A01B33/087

Remote electrical positioning of an implement stabilizer wheel
10542656 · 2020-01-28 · ·

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.

CUTTING HEAD FOR VINEYARD AND ORCHARD TILLER/CULTIVATOR
20190380252 · 2019-12-19 ·

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.

METHODS OF OPERATING AN IMPLEMENT IN AN AGRICULTURAL FIELD
20240081162 · 2024-03-14 ·

A method of operating an implement carrying tillage elements in an agricultural field includes traversing the field with the implement while the tillage elements engage soil of the field, detecting a tillage event based on an operating parameter, recording a location of the tillage event with at least one computer, stopping the implement within the field in response to the tillage event, and generating a first representation of the tillage elements engaged with the soil. The first representation is generated with information from at least one sensor. The tillage elements are lifted to disengage the tillage elements from the soil, and a second representation of the tillage elements disengaged from the soil is generated. The implement is backed rearward through the field with the tillage elements disengaged from the soil, and a third representation of a portion of the soil worked by the tillage elements is generated.

Apparatus for in-situ reconditioning of a media used in an effluent treatment bed

An apparatus for in-situ reconditioning of a media used in an effluent treatment bed is disclosed, in which passage of effluent has become impeded by clogging matter within the media, the bed having been planted with vegetation having roots extending into the media. The apparatus includes a frame supporting a superstructure operable to be disposed above a surface of the bed when in operation, a pair of spaced apart arms having distal ends extending downwardly from the frame, and an agitator extending between the pair of arms and having tines for sub-surface tilling of the media. The agitator is coupled to a drive system operable to cause rotation thereof. A lifter bar is disposed between the arms above the agitator such that when the frame is advanced through the bed the lifter bar passes through the bed below a primary root zone of the vegetation lifting and separating the primary root zone while the agitator tills the media below causing clogging matter to be separated from the media.

SYSTEM FOR CREATING SOIL COMPACTION MAPS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF A TILLAGE IMPLEMENT

In one aspect, a system for creating a soil compaction map for a field may include a plurality of sensors, with each sensor being provided in operative association with one of the plurality of fluid-driven actuators. Each sensor may be configured to detect a force associated with its respective fluid-driven actuator as associated shanks engage the ground with movement of the tillage implement across the field. Furthermore, a controller of the system may be configured to identify one or more locations of a compaction layer within the field based on sensor data received from the plurality of sensors associated with the detected forces. Additionally, the controller may further be configured to create a soil compaction map for the field based on the identified one or more locations of the compaction layer.

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE DISPLACEMENT OF A GROUND ENGAGING TOOL OF AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT

In one aspect, a system for monitoring the displacement of a ground engaging tool of an agricultural implement. A controller of the system may be configured to monitor a magnitude of a displacement defined between a current position of a ground engaging tool of the implement and a predetermined ground engaging tool position. The controller may also be configured to initiate a first control action when it is determined that the magnitude of the displacement of the ground engaging tool exceeds a first threshold displacement value. Moreover, the controller may further be configured to initiate a second control action when it is determined that the magnitude of the displacement of the ground engaging tool exceeds a second threshold displacement value, with the second threshold displacement value corresponding to a greater displacement relative to the predetermined ground engaging tool position than the first displacement threshold value.

SOIL PENETRATING APPARATUS WITH DEPTH CONTROL

A soil penetrating apparatus having an automatic tool (e.g., aerator tine) depth control system and method. The system includes an actuator that sets and controls tine depth, a sensor that monitors tine depth, and a controller that controls the actuator in response to the sensor. In some embodiments, the actuator is a hydraulic actuator, wherein once tine depth is set, flow to the actuator is bypassed. A relief may be provided to allow the tines to lift to a shallower depth temporarily when soil hardness exceeds a threshold. The system may then automatically return the tines to the pre-selected depth once soil conditions permit.

System and method for reducing variations in the penetration depths of ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement based on monitored tire pressures
10356972 · 2019-07-23 · ·

In one aspect, a system for reducing variations in the penetration depths between ground-engaging tools of an agricultural implement may include an implement having tires spaced apart from each other. The system may also include pressure sensors provided in operative association with the tires, each pressure sensor being configured for detecting an air pressure within the associated tire. Additionally, the system may include a controller communicatively coupled to the pressure sensors. The controller may be configured to monitor an air pressure differential between a pair of tires based on measurement signals received from the pressure sensors. The air pressure differential may be indicative of variability in the penetration depths of the ground-engaging tools. Furthermore, the controller may be configured initiate a control action associated with reducing the variability in the penetration depths of ground-engaging tools when the air pressure differential exceeds or falls below a predetermined tire pressure differential threshold.