Patents Assigned to AGCO
  • Crop processing apparatus in a combine harvester
    Patent number: 9883631
    Abstract: A combine harvester comprises a threshing unit arranged to receive and thresh a crop stream. Separating apparatus are located downstream and rearward of the threshing unit and are arranged to receive the threshed crop stream and convey such a rearward direction. The front of a return pan, disposed below the separating apparatus, overlaps the rear of a stratification pan, disposed below the threshing unit. The stratification pan is driven in an oscillating manner to convey a primary grain/chaff stream rearwardly to a rear edge from where the primary grain/chaff stream falls under gravity into a cleaning unit. The return pan is driven in an oscillating manner to convey a secondary grain/chaff stream forwardly to a front edge from where the secondary grain/chaff stream falls under gravity to combine with the primary grain/chaff stream on the stratification pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO A/S
    Inventor: Morten Leth Bilde
  • Computer program and method for controlling a drive system of an agricultural vehicle
    Patent number: 9873449
    Abstract: A computer program and method for controlling a drive system of a harvester or other agricultural vehicle. The computer program calculates an inner motor displacement reduction of an inner motor of the drive system and a pump displacement reduction of a variable displacement pump of the drive system. By reducing the pump displacement in addition to the inner motor displacement, a speed of the harvester is maintained while turning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Emmanuel Regis Magisson, Robert A. Matousek
  • Combine harvester grain cleaning system
    Patent number: 9867336
    Abstract: A combine harvester including threshing and separating apparatus which are arranged to process a cut crop stream and each having a grate arrangement through which material separated from the crop stream falls under gravity. Grain conveyance means arranged below the threshing and separating apparatus catch the falling grain and material other than grain (MOG). A stratification pan is located below a front region of the threshing and separating apparatus and a return conveyor is located below a rear region of the threshing and separating apparatus, both conveyors being driven in a oscillating manner. The return conveyor conveys said grain and MOG in a forward direction to a front edge thereof which is located above the stratification pan. The stratification pan conveys collected material rearwardly to a rear edge from where the collected material falls under gravity into a cleaning unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO A/S
    Inventors: Morten Leth Bilde, Magnus Baltzer Kristensen
  • Path planning method for vehicle guidance
    Patent number: 9861024
    Abstract: A method for defining a contoured path for an automatic guidance system comprises defining a plurality of reference path segments; for each segment, determining one or more intersection points respectively with other segments; and subsequently defining a contoured path as a sequence of intersecting segments. An automatic guidance system based on the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Theo Vogler, Ludwig Grandl, Bastain Kieninger
  • Vehicle ballasting assistance
    Patent number: 9864497
    Abstract: A method and system for assisting user selection of ballasting options for an agricultural vehicle when coupled to an agricultural implement. The user is presented with a selection menu of implement types, whereby each implement type defines operating ranges of discrete values for first, second and optionally third operational parameters of the vehicle, with the differing combinations defining a values subset. An optimal choice from the available ballasting options is made for each combination in the values subset, and a selection from the optimal choices based on prevalence or probability of occurrence is made and may be presented to the user. Operational parameters may include operating speed, loading due to implement weight and engine power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Thiemo Buchner, Benno Pichmaier
  • Crop processing apparatus in a combine harvester
    Patent number: 9854742
    Abstract: A combine harvester including a grain pan arranged to catch a crop stream from threshing or separating apparatus. The grain pan is driven in an oscillating manner to convey the crop stream rearwardly to a rear edge. A cleaning unit including a fan for generating a cleaning airstream which is directed under the rear edge of the grain pan. The grain pan comprises includes a transversely corrugated surface and longitudinal gullies having a curved profile for compensating for side-hill operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Morten Leth Bilde
  • TRI-DIRECTIONAL BREAK-AWAY BOOM ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20170367315
    Abstract: A break-away apparatus for a boom arm (11) is positioned at a joint between a main boom portion (14) and a boom tip (12) to allow the boom tip to assume a neutral position and forward, rearward, and upward positions. First and second plates (30, 28) are disposed at the joint and a hinge assembly (22) is positioned between the first and second plates (30, 28). The hinge assembly (22) includes a first ball joint (38); a first hinge pin (34); and a second hinge pin (36). The first and second plates (30, 28) are in a first position when the boom tip (12) assumes the neutral position, and the first and second plates (30, 28) are movable with respect to each other about the first hinge axis (25a), the second hinge axis (25b), and a pivot point defined by the first ball joint (38). A first spring (50) assists a return of the first and second plates (30, 28) to the first position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 28, 2017
