Deere & Company

Brett S Graham

Nilesh T Kumbhar

Nicholas Rokusek

John R Mahrenholz

Alex R Vandegrift

Giovanni Ananda Wuisan

Michael R Tigges

Rachel Bruflodt

Michael G Kean

Amy K Jones

Christopher J Meyer

Keith J Lensing

Walter Henson, Ii

Lance Robert Sherlock

Todd F Velde

Steven Ryan Whiteman

Grant R Henn

Craig Christofferson

Eric Vilar

Keith N Chaston

Gordon Edward Miller

Jason M Simmons

Nathaniel M Czarnecki

Christopher R Benson

Mark D Anderson

Anthony K Kraft

Casey J Hart

Nilesh Kumbhar

Kenneth Franck

Drew F Harwell

Amy C Carlson

Benjamin J Morrison

Brian J Zimmer

Scott J Cassidy

John S Foltz

William Staidl

Anil Sharma

Evan R Olson

Jason Bennett

Steven K Cureton

Mohamed Mustafa

A body swing collision avoidance system and method for a machine with steerable traction devices for moving the machine. Sensors monitor obstacles around the machine. A commanded body swing path is calculated based on operator steering commands. If an obstacle is in the commanded body swing path, the system automatically adjusts the steering commands to avoid collision with the obstacle. A time to collision can be calculated, and the steering commands adjusted only when it is below a threshold. Adjusting the steering commands to avoid collision can include determining propel and steer components based on the steering commands; and if propel is greater than a threshold then adjusting the steering commands to adjust the swing path to avoid collision; and if propel is less than the threshold then adjusting the steering commands to slow the machine to avoid collision.

Multiple mode body swing collision avoidance system and method

A method for filling a fluid of a work vehicle. The method comprises activating a fill mode and selecting a fluid to be filled on a display, sensing a fluid fill level, comparing the fluid fill level to a target fill level, initiating a fill level alert when the fluid fill level approaches the target fill level, and deactivating the fill mode when the fluid fill level substantially equals the target fill level.

Level sensing fill without a sight gauge

A construction machine comprising a machine frame, a plurality of ground engaging units for supporting the machine frame from a ground surface, a work tool coupling, left and right boom arms pivotally supported directly or indirectly from the machine frame and pivotally connected to the work tool coupling, left and right work tool actuators mounted on the left and right boom arms, respectively, and left and right actuator linkages connecting the left and right work tool actuators, respectively, with the work tool coupling.

Linkage assembly for construction machine

A work vehicle is provided with a first portion having a frame supported by ground engaging units, and an operator cab with a first (forward) side and opposing second and third sides having respective (i.e., left and right) fields of view. At least a first portion of terrain proximate to the frame (i.e., an area of interest) is obscured from view of an operator in the operator cab during at least a portion of a trajectory of movement of a second portion of the work vehicle (e.g., a boom assembly). At least one imaging device is mounted on the work vehicle and has a field of view including the area of interest throughout the trajectory of movement of the second portion.

Work vehicle having a work implement and sensors for maintaining a view of an area of interest throughout movement of the work implement

A construction machine includes a machine frame, left front wheel, left rear wheel, right front wheel, and right rear wheel. Left and right side electric drive motors and reduction gear assemblies are aligned with a drive axis of the left and right front wheels, respectively. Left and right side drive chains connect the left and right side electric drive motors and reduction gear assemblies with the left and right rear wheels, respectively. A left side drive clutch is positioned between the left front wheel and the left side electric drive motor and reduction gear assembly. A right side drive clutch is positioned between the right front wheel and the right side electric drive motor and reduction gear assembly. A controller is configured to selectively engage or disengage the left and right side drive clutches to selectively provide two wheel drive or four wheel drive.

Four wheel drive clutch in an electric vehicle

A bucket assembly for use with a piece of construction equipment, the bucket assembly including a bucket including a base wall with a leading edge, where the bucket defines a bucket width, and a bucket frame pivotably coupled to the bucket and configured to be mounted to the piece of construction equipment, where the bucket frame defines a pivot axis about which the bucket pivots relative to the bucket frame over a pre-determined range of motion, where the pivot axis is parallel to the base wall of the bucket and perpendicular to the leading edge of the bucket, and where the pivot axis is centered along the bucket width.

Tilt bucket

Joystick for a work vehicle

A method is provided for visually representing areas of interest associated with and/or proximate a work vehicle which includes a first portion (e.g., frame) and a second portion (e.g., work implement) moveable relative thereto, wherein for example a first area of interest comprising terrain proximate a ground-engaging work tool is obscured from direct operator view. An imaging device is mounted on the work vehicle and has a field of view including the first area of interest at least while the tool is proximate a ground-engaging position. Selections may accordingly be made from among various areas of interest, wherein image display parameters associated with perimeter contours of the selected area of interest are substantially maintained throughout movement of the second portion. For example, display parameters corresponding to the first area of interest may be maintained while the tool and the imaging device move relative thereto.

Work vehicle having multi-purpose camera for selective monitoring of an area of interest

A work machine has a backup camera that captures images of an area of a worksite behind the work machine. A controller identifies pre-defined markings in the worksite and localizes the pre-defined markings to the work machine, based on the images. A control signal generator generates control signals to automatically control the work machine based upon the localized markings.

Using generated markings for vehicle control and object avoidance

A pipe-laying system and method includes assessing an environment and placing of a pipe from an excavator to a trench. The system comprises a frame, a boom assembly, and an implement. The boom assembly includes a large boom and a dipper stick. The implement is detachable coupled to the dipper stick and moveable relative to the dipper stick. The system also includes at least one sensor operable to sense a position or a direction of movement of the large boom, dipper stick, or implement. The system also includes a stereo camera to obtain visual data. A controller is adapted to receive the visual data signal, identify an edge of the pipe, receive a signal from the sensor, associate the visual data with corresponding data, create visual feedback and an input signal the position of the boom assembly.

Pipe-laying system and method

In embodiments, a work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system includes a joystick device. The joystick device includes, in turn, a base housing and a joystick, which is rotatable relative to the base housing and which is biased toward a joystick return position. An MRF joystick resistance mechanism is controllable to vary an MRF resistance force impeding movement of the joystick relative to the base housing, while a controller architecture is coