Patents Assigned to AGCO
  • Patent number: 8626441
    Abstract: An enhanced vehicle guidance system comprising a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) receiver and a data processor with a memory component and a computing device. The method of enhancing a vehicle's guidance system may comprise calculating the altitude, latitude, and longitude of a GNSS receiver for each of a plurality of positions; calculating the incline angle between adjacent points; and using the calculated incline angles to infer the attitude of the vehicle at any of the plurality of positions. The attitude may be used to calculated an inertial correction factor to compensate for GNSS position inaccuracies induced as a result of the vehicle rolling and pitching on uneven terrain. The altitude, latitude, longitude, and attitude of the plurality of positions may be stored in the memory such that the system may look-up the attitude for a given position without recalculating the attitude and without using an inertial sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Matthews
  • Patent number: 8621837
    Abstract: A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms, a conveyor assembly, and a cutterbar drive. The support arms are pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis so that the flexible cutterbar assembly is operable to flex along the length thereof in response to changes in terrain as the header is advanced. The cutterbar drive includes a drive element and a forward gearbox drivingly connected between the drive element and the cutterbar assembly. The forward gearbox is supported on an outer support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher T. Sauerwein, Randy Lohrentz
  • Patent number: 8608534
    Abstract: A combine harvester has a threshing mechanism for threshing grain and cleaning apparatus for removing chaff from the threshed grain. The threshing mechanism includes a rotor and a plurality of concaves and the cleaning apparatus includes and upper chaffer and a lower sieve. A blower provides cleaning air to the combine harvester. The blower is situated in a blower housing having a first cut off plate separating high-velocity air coming from the blower and directing a first portion of the high-velocity air to a lower duct that provides an airstream to the upper chaffer and lower sieve. The blower housing also has a second cut off plate directing a second portion of the high-velocity air to an upper duct that provides an airstream under the concaves. A leading portion of the second cut off plate contains a rolled edge along the width of the upper duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Michael S. Stahl, Joseph M. Biggerstaff
  • Patent number: 8601780
    Abstract: A harvesting header includes a header frame, a flexible cutterbar assembly mounted to the header frame, a plurality of laterally spaced apart support arms, and a draper assembly. The support arms are attached to and cooperatively support the cutterbar assembly and are pivotally coupled to the frame for swinging movement about a laterally extending axis. The draper assembly includes a side draper carried on multiple ones of the support arms so as to flex with the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes rollers and a roller frame that operably interconnects the interior support arm and a respective one of the rollers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: James R. Schmidt, Christopher T. Sauerwein, Randy Lohrentz, Bernard D. Regier, Stanley R. Clark, Alan R. Bergkamp
  • Patent number: 8601778
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a harvesting header includes a helper roll having an auger flighting configured to move crop material laterally inward. The auger flighting may be outboard of a crop receiving area. The helper roll may be placed rearward of a cutter mechanism and forward of a conditioning roll of the header. The axis of rotation of the helper roll may be positioned slightly above a cutting plane of a cutting bed so that the auger flighting extends vertically past the cutting plane. In an example embodiment, at least a portion of the auger flights are positioning outboard of a conditioning roll of the header. The helper roll may be supported within the cutting zone and comprised of a plurality of sub-helper rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Martin E. Pruitt, Brendon Nafziger
  • Patent number: 8602137
    Abstract: A self-propelled implement may include a suspension arrangement with a suspension spring, an elevation toggling linkage, and a wheel. The suspension spring may support a main frame of the self-propelled implement at a sprung end. The elevation toggling linkage may be mounted at an unsprung end of the suspension spring. The elevation toggling linkage may be used to configure the self-propelled implement at a raised elevation or a lowered elevation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Glen D. Kroese, Brian T. Coulter, Adam Thurmer
  • Publication number: 20130316770
