Abstract: A steering system and method are described for a vehicle having steerable wheels. A steering device may be coupled to one or more of the wheels. A parked state of the vehicle and a present orientation of the hydraulic steering device may be determined. The present orientation of the steering device may be compared with a neutral orientation of the steering device. Based upon a determined parked state of the vehicle and the comparing of the present and neutral orientations of the steering device, the steering device may be moved from the present orientation toward the neutral orientation.

Abstract: A system for distributing a plurality of seeds includes a storage tank operable to store the plurality of seeds. A first meter is downstream of the storage tank. A second meter is downstream of the first meter and is operable to individually meter the plurality of seeds. An outlet conduit is located downstream of the second meter. The first meter is configured to adjust the flow of the plurality of seeds in response to a signal from a sensor located between the first meter and the outlet conduit.

Abstract: A power train and related vehicle are described for multi-mode power transmission. A first continuously variable power source (“CVP”) may convert rotational power received by the engine for transmission to a second CVP. A variator assembly may receive rotational power from the second CVP at a first input and directly from the engine at a second input. A control assembly may include one or more output components and a plurality of clutch devices arranged between the one or more output components and the variator assembly and engine. In a first state of the control assembly, the plurality of clutch devices may collectively provide direct power transmission between the engine and the one or more output components. In a second state of the control assembly, the plurality of clutches may collectively provide power transmission between the variator and the one or more output components.

Abstract: A power system including a selective reduction catalyst and an exhaust gas mixer positioned downstream thereof. The exhaust gas mixer includes an inlet opening a plurality of peripheral inlet openings and a plurality of swirler guides. The inlet opening is positioned to receive a first portion of exhaust gas exiting the SCR catalyst, while the plurality of peripheral inlet openings are positioned to receive a second portion of exhaust gas exiting the SCR catalyst. The swirler guides extend radially inwards from a respective peripheral inlet opening, so as to swirl the second portion of exhaust gas about and into the first portion of exhaust gas.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically adjusting blade pitch in crawler dozers, motor graders, and other bladed work vehicles includes estimating a current tractive force of the work vehicle utilizing one or more controllers that establish whether the current tractive force of the work vehicle can be reduced by rotating the blade to an optimized pitch angle. A command is transmitted from the one or more controllers to a blade actuation system to rotate the blade to the optimized pitch angle. The method may be performed iteratively to repeatedly adjust the blade pitch to optimized angles as the work vehicle operates and conditions affecting the optimal blade pitch angle vary.

Abstract: A method and system to control movement of a dump bin for a dump vehicle having a frame. The dump bin is configured to move through a range of angular positions with respect to the frame, wherein the range of angular positions includes a bin down position at one end of the range and a bin up position at the other. An angular sensor generates angular position information throughout the range of angular positions. An automatic calibration is made at the bin down position and at the bin up position to account for changes to the system caused by sensor drift or mechanical deformation of the dump vehicle and its various parts. By continuous adjustment of the bin positions using the calibrated positions, false positives of the bin alarm are reduced, bin height restrictions are avoided, engine derating is reduced, and float mode is more accurately controlled.

Abstract: A material handler system including a plurality of components and material handler equipment, and methods for utilizing the same, is disclosed. A first component includes gesture command recognition and enhancement for controlling material handler equipment. A second component includes a safeguarding engine for testing the gesture command inputs and improving reliability of the gesture command recognition. A location tracking feature for tracking a location of the material handler equipment in view of a geo-fence is also referenced by the material handler system.

Abstract: An electrical assembly includes a heat conducting housing. A conductor is supported by the housing and conducts electrical current. An electrical insulator member surrounds the conductor. A core surrounds the insulator member and the conductor so that current flowing through the conductor induces a magnetic field in the core. A transducer is coupled to the core for generating a signal representing current in the conductor. A thermal interface member engages the core and engages the housing. The interface member conducts or can conduct heat to the housing.

Abstract: A coordinated control method and system for a work vehicle having a primary implement and a secondary implement and one or more controllers. The controller(s) receive a primary implement position input, which is used to generate a primary implement control command to drive one or more primary actuators to position the primary implement. The controller(s) generate a secondary implement control command that is coordinated with the primary implement position input to drive one or more secondary actuators to position the secondary implement in a relative orientation with respect to an orientation of the primary implement resulting from the primary implement control command.

Abstract: A twine delivery needle is constructed so as to include metal tip and mounting base sections or regions joined together by a relatively light weight central section having a composite structural sandwich construction comprising a low-density rigid foam core encased within a thin, high strength, skin or covering comprised of plies of woven and substantially continuous fibers disposed within a hardened matrix resin material.

Abstract: A dry chemical delivery tube and its surrounding nutrient applicator system are located in a narrow space in a soil working implement in an agricultural setting. Between an inlet end and an outlet end, the chemical delivery tube transitions from a circular cross section to an oval cross section. In one embodiment, the soil working implement includes soil opening/closing disks and liquid or gaseous delivery tubes that closely surround the chemical delivery tube.

Abstract: A system for measuring plant attributes includes an ECU mounted on a combine, a plant attribute sensor, a ground speed sensor and a vehicle guidance sensor. The ECU is configured to use a signal from a vehicle guidance sensor disposed in front of plant attribute sensor to create a signal sampling window in which signals from the plant attribute sensor will be read and to reject signals from the plant attribute sensors outside of this signal sampling window.

Abstract: A round baler is provided with a bale-forming chamber that is surrounded by a pressing apparatus in the form of a single pressing belt or several pressing belts arranged one next to the other, wherein the pressing apparatus contacts a roller that can be driven and freely co-rotating rollers, of which at least one pre-tensioned roller is loaded by pre-tensioning apparatus in the sense of tightening the pressing apparatus such that it pre-tensions the pre-tensioned roller more strongly the farther this roller moves in a direction for loosening the pressing apparatus. The two ends of the pre-tensioned roller are each pre-tensioned by the pre-tensioning apparatus and can move independently of each other.

Abstract: A seeding machine includes a main frame and a row unit coupled to the main frame. The row unit has a row unit frame and a seed firmer coupled to the row unit frame. The seeding machine also includes a seed detection sensor coupled to the seed firmer. The seed detection sensor is configured to detect seed position within an open furrow.

Abstract: A chopping system for a crop harvester comprises a chopper-timing adjuster configured to adjust a timing of operation between a first chopper and a second chopper by use of a worm.

Abstract: A mower deck grass collector chute includes an inlet connected to a side discharge opening in a mower deck, and a tubular portion that extends upwardly and rearwardly to an outlet. The inlet is positioned under the horizontal deck surface and has a curved surface extending forwardly under the mower deck around the perimeter of a first cutting chamber. A forward end of the curved surface may be in front of the first cutting chamber.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic implement pressure cutoff system is disclosed that includes a pump, one or more hydraulic functions, at least one valve, sensors and control unit. The pump powers the functions, and the valves control flow between the pump and their associated function. The sensor readings indicate system parameters. The control unit receives the readings and controls the valves. When the readings indicate a function is at or beyond a threshold, the control unit closes the associated valve to prevent flow to or from that function. The sensors can be pressure, position or other types of sensors. Operator control signals can be provided to control the functions. When the readings indicate a function is at or beyond a threshold in a stalled direction and the operator signals keep commanding the function in the stalled direction, the control unit can close the associated valve regardless of the operator signals.

Abstract: An agricultural material baling system comprises, in one example, a bale forming component configured to form a bale of agricultural material from a terrain, and a control system configured to determine that the bale is to be released from the baling system onto the terrain, determine that a current location of the baling system has a slope above a threshold, determine a different location, that is spaced apart from the current location, for releasing the bale onto the terrain, and provide an output indicative of the different location. In one example, the control system is configured to receive yield data indicative of a volume of agricultural material in a path of the baler and to control the baling system based on the yield data. In one example, the yield data is obtained from a raking operation that rakes the agricultural material into a windrow.

Abstract: Machine sensor inputs are received, and a set of performance metrics are calculated based upon the sensor inputs. The set of performance metrics are stored as a performance target along with one or more additional performance targets. One of the performance targets is retrieved and the machine automatically generates an action signal indicative of machine setting adjustments that can be made in order to control operation of the machine to more closely conform to the retrieved performance target.