Patent classifications
A01B21/04
Robotic platform and method for operating perpendicular to crop rows on agricultural fields
A multi-lobed wheel adapted to be mounted to an agricultural platform for traversal of an agricultural field generally traverse to adjacent rows of planted crops without crushing the individual plants. The multi-lobed wheel having a wheel hub including a central axis on which the multi-lobed wheel is configured to rotate and a plurality of spaced apart lobes defining an outer perimeter configured to make ground engaging contact with the agricultural field, the outer perimeter including structure presenting a plurality of gaps between the plurality of spaced apart lobes, the gaps shaped and sized to provide sufficient clearance for individual plants within a planted crop row so as to enable the multi-lobed wheel to pass over a planted crop row without crushing the individual plants therein.
Tillage implement
A tillage implement comprising a main frame, a front group of coulter blades carried by the main frame and extending generally laterally, and a rear group of coulter blades carried by the main frame and extending generally laterally. The tillage implement additionally comprises a set of wheels configured to support the main frame and positioned generally between the front and rear groups of coulter blades. The tillage implement additionally comprises a group of harrow assemblies carried by the main frame and positioned rearward of the rear group of coulter blades. The tillage implement additionally comprises a front group of finishing reels carried by the main frame, extending generally laterally, and positioned rearward of the group of harrow assemblies. Furthermore, the tillage implement comprises a rear group of finishing reels carried by the main frame, extending generally laterally, and positioned rearward of the front group of finishing reels.
Tillage implement
A tillage implement comprising a main frame, a front group of coulter blades carried by the main frame and extending generally laterally, and a rear group of coulter blades carried by the main frame and extending generally laterally. The tillage implement additionally comprises a set of wheels configured to support the main frame and positioned generally between the front and rear groups of coulter blades. The tillage implement additionally comprises a group of harrow assemblies carried by the main frame and positioned rearward of the rear group of coulter blades. The tillage implement additionally comprises a front group of finishing reels carried by the main frame, extending generally laterally, and positioned rearward of the group of harrow assemblies. Furthermore, the tillage implement comprises a rear group of finishing reels carried by the main frame, extending generally laterally, and positioned rearward of the front group of finishing reels.
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE ORIENTATION OF GROUND ENGAGING ELEMENTS ON AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT
In one aspect, a method for controlling an orientation of ground engaging elements of a harrow of an agricultural implement may include controlling an operation of an actuator such that the actuator applies an actuator force against a support arm when the harrow is disposed at an operating position. The method may also include receiving an input indicative of an instruction to move the harrow from the operating position to a raised position. Furthermore, after receiving the input, the method may include controlling the operation of the actuator such that the actuator force applied against the support arm is adjusted in a manner that reduces the biasing force being applied on the ground engaging elements. Additionally, the method may include initiating movement of the harrow from the operating position to the raised position to raise the ground engaging elements above the ground after reducing the biasing force.
Soil working apparatus
A soil working apparatus comprises a farm implement including: a first structure moveable above a soil surface along a travel direction; and a plurality of housings, each supporting at least one rotary hoe for forming a furrow in the soil along the travel direction. The housing has a mounting structure for pivotally mounting to the first structure, a radially extending support member having a rotary hoe at the distal end thereof. The rotary hoe mounting structure has a pivot member extending in a plane at right angles to the shaft and the rotary hoe is pivotally mounted to the pivot member for limited composite angular movement relative to a vertical plane and the direction of travel. The rotary hoe may have a star shape including: a central hub, a plurality of spaced apart, radially extending prongs extending from the hub in a common plane, and the prongs each being independently mounted to the hub but interlocked with each other when mounted on the hub.
Soil working apparatus
A soil working apparatus comprises a farm implement including: a first structure moveable above a soil surface along a travel direction; and a plurality of housings, each supporting at least one rotary hoe for forming a furrow in the soil along the travel direction. The housing has a mounting structure for pivotally mounting to the first structure, a radially extending support member having a rotary hoe at the distal end thereof. The rotary hoe mounting structure has a pivot member extending in a plane at right angles to the shaft and the rotary hoe is pivotally mounted to the pivot member for limited composite angular movement relative to a vertical plane and the direction of travel. The rotary hoe may have a star shape including: a central hub, a plurality of spaced apart, radially extending prongs extending from the hub in a common plane, and the prongs each being independently mounted to the hub but interlocked with each other when mounted on the hub.
Agricultural apparatuses and related methods
An agricultural implement has (i) an elongated open channel member; and (ii) a connecting assembly comprising a first vertical connector plate positioned against a first vertical side of the open member and a second vertical connector plate positioned against a second vertical side of the open member. When the open member twists about a longitudinal axis, its upper and lower flanges will move within upper and lower channels about upper and lower raised surface areas. A clamping assembly includes: a first clamping member extending horizontally between the first vertical plate and the second vertical plate positioned over and proximate an upper surface of the upper flange; a second clamping member extending over and proximate a lower surface of the lower flange; and a third clamping member extending (i) over and proximate a lower surface of the lower flange or (ii) over and proximate an upper surface of the upper flange.
AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WITH VISION SENSORS
An agricultural implement broadly includes a ground-engaging tool, a time-of-flight sensor, and a controller. The time-of-flight sensor is configured to obtain information indicative of seed parameters, furrow parameters, and/or soil condition parameters. The controller is configured to process the information obtained by the time-of-flight sensor to generate the parameters, wherein the controller is further configured to automatically control operation of one or more components of the implement based on the parameters.