Deere & Company

Benjamin J Heimbuch

Digvijay A Bhosale

Dennis Aaron Bowman

Edwin Roy Kreis

Peter Alan Kosmicki

Jeremy P L'Heureux

Daniel J Garvin

Jonathan T Roth

Andrew M Tilkes

Mark S Earley

Sean Patrick West

Michael Dean Kollath

Nathanael K Rehn

Kendall Lee Giesmann

Jeffrey M Tott

Dewaine Kautsch

Bruce Johnson

Michael A Rehberg

Samir Mahadik

Jacob J Foxen

Douglas Robert Fischer

Randall K Bill

Brian E Biles

Lee R Rients

Deepak Bhoir

Justin Baker

Onkar J Kulkarni

Grant M Ubben

Michael D Kollath

Edwin R Kreis

Andrew K Tilkes

Jonothan T Roth

Techniques and/or systems are disclosed for an implement attachment assembly for a work vehicle. The implement attachment assembly includes a member having a body extending longitudinally between a first end and a second end. The first end includes a central axis disposed at a first height relative to a member vertical axis and the second end includes a central axis disposed at a second height relative to the member vertical axis. The first end central axis is operably disposed at a different height than the second end central axis. The first end is configured to operably connect to the work vehicle. The second end is configured to operably connect to a coupling device.

Implement attachment assembly and method of use

A track tension system including a hydraulic cylinder coupled between a drive frame and idler of a track system, an accumulator and a hydraulic valve that controls flow between the cylinder and accumulator. The cylinder extends and retracts to change the distance between the drive frame and idler which increases and decreases, respectively, tension on the track system. The hydraulic valve can be opened to allow flow between the cylinder and accumulator, and closed to block flow between the cylinder and accumulator. Control factors can be monitored to control valve position. An overload pressure relief can allow flow between the cylinder and accumulator when the hydraulic valve is closed and pressure in the cylinder reaches overload pressure. An orifice can allow constricted flow between the cylinder and accumulator when the hydraulic valve is closed. A check valve can connect the track tension system to a vehicle hydraulic system.

Track tension control

A work machine may include an idler wheel, a drivable track engaged with the idler wheel, and an actuator configured to move the idler wheel to adjust the tension in the drivable track. A controller may actively instruct the actuator to adjust the tension in the drivable track based on the pressure in the actuator and variables associated with the drivable track and the work machine.

Active tension system and method

A work machine may include an electric motor, an idler wheel, a drivable track engaged with the idler wheel, and an actuator that is electrically powered by the electric motor and configured to move the idler wheel to adjust the tension in the drivable track based on the torque output of the electric motor. The work machine also includes a controller configured to automatically control the electrical current input to the electric motor based on one or more monitored control factors associated with the work machine.

Track tension management system and method

A work machine may include an drive frame, a drivable track coupled to the drive frame, an idler wheel coupled to the drive frame to facilitate movement of the drivable track, and a wheel weight coupleable to the idler wheel. The wheel weight may be coupled to the idler wheel without removing the idler wheel from the drive frame.

Idler weight for drive track assembly

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for proving operation of a vehicle towing an implement. A hitch assembly can be used to adjust or distribute a vertical downward force that an attached implement applies to the frame of a vehicle towing the implement. A sensor assembly can identify the torque that is being applied to the front and rear axles. The torque data can be used to generate adjustments to the vertical load actuator, which can to adjust an amount of load applied to the front and/or rear axles. In this way, vertical load may be efficiently distributed between the front and rear axles automatically.

Implement hitch system for vertical load transfer

One or more techniques and/or systems are disclosed for adjusting the downward vertical force applied to the vehicle frame. In this way, an operator can adjust or distribute a vertical downward force that an attached implement applies to the frame of a vehicle towing the implement. A front end of a vertical load member can be pivotably coupled to the vehicle frame at a point in front of the rear axle of the vehicle, and a rear end of the vertical load member can be coupled to a hitch attachment assembly, coupled with a towed implement, at a rear end of the vertical load member. An actuator can be pivotably coupled with the vertical load member rearward of the vehicle axle, and to the vehicle frame. The vertical load member can be raised and lowered using the actuator, which raises and lowers the hitch assembly at the rear, and pivots the vertical load member at the front.

