Patents Assigned to AGCO
  • Patent number: 8292328
    Abstract: An agricultural header assembly broadly includes a header and a header transport assembly. The header is disposed in a transport orientation when a rigid beam thereof is out of vertical alignment with the header center of gravity. The transport assembly includes first and second pairs of spaced apart wheels shiftably connected to the rigid beam for movement between a transport position and a field position. The first and second pairs of wheels define respective first and second midpoints therebetween when in the transport position. The first and second midpoints are each disposed in general vertical alignment with the header center of gravity when the header is in the transport orientation to substantially balance the header on the transport assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Robert Honas, Christopher T. Sauerwein, Randy Lohrentz
  • Patent number: 8291687
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a continuous baler includes a round baler and an adjustable conveyor for providing crop to the round baler. The adjustable conveyor may include a conveyor belt and a controller for manipulating the conveyor belts. In one example embodiment, the speed of the conveyor is adjusted in accordance with the operation of the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Maynard M. Herron, Robert A. Matousek, Cedric J. Blough, Patrick Kendrick, Brian D. Olander
  • Patent number: 8291685
    Abstract: In an example embodiment, a harvesting header includes a helper roll having at 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Martin E. Pruit, Brendon Nafziger
  • Patent number: 8291818
    Abstract: A method of electronically sensing the fill of material in a stuffer chute and tripping a stuffer of a baler. A combine harvester and baler for biomass collection. In one embodiment, crop material such as the residue or material other than grain (MOG) from the back of the combine is directly projected toward a target on a baler collection device. A tailboard with defection panels may be used to alter the direction of the crop residue from the combine. The tongue of the baler is configured to not obstruct the crop material as the crop material is projected toward the baler. One or more knives of a chopper coupled to the combine may be configured to optimally project MOG toward the baler. Also, the stuffer chute of the baler may be configured to facilitate the flow of crop material such as MOG and therefore minimize obstructions. The crop material is transferred from the combine to the baler without the use of a conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Matousek, Patrick Kendrick, Jason Seeger, Lawrence D. Retzlaff
  • Publication number: 20120264493
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a straw chopper apparatus of a combine harvester, the straw chopper apparatus comprising plural chopper rotors disposed proximally to a rearward end of the combine harvester, each of the chopper rotors comprising a shaft having an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the direction of travel, the shaft having a length dimension and a diameter dimension, the length dimension greater than the diameter dimension, the shaft comprising plural sets of blades that are pivotably coupled to the shaft.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert A. Matousek, Joshua J. Wolters
  • Publication number: 20120261145
    Abstract: A hydraulic walking beam method of a pull-type implement, the method comprising: receiving hydraulic fluid at a first hydraulic cylinder associated with a first gauge wheel assembly from a second hydraulic cylinder associated with a second gauge wheel assembly, the first and second gauge wheel assemblies coupled to a frame of a pull-type implement; extending a cylinder rod associated with the first hydraulic cylinder responsive to receiving the hydraulic fluid; and retracting a cylinder rod associated with the second hydraulic cylinder concurrently with the extending.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2011
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO Corporation
    Inventor: Nelson J. Palen
  • Publication number: 20120260837
    Abstract: A metering device having an obstruction within its metering chamber to prevent inputs such as seeds from passing from a seed sump to other areas within the metering chamber and causing to the metering device to become overfilled with seeds when the metering device is raised out of the planting position. In one embodiment, the obstruction includes one or more hingedly connected flaps that move due to the changing orientation of the metering device. In one or more positions of the metering device, the obstruction is positioned to prevent the seeds from leaving the seed sump. The seeds are prevented from leaving the seed sump without having to manually shut a gate on each metering devices of a planter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ranjit G. Patwardhan, William E. Higgs, William H. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8287000
    Abstract: A fluid tank (20) has at least two deaeration ports (24,25) provided in at least two upper regions of the tank. A first conduit (30) is connected at one end to one deaeration port (24) and connected at its other end to a compensating reservoir (50) at a higher level. At least one additional conduit (40) is connected at one end to an other deaeration port (25) and also connected at its other end to the compensating reservoir (50). A filter (60) is connected with the upper part of the reservoir to allow air to escape from the reservoir. The height of the compensating reservoir (50) above the tank (20) ensures that the filter (60) is protected from immersion in tank fluid and deaeration is ensured at normal working inclinations of the tank. The tank may be provided by part of the chassis of a tractor which is located below a cab of the tractor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: AGCO GmbH
    Inventor: Stephan Schoenherr
  • Publication number: 20120256760
    Abstract: Systems and methods for remote query of weather conditions at an agricultural machine use an onboard telemetry unit as a gateway for communication with the machine. The telemetry unit can be coupled to both the machine's electrical system at the machine, and a machine's controller area network (CAN). A user can call up the machine's telemetry unit using a cell phone or personal computer to retrieve weather data such as temperature, humidity and rainfall from a weather station coupled to the machine. A system can provide an alert when a desired predetermined condition is present at a machine, for example an alert that a harvesting or baling condition is present. The system can also enable an operator or fleet manager to check the state of various devices or apparatus at a machine, enabling remote diagnostics via the onboard telemetry unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gerald R. Johnson, Grant L. Good, Timothy Dan Buhler
  • Publication number: 20120256843
