Abstract: A rinse monitoring and control system for a self-propelled sprayer is configured to allow automatic rinsing of plumbing components and tubing of the sprayer with a liquid rinse by automatically controlling the timing and sequencing of electronic valves upon receiving a rinse command. Aspects of the rinsing can be configured by an operator, such as the whether the product tank is rinsed, the duration of each rinse, and the number of rinse cycles. The valves and liquid flow can be monitored in real time from a touchscreen HMI during the rinsing. Accordingly, the sprayer can be thoroughly rinsed by pressing a single button to generate the rinse command, without requiring the operator to manually actuate valves and/or recall stages of the rinse sequence.

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: 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: In one aspect, a suspension control system is provided for dynamically adjusting 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 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 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: An improved system of determining the speed at which an agricultural vehicle is traveling is disclosed. A control system for the sprayer receives feedback signals from multiple sensors, where each feedback signal may be utilized to determine the speed at which the sprayer is traveling. An operator interface, such as a touch-screen terminal, is provided to receive input from the operator for selecting one of the feedback signals. Each of the feedback signals has certain operating conditions under which they are more or less reliable. The operator may select one of the feedback signals from which the speed of the sprayer is determined according to the present operating conditions. The speed determined from the selected feedback signal is then used by the sprayer to control and record application of product to the field.

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 rinse monitoring and control system for a self-propelled sprayer is configured to allow automatic rinsing of plumbing components and tubing of the sprayer with a liquid rinse by automatically controlling the timing and sequencing of electronic valves upon receiving a rinse command. Aspects of the rinsing can be configured by an operator, such as the whether the product tank is rinsed, the duration of each rinse, and the number of rinse cycles. The valves and liquid flow can be monitored in real time from a touchscreen HMI during the rinsing. Accordingly, the sprayer can be thoroughly rinsed by pressing a single button to generate the rinse command, without requiring the operator to manually actuate valves and/or recall stages of the rinse sequence.

Abstract: One or more vehicle sensors can be used in a suspension control system of an agricultural machine to dynamically adjust pistons located proximal to wheels of the machine to substantially control orientation. Such vehicle sensors could include: a speed sensor configured to provide an output indicating a speed of the machine; a turn angle sensor configured to provide an output indicating a turn angle of the machine; and/or an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) configured to detect a chassis-to-horizon angle. The output can be compared to a threshold for determining when to control valves in the suspension system to apply height corrections.

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 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.

Abstract: Hydraulic cylinders controlled by electronic valves can be provided at each rear corner of an agricultural machine to improve four wheel steering. The valves can receive hydraulic fluid from a pump and release hydraulic fluid to tank, while independently controlling an amount of hydraulic fluid to each rear steering cylinder. 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 rear steering cylinders can be correspondingly controlled to follow the front steering cylinders.

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: A self-propelled off-road agricultural vehicle with a dynamically reconfiguring speed control and display system is provided that allows for on-the-go range selection and range modification, without having to release a joystick control and while providing range and speed information on an animated or dynamically reconfiguring speedometer. The system may include an animated speedometer that automatically reconfigures to shown visually change in a manner that shows changed range characteristics including different ranges and different range maximum speeds. This may include changing color of a sweep portion of a dynamic scale of the animated speedometer. The system may allow dual speed change capability configured to allow an operator to change the limits of the speed ranges through either a touchscreen such as an HMI (human machine interface) or control buttons of a grip of a joystick.

Abstract: A machine controller may communicate with a joystick (or grip) and/or a touchscreen Human Machine Interface (HMI) (or other input module) on first data communication bus or path, and communicate with machine specific control modules and/or a field computer on a second data communication bus or path. The machine controller may receive operator commands from the joystick or other input module and instruct the corresponding machine specific control module accordingly. Concurrently, the field computer may be used by the operator to monitor and/or control a different function of the machine via a different machine specific control module. As a result, the operator may keep his hand on the joystick or other input module while monitoring a different function.

Abstract: An improved system of determining the speed at which an agricultural vehicle is traveling is disclosed. A control system for the sprayer receives feedback signals from multiple sensors, where each feedback signal may be utilized to determine the speed at which the sprayer is traveling. An operator interface, such as a touch-screen terminal, is provided to receive input from the operator for selecting one of the feedback signals. Each of the feedback signals has certain operating conditions under which they are more or less reliable. The operator may select one of the feedback signals from which the speed of the sprayer is determined according to the present operating conditions. The speed determined from the selected feedback signal is then used by the sprayer to control and record application of product to the field.

Abstract: An improved system of determining the speed at which an agricultural vehicle is traveling is disclosed. A control system for the sprayer receives feedback signals from multiple sensors, where each feedback signal may be utilized to determine the speed at which the sprayer is traveling. An operator interface, such as a touch-screen terminal, is provided to receive input from the operator for selecting one of the feedback signals. Each of the feedback signals has certain operating conditions under which they are more or less reliable. The operator may select one of the feedback signals from which the speed of the sprayer is determined according to the present operating conditions. The speed determined from the selected feedback signal is then used by the sprayer to control and record application of product to the field.