    Abstract: An agricultural implement having an infeed cutter includes a plurality of knives and at least one knife-sharpening assembly. The knives are mounted on shiftable knife beds that swing into and out of an operating position. The beds are laterally slidable in opposite directions to provide access to the knives. The knife-sharpening assembly includes a hood and a plurality of sharpening stones mounted on a shaft that moves along a path corresponding to the shape of the cutting edges of the knives, meaning the sharpening stones preferably follow the substantially arcuate contour of the uppermost edges of the knives during the course of sharpening. The hood is configured to contain any sparks produced by the interaction between the stones and knives. The knife beds and sharpening assemblies are configured such that sufficient ground clearance for travel of the agricultural vehicle is available during sharpening of the knives.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: AGCO Corporation
  • Publication number: 20130316771
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing cracker roller discs comprises forming a disc blanks and machining to produce the final form. The disc blank has an axial bore through the centre, a first portion radially outward of the centre of substantially constant thickness, a second portion radially outward of the first portion which second portion tapers towards the periphery of the disc blank, and a plurality of upstanding ridges extending radially outward across the second portion on opposed faces of the disc. Machining, suitably by turning on a lathe, removes the top part of each ridge and leaves at least one sharp edge extending along it, with all ridges on a face being machined in a single operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Benjamin Frommelt
  • Publication number: 20130312401
    Abstract: A pressurised fluid supply system for an agricultural vehicle (100) includes a main supply circuit (MC) including a variable displacement pump (RP) providing a first source of pressurised fluid to a steering system (SS) of the vehicle and to consumers (WH) connected with the vehicle. A steering supply circuit (SC) includes a fixed displacement pump (LHP) supplying pressurised fluid to the steering system (SS). A pilot pressure circuit (PPC), connectable to supply a second source of pressurised fluid to consumers connected with the vehicle, receives pressurised fluid from the main supply circuit (MC).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 28, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Benjamin Frommelt
  • Patent number: 8590650
    Abstract: A cooling package assembly for a work vehicle. A plurality of heat exchangers cooperate with one another to define an interior of a cooling box. Single pass airflow is pushed across the heat exchangers. In one embodiment, the heat exchangers cooperate with one another to define a v-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Rex Schertz, Stanley R. Clark, Mark D. Walton
  • Patent number: 8584439
    Abstract: A pickup assembly of an agricultural machine has a rotatable shaft and bulkheads with a reel assembly having plural double-stacked tine rows flanked by reel cover attachment areas. Each double-stacked tine row has a plurality of spaced apart tines with a pair of radially extending portions for engaging crop material. Each double-stacked tine row has a first row of tines and a second row of tines offset from the first row such that adjacent tines are offset in both a direction around the circumference of the shaft and also in a transverse direction along the shaft. A reel cover is coupled to the bulkhead and has slots through which portions of the tines extend.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Allen J. Kuhn, Patrick Kendrick, Thomas G. Schrag, Maynard M. Herron
  • Publication number: 20130298515
    Abstract: A harvesting header and feederhouse for use with a crop harvesting machine has a feederhouse interface at a distal end of the feederhouse and a header frame. The header frame has a top beam, a bottom beam, and first and second vertical main structures connecting the top and bottom beams. The feederhouse interface and the vertical main structures of the header frame are pivotably connected to enable the header frame to pivot with respect to the feederhouse interface. At least one hydraulic ram connects between the feederhouse interface and the header frame to pivot the harvesting header on the feederhouse to a desired fore/aft pitch angle. A hydraulic supply provides hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic ram. Front and rear ground sensors provide an output that is used to control the fore/aft pitch angle of the harvesting header relative the ground by pivoting the header frame relative the feederhouse interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: AGCO CORPORATION
  • Patent number: 8583312
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a wheel angle sensor calibration method, comprising, while a vehicle is moving, automatically causing movement of the vehicle to a first full steering position followed by automatic movement to a second full steering position; recording wheel angle sensor values at the first and second full steering positions, respectively; determining an average of the wheel angle sensor values, the average corresponding to a target center wheel position; automatically causing movement of the vehicle to the target center wheel position; and responsive to the wheel angle sensor having a value equal to the average, recording the wheel angle sensor value as the target center wheel position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Zachary J. Schreiber
  • Patent number: 8580005
