Patent classifications
A01C23/008
Agricultural sprayer systems and components thereof
An agricultural multi-row sprayer system is provided having a chassis, a tank coupled to the chassis to accommodate a sprayable mixture to be applied to rows of a crop, a first sprayer arrangement coupled to the chassis and arranged to spray the mixture from a first interrow area located between a set of adjacent rows of the crop, and a second sprayer arrangement coupled to the chassis and selectively deployable to spray the mixture from a second interrow area located between an overlapping set of adjacent rows of the crop. The sprayer system may include a linkage arrangement having a distal end that supports the second sprayer arrangement and an input link movably coupled to the chassis, which is controllably manipulable to selectively deploy the second sprayer arrangement to the second interrow area.
Connection for an agricultural vehicle
An agricultural vehicle includes a chassis, a tank carried by the chassis, and at least one meter module coupled to the tank. The at least one meter module has at least one gate. A gate control link is coupled with the at least one gate of the at least one meter module. A control rod is carried by the chassis. A connector couples the control rod to the gate control link at a connection interface such that movement of the control rod controls an open state of the at least one gate of the at least one meter module. The connector has a frangible portion adjacent the connection interface; the control rod and the gate control link uncouples from one another upon a breaking force causing the frangible portion to break.
Method and apparatus for applying liquid nutrients between parallel rows of standing crops
Liquid nutrients are applied to a first group of rows of standing crops by pulling a drag hose from a reel located at one end of a field and between two crop rows with the drag hose connected to an applicator pulled by a tractor or track units. The hose provides a liquid supply to the applicator. At the opposite end of the field, the applicator is turned 180°, and in one embodiment, a boom pivots to project from one end of the applicator to the drag hose. The applicator returns down adjacent crop rows back to the first end of the field with the applicator connected to the drag hose while the reel simultaneously retracts the drag hose between the two crop rows. The reel is moved axially to a third group of crop rows along with the applicator, and the steps are repeated.
DUAL-PLACEMENT FERTILIZER SYSTEM
A dual-placement fertilizer system for applying fertilizer at the base of crops and attached to a single coulter fertilizer system is provided. The system includes mounting means for attaching to the single coulter fertilizer system. A pivot plate is pivotally connected to the mounting means. The pivotal connection may be accomplished through a cylindrical sleeve affixed to a trailing edge of the second section of the mounting bracket, and a pivot pin extending through the cylindrical sleeve and having a first end affixed to the pivot plate for permitting the pivot plate to oscillate relative to the mounting bracket. First and second fertilizer supply lines, each having a first end affixed to the pivot plate, extend outwardly from the pivot plate in substantially opposing direction relative to one another to a second open end for dispersing liquid fertilizer at the base of crops. Means for supplying liquid fertilizer from a fertilizer tank through the first and second fertilizer supply lines to the base of crops is also provided.
Autonomous agricultural treatment system using map based targeting of agricultural objects
Various embodiments of an apparatus, methods, systems and computer program products described herein are directed to an agricultural observation and treatment system and method of operation. The agricultural treatment system may determine a first real-world geo-spatial location of the treatment system. The system can receive captured images depicting real-world agricultural objects of a geographic scene. The system can associate captured images with the determined geo-spatial location of the treatment system. The treatment system can identify, from a group of mapped and indexed images, images having a second real-word geo-spatial location that is proximate with the first real-world geo-spatial location. The treatment system can compare at least a portion of the identified images with at least a portion of the captured images. The treatment system can determine a target object and emit a fluid projectile at the target object using a treatment device.
SYSTEM AND METHOD TO MITIGATE BOOM ASSEMBLY MOVEMENT
An agricultural vehicle is provided herein that includes a chassis operably coupled with a powertrain control system. A boom assembly is operably coupled with the chassis. One or more nozzles is positioned along the boom assembly. A flow control assembly is configured to selectively dispense an agricultural product from a tank through the one or more nozzles. A controller is operably coupled with the powertrain control system and the boom assembly. The controller includes a processor and associated memory with the memory storing instructions that, when implemented by the processor, configure the controller to receive instructions to accelerate or decelerate the vehicle and alter a flow rate of the agricultural product through actuation of the flow control assembly in response to receiving instructions to accelerate or decelerate the vehicle.
System for spraying plants with automated nozzle selection
A system for spraying plants comprises a location-determining receiver for estimating a position of a sprayer with respect to one or more rows of plants. A distance sensor is arranged to measure a distance between a nozzle assembly and a plant row segment. A guidance module is adapted to align the nozzle assembly with a target path between the rows of plants, such as a centered path between the rows, or offset between the rows of the plants. A first nozzle is targeted toward a first zone with respect to the plant row segment based on a first spray pattern of the first nozzle. A second nozzle is targeted toward a second zone with respect to the plant row segment based on a second spray pattern of the second nozzle. A nozzle selection module for selecting automatically a first nozzle or a second nozzle based on maximum coverage of a target zone around the plant segment based on the first zone, the second zone, and the measured distance.
HYDROSEEDERS HAVING INTEGRATED BALE GRINDERS AND METHODS
In one embodiment, a hydroseeder has an integrated bale grinder. The hydroseeder includes a tank, an agitator, a plurality of grinding flights, and a basket. The tank includes an opening and is configured to hold a material slurry. The agitator is positioned below the opening and is configured to agitate the material slurry. The plurality of grinding flights extends from the agitator and is configured to grind a material bale as it is introduced into the tank. The basket extends from the opening of the tank and is configured to direct the material bale toward the plurality of grinding flights.
Container system for transporting and dispensing agricultural products
A container system for transporting and dispensing agricultural products. The container system includes a housing assembly and a set of agricultural product containers. The housing assembly has multiple slot assemblies for containers. The agricultural product containers are configured to be releasably contained within the slot assemblies. The set of agricultural product containers may include liquid agricultural product containers and dry agricultural product containers. The slot assemblies and agricultural product containers are cooperatively configured to provide the ability to utilize either of the agricultural product containers within the slot assemblies.
PENDULUM BOOM SUSPENSION
One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for a suspended center frame attached to boom wings, and coupled to a fixed center frame. A suspended center frame can be suspended from a fixed center frame with a bearing at a pivot point to allow for pivoting in multiple axes. The suspended frame can comprise one or more dampers that are operably, pivotably coupled with the fixed frame to dampen movement of the suspended frame in the roll axis; and one or more connecting links that are operably, pivotably coupled with the fixed frame to control movement of the suspended frame in the yaw and/or pitch axis. The pivot point can be located above the center of gravity of a suspended portion of the system, and proximate a top portion of the fixed frame; and the links and dampers can be disposed at a bottom portion of the suspended frame.