Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100262342 | METHOD FOR AVOIDING POINT ROWS FOR QUADRILATERAL FIELDS USING AUTOGUIDANCE - A method for generating a swath pattern avoiding point rows for a work vehicle to be driven in a region of a field, which region can be described as having a first side boundary and an opposite second side boundary extending divergently between a first and an opposite second end boundary, the method generating a swath pattern including side by side swaths having centerlines that diverge uniformly between the end boundaries, the method also generating a plurality of swath patterns including options for disabling one or more individual rows of an implement for selection by an operator. | 10-14-2010 |
20110112721 | Towable Agricultural Implement Having Automatic Steering System - A steering system for a towable implement includes a steering sensor, an implement steering controller, a steering control valve, a steering cylinder, and an implement steering mechanism that steers the implement. The steering sensor measures, directly or indirectly, the angular position of the steerable wheels of the implement. The implement steering controller processes feedback from the steering sensor and with a desired steering angle, outputs a steering control signal that is input to the steering control valve. The steering control valve controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to the steering cylinder, which, in turn, powers the implement steering mechanism to turn the wheels of the implement. The steering system may be operated in various control modes, such as, a transportation steering mode, a corner and 180 turn steering mode, a swath tracking steering mode, crab steering mode, and a manual steering mode, which allows manual control of the steering system. | 05-12-2011 |
20110120356 | Directly Driven Seed Meter Hub Drive - A direct drive electric seed metering system is provided for use with a row crop planter or seed planter that intakes a volume of multiple seeds from a seed hopper, draws individual seeds from the volume of multiple seeds and discharges them into a seed furrow formed in an agricultural field. The direct drive electric seed metering system includes a meter assembly having a meter housing and a seek disk rotatably mounted concentrically in the housing for singulating the seeds. A direct drive mechanism is mounted to the meter assembly for interfacing and driving the seek disk at an angular velocity which corresponds to the travel velocity of the seed planter. A single seed planter can have multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems, and each of the multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems preferably has its own prime mover to effectuate driving the seek disk. | 05-26-2011 |
20110125371 | Auto-Steerable Farming System - A steering system for a towable implement includes a steering sensor, an implement steering controller, a steering control valve, a steering cylinder, and an implement steering mechanism that steers the implement. The steering sensor measures, directly or indirectly, the angular position of the steerable wheels of the implement. The implement steering controller processes feedback from the steering sensor and with a desired steering angle, outputs a steering control signal that is input to the steering control valve. The steering control valve controls the flow of hydraulic fluid to the steering cylinder, which, in turn, powers the implement steering mechanism to turn the wheels of the implement. The steering system may be operated in various control modes, such as, a transportation steering mode, a corner and 180 turn steering mode, a swath tracking steering mode, crab steering mode, and a manual steering mode, which allows manual control of the steering system. | 05-26-2011 |
20120325132 | Seed Planter Incorporating Directly Driven Seed Meter Hub Drive - A direct drive electric seed metering system is provided for use with a row crop planter or seed planter that intakes a volume of multiple seeds from a seed hopper, draws individual seeds from the volume of multiple seeds and discharges them into a seed furrow formed in an agricultural field. The direct drive electric seed metering system includes a meter assembly having a meter housing and a seek disk rotatably mounted concentrically in the housing for singulating the seeds. A direct drive mechanism is mounted to the meter assembly for interfacing and driving the seek disk at an angular velocity which corresponds to the travel velocity of the seed planter. A single seed planter can have multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems, and each of the multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems preferably has its own prime mover to effectuate driving the seek disk. | 12-27-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090000533 | DIRECT DRIVE ELECTRIC SEED METERING SYSTEM - A direct drive electric seed metering system is provided for use with a row crop planter or seed planter that intakes a volume of multiple seeds from a seed hopper, draws individual seeds from the volume of multiple seeds and discharges them into a seed furrow formed in an agricultural field. The direct drive electric seed metering system includes a meter assembly having a meter housing and a seed plate rotatably mounted concentrically in the housing for singulating the seeds. A direct drive mechanism is mounted to the meter assembly for interfacing and driving the seed plate at an angular velocity which corresponds to the travel velocity of the seed planter. A single seed planter can have multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems, and each of the multiple direct drive electric seed metering systems preferably has its own prime mover to effectuate driving the seed plate. | 01-01-2009 |
