A01D41/145

Windrower header floatation system having assisted downforce control
11399464 · 2022-08-02 · ·

An agricultural machine includes a float cylinder interconnecting a header linkage system and a frame. A rod side accumulator is in fluid communication with a rod side fluid port of the float cylinder. A float control valve is selectively controllable between an open position allowing fluid communication between a pressure source and the rod side accumulator, and a closed position blocking fluid communication between the pressure source and the rod side accumulator. A downforce accumulator is in fluid communication with a piston side fluid port of the float cylinder. A downforce control valve is selectively controllable between an open position allowing fluid communication between the pressure source and the downforce accumulator, and a closed position blocking fluid communication between the pressure source and the downforce accumulator.

SUSPENSION COMPLIANCE TO REDUCE FRAME LOADING

A harvesting system includes a header pivotally attached to a combine. The header includes a center section to which a left wing and right wing are pivotally attached. A suspension system of the harvesting system includes first and second engageable states that enable dynamic wing behavior and reduce structural load. The first state corresponds to a harvesting configuration of the header in which the wings are allowed to pivot to allow the header to follow changes in terrain. The second state corresponds to a configuration in which the header is elevated relative to the ground. In the second state, the ability of the wings to pivot is minimized as compared to the first state, which allows the header to be maintained in a substantially flat configuration while minimizing the amount of dynamic load imparted by the header on the combine during non-harvesting transport of the header.

Crop harvesting machine including retractable sensor fingers with adjustable ground pressure and header tilt control

A crop harvesting machine with a cutter bar on a header frame has a height control system which uses depending sensor fingers arranged in contact with the ground so as to measure a height of the cutter bar above the ground. The sensor fingers are controllably retractable under actuation from an operator in the cab or automatically in response to prescribed conditions being met. The actuator used in retracting the sensor fingers can also be used to adjustably control ground pressure of the sensor fingers in the deployed position of the sensor fingers engaging the ground. The header height is adjusted using laterally spaced apart hydraulic linkages which can be operated at different elevations relative to one another responsive to different height signals relating height of opposing ends of the header frame relative to the ground to also control tilt of the header relative to the harvester frame.

Suspension compliance to reduce frame loading

A harvesting system includes a header pivotally attached to a combine. The header includes a center section to which a left wing and right wing are pivotally attached. A suspension system of the harvesting system includes first and second engageable states that enable dynamic wing behavior and reduce structural load. The first state corresponds to a harvesting configuration of the header in which the wings are allowed to pivot to allow the header to follow changes in terrain. The second state corresponds to a configuration in which the header is elevated relative to the ground. In the second state, the ability of the wings to pivot is minimized as compared to the first state, which allows the header to be maintained in a substantially flat configuration while minimizing the amount of dynamic load imparted by the header on the combine during non-harvesting transport of the header.

Controlled or tuned float on an agricultural harvester to modify float response

A float cylinder is coupled to an accumulator by a first hydraulic fluid conduit. The float cylinder and accumulator are coupled to apply a float force on a header main frame.

Harvester transport preparation

A harvesting platform is connected to a combine for movement with the combine over the ground surface. The harvesting platform includes a cutter bar that cuts a crop being harvested, and a reel that presses the crop against the cutter bar during harvesting. The cutter bar moves between a cutter bar harvesting position and a cutter bar transport position, and the reel moves between a reel harvesting position and a reel transport position. A controller receives a first signal from a user via a user interface, sends a second signal to the cutter bar to move the cutter bar between the cutter bar harvesting position and the cutter bar transport position in response to the first signal, and send a third signal to the reel to move the reel between the reel harvesting position and the reel transport position in response to the first signal.

CONTROLLED FLOAT ON AN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTER FOR HEADER LEVELING

A header assembly for an agricultural harvesting machine comprises a first frame assembly, a second frame assembly that supports a cutter, and is movable relative to the first frame assembly, a float cylinder coupled between the first frame assembly and the second frame assembly, an accumulator, a controllable reservoir, and fluidic circuitry. The fluidic circuitry comprises a first conduit forming a first fluid path that provides a flow of pressurized fluid under pressure to the float cylinder, so the float cylinder exerts a float force on the second frame assembly, a valve mechanism that is actuatable to inhibit fluid flow along the first fluid path between the accumulator and the float cylinder, a second conduit forming a second fluid path fluidically coupled to the controllable reservoir, the controllable reservoir being controllable to add fluid to the float cylinder.

TILT SYSTEM FIELD LEARNING AND OPTIMIZATION FOR A WORK VEHICLE
20220061213 · 2022-03-03 ·

A work vehicle includes a chassis, and a work implement movably coupled to the chassis and configured to perform a field-engaging function. The work machine also includes an actuator coupled to the work implement and configured to adjust a position of the work implement relative to a ground surface. The work machine further includes a controller in communication with an output device and a communication module. The controller is configured to monitor a location of the work machine via the communication module. The controller is also configured to load a field map from a field map database, the field map identifying at least one impact event comprising a geotagged location. The controller is further configured to display an alert via the output device in response to the location of the work machine approaching within a predetermined distance from the geotagged location.

AUTOMATED HEADER FLOAT OPTIMIZATION AND FIELD LEARNING FOR A WORK VEHICLE
20220061218 · 2022-03-03 ·

A work vehicle includes a chassis, and a work implement movably coupled to the chassis, the work implement configured to perform a field-engaging function. The work vehicle also includes an actuator coupled to the work implement and configured to adjust a position of the work implement relative to a ground surface, and a controller in communication with a communication module. The controller is configured to monitor a location of the work machine via the communication module, and load a field map that identifies spatial information about a corresponding field, and a characteristic of the actuator associated with the spatial information. The controller is further configured to partition the spatial information into at least one pass traversable by the work machine. The controller is also configured to create an adjustment event to adjust the actuator in response to the location of the work machine moving within the at least one pass.

OBSTACLE DETECTION AND FIELD MAPPING FOR A WORK VEHICLE
20220061211 · 2022-03-03 ·

A work machine includes a chassis, and a work implement movably coupled to the chassis and configured to perform a field-engaging function. The work machine also includes an actuator coupled to the work implement and configured to adjust a position of the work implement relative to a ground surface. The work machine further includes a sensor unit configured to sense a characteristic of the work machine and communicate a signal indicative of the characteristic. The work machine also includes a communication module, and a controller in communication with the sensor unit and the communication module, the controller including a processor and memory. The controller is configured to monitor a location of the work machine, process the signal from the sensor unit to monitor the characteristic, determine whether the characteristic exceeds an acceptable range, and if so, identify an event, and assign a location to the event.