Systems, methods, and apparatus for shifting weight between a tractor and toolbar and between sections of the toolbar, for controlling operative height of a toolbar and sections of a toolbar and for folding a toolbar between a work position and a transport position. A ground engaging wheel and an actuator are coupled to the toolbar. In one embodiment, a fluid control system is responsive to a command signal to modify the actuator pressure such that the actuator pressure corresponds to a desired pressure.

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for proving operation of a vehicle towing an implement. A hitch assembly can be used to adjust or distribute a vertical downward force that an attached implement applies to the frame of a vehicle towing the implement. A sensor assembly can identify the torque that is being applied to the front and rear axles. The torque data can be used to generate adjustments to the vertical load actuator, which can to adjust an amount of load applied to the front and/or rear axles. In this way, vertical load may be efficiently distributed between the front and rear axles automatically.

A method for determining a mass of an implement includes providing a rear powerlift having at least one upper link and at least one lower link and a support structure disposed at the rear of a utility vehicle. The method includes defining an angle (Ψ) between the upper link and a vehicle horizontal line, an angle (φ) between the lower link and the vehicle horizontal line, an angle of inclination (θ) of a vehicle horizontal line relative to a terrestrial horizontal line, a path (LV) representative of a connection along the lower link between the support structure and the implement, and a force (F.sub.U) impinging on a connection between the upper link and the implement and acting along the upper link. The mass is determined by at least one of the angle (Ψ), the angle (φ), the angle of inclination (θ), the path (LV), and the force (F.sub.U).

A method for determining a mass of an implement attached to a vehicle includes providing a powerlift having at least one upper link and one lower link, a support structure, and the implement. The method also includes defining an angle (ψ) between the upper link and a vehicle horizontal line, an angle (φ) between the lower link and a vehicle horizontal line, an angle of inclination (θ) of a vehicle horizontal line relative to a terrestrial horizontal line, a path (AK) that represents a connection along the lower link between the support structure and the implement, and a force (F.sub.E) impinging on a connection between the upper link and the implement and acting along the upper link. The mass is determined as a function of at least one of the angle (ψ), the angle (φ), the angle of inclination (θ), the path (AK), and the force (F.sub.E).

A biasing apparatus attaches to an agricultural implement comprising an implement frame mounted on front and rear wheels for travel in an operating travel direction, and a floating hitch assembly pivotally attached to the implement frame. The apparatus includes a tether attached to a rearward frame member of the implement frame, and attached to the floating hitch assembly forward of the hitch pivot axis such that the tether extends under a forward frame member of the implement frame and under the hitch pivot axis. A bias element exerts a main bias force on the tether to put the tether in tension drawing the floating hitch assembly toward the rearward frame member such that a downward bias force is exerted on the floating hitch assembly and a downward bias force is exerted on the rear frame member, and such that an upward bias force is exerted at the hitch pivot axis.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for shifting weight between a tractor and toolbar and between sections of the toolbar, for controlling operative height of a toolbar and sections of a toolbar and for folding a toolbar between a work position and a transport position. A ground engaging wheel and an actuator are coupled to the toolbar. In one embodiment, a fluid control system is responsive to a command signal to modify the actuator pressure such that the actuator pressure corresponds to a desired pressure.

The present disclosure refers to a method for controlling operation of an agricultural system, comprising a tractor; an implement (100) hitched through a draw bar (10) to the tractor, the implement (100) having working tools (31) configured to engage with a ground and/or an agricultural product in operation while the tractor is drawing the implement (100) over a field; and a control system, comprising a control unit (2) and a sensor arrangement (1) connected to the control unit (2) through a control bus (5), wherein the control unit (2) is configured to determine a draft force applied to the implement (100) through the draw bar from measurement signals detected by the sensor arrangement (1); the method comprising operating the implement in either normal mode or field transport mode of operation based on different draft force thresholds.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for shifting weight between a tractor and toolbar and between sections of the toolbar and for folding a toolbar between a field position and a transport position.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for shifting weight between a tractor and toolbar and between sections of the toolbar and for folding a toolbar between a field position and a transport position.

An agricultural machine may include a first plurality of sensors configured to measure characteristics of product stored on the machine for use during the machine's operation. The machine may also include a second plurality of sensors configured to measure characteristics associated with operation of the machine, in particular, in the form of feedback from ground engaging mechanisms of the machine, such as row units and wheel assemblies coupled to a frame of the machine. Based on the measured characteristics of the stored product and the measured characteristics associated with the machine's operation, a controller may adjust actuators coupled between adjacent sections of the frame to transfer weight of the stored product between certain sections of the frame, which in turn optimizes the machine's operational characteristics.