20090013909 | Method and Apparatus For An Agricultural Implement Seed Meter - A seed meter includes an input port configured to receive a supply of seeds and an output port configured to deliver the supply of seeds for dispensing to a planting area and a seed disk configured to receive the supply of seeds from the input port and deliver the supply of seeds to the output port at a substantially uniform rate. The seed disk has a seed side where seeds flow from the input port, and a vacuum side opposite the seed side. The seed meter further includes a first housing portion surrounding a first portion of the seed disk in a fixed relationship to direct the supply of seeds against the seed disk and a second housing portion. The second housing portion is configured to move between a first position extending to a second portion of the seed disk to operate in concert with the first housing portion to direct the supply of seeds against the seed disk and a second position providing access to at least a portion of the second portion of the seed disk including the lowest most portion of the seed disk. | 01-15-2009 |
20090099737 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL FIELD OPERATIONS USING WEATHER, PRODUCT AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION - An agricultural system which includes at least one agricultural implement with at least one application device for applying crop inputs. A databus is connected to the at least one agricultural implement, and at least one input device is connected to the databus. At least one data storage device is connected to the databus, and an application controller is connected to the at least one application device. A processor is connected to the databus and the application controller, where the processor applies inputs to the application controller to adjust and/or optimize in real time a current operation of the application device(s) in order to efficiently and accurately apply the crop inputs. | 04-16-2009 |
20090192654 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZATION OF AGRICULTURAL FIELD OPERATIONS USING WEATHER, PRODUCT AND ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION - An agricultural system which includes at least one agricultural implement with at least one application device for applying crop inputs, where the agricultural implement includes an agricultural harvester and/or an agricultural planter. A databus is connected to the at least one agricultural implement, and at least one input device is connected to the databus. At least one data storage device is connected to the databus, and an application controller is connected to the at least one application device. A processor is connected to the databus and the application controller, where the processor applies inputs to the application controller to adjust and/or optimize in real time a current operation of the application device(s) in order to efficiently and accurately apply the crop inputs. | 07-30-2009 |
20100070178 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE ORIENTATION MEASUREMENT - The orientation of a self-propelled vehicle or a towed vehicle relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle can be determined by mounting two ground speed sensors on the vehicle. The orientation of the vehicle relative to the direction of travel of the vehicle can be used to correct the error in the location of an implement mounted on the vehicle determined by a GPS system mounted on the vehicle or the vehicle towing the implement due to crabbing of the vehicle as the vehicle travels substantially perpendicular to a significant slope. | 03-18-2010 |
20100101071 | Method and Apparatus For An Agricultural Implement Seed Meter - A seed meter includes an input port configured to receive a supply of seeds and an output port configured to deliver the supply of seeds for dispensing to a planting area and a seed disk configured to receive the supply of seeds from the input port and deliver the supply of seeds to the output port at a substantially uniform rate. The seed disk has a seed side where seeds flow from the input port, and a vacuum side opposite the seed side. The seed meter further includes a first housing portion surrounding a first portion of the seed disk in a fixed relationship to direct the supply of seeds against the seed disk and a second housing portion. The second housing portion is configured to move between a first position extending to a second portion of the seed disk to operate in concert with the first housing portion to direct the supply of seeds against the seed disk and a second position providing access to at least a portion of the second portion of the seed disk including the lowest most portion of the seed disk. | 04-29-2010 |
20100101468 | Method and Apparatus For An Agricultural Implement Seed Meter - A seed meter includes an input port configured to receive a supply of seeds and an output port configured to deliver the supply of seeds for dispensing to a planting area and a seed disk configured to receive the supply of seeds from the input port and deliver the supply of seeds to the output port at a substantially uniform rate. The seed disk has a seed side where seeds flow from the input port, and a vacuum side opposite the seed side. The seed meter further includes a first housing portion surrounding a first portion of the seed disk in a fixed relationship to direct the supply of seeds against the seed disk and a second housing portion. The second housing portion is configured to move between a first position extending to a second portion of the seed disk to operate in concert with the first housing portion to direct the supply of seeds against the seed disk and a second position providing access to at least a portion of the second portion of the seed disk including the lowest most portion of the seed disk. | 04-29-2010 |
20110315411 | Foldable Farm Implement - A foldable implement frame is foldable about multiple axes to provide a compactly folded implement. The implement is foldable from a wide, field working position to a relatively narrow position for transport between fields, along roadways, and through field gates or storage doors. The frame is generally comprised of a center frame section that may be hitched to a prime mover, a pair of inner frame sections, and a pair of outer frame sections. The outer frame sections may be folded about their connections to the inner frame sections, and the inner frame sections are foldable about their connections to the central frame section. The central frame section may be rotated to rotate the inner and outer frame sections forward to an upright position, and the inner and outer frame sections may then be folded forward to fold the frame into a narrow position for transport and/or storage. | 12-29-2011 |
20120215409 | HARVESTER SPOUT CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A control system and method is provided for controlling the operational configuration of a spout of a harvester being used to perform unload on the go operations with an associated transport vehicle. The velocities of the harvester and transport vehicle and the lateral and longitudinal distances between the harvester and transport vehicle are used to predict future lateral and longitudinal distances between the harvester and transport vehicle. A control signal is issued to a harvester spout control system if either of the predicted lateral distance or longitudinal distance is outside of an associated acceptable range. The harvester spout control system then either shuts off the spout or changes the orientation of the spout in response to the control signal. | 08-23-2012 |
20130146317 | Tool System For Resisting Abrasive Wear Of A Ground Engaging Tool Of An Agricultural Implement - A tool system is provided for resisting abrasive wear of a ground-engaging tool of an agricultural implement during a crop production procedure. The tool system may include a tool for engaging an agricultural field while performing crop production procedure and that defines a main segment and a cutting segment having a working edge covered by a nanostructure coating. The cutting segment may include multiple wear zones with multiple working edges, respectively, covered by nanostructure coatings which may have different thicknesses. | 06-13-2013 |
20130180742 | SOIL MONITORING SYSTEM - A soil monitoring system is provided that includes a sensing shank, and a first sensor coupled to a leading edge of the sensing shank. The first sensor is configured to output first signals indicative of a pressure exerted on the first sensor by soil as the sensing shank is driven through the soil along a direction of travel. The soil monitoring system also includes a frame forming a channel oriented in a substantially vertical direction relative to a surface of the soil, and a carrier coupled to the sensing shank and disposed within the channel. The soil monitoring system further includes an actuator extending between the frame and the carrier. The actuator is configured to linearly drive the carrier in a reciprocating motion to vary a penetration depth of the sensing shank within the soil. | 07-18-2013 |
20130248214 | MANUAL BACKUP SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING FLUID FLOW TO CYLINDERS WITHIN AN AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT - An agricultural implement system is provided that includes a down force cylinder configured to apply a downward force to a row unit, a depth control cylinder configured to vary a penetration depth of a ground engaging tool of the row unit, a press wheel cylinder configured to vary contact force between a press wheel and a soil surface, a closing disk cylinder configured to vary contact force between a closing disk and the soil surface, a residue manager cylinder configured to vary contact force between a residue manager and the soil surface, or a combination thereof. The agricultural implement system also includes an electronic control unit configured to automatically regulate a pressure within the cylinders, and a manual backup system configured to facilitate manual pressure adjustment of the cylinders. | 09-26-2013 |
