Abstract: A PTO transmission system in a vehicle for transmitting power to a PTO shaft driving an implement comprises a planetary drive unit having first and second input and output coupled to the PTO shaft. The first and second input are coupled to an output shaft of the vehicle engine and to an output shaft of a drive motor, respectively. A control system controls the transfer of power from a power source to the drive motor. The power source is a variable power generating source driven by the PTO shaft. The drive motor is configured and adapted to decrease or increase the rotational speed of the output of the planetary drive unit on an increase or decrease of the power transferred to it, respectively.

Abstract: A system is provided that automatically assesses weight rating characteristics of a truck and trailer combination. The system coordinates movement and unloading functions of the grain cart to automatically load the trailer to correspond to a target total weight value and a target weight distribution value based on axle weight ratings of the axles of the truck and trailer combination.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An agricultural implement system is provided that includes a row unit configured to deposit agricultural material into soil along a direction of travel. The agricultural implement system also includes a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of soil displaced by the row unit, and an implement controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The implement controller is configured to determine a smoothness of a soil finish behind the row unit along the direction of travel based on the signal. The controller is also configured to adjust a parameter affecting the soil finish while the smoothness is outside of a desired range.

Abstract: An agricultural implement system is provided that includes a row unit configured to deposit agricultural material into soil along a direction of travel. The agricultural implement system also includes a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of soil displaced by the row unit, and an implement controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The implement controller is configured to determine a smoothness of a soil finish behind the row unit along the direction of travel based on the signal. The controller is also configured to adjust a parameter affecting the soil finish while the smoothness is outside of a desired range.

Abstract: An oil level control device in a main tank of a supply circuit, the supply circuit comprising a main tank, a first pump which, in aspiration, is connected to the main tank, a main hydraulic circuit which is connected in inlet to the delivery of a charge pump and in outlet is connected to the main tank, a first auxiliary conduit, an auxiliary tank which receives oil from the first auxiliary conduit and which in discharge is placed in communication with the main tank. At least a control valve predisposed to control sending of oil from the first auxiliary conduit to the auxiliary tank or from the auxiliary tank to the main tank.

Abstract: An agricultural implement system is provided that includes a row unit configured to deposit agricultural material into soil along a direction of travel. The agricultural implement system also includes a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of soil displaced by the row unit, and an implement controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The implement controller is configured to determine a smoothness of a soil finish behind the row unit along the direction of travel based on the signal. The controller is also configured to adjust a parameter affecting the soil finish while the smoothness is outside of a desired range.

Abstract: A method of controlling formation of a bale includes forming a bale from crop material by rotating the bale in a bale chamber and applying an amount of density pressure to the rotating bale. The method also includes receiving at least one operating condition value corresponding to at least one sensed operating condition when the bale is forming. The method further includes automatically determining the amount of bale density pressure applied to the bale responsive to receiving the at least one received operating condition value and controlling formation of the bale by causing the determined amount of bale density pressure to be applied to the bale.

Abstract: An agricultural implement system is provided that includes a row unit configured to deposit agricultural material into soil along a direction of travel. The agricultural implement system also includes a sensor configured to output a signal indicative of soil displaced by the row unit, and an implement controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The implement controller is configured to determine a smoothness of a soil finish behind the row unit along the direction of travel based on the signal. The controller is also configured to adjust a parameter affecting the soil finish while the smoothness is outside of a desired range.

Abstract: A PTO transmission system in a vehicle for transmitting power to a PTO shaft driving an implement comprises a planetary drive unit having first and second input and output coupled to the PTO shaft. The first and second input are coupled to an output shaft of the vehicle engine and to an output shaft of a drive motor, respectively. A control system controls the transfer of power from a power source to the drive motor. The power source is a variable power generating source driven by the PTO shaft. The drive motor is configured and adapted to decrease or increase the rotational speed of the output of the planetary drive unit on an increase or decrease of the power transferred to it, respectively.

Abstract: A PTO transmission system in a vehicle for transmitting power to a PTO shaft driving an implement comprises a planetary drive unit having first and second input and output coupled to the PTO shaft. The first and second inputs are coupled to an output shaft of the vehicle engine and to an output shaft of a drive motor, respectively. A control system controls the transfer of power from a power source to the drive motor. The power source is a variable power generating source driven by the PTO shaft. The drive motor is configured and adapted to decrease or increase the rotational speed of the output of the planetary drive unit on an increase or decrease of the power transferred to it, respectively.

