Abstract: A method of autonomously controlling the ground speed of a harvester, such as a self-propelled or towed wind rower, uses both the engine speed and the header speed as control parameters to increase or decrease the ground speed as necessary to maintain efficient harvester operation over varying terrain and crop conditions. A control system includes a controller which receives signals from sensors indicative of engine speed, header speed and harvester ground speed and uses actuators to control the header speed, engine speed and harvester ground speed. An operator interface permits an operator to engage or disengage the autonomous mode of control system operation, as well as to directly control the harvester.

Abstract: An agricultural planting machine includes a frame, a row unit supported by the frame, the row unit comprising a disk opener configured to create a furrow for planting agricultural material in a first row and a row cleaner disposed in a path of the disk opener and configured to move residue from the path. A residue shield is configured to shield a second row from the residue.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering control system useful for providing stable control during high-speed operation of harvesters, such as self-propelled windrowers. The steering control system utilizes sensors for detecting a ground drive wheel speed or a swash plate position of hydraulic pumps for determining an angle of curvature used as input for controlling a steering cylinder associated with a first caster.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering control system useful for providing stable control during high-speed operation of harvesters, such as self-propelled windrowers. The steering control system utilizes a sensor for detecting and regulating a position of a single steering cylinder associated with a first caster, a damper being free of sensing and providing passive damping to the second caster.

Abstract: An agricultural planting machine includes a frame, a row unit supported by the frame, the row unit comprising a disk opener configured to create a furrow for planting agricultural material in a first row and a row cleaner disposed in a path of the disk opener and configured to move residue from the path. A residue shield is configured to shield a second row from the residue.

Abstract: A method of autonomously controlling the ground speed of a harvester, such as a self-propelled or towed wind rower, uses both the engine speed and the header speed as control parameters to increase or decrease the ground speed as necessary to maintain efficient harvester operation over varying terrain and crop conditions. A control system includes a controller which receives signals from sensors indicative of engine speed, header speed and harvester ground speed and uses actuators to control the header speed, engine speed and harvester ground speed. An operator interface permits an operator to engage or disengage the autonomous mode of control system operation, as well as to directly control the harvester.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering control system useful for providing stable control during high-speed operation of harvesters, such as self-propelled windrowers. The steering control system utilizes sensors for detecting a ground drive wheel speed or a swash plate position of hydraulic pumps for determining an angle of curvature used as input for controlling a steering cylinder associated with a first caster.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a steering control system useful for providing stable control during high-speed operation of harvesters, such as self-propelled windrowers. The steering control system utilizes a sensor for detecting and regulating a position of a single steering cylinder associated with a first caster, a damper being free of sensing and providing passive damping to the second caster.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for reducing engine flywheel power reduction of an engine while protecting a drivetrain. The method includes monitoring transmission gear selection; determining reduction in flywheel power to protect the drivetrain; and monitoring engine power consumption by other engine power loads. When other engine power loads consume less power than the reduction in flywheel power to protect the drivetrain, the method includes reducing flywheel power by the power difference. When other engine power loads consume the same or more power than the reduction in flywheel power to protect the drivetrain, the method includes not reducing the flywheel power. Engine power can be consumed by both on-vehicle and off-vehicle power loads. Engine power can be consumed by an electric generator and/or a plurality of inverters, and their power consumption can be monitored. Information and commands can be communicated over a controller area network (CAN) bus.

Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for reducing engine flywheel power reduction of an engine while protecting a drivetrain. The method includes monitoring transmission gear selection; determining reduction in flywheel power to protect the drivetrain; and monitoring engine power consumption by other engine power loads. When other engine power loads consume less power than the reduction in flywheel power to protect the drivetrain, the method includes reducing flywheel power by the power difference. When other engine power loads consume the same or more power than the reduction in flywheel power to protect the drivetrain, the method includes not reducing the flywheel power. Engine power can be consumed by both on-vehicle and off-vehicle power loads. Engine power can be consumed by an electric generator and/or a plurality of inverters, and their power consumption can be monitored. Information and commands can be communicated over a controller area network (CAN) bus.

Abstract: The control of an apparatus within a grain holding device for feeding grain to an unloader conveyor operable for conveying the grain from the holding device, includes sensing a predetermined condition or conditions representative of capacity of the unloader conveyor for receiving grain, and adaptively controlling the apparatus for feeding grain to the unloader conveyor in advantageous varying manners responsive to the conditions, including to delay initiation of feeding until the receiving capacity is increased, and to match the grain feed to the capacity. The automatic control can be overridden, to allow user control of unloader speed, and can be configured to allow cleanout of the unloader conveyor.

Abstract: The control of an apparatus within a grain holding device for feeding grain to an unloader conveyor operable for conveying the grain from the holding device, includes sensing a predetermined condition or conditions representative of capacity of the unloader conveyor for receiving grain, and adaptively controlling the apparatus for feeding grain to the unloader conveyor in advantageous varying manners responsive to the conditions, including to delay initiation of feeding until the receiving capacity is increased, and to match the grain feed to the capacity. The automatic control can be overridden, to allow user control of unloader speed, and can be configured to allow cleanout of the unloader conveyor.