20130277943 | Automatic Tractor Hitch System For Trailing Implements - A hitch system for automatically hitching a tractor to a trailing implement is provided. The hitch system may allow an operator that is in a cab of the tractor to remotely connect and electrical system and/or a hydraulic system of a tractor an implement to each other and to remotely secure a hitch pin that connects a tongue of the implement to a drawbar of the tractor. The hitch system may include implement and tractor connector bank assemblies that are respectively provided on the implement and tractor. The tractor connector bank assembly may be moveable in multiple directions for allowing the tractor connector bank assembly to be remotely controlled from the cab of the tractor to align and move into engagement with the implement connector bank assembly. | 10-24-2013 |
20130319698 | AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WITH COMBINED DOWN FORCE AND DEPTH CONTROL - An agricultural implement system is provided that 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. | 12-05-2013 |
20130325267 | AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENT WITH COMBINED DOWN FORCE AND DEPTH CONTROL - An agricultural implement system is provided that 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. | 12-05-2013 |
20140076219 | Low Torque And Vacuum Seed Meter - A seed meter is provided for use with a row crop planter or seed planter that includes a seed disk assembly that rotates within a meter housing cavity and that has a seed disk assembly cavity in which a vacuum pressure is applied for pulling seeds into seed pockets of a seed disk of the seed disc assembly. The vacuum pressure is applied to the seed disk assembly by pulling a vacuum airflow through a spindle that supports the seed disk assembly. A wiper seal is arranged in a fixed position within the seed disk assembly cavity and seals against the seed disk assembly as a support plate and seed disk of the seed disk assembly rotate over the wiper seal, so that the wiper seal creates a boundary between a vacuum zone and a non-vacuum zone inside of the seed disc assembly cavity. | 03-20-2014 |
20140182493 | Low Torque And Vacuum Seed Meter - A seed meter is provided for use with a row crop planter or seed planter that includes a seed disk assembly that rotates within a meter housing cavity and that has a seed disk assembly cavity in which a vacuum pressure is applied for pulling seeds into seed pockets of a seed disk of the seed disk assembly. The vacuum pressure is applied to the seed disk assembly by pulling a vacuum airflow through a collector of a spindle-mounted hub support that is fluidly connected through a face seal arrangement with a hub face of the seed disk assembly. | 07-03-2014 |
20140182495 | Seed Delivery System - A seed delivery system is provided that includes a row crop seed planter having a seed meter that can pneumatically deliver seeds to the agricultural field at a rearward velocity that matches a forward velocity of the planter. The seed meter may include a positive pressure source that pressurizes the seed meter and creates an airflow out of a seed tube of the seed meter that carries the individual seeds out of the seed tube at a rearward velocity that is automatically adjusted to match a forward velocity of the seed planter and tractor. | 07-03-2014 |
20140182496 | Low Torque And Vacuum Seed Meter - A seed meter is provided for use with a row crop planter or seed planter that includes a seed disk assembly that rotates within a meter housing cavity and that has a seed disk assembly cavity in which a vacuum pressure is applied for pulling seeds into seed pockets of a seed disk of the seed disc assembly. The vacuum pressure is applied to the seed disk assembly by pulling a vacuum airflow through a spindle that supports the seed disk assembly. A wiper basket is arranged in a fixed position within the seed disk assembly cavity and seals against the seed disk assembly as a support plate and seed disk of the seed disk assembly rotate over the wiper basket, so that side walls of the wiper basket create a boundary between a vacuum zone and a non-vacuum zone inside of the seed disc assembly cavity. | 07-03-2014 |
20140238283 | GAUGE WHEEL ARRANGEMENT FOR A SEEDER ROW UNIT - One row unit for an agricultural implement includes a ground engaging tool configured to penetrate soil and to form a furrow in the soil. The row unit also includes gauge wheels disposed adjacent to the ground engaging tool and configured to enable the ground engaging tool to penetrate the soil at a selectable penetration depth. Each of the gauge wheels extends substantially parallel to a direction of travel of the row unit. | 08-28-2014 |
20140250854 | HARVESTER AND METHOD USING AN RFID SYSTEM FOR DETECTING AND LOCATING OBJECTS AND CONDITIONS ALONG A HARVESTING PATH - A harvester for agricultural products such as fruits such as grapes, berries, vegetables, and the like, and method of harvesting, using an RFID system capable of detecting and interrogating RFID tags associated with objects or conditions along a path of the harvester in a manner to determine both presence and location of the associated object or condition, to enable responsively adapting or altering the operation of harvesting apparatus in a predetermined manner, such as by reducing or interrupting forces exerted thereby when about or proximate the object or condition. | 09-11-2014 |