Implement hitch with variable vertical load

A wheel weight assembly with inner and outer weights, inner and outer fasteners, and anti-rotation plates. Inner fasteners can include inner and outer nuts, and a stud that extends through inner weight. Outer nuts can attach to studs and outer fasteners. Anti-rotation plates can fit over outer nuts in recesses of inner weight to prevent rotation of outer nuts. The weight assembly can also include intermediate weight and intermediate fasteners. Intermediate fasteners can include intermediate nuts and studs, where proximal end of stud attaches to inner fastener, and distal end of stud extends into recess of intermediate weight. Intermediate nuts can attach to distal ends of studs, and to outer fasteners. Anti-rotation plates fit over intermediate nuts in recesses of intermediate weight to prevent rotation of intermediate nuts. Anti-rotation plates and recesses can be pear-shaped. Cutouts in anti-rotation plates and intermediate nuts can be polygonal-shaped.

Wheel weight assembly and attachment method

Provided is a pick-up hitch assembly for connection to a vehicle. The pick-up hitch assembly includes a swing frame having a first end configured to be coupled to the vehicle and a second end, a slide frame movable relative to the swing frame between a retracted position and an extended position, and an electrically powered actuator assembly configured to be coupled to the vehicle and being coupled to the swing frame at the second end of the swing frame. The actuator assembly is configured to move the swing frame between a raised position and a lowered position independent of movement of the slide frame and of a three-point hitch.

Pick-up hitch assembly

An actuator assembly for use with a quick coupler. The actuator assembly includes a manual actuator assembly, a control rod coupled to the manual actuator assembly, and a remote actuator assembly coupled to the control rod. The manual actuator assembly is configured to be hand actuated from outside of the quick part coupler, and configured to move the latching assembly from a locked position to an unlocked position via the control rod. The remote actuator assembly is configured to be remotely actuated from outside of the quick coupler, and configured to move the latching assembly from the locked position to the unlocked position via the control rod.

Actuator assembly for use with a quick coupler

A work machine includes a frame including an axle and an arm, a track undercarriage assembly including an undercarriage assembly connected to the arm, a drive assembly operably attached to the axle, and a track belt mounted on the drive assembly. The undercarriage assembly and the drive assembly are each configured for lateral adjustment relative to a longitudinal centerline of the frame from a first position to a second position. The drive assembly includes a drive sprocket that is assembled with the axle in a first configuration to laterally adjust the drive assembly towards the first position and a second configuration to laterally adjust the drive assembly towards the second position. The undercarriage assembly includes an undercarriage frame attached to the arm, wherein the undercarriage frame and the arm are adjustably coupled to allow the undercarriage frame to be movably adjusted between the first and the second positions.

Vehicle shipping position to application position conversion

A lift link assembly of a three-point hitch. The lift link assembly includes a pin, a yoke, and a shaft. The yoke includes a main housing and first and second side arms that extend downwardly therefrom. The shaft includes a shank and a head positioned on a lower-end thereof. The shank is positioned in an upper-end through hole of the main housing, and the head includes an attachment point that receives the pin when the lift link assembly is in certain modes.

Lift link assembly of a three-point hitch

A lift link assembly of a three-point hitch. The lift link assembly includes a yoke, a shaft, and a retractor. The yoke includes a main housing and first and second side arms that extend downwardly therefrom. The shaft includes a shank and a head positioned on a lower-end thereof, and the shank is positioned in the upper-end through hole. When the lift link assembly is in a retracted mode, the retractor is positioned above the head, the retractor is configured to apply a downward force to the head, and the retractor is configured to apply an upward force to the yoke.

A wheel weight assembly for a vehicle that has a wheel hub. The wheel weight assembly includes a wheel weight and a mounting assembly. The wheel weight includes a mounting aperture that defines a fixed axis. The mounting assembly is positioned in the mounting apertures and pivots relative thereto. The mounting assembly includes a hook and a rotator. The hook is positioned laterally inboard of the wheel hub, while the rotator is positioned laterally outboard of the wheel weight and is coupled to the hook. The rotator is configured to rotate the hook from a first position to a second position. In the first position, the hook not engaged with the wheel hub, but in the second position, the hook is engaged with the wheel hub.

Wheel weight assembly

A draft sensing mechanism for a three point hitch includes a hitch frame attached to a frame of a vehicle. The hitch frame includes left and right link supports for coupling to left and right draft links and left and right draft bars. Each draft bar has a first portion attached to a corresponding one of the link supports, and a second portion positioned rearwardly and inwardly with respect to its first portion. Draft forces applied by the draft links to the link supports are transmitted to the second portions of the draft bars. A linkage unit sums the draft forces from the draft bars and includes a draft force transducer which generates a draft force signal in response to deflection of the draft bars.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Falls, IA, United States of America

Benjamin J Heimbuch