Abstract: A stone detection system of a harvester that automatically changes its sensitivity to signals from a stone sensor in response to the type of harvesting equipment connected to the harvester is provided. The stone detection system generally includes a stone sensor, a header sensor and a microprocessor. The stone sensor is configured to generate a signal indicative of the presence of a stone in the crop harvesting system. The header sensor is disposed on the crop harvesting system to sense the header type and to generate a signal indicating the header type. The microprocessor is coupled to the stone sensor and the header sensor to process the stone sensor signal based at least in part upon the header sensor signal.

Abstract: A control arrangement for a hydraulic system is disclosed. The system comprises a variable displacement hydraulic pump (4), which is connected with a hydraulic drive motor (16) by a supply line (11) and a return line (12). The system also includes a pump controller (4a) which is adapted to vary the displacement of the pump (4). The control arrangement includes a first feedback element in the form of an oil temperature sensor (19), which provides the pump controller (4a) feedback of the evolution of the oil temperature. The pump controller (4a) is adapted in vary the displacement of the pump (4) in response to said feedback. A second feedback element is constituted by a pressure limiter valve (15c), which provides to the pump controller (4a) feedback of the pressure in at least a feedback portion (12a) of the return line (12).

Abstract: A control arrangement for a hydraulic system is disclosed. The system comprises a variable displacement hydraulic pump (4), which is connected with a hydraulic drive motor (16) by a supply line (11) and a return line (12). The system also includes a pump controller (4a) which is adapted to vary the displacement of the pump (4). The control arrangement includes a first feedback element in the form of an oil temperature sensor (19), which provides the pump controller (4a) feedback of the evolution of the oil temperature. The pump controller (4a) is adapted to vary the displacement of the pump (4) in response to said feedback. A second feedback element is constituted by a pressure limiter valve (15c), which provides to the pump controller (4a) feedback of the pressure in at least a feedback portion (12a) of the return line (12).

Abstract: A user interface for a harvesting machine, such as a combine harvester, having a position adjustable header implement. Specifically, the user interface is operationally connected to a microcomputer that controls a position adjusting apparatus for positioning the position adjustable header implement. The user interface includes two rocker key switches for selecting between, and subsequently adjusting, two operational modes for the position adjusting apparatus, being a stubble height mode and a pressure compensation mode of operation.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a user interface for a harvesting machine, such as a combine harvester that has a position adjustable header implement. Specifically, the user interface is operationally connected to a microcomputer that controls a position adjusting apparatus for positioning the position adjustable header implement. The user interface includes two rocker key switches for selecting between, and subsequently adjusting, two operational modes for the position adjusting apparatus, being a stubble height mode and a pressure compensation mode of operation.

Abstract: The invention consists of an engine driving a wet clutch and hydrostatic pump and connected hydrostatic motor. The output of the motor drives the sun gear of a hydro-mechanical planetary drive and the output of the clutch drives the ring gear of the same drive. The carrier is the output and drives the rotors of an agricultural combine. The transmission is controlled by a microcomputer. The microcomputer receives signals from an engine speed sensor and a rotor speed sensor and transmits controlling signals to the hydrostatic pump's swash plate and to a clutch valve allowing a quantity of hydraulic fluid to enter the clutch. The microcomputer can also send a signal to brake the ring gear while reversing the direction of the hydrostatic pump motor to allow act as a reverser for the rotor. The microcomputer also can receive signals from the rotor speed sensor to open the clutch valve allowing a quantity of hydraulic fluid to enter and synchronize the clutch.

Abstract: In an agricultural harvester a characteristic of crop material is monitored or measured as the crop material is conveyed through a feed tube by an auger. To obtain a more uniform packing density of the crop material in a sensing region where the measurement is made, a section of the auger flight is removed. An upstream section of flighting pushes the crop material into and through the sensing region and after it has been pushed through the sensing region it is conveyed away from the sensing region by a downstream section of flighting. The velocity of the crop material being pushed through the sensing region is not uniform across the radius of the feed tube and a layer of slowly moving crop material is formed adjacent the wall of the feed tube. A strap-like wiper element is provided in the sensor region to wipe or disperse the slowly moving layer of crop material.

Abstract: A 4-wheel tractor having brakes on the rear wheels only and an FWD clutch for selectively drivingly coupling the front wheels to the rear wheels, is provided with a control circuit, operative during rear wheel braking, for controlling the clutch so that the front wheels are intermittently coupled to and uncoupled from the rear wheels. Brake pedals which individually control the rear wheel brakes, and a hand brake all control switches connected to a controller. An FWD switch is also connected to the controller. A ground speed sensor applies to the controller a signal representing the speed of the tractor. If the tractor speed is above 15 mph at the time both brake pedals are depressed, the controller selectively controls a solenoid so that the clutch is selectively engaged and disengaged in a first sequence if the FWD switch is ON but selectively controls the solenoid so that the clutch is selectively engaged and disengaged in a second sequence if the FWD switch is in an OFF or an AUTO position.