    Abstract: A tractor cab filter housing (20) has at least one air intake (20a) through which air is drawn into the housing, an outlet (20c) through which air leaves the housing, a filter element (18) positioned between the inlet and outlet, and an opening access door (21) through which the filter element can be accessed for servicing/replacement. The housing access door (21) includes an integral storage chamber (21f) in which liquids or other items can be stored. The housing door is a hollow plastics molding having an access opening (21d) through which liquid can be introduced into the storage chamber, the opening having a cap (21e) for closing of the opening. A pump (50) may be provided for pumping the liquid out of the storage chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Stieglitz, Hermann Geiss, Alexander Zeller
  • Publication number: 20130291511
    Abstract: A harvesting header frame has a top beam, a bottom beam, and a diagonal truss member. A first end of said diagonal truss member is structurally connected to the top beam and an opposing second end of said diagonal truss member is structurally connected to the bottom beam. The header frame also has a diagonal truss length adjustment mechanism that adjusts the length of the diagonal truss member to selectively lengthen or shorten the effective length of the diagonal truss member to modify the concavity of the header frame after the top and bottom beams and diagonal truss member have been connected. In one embodiment, the diagonal truss length adjustment mechanism is a telescoping compression member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: AGCO Corporation
  • Patent number: 8574109
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive arrangement for vehicles with at least two drivable vehicle axles (V, H). The drive arrangement is particularly suitable for utility vehicles and agricultural tractors. It has at least one first motor (11), which is propulsively connected to a first vehicle axle (H), and a second motor (12), which is propulsively connected to a second vehicle axle (V). At least one of the motors is a de-connectable motor (12), which can be disconnected from the propulsive connection to the associated vehicle axle (V). Regardless of whether the de-connectable motor (12) is propulsively connected to the associated vehicle axle (V) or is propulsively disconnected therefrom, a propulsive connection can be selectively made and broken between the first and the second vehicle axle (V, H).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Heindl
  • Patent number: 8577537
    Abstract: A vehicle guidance system includes a location determining component for determining locations of the vehicle; a weight sensor for sensing a weight associated with the vehicle; a steering actuator for steering at least one wheel of the vehicle; and a computing device in communication with the location determining component, the weight sensor, and the steering actuator. The computing device receives cartographic data representative of a desired path for the vehicle, receives location information from the location determining component, controls operation of the steering actuator in order to guide the vehicle along the desired path, and adjusts a steering parameter at least partially based on the weight sensed by the weight sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Agco Corporation
    Inventor: Paul Matthews
  • Publication number: 20130289832
    Abstract: An agricultural tractor (10) control system comprising an electronic control unit (ECU) (16) is provided in addition to a method of controlling a tractor (10). The ECU (16) is arranged to receive in real time signals from a plurality of sensors (40, 42) associated with operating functions of the tractor. The ECU (16) is also arranged to output control signals to a plurality of controlled operating components. Macroinstructions, or macros, are inputted to the ECU (16) by a user by direct definition or Internet download for example. Each macro comprises a condition and a command. The condition includes a trigger value and a corresponding input variable sensed by a respective sensor (40, 42, 50). The command involves the transmission of one of said output control signals to control an operating component in a predetermined manner. The ECU (16) is operable to run said macro during which the command is executed in response to the condition being met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2011
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO SA
    Inventor: Jacques Pirotais
  • Publication number: 20130284470
    Abstract: An assembly of a mounting component (1) for operating a linkage on an agricultural vehicle and a reservoir (10) for storing at least one fluid, wherein the mounting component is a unitary body having an internal cavity adapted to receive the reservoir. Suitably the reservoir is removable from the component and provides a reserve for hydraulic oil, windscreen cleaning fluid, or pressurised air.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: October 31, 2013
    Applicant: AGCO International GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Kaemmerer
  • Patent number: D693854
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: AGCO-Amity JV, LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Schrapp, Peder L. Pederson, Collin D. Miller