    Applicant: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Petrus Henricus Johannes BOUTEN
  • Drive system for combine harvester processor
    Patent number: 9848537
    Abstract: A combine harvester with an axial flow crop processor with a rotor mounted for rotation inside a rotor housing arranged longitudinally with respect to the harvester. A feed beater is mounted for rotation on a substantially transverse axis and serves to tangentially impel crop material into the crop processor. A drive system drives the rotor and feed beater, wherein the drive system includes a rotor drive device for transmitting torque from a drive stage to the rotor, and a drive connection between the rotor drive device and the beater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Mygind Bojsen
  • Header position sensing system for an agricultural harvester
    Patent number: 9844184
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the relative position of a header with respect to a chassis of a self-propelled agricultural harvester. Single or dual axis inclinometers are secured to the header and the chassis respectively and signals generated in combination with a stored relationship to header position are used to determine the header position, whether that be the pitch and/or the roll degrees of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Gerald R Johnson, Quentin Guhr
  • Rotary spider tine for tillage implement
    Patent number: 9839172
    Abstract: A tillage implement has a gang of rotary spider tines, each spider tine having a center portion and a plurality of teeth forming a peripheral edge of the spider tine. Each tooth is rearwardly curving from the intended direction of rotation and has a curved leading edge and a curved trailing edge that taper to a rounded outward tip. A distal end of each tooth is angled relative to a tooth base to form a flared paddle such that the flared paddle is angled with respect to the tooth base and center portion of the spider tine. A first set of teeth have flared paddles angled in a first direction and a second set have flared paddles angled in a direction opposite said first direction, with the first set being alternately positioned with the second set in a circumferential pattern around the peripheral edge of the spider tine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Shawn Meier, Jeffrey Scott Hughes, Donald Eugene Bergmann
  • Vehicle tire deformation detection device
    Patent number: 9834045
    Abstract: A vehicle tire deformation device for determining the size of a deformed contact patch of a tire which contacts the ground, said device comprising a movement detector connected to an attachment body by means of a moveable indicator element wherein both the movement detector and the attachment body are attachable to an inside surface of the tire, and wherein the size of the deformed contact patch of the tire is determined by the detector sensing a change in angle of the moveable indicator element indicating the border between the deformed contact patch of the tire and a non deformed part of the tire which is not in contact with the ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Erich Freytag
  • Combo crop harvester crop transfer means
    Patent number: 9832930
    Abstract: A system conveying material-other-than-grain (MOG) from a harvesting machine to a packaging machine towed by the harvesting machine. The system includes an joint pivotably joining a harvesting machine hitch to a packaging machine hitch. An accelerator is mounted to the packaging machine hitch. The accelerator has a housing with a top-side inlet and a side outlet. A MOG-propelling disk is disposed in the housing and is rotatable about an axis. A conduit is disposed above the packaging machine hitch and has an inlet end and an outlet end, the inlet end coupled to the side outlet. The conduit has first and second opposing side portions and a top side portion without an opposing bottom portion, with at least part of the top side portion is parallel with the plane of the disk. The accelerator, conduit, and packaging machine are collectively in pivotal arrangement relative to the harvesting machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Maynard M. Herron
  • Rotatable shroud for directional control of application area
    Patent number: 9832987
    Abstract: A controlled droplet application (CDA) nozzle has a CDA nozzle cone having a first axis of rotation in a first position and, after adjustment, a second axis of rotation in a second position orthogonal to the first. A rotationally adjustable directional shroud surrounds at least a portion of the cone, the directional shroud blocking at least a portion of a lip of the cone regardless of whether the cone is positioned in the first or second axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: John Peterson, Jeffrey Zimmerman, Justin Bak
  • Vehicle guidance system
    Patent number: 9826674
