vehicle by determining a target position and a target velocity of the agricultural vehicle based at least in part on the first determined position and the first determined velocity of the target vehicle, instructing an automated steering control system and an automated speed control system to direct the agricultural vehicle toward the target position, and instructing the automated steering control system and the automated speed control system to substantially maintain the target position and the target velocity upon substantially reaching the target position.
Controller for a harvester
A controller for a harvester. The controller is configured to receive crop flow information representative of how crop is flowing through the harvester and generate display information for providing a visual display to an operator of the harvester. The visual display includes an animation of crop flowing through the harvester. The controller is further configured to set one or more properties of the animation of the crop flowing through the harvester based on the received crop flow information.
System and method for adjusting harvest characteristics
The systems and methods described herein adjust harvest characteristics by selecting one or more harvest characteristics according to the location of a harvester within a field. For example, the selection includes determining the location of the harvester within the field, associating the location with a corresponding zone of a plurality of zones in the field where each of the plurality of zones corresponds to a respective crop planted within the field (for instance a hybrid type), and assigning one or more harvest characteristics to a harvest operation according to at least the corresponding zone and the respective crop within the corresponding zone. Harvest operations are conducted with the assigned one or more harvest characteristics. The systems and methods described repeat selecting the one or more harvest characteristics as the harvester changes location within the field according to further examples.
Combine having cleaning venting by a suction blower driven by the straw chopper shaft
A combine (10) includes a cleaning system (28) and an air conduit (80), which air conduit is arranged outside of a side wall (78) and through which the cleaning air is conducted downstream of the cleaning screens (48, 50, 66) to a suction blower (86) of the straw chopper (68), which suction blower is driven by a drive shaft (96).
Dual Header
A Header for an agricultural harvester. The header includes a connector adapted to be connected to a feeder of the agricultural harvester. The header further includes a cutter bar and a first lateral crop transporting mechanism to move crop material towards a first opening at the connector. The header further includes a second lateral crop transporting mechanism provided at a distance from the first lateral crop transporting mechanism. The second lateral crop transporting mechanism is provided to move crop material towards a second opening at the connector, the second opening being different from the first opening.
Corn header including a kernel sensor and a control unit for controlling desk plates of the corn header
A corn header includes a plurality of harvesting units to separate corn ears from corn stalks. Each harvesting unit has a deck plate assembly, and an actuator assembly to adjust a width of a stalk receiving channel by adjusting a position of at least a deck plate of the deck plate assembly. A kernel sensor can generate a signal representative of the presence of kernels detached from the ears during the separation of the corn ears from the corn stalks by the harvesting units and a control unit to receive the signal from the kernel sensor and generate an actuator control signal for controlling the actuator assemblies of the plurality of harvesting units, thereby controlling the width of the stalk receiving channels of the harvesting units.
Systems and methods for monitoring the operational status of passive lift suppports and related work machines
In one aspect, a system for monitoring the operational status of passive lift supports includes an actuatable component configured to be moved across a range of movement between a first position and a second position, and an actuator coupled to the component and being configured to actuate the component across the range of movement. The system also includes a passive lift support coupled to the component and being configured to provide a supplemental actuation force as the actuator is being used to actuate the component across the range of movement. In addition, the system includes a computing system configured to monitor a load-related parameter indicative of a load being carried by the actuator. The computing system is further configured to determine an operational status of the passive lift support based at least in part on the monitored load-related parameter.
Grain mass flow rate determination
A harvester includes an auger tube having a first portion and a second portion adjacent the first portion, an auger flight within the first portion of the tube and terminating prior to the second portion to move grain to the second portion, a window along the second portion of the tube and a camera to capture images of grain within the second portion of the tube. A computing device determines grain mass flow based upon the captured images, a dimension of the second portion of the tube and a grain density factor.
Calibration of a distance sensor on an agricultural vehicle
Calibrating a distance sensor on an agricultural vehicle provided for measuring the distance between the sensor and a set of points on a ground surface in front of the agricultural vehicle, includes: performing a reference measurement when the agricultural vehicle is standing on a paved and substantially flat ground surface; processing the results of the reference measurement to reference data for use as reference during further measurements; storing the reference data in a memory.
Harvester feed rate control
A harvester having a harvesting structure, an accumulator, and a module builder having a throat. A plurality of meter rollers are positioned to receive crop and transfer crop at a feed rate in cooperation with a beater roller. A feeder belt receives crop from the meter rollers and the beater roller and transfers the crop to the throat. A feed rate control system comprises at least one crop mass flow feedback device providing a crop mass flow feedback signal indicative of crop mass flow. A controller is provided that is in communication with the at least one crop mass flow feedback device and configured to operate in a first mode by lowering the feed rate when the crop mass flow feedback signal indicates a threshold has been reached and by raising the feed rate when the crop mass flow feedback signal indicates the threshold has not been reached.