Abstract: A cleaning system for an agricultural sprayer may include a sprayer boom, a plurality of nozzle assemblies provided in association with the sprayer boom and configured to dispense an agricultural product during a spraying operation of the agricultural sprayer, a first cleaning fluid tank configured to hold a first cleaning fluid, and a nozzle assembly fluid circuit fluidly coupling the plurality of nozzle assemblies and the first cleaning fluid tank. Moreover, the cleaning system may include a cleaning station supported on the sprayer boom, the cleaning station comprising a first valve. Additionally, the cleaning system may include a first cleaning fluid circuit fluidly coupling the first valve and the first cleaning fluid tank. The first valve is configured to supply the first cleaning fluid therethrough when the first valve is in an open position.

Abstract: A cleaning system for an agricultural sprayer may include a sprayer boom, a plurality of nozzle assemblies provided in association with the sprayer boom and configured to dispense an agricultural product during a spraying operation of the agricultural sprayer, a first cleaning fluid tank configured to hold a first cleaning fluid, and a nozzle assembly fluid circuit fluidly coupling the plurality of nozzle assemblies and the first cleaning fluid tank. Moreover, the cleaning system may include a cleaning station supported on the sprayer boom, the cleaning station comprising a first valve. Additionally, the cleaning system may include a first cleaning fluid circuit fluidly coupling the first valve and the first cleaning fluid tank. The first valve is configured to supply the first cleaning fluid therethrough when the first valve is in an open position.

Abstract: The invention provides a material clearing or cleaning system which can be installed on an agricultural machine to spray off, blow off or otherwise clear off agricultural product, dust, debris and/or other material from the machine. The material clearing system can comprise a piping, tubing or fluid conduits with installed nozzles which can be customized to focus a cleaning fluid, such as air or water delivered under compression, onto targeted areas of likely build-up on the machine, to clear such excess material and increase the life of the equipment. Nozzles could be fitted anywhere on the piping, for example, by piercing a nozzle into the piping in a given direction. Nozzles could also comprise goose necks for directing the fluid in various directions by reshaping the goose neck.

Abstract: A storage system for storing hydraulic fluid used to drive hydraulically driven components of an agricultural implement and of filling the same are provided. The storage system includes a tank having an underside. The tank has a cavity in an interior thereof for receiving the hydraulic fluid therein. A quick connect coupling is operatively connected to the underside of the tank and has an output end in communication with the cavity in the tank and an input end connectable to a hydraulic fluid source. The quick connect coupling is configured to allow for flow from the input end to the output end thereof.

Abstract: An equipment skid is aligned on the frame of an agricultural product applicator defining substantially mutually perpendicular fore-aft, transverse and vertical axes of the frame, by utilizing an alignment system having a vertically extending frame mounting surface defined by the frame, and a vertically extending skid mounting surface defined by the skid. The frame and skid mounting surfaces are adapted for mating connection with one another to substantially align the skid with the frame along a substantially vertical mounting plane. A pair of laterally-spaced, juxtaposed, vertically extending skid alignment features are defined by the frame mounting surface, and a skid-mounted alignment block extending from the skid mounting surface is adapted for insertion between and into operative engagement with the pair of skid alignment features for aligning the skid with the frame on the vertical mounting plane.

Abstract: A drive line arrangement for self-propelled agricultural product applicator includes an engine connected to a remotely mounted pump arrangement by a driveshaft that passes through an axle of a frame of the applicator. The axle includes an axle tube extending transversely across the frame and defining front and rear facing surfaces of the axle tube, and a tubular-shaped tunnel fixedly attached to and extending through the axle from the front to the rear facing surfaces of the axle tube, and defining an internal opening of the tunnel for passage of the driveshaft through the tunnel. The tunnel extends beyond at least one of the front and rear facing surfaces of the axle tube to structurally reinforce the axle tube around the opening in the tunnel.

Abstract: A telescoping axle arrangement is provided for an agricultural applicator having a frame supported above a ground surface by a ground engaging wheel operatively connected to the frame by the telescoping axle arrangement. A tubular first axle element, and a second axle element slidingly inserted into the first element operatively connect the wheel to the frame, and provide extension and retraction of the axle along a longitudinal axis of the axle. A cylindrical tunnel passing through the first element limits the extent to which the second axle element can be inserted into the first axle element. An inner end of the second axle element is contoured to extend at least partly under the cylindrical tunnel in the second axle element when the second axle element is inserted at a maximum allowed depth into the first axle element.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for removably mounting an agricultural product sprayer, having at least one foldable boom, on an agricultural product applicator having a chassis adapted for removably receiving the agricultural product sprayer, by attaching the foldable boom to a skid adapted for operative, removable mounting on the applicator chassis. The skid further has a boom cradle adapted for supporting the foldable boom in a folded position when the skid is mounted on the chassis, and when the skid is separated from the chassis of the agricultural applicator.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for providing weight-based task-specific speed control in a self-propelled agricultural product applicator utilize a controllable ride-height trailing arm suspension system, including an extensible air strut and an angular position sensor, for independently joining each wheel to a frame of the applicator. An electronic control unit utilizes the angular positions detected by the sensors, in conjunction with a desired task input, to calculate a present suspended weight and control maximum speed of the applicator for each task, per a predetermined schedule in response to the present suspended load of the applicator.

Abstract: A multi-width dual wheel arrangement and method utilize a dual wheel spacer and a clamping disk for selectively mounting a dual wheel having a rim to a first wheel at a desired axial spacing of the dual wheel from the first wheel along a rolling axis of the dual and first wheels. The clamping ring is positioned outboard of the rim to clamp the rim between the clamping ring and the spacer for positioning the dual wheel at a first axial spacing from the first wheel along the rolling axis. The clamping ring is positioned inboard between the rim of the dual wheel and the dual wheel spacer for positioning the dual wheel at a second axial spacing from the first wheel. A third axial spacing is provided by configuring the rim to have a convex surface that may be electively positioned facing toward or away from the first wheel.

Abstract: A drive line arrangement for self-propelled agricultural product applicator includes an engine connected to a remotely mounted pump arrangement by a driveshaft that passes through an axle of a frame of the applicator. The axle includes an axle tube extending transversely across the frame and defining front and rear facing surfaces of the axle tube, and a tubular-shaped tunnel fixedly attached to and extending through the axle from the front to the rear facing surfaces of the axle tube, and defining an internal opening of the tunnel for passage of the driveshaft through the tunnel. The tunnel extends beyond at least one of the front and rear facing surfaces of the axle tube to structurally reinforce the axle tube around the opening in the tunnel.

Abstract: A storage system for storing hydraulic fluid used to drive hydraulically driven components of an agricultural implement and of filling the same are provided. The storage system includes a tank having an underside. The tank has a cavity in an interior thereof for receiving the hydraulic fluid therein. A quick connect coupling is operatively connected to the underside of the tank and has an output end in communication with the cavity in the tank and an input end connectable to a hydraulic fluid source. The quick connect coupling is configured to allow for flow from the input end to the output end thereof.

Abstract: A telescoping axle arrangement is provided for an agricultural applicator having a frame supported above a ground surface by a ground engaging wheel operatively connected to the frame by the telescoping axle arrangement. A tubular first axle element, and a second axle element slidingly inserted into the first element operatively connect the wheel to the frame, and provide extension and retraction of the axle along a longitudinal axis of the axle. A cylindrical tunnel passing through the first element limits the extent to which the second axle element can be inserted into the first axle element. An inner end of the second axle element is contoured to extend at least partly under the cylindrical tunnel in the second axle element when the second axle element is inserted at a maximum allowed depth into the first axle element.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for providing weight-based task-specific speed control in a self-propelled agricultural product applicator utilize a controllable ride-height trailing arm suspension system, including an extensible air strut and an angular position sensor, for independently joining each wheel to a frame of the applicator. An electronic control unit utilizes the angular positions detected by the sensors, in conjunction with a desired task input, to calculate a present suspended weight and control maximum speed of the applicator for each task, per a predetermined schedule in response to the present suspended load of the applicator.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for providing task-specific ride-height control in a self-propelled agricultural product applicator utilize a controllable ride-height trailing arm suspension system for independently joining each wheel to a frame of the applicator. Each trailing arm suspension system includes upper and lower suspension arms, an extensible air strut, and an angular position sensor operatively interconnected to one another and disposed between a rolling axis of the ground engaging wheel independently supported by that suspension system and a point of attachment of the suspension system to the frame, such that the position sensor detects a relative angular position between the upper and lower suspension arms at a present extension of the air strut. An electronic control unit utilizes the angular positions detected by the sensors, in conjunction with a desired task input, to control the air struts in a manner providing a ride-height corresponding to the desired task input.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for removably mounting an agricultural product sprayer, having at least one foldable boom, on an agricultural product applicator having a chassis adapted for removably receiving the agricultural product sprayer, by attaching the foldable boom to a skid adapted for operative, removable mounting on the applicator chassis. The skid further has a boom cradle adapted for supporting the foldable boom in a folded position when the skid is mounted on the chassis, and when the skid is separated from the chassis of the agricultural applicator.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for detecting and controlling the height of a frame of a self-propelled agricultural product applicator above a ground surface utilize a trailing link suspension system including an angular position sensor and extensible air strut, for connecting ground engaging wheels of the applicator to the frame of the applicator. Height of the applicator above the ground surface is determined by measuring relative angular rotation of upper and lower suspension arms of the suspension system about a suspension pivot axis, using the angular position sensor. Height is controlled by regulating a flow of pressurized air to the air strut, to thereby control extension of the air strut in a manner that controls a frame to axle, ride-height, distance of the suspension system.

Abstract: A system, apparatus and method for providing task-specific ride-height and speed control in a self-propelled agricultural product applicator utilize a controllable ride-height trailing arm suspension system, including an extensible air strut and an angular position sensor, for independently joining each wheel to a frame of the applicator. An electronic control unit utilizes the angular positions detected by the sensors, in conjunction with a desired task input, to control the air struts in a manner providing a ride-height corresponding to the desired task input. The electronic control unit also controls maximum speed of the applicator for each task, per a predetermined schedule, or in response to a suspended load of the applicator.