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a method comprising receiving input corresponding to a first contour wayline to enable auto-steer traversal by a vehicle over a field; generating a plurality of contour waylines based on the first contour wayline; identifying a non-drivable section among the plurality of contour waylines, the identifying based on information corresponding to a time for the vehicle to reach a minimum turning radius and the minimum turning radius; and generating an alternative contour wayline section for the identified non-drivable section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Ross Matthews
  • AUTOMATED AGRICULTURE SYSTEM
    Publication number: 20170336787
    Abstract: A system for performing an agricultural operation on a field, the system including a host vehicle, two or more autonomous agricultural machines configured for performing the said agricultural operation; and a control subsystem for path planning and controlling the movement of each autonomous agricultural machine relative to the host vehicle in the performance of the agricultural operation. The control subsystem is configured to dynamically re-plan the movement of one or more of the autonomous agricultural machines in response to a detected failure of an autonomous agricultural machine as indicated by its position relative to its planned path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2015
    Publication date: November 23, 2017
    Applicant: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Benno PICHLMAIER, Thiemo BUCHNER
  • Dual cam controlled reel tines
    Patent number: 9820440
    Abstract: A dual-cam linkage system controls the orientation of tines on a reel of a crop harvesting header. The dual-cam linkage system includes a stationary, substantially circular first cam track that has a rotational center that is offset from the rotational axis of the reel. A second cam track is located in a support plate on which a tine-supporting member is mounted. The dual-cam linkage system also includes a pivoting linkage having a crank, an arm. The crank has a first end fixedly attached to the tine-supporting member. The arm has an outer end attached to a second end of the crank. The first cam follower is attached at an inner end of the arm and engages the first cam track. The second cam follower is attached to the arm at a position between the first cam follower and the crank and engages the second cam track.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Dustin Jost, Daniel Dreyer
  • Drawbar pin ejector
    Patent number: 9809069
    Abstract: A drawbar assembly for coupling a drawbar to a tongue of a towed implement includes a drawbar pin and a drawbar clevis having a bore configured to receive the drawbar pin. A locking plate is coupled to the drawbar clevis and movable between a pin-lock condition in which the locking plate is configured to obstruct at least a portion of the bore, and a pin-unlock condition. An ejector mechanism is configured to dislodge the drawbar pin from the bore. The ejector mechanism includes a handle utilized to operate the ejector mechanism and an ejector arm pivotably disposed in an ejector recess in the clevis. The ejector arm is movable from a home position in which the ejector arm does not interfere with the drawbar pin to an eject position in which the ejector arm forces the drawbar pin to be at least partially dislodged out of the bore.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Derek Hruska, Matthew Shaw
  • Agricultural sprayer boom
    Patent number: 9807997
    Abstract: An agricultural sprayer boom comprises vertically spaced upper and lower beams extending along the boom and connected by brace members formed from a unitary bent tubular member that is secured to the upper and lower beams, and gripped, by clamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO International
    Inventors: Joris Jan Hiddema, Harm Mertens
  • VEHICLE WHEEL SLIPPAGE CONTROL
    Publication number: 20170313318
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle and method of controlling the same are provided, the vehicle having a motive power unit providing a driving torque to at least one driven wheel and having at least one tyre or track frictionally coupled with the periphery of the driven wheel. A vehicle operating parameter is controlled in dependence on the driving torque and a slippage characteristic relating the respective driving torque at which the frictional coupling between driven wheel and tyre or track begins to slip for a range of vehicle operating parameter values. The operating parameter is suitably a tyre pressure or track tension, and the control may involve reducing driving torque or increasing pressure/tension to prevent slipping.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2015
    Publication date: November 2, 2017
    Applicant: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventors: Richard HEINDL, Martin BRENNINGER
  • Attachment system for a harvester header
    Patent number: 9795084
    Abstract: An attachment mechanism for effecting a load-bearing interconnection between a header and a feederhouse of a self-propelled harvester is provided. The mechanism has a hook element secured to one of the header and feederhouse, the hook element having a limb defining an edge of a jaw opening with a inwardly tapering edge for longitudinally aligning and receiving a transverse pin secured to the other of the header and feederhouse. The limb has a non-vertical face configured to engage the other of the header and feederhouse and align such in the transverse direction as the feederhouse is lifted to engage the pin and jaw opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: AGCO do Brasil
    Inventor: Marcelo Carpenedo