Abstract: A PTO transmission system in a vehicle for transmitting power to a PTO shaft driving an implement comprises a planetary drive unit (3) having first and second input means (2, 5) and output means (4) coupled to the PTO shaft (8). The first and second input means are coupled to an output shaft of the vehicle engine (1) and to an output shaft (5) of drive motor means (7), respectively. Control means (11) control the transfer of power from a power source (4) to said drive motor means (7). The power source is a variable power generating means (6) driven by said PTO shaft. The drive motor means are configured and adapted to decrease or increase the rotational speed of the output means of the planetary drive unit on an increase or decrease of the power transferred to it, respectively.

Abstract: A system and method for positioning a transport vehicle relative to a harvester is disclosed. The system includes an imaging device mounted on the transport vehicle and a control system for analyzing image data and executing a computer program to provide commands to position the transport vehicle in an acceptable predetermined condition relative to the harvester for discharge operations.

Abstract: A baling machine and method for forming a bale is disclosed. A sensor is positioned in the bailing chamber and is positioned to sense an area proximate the perimeter of the bale to determine if material is present, thereby determining if the bale is properly wrapped or not. When the bale is not properly wrapped, material is present in the area proximate the perimeter in which the sensor is active; causing the sensor to send a signal indicating that the bale is not properly wrapped.

Abstract: A control system controls a pair of vehicles in coordination to traverse a respective pair of trajectories. The control system is configured to specify a plurality of successive waypoints, a safe stopping interval and an intermediate interval greater than the safe stopping interval, and exchange waypoints between vehicles. The system controls each vehicle in coordination with the other, senses a rate of exchange of waypoint data between the vehicles, and determines the safe stopping interval. The control system updates positions with additional waypoints as the respective vehicles pass by waypoints of the forecasted trajectory, determines the length of the forecasted trajectory remaining and compares it with the intermediate interval and the safe stopping interval. The system generates a warning signal if distance is less than the intermediate interval, and if the distance is less than the safe stopping interval, stops within the safe stopping interval.

Abstract: A device for detecting the absolute position of a cylinder rod is provided. A cylinder assembly has a cylinder body with a gland member positioned thereof. The gland member has a rod opening extending therethrough. An adjustable sensor is mounted on the gland member, the adjustable sensor being operable to read one or more detectable features of the cylinder rod. The adjustable sensor can be incrementally adjusted relative to the cylinder rod to optimize the gap provided between the adjustable sensor and the cylinder rod, allowing the sensor to detect the motion and absolute position of the cylinder rod. The detectable features may be three tracks of data including first timing data and position data.

Abstract: A control system controls a pair of vehicles in coordination to traverse a respective pair of trajectories. The control system is configured to specify a plurality of successive waypoints, a safe stopping interval and an intermediate interval greater than the safe stopping interval, and exchange waypoints between vehicles. The system controls each vehicle in coordination with the other, senses a rate of exchange of waypoint data between the vehicles, and determines the safe stopping interval. The control system updates positions with additional waypoints as the respective vehicles pass by waypoints of the forecasted trajectory, determines the length of the forecasted trajectory remaining and compares it with the intermediate interval and the safe stopping interval. The system generates a warning signal if distance is less than the intermediate interval, and if the distance is less than the safe stopping interval, stops within the safe stopping interval.

Abstract: A control system controls a pair of vehicles in coordination to traverse a respective pair of trajectories. The control system is configured to specify a plurality of successive waypoints, a safe stopping interval and an intermediate interval greater than the safe stopping interval, and exchange waypoints between vehicles. The system controls each vehicle in coordination with the other, senses a rate of exchange of waypoint data between the vehicles, and determines the safe stopping interval. The control system updates positions with additional waypoints as the respective vehicles pass by waypoints of the forecasted trajectory, determines the length of the forecasted trajectory remaining and compares it with the intermediate interval and the safe stopping interval. The system generates a warning signal if distance is less than the intermediate interval, and if the distance is less than the safe stopping interval, stops within the safe stopping interval.

Abstract: A system and method for positioning a transport vehicle relative to a harvester is disclosed. The system includes an imaging device mounted on the transport vehicle and a control system for analyzing image data and executing a computer program to provide commands to position the transport vehicle in an acceptable predetermined condition relative to the harvester for discharge operations.

Abstract: 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.