A01B69/003

Forage harvester swath sensor

A forage harvester including a header for picking up a swath from a ground surface. The header includes a first and a second distance sensor adapted to measure a sensor-to-target distance respectively along a first and second sensor axis. The first distance sensor is mounted at a first lateral end of the header, and the second distance sensor is mounted at a second lateral end of the header. The first and second distance sensors are positioned such that, when the forage harvester is placed on an even ground surface, the first sensor axis crosses the second sensor axis before reaching the even ground surface in front of the harvester.

Steerable rear axle on a field cultivator

An agricultural tillage implement has a steerable rear axle which facilitates the implement more faithfully following a towing unit. The implement has a solid axle mounted to the main pull frame that allows for vertical movement of the implement to switch between field operation and a transport configuration. Attached to the solid axle are two steering knuckles that are tied together by an adjustable tie rod and two hydraulic steering cylinders. On each knuckle is a set of walking tandems to which the tires are mounted. The two cylinders are connected to an auxiliary port in a towing traction unit to enable the steering function without having to turn the unit steering wheel. The arrangement allows the steering knuckles to turn up to 25 degrees in either direction.

Center pivot mower with turn compensation
12075717 · 2024-09-03 · ·

An agricultural mower system includes: a towing vehicle including an engine and a tongue coupler and defining a towing centerline; a mower including a frame carrying cutters and pivotably coupled to a tongue that is pivotably coupled to the tongue coupler, the frame defining a mower centerline that is offset from the towing centerline, the tongue defining a towing angle with respect to the towing centerline and a mower angle with respect to the mower centerline; a mower angle actuator coupled to the tongue and the frame; and a controller configured to: determine the towing angle has changed by a change amount relative to a defined towing angle; determine a turn compensation amount for the mower angle as a function of the change amount and a constant; and output a compensation signal to cause the mower angle actuator to adjust the mower angle by the determined turn compensation amount.

Methods for controlling articulating tongue arrangements utilized in towing agricultural implements
12082515 · 2024-09-10 · ·

A method is carried-out by a controller architecture coupled to a beam assembly actuator, which is included in an articulating tongue arrangement connecting an agricultural implement to a tow vehicle. In an embodiment, the method includes: (i) monitoring, via the controller architecture, an effective tow length of an articulating beam assembly further included in the articulating tongue arrangement, the effective tow length measured along a straight line extending from a leading pivot joint of the articulating tongue arrangement to a trailing pivot joint of the articulating tongue arrangement; (ii) determining, at the controller architecture, an effective tow length target of the articulating tongue arrangement based upon operator input, sensor input, or a combination thereof; and (iii) transmitting commands from the controller architecture to the beam assembly actuator to maintain the effective tow length of the articulating beam assembly in conformance with the effective tow length target.

TANDEM STEERING FOR A GRAIN CART
20180244311 · 2018-08-30 ·

A grain cart is provide having a wheel assembly with four ground wheels that all pivot in unison. The wheel assembly can include a first side front wheel, a first side rear wheel, a second side front wheel and a second side rear wheel. A first side steering link assembly can be operatively coupled between the first side front wheel and the first side rear wheel to cause the first side front wheel and the second side rear wheel to pivot in opposite directions. A second side steering link can be operatively coupled between the second side front wheel and the second side rear wheel to cause the second side front wheel and the second side rear wheel to pivot in opposite directions. A unison linkage assembly operatively can couple the movement of the first side rear wheel and second side rear wheel.

Common lift/lower ground entrance point

A traction unit drawn agricultural implement for treating a field along repeated generally parallel longitudinal swaths has a hydraulic system for lifting and lowering a ground engaging implement portion at the beginning and end respectively of each swath. A system for aligning the beginning of one swath with the termination of the previous swath determines initial lift and lower times and adjusts the hydraulic system to bring the times into closer conformity.

GAUGE WHEEL AND HITCH FORCE CONTROL

An agricultural tillage implement including a frame having a hitch extending in a travel direction, at least one gauge wheel coupled to the frame, at least one first actuator coupled to the at least one gauge wheel and configured to adjust a position of the at least one gauge wheel and thereby a control depth, a second actuator coupled to the hitch and configured to adjust a down force, and a pressure control system. The pressure control system includes a first sensor coupled to the at least one gauge wheel and a second sensor coupled to the second actuator. The pressure control system also includes a controller in communication with the first and second sensors and configured to automatically adjust the at least one first actuator and the second actuator.

WORK VEHICLE, DISPLAY METHOD FOR WORK VEHICLE, AND DISPLAY SYSTEM

A work vehicle includes a memory, a sensor, circuitry, and a display. The memory is to store a target travel route in a work field. The sensor is to detect an actual travel track of the work vehicle to find a traveled portion of the target travel route, along which the work vehicle has traveled. The circuitry is configured to calculate an index value indicating a degree of a deviation of the actual travel track from the target travel route. The display is to display the traveled portion such that a display pattern to display the traveled portion is changed according to the index value.

LOW COST IMPLEMENT POSITIONING
20180202804 · 2018-07-19 · ·

A method for estimation of relative coordinates between two parts of a linked vehicle system. The system includes a towing vehicle and a towed implement or trailer. A first sensor is configured to measure the movement rate of the towing vehicle while a second sensor is configured to measure the movement rate of the towed implement. Both sensors interact with each other to measure the absolute distance between sensors. Using the known linkage geometry, relative distance between the sensors and relative rotation rates, the relative coordinates between the towing vehicle and towed implement can be estimated.

A PLOUGH SYSTEM
20180192569 · 2018-07-12 ·

The present invention relates to a plough system (100) comprising: i) a plough frame (2), said plough frame comprising coupling means (4) for coupling said plough frame to a towing vehicle; wherein said plough frame having an extension in a lengthwise direction (X), and an extension in a transverse direction (Y); wherein said plough frame comprising two or more lifting means (6,6); said lifting means comprising a fixed part (8) being mounted on said plough frame (2), and a moving part (10) carrying a plough shear (12, 12); wherein each said lifting means (6,6) comprising an actuator (14, 14); wherein said actuator being configured to allow altering of said plough shears (12, 12) from a lowered position to a raised position, and vice versa; wherein said plough shears (12,12) being arranged on said frame in mutual staggered orientation in relation to a lengthwise direction as well as to a transverse direction; ii) a control unit (16) configured to receive controlling input (18), and in response thereto independently activate one or more actuators (14, 14) associated with said lifting means; thereby enabling independent raising and/or lowering of one or more of said plough shears (12,12). The plough system provides improved ploughing quality of fields of soil comprising a mainland and a headland.