    Abstract: A display terminal for a tractor or other agricultural machine. The terminal has a screen and a control unit, wherein the control unit comprises a steadying portion and at least one push button. The steadying portion provides a grip for steadying the operator's hand whilst allowing operation of the at least one button by the thumb of the hand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2010
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO GMBH
    Inventors: Johann Epple, Rainer Hofman
  • Publication number: 20120256763
    Abstract: Systems and methods for remote query and control of an agricultural machine use an onboard telemetry unit as a gateway for communication with the machine. The telemetry unit can be coupled to both the machine's electrical system at the machine, and a machine's controller area network (CAN). A user can call up the machine's telemetry unit using a cell phone, personal computer, or other remote communication device. In response, output from the telemetry unit can be used to energize the CAN through the vehicle's electrical system. Once energized, the CAN is able to receive commands from a user through the telemetry unit and provide them to control nodes of various machine apparatus and devices via the CAN communications bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gerald R. Johnson, Timothy Dan Buhler, Grant L. Good
  • Publication number: 20120259537
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle tracking system provides a moving geofence about the location of a vehicle. When the moving geofence contacts a point of interest, such as another moving geofence, an alert is issued. The particular characteristics of the moving geofence may be generated in accordance with a predetermined scheme.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Lee A. Schmidt, Lorenz Riegger
  • Patent number: 8281890
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive system for vehicles with at least two drivable vehicle axles (V, H), in particular for utility vehicles and farm tractors. The drive system has an infinitely variable transmission with no intermediate axle differential comprising at least a first (11) and a second (12) motor. The first motor (11) in this case is propulsively connected to a first vehicle axle (H) and the second motor (12) is propulsively connected to a second vehicle axle (V). Furthermore the drive system has a clutch (20), by which a propulsive connection can be made between at least the first (H) and the second (V) vehicle axle, wherein the position of the clutch is adjustable (20) in a range between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and a control unit (30), which actuates the clutch (20) in such a manner that its torque transmission capacity is adjusted as a function of a driving state of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: AGCO GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Heindl
  • Publication number: 20120247860
    Abstract: A vehicle has an engine (10) which drives wheels (16,24) of the vehicle via a CVT (11). The vehicle also has a driver operated braking system which brakes wheels of the vehicle, and an electronic control system (28,60) which, in the event of deceleration of the vehicle, detects when the driven wheels are about to lock and increases the currently operative CVT ratio to allow the locking wheels to speed up towards a rotational speed corresponding with the current vehicle speed whilst ensuring that any braking operation selected by the driver is maintained subject to the avoidance of wheel locking. The CVT is of the hydrostatic/mechanical power split type and the braking system includes an anti-lock braking (ABS) function which can provide the wheel speed and vehicle speed values and prevent wheel locking under braking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO GMBH
    Inventors: Martin Brenninger, Oliver Kreil, Hans-Peter Zeiler
  • Publication number: 20120247711
    Abstract: Overhead pushed airflow for a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, a cooling includes an interior defined by upstream faces of heat exchangers. An air mover pushes ambient air downward through said cooling box from overhead of the work and across the heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rex Schertz, Stanley R. Clark, Mark D. Walton
  • Publication number: 20120247348
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a stuffer method of a baler, the method comprising conveying with a plurality of pivotally-biased elements coupled along a moveable link a first portion of crop material from an inlet of a stuffer chute to a location proximal to an outlet of the stuffer chute; and responsive to a crop material density of the first portion meeting or exceeding a first predefined threshold density, conveying with a subset of the plurality of pivotally-biased elements a subsequent portion or portions of crop material from the inlet to the first portion until the subsequent portion or portions meets or exceeds a second predefined threshold density that substantially equals the first predefined threshold density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2011
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Maynard M. Herron
  • Publication number: 20120247728
    Abstract: A method for controlling a supplemental cooling system for an independent hydraulic system used in combination with a primary cooling system for a work vehicle. Airflow is provided from a first air mover to the primary cooling system and a second airflow is provided to the supplemental cooling system. Multiple conditions are evaluated for reversing the direction of the second airflow to remove debris. In one embodiment, reversing of the airflow from the first and second air movers is synchronized to remove debris from both the primary and supplemental cooling systems and the second airflow from the second air mover is staged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Gerald R. Johnson
  • Publication number: 20120247712
    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: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rex Schertz, Stanley R. Clark, Mark D. Walton
  • Publication number: 20120247752
    Abstract: A controller and method for operating an air mover for a cooling system of a work vehicle. In one embodiment, engine coolant, hydraulic oil and charge air temperature data is measured. The temperature data is reconciled by using the largest required fan speed as the set point speed for cooling the heat exchangers with airflow. An air mover is operated at the set point speed to generate airflow across each of the heat exchangers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO Corporation
    Inventors: Rex Schertz, Gerald R. Johnson, Daniel Soldan
  • Publication number: 20120247738
    Abstract: A debris passage for a cooling box of a work vehicle. Airflow is provided into the cooling box from the exterior environment. A plurality of heat exchangers transfer heat into the airflow. The debris passage is defined between opposing heat exchangers to permit debris to pass from the airflow to the exterior of the cooling box. In one embodiment, the debris passage is underneath an air mover and is substantially vertical.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2012
    Publication date: October 4, 2012
    Applicant: AGCO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rex Schertz, Stanley R. Clark, Mark D. Walton