Patent classifications
A01B33/08
Cutting head for vineyard and orchard tiller/cultivator
A tractor mounted tiller/cultivator system that includes right and left swing arms pivotally attached to tractor chassis, right and left cutting head assemblies mounted on the swing arms, each including a right disc motor driving a rotary disc mounted on a distal portion of the swing arm and operatively coupled to the motor. Ground-engaging cultivation wheels surround the rotary disc, and an annular guard prevents unwanted contact of the wheels with vines or trunks of vines and trees. A drive mechanism lowers and raises the swing arms to put the cultivation wheels into engagement and disengagement with ground and to rotate said swing arms about their longitudinal axes. User controls operatively connected to the swing arms, cutting head assemblies, and drive mechanisms enable a user to finely tune the movement of the cutting heads into and out from rows of trees or vines.
Dirt extraction apparatus for use in building crawlspaces
A dirt extraction apparatus for use by a user in a crawlspace of a building to extract dirt and debris is provided. The dirt extraction apparatus includes a housing having an internal conduit with an inlet and an outlet, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted to the housing proximate the inlet, a motor disposed within the housing and operably connected to the plurality of blades, a support handle coupled to the top face of the housing and having a plurality of bars coupled together, and a collection assembly coupled to the outlet of the housing. Any bar of the support handle is grabbed by the user to maneuver the apparatus within the building crawlspace, thereby enabling the rotating blades to evacuate the dirt and debris from the ground surface through the internal conduit of the housing to the collection assembly.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING A PRESCRIPTION MAP FOR AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT BASED ON YIELD MAP AND/OR CROP BIOMASS
In one aspect, the present subject matter is directed to a method for maintaining a desired amount of residue coverage in a field during a tillage operation. The method includes generating, with a computing device, an available residue map that includes an amount of available residue at each location of the field using a yield map and/or crop biomass. The method also includes generating, with the computing device, a desired residue coverage map that includes a desired amount of residue coverage for each location within the field. Further, the method includes determining, with the computing device, an amount of residue that needs to be incorporated into the surface of the field based on the available residue map and the desired residue coverage map. Moreover, the method includes generating, with the computing device, a prescription map for the field based on a correlation between a tillage parameter of one or more ground-engaging tools of the implement and the amount of residue that needs to be incorporated into the surface of the field. In addition, the method includes controlling the tillage parameter based on the prescription map during the tillage operation to maintain the desired amount of residue coverage at each of the locations in the field.
MODULAR DEVICE FOR CUTTING COVER CROP RESIDUE
The active coulter system includes a pivotable support structure that vertically adjusts the position of an active coulter component to compensate for changes in the contour of a target field. In the preferred embodiment, a proximity sensor and an associated controller are in electronic communication with a linear actuator assembly. Based on data from the proximity sensor, the controller sends electronic instructions to the linear actuator assembly to automatically move the active coulter component vertically. The system also optionally includes a torque/speed sensor that can operate independently to control the torque and/or power supplied to the active coulter component, or the sensor can interface with the controller and anticipate changes in power needs and increase/decrease power before the operation of the active coulter component is affected.
Agricultural implement with combined down force and depth control
An agricultural implement system includes a down force cylinder configured to apply a downward force to a row unit, and a depth control cylinder configured to vary a penetration depth of a ground engaging tool of the row unit. The agricultural implement system also includes a valve assembly in fluid communication with the down force cylinder and the depth control cylinder. The valve assembly is configured to automatically adjust the downward force by varying fluid pressure within the down force cylinder based on fluid pressure within the depth control cylinder.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PERFORMING CUTTING OPERATIONS USING AN ULTRASONIC CUTTING MEMBER OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT
A system and method for performing cutting operations with an agricultural implement includes a cutting member capable of cutting plant material supported on the agricultural implement. A vibration source is operatively coupled to the cutting member. The vibration source is configured to generate a vibrational output at an ultrasonic frequency which is transmitted to the cutting member. The vibrational output is propagated through at least a portion of the cutting member to vibrate the cutting member as the plant material is being severed during the performance of the cutting operation.
DRUM STYLE ROTARY TILLER
A rotary tiller comprises a frame, a cylindrical drum rotatable relative to the frame, a plurality of tines extending from the cylindrical drum, a motor at least partially disposed within the cylindrical drum, wherein the motor is configured to rotate a motor output member, and a transmission at least partially disposed within the cylindrical drum and configured to engage the motor output member. The transmission is operable to drive rotational movement of the cylindrical drum.
Remote electrical positioning of an implement stabilizer wheel
A remotely positionable stabilizer wheel arrangement for a towable agricultural implement utilizes an electronic control unit that receives an input signal indicative of a desired position of the stabilizer wheel, and/or a desired depth of penetration of tillage tools operatively attached to the front and rear of the implement frame, to automatically control an electrically powered linear actuator of the remotely positionable stabilizer wheel arrangement to position and hold the stabilizer wheel at the desired position of the stabilizer wheel.
METHOD OF MITIGATING COMPACTION AND A COMPACTION MITIGATION SYSTEM
In accordance with an example embodiment, a compaction mitigation system for a work area and a method of mitigating compaction in a work area are provided. The method includes determining a compaction map of the work area having compaction data associated with a plurality of reference points, passing a work tool through the work area at the plurality of reference points, and adjusting the work tool at the plurality of reference points based on the compaction data.
Agricultural implement with combined down force and depth control
An agricultural implement system includes a down force cylinder configured to apply a downward force to a row unit, and a depth control cylinder configured to vary a penetration depth of a ground engaging tool of the row unit. The agricultural implement system also includes a valve assembly in fluid communication with the down force cylinder and the depth control cylinder. The valve assembly is configured to automatically adjust the downward force by varying fluid pressure within the down force cylinder based on fluid pressure within the depth control cylinder.