Abstract: A spray boom support structure includes a first support member, a second support member, a plurality of vertical support elements disposed between the first and second support member along lengths of the first and second support members, and at least one strut. Each vertical support element includes a bottom saddle portion coupled to first support member, a top saddle portion coupled to the second support member, and an I-beam portion disposed between the top and bottom saddle portions. Further, each strut extends between adjacent vertical support elements.

Abstract: An agricultural machine includes a lift arm assembly and a boom including at least one support member. A first support member of the at least one support member is coupled to the lift arm assembly. Further, the first support member includes a tube and a hinge inserted into a first end of the tube. The hinge includes an extension portion disposed within the hollow tube and a hinged portion extending upward from a first end of the extension portion. The first end of the extension portion is adjacent the first end of the tube. Further, the first support member is coupled to the lift arm assembly by way of the hinged portion of the hinge.

Abstract: A boom truss structure for an agricultural sprayer that includes boom segments on either side of the sprayer, including primary boom segments, secondary boom segments attached to the primary boom segments at a first hinge, and breakaway boom segments attached to the secondary boom segments at a second hinge. The primary boom segment includes truss elements extending upwardly from a base support member. The secondary boom also includes a base support member, but with an inverted underside truss support member that is located underneath the base support member instead of on top of the base support member. This allows the secondary boom segment to fold on top of the primary boom segment in a compact manner about a lower pivot axis. Additionally, the breakaway boom segment may be folded initially about the secondary boom segment, after which the secondary boom segment is folded about the primary boom segment.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a spray boom for an agricultural machine in which the boom is arranged as a truss with interior diagonal struts of the truss being configured to absorb tension and compression energy imparted by deflections over the length of the boom with such energy being dissipated as heat. In one aspect, the diagonal strut could comprise a rod moveable with respect to a tube with a polymer, such as an elastomeric material, arranged in the tube to dampen the movement. The tension and compression of the diagonal strut could subject the dampener to a shearing force which could be absorbed by the dampener rather than transferred to the machine.

Abstract: A spray system for an agricultural machine is configured to include a valving arrangement and multiple liquid product lines coupled to spray nozzle assemblies such that the valving arrangement can connect the product lines to the spray nozzle assemblies in different ways to achieve different modes of operation. Such modes can include providing agricultural liquid product flow through the spray nozzle assemblies at differing rates and/or flushing the product through the spray nozzle assemblies in differing directions. This can be achieved by controlling the valving arrangement to selectively connect any of the lines to pump for supplying product, to tank for returning product, or to block the lines to inhibit the flow of product. In one aspect, the product multiple lines can be of different sizes to enable more modes of operation, such as greater or lesser flow rates while spraying.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a spray system for an agricultural machine in which multiple spray nozzles for spraying a liquid product can be dynamically arranged in number and location along a preconfigured rail acting as a boom. Each spray nozzle can include an attachment arrangement for conveniently attaching, tightening, loosening and/or detaching the spray nozzle with respect to the rail. In one aspect, the attachment arrangement can comprise a fastener configured to tighten or loosen a clip with respect to a body for engaging the rail. A separate product line for supplying liquid product to the spray nozzles can flexibly include numerous ports, more than there are spray nozzles, with some ports attaching to spray nozzles via branch lines, and other ports being sealed to inhibit flow.

Abstract: A suspension control system dynamically adjusts pistons located proximal to wheels of an agricultural machine to substantially equalize distribution of weight of the machine at each wheel and/or provide a substantially constant desired orientation of the machine above a ground surface thereby protecting laterally extending sprayer booms from contacting the ground. Articulation, pitch, roll and/or machine height can be determined from piston measurements on the machine to apply such height corrections. For sprayers, this allows controlling clearance and suspension height to maintain the boom parallel to the ground to prevent damage.

Abstract: A high clearance sprayer with a four-wheel steering system includes a steering input, a steering control system, a front steering system, and a rear steering system. The front and rear steering systems are mirrored images of one another, which simplifies and improves the accuracy of the four-wheel steering control methodology. In doing so, the control system may calculate a single value that is used for controlling the front steering system, and an inverse of the single value that is used for controlling the rear steering system. Both of the front steering system and the rear steering system include wheels, steering actuator systems, swingarms, and wheel supports, which all of position of the wheels relative to the sprayer to be rotated. The steering control system may allow for various steering maneuvers to occur, including a turn-steering maneuver and a crab-steering maneuver.

Abstract: The present invention provides an alternative traction control system, in addition to a primary traction control system, in which a user selectable input can allow wheels of an agricultural machine to spin freely, such as for clearing debris from tires, until a predetermined deactivate condition occurs. Such a deactivate condition could comprise, for example, reaching a maximum rotation speed and/or temperature threshold with respect to a wheel. To minimize the risk of damage to propulsion components which may be caused by excessive rotation speeds and/or temperatures, upon reaching such a threshold, operation can return from the alternative traction control system to the primary traction control system. Such a system can therefore allow an “on the fly” change that would permit an operator to selectively spin the tires without damaging mechanical aspects of the sprayer.

Abstract: A front-boom sprayer is provided that includes a boom center section and lift arm arrangement that provides a field of view below the boom when the boom is in a raised state that is substantially free of view obstructions from torque tube or other crosswise-extending components. The lift arm arrangement may provide different link tube geometries so that the respective left and right pairs of upper and lower lift arms align with each other in the line of sight of the in-cab operator.

Abstract: A front-boom sprayer is provided that includes a boom center section and lift arm arrangement that provides a field of view below the boom when the boom is in a raised state that is substantially free of view obstructions from torque tube or other crosswise-extending components. The lift arm arrangement may provide different link tube geometries so that the respective left and right pairs of upper and lower lift arms align with each other in the line of sight of the in-cab operator.

Abstract: Automatic steering and four-wheel steering are configured on an agricultural machine so that when automatic steering is enabled, a control system selectively activates and deactivates four-wheel steering depending on sensed turning or non-turning states of the machine. When automatic steering is enabled, the machine can automatically steer, such as according to a prescription map. In straightaway paths, corresponding to non-turning states, the control system can activate two-wheel steering. However, in the headlands of fields, corresponding to turning states, the control system can activate four-wheel steering. Such turning states can be determined based on the machines location on the map. Alternatively, such turning states can be determined based on sensed turning of the wheels.

Abstract: A swingarm includes a first swingarm leg oriented along a first horizontal plane, a main body extending upward and outward from a second end of the first swingarm leg, and a second swingarm leg extending from a second end of the main body along a second horizontal plane. The swingarm also includes a first bearing holder coupled to a first end of the first swingarm leg and a second bearing holder coupled to a second end of the second swingarm leg. The first bearing holder includes a cavity oriented horizontally to form a first pivot axis. The second bearing holder includes a cavity oriented vertically to form a second pivot axis. The first and second bearing holders are of the same construction.

Abstract: In one aspect, a suspension control system is provided for dynamically adjusting pistons located proximal to wheels of an agricultural machine to account for tire deflection or squat with varying loads. Articulation, pitch, roll and/or machine height can be determined from pressure measurements on the machine to apply such tire height corrections. For sprayers, this allows controlling clearance and suspension height to maintain the boom parallel to the ground to prevent damage.

Abstract: Electronically controlled hydraulic valves can be directly mounted to rear steering cylinders of a four wheel steering machine to improve steering, reduce space consumption, reduce leak points and allow ease of routing. The valves can receive hydraulic fluid from a pump and release hydraulic fluid to tank, while controlling an amount of hydraulic fluid to the steering cylinder via inlets and outlets in direct contact. The valves can be controlled by a controller that is also in communication with position sensors configured to sense positions of the front and rear steering cylinders, so that the directly mounted valves in the rear can be correspondingly controlled to follow steering in the front.

Abstract: A high clearance sprayer with a four-wheel steering system includes a steering input, a steering control system, a front steering system, and a rear steering system. The front and rear steering systems are mirrored images of one another, which simplifies and improves the accuracy of the four-wheel steering control methodology. In doing so, the control system may calculate a single value that is used for controlling the front steering system, and an inverse of the single value that is used for controlling the rear steering system. Both of the front steering system and the rear steering system include wheels, steering actuator systems, swingarms, and wheel supports, which all of position of the wheels relative to the sprayer to be rotated. The steering control system may allow for various steering maneuvers to occur, including a turn-steering maneuver and a crab-steering maneuver.

Abstract: The armrest of an operator's chair in a cab of an agricultural machine is configured to include a support attachment for enabling multiple touchscreens to be supported by and oriented with the chair. The support attachment allows multiple arms supporting the touchscreens to be joined below the armrest. The multiple arms can advantageously rotate around an axis defined by the support attachment, and the touchscreens can advantageously move to face multiple directions and lock in a desired position. As a result, when an operator adjusts the seat in the cab for optimum driving conditions, the touchscreens can better adjust with the operator accordingly.

Abstract: In one aspect, a control system is provided which determines fluid flow in a suspension system for an agricultural machine by determining total fluid in a closed loop piston system. Fluid is determined using position sensors and a pressure transducers and application of the ideal gas with respect to each accumulator. A closed loop control system can then target an amount of fluid for optimum suspension control.

Abstract: A lock system can be provided at each rear wheel assembly of a four wheel steering system to physically lock the rear wheel assemblies in a fixed direction to safely prevent rear wheel steering when such feature is undesirable. The lock system can use an electronically controlled actuator to hydraulically drive or retract a lock cylinder to lock or unlock the rear wheel assemblies, respectively. Sensors can be used to detect whether the lock cylinders are driven or retracted by their respective actuators, so that a controller monitoring the sensors can determine whether four wheel steering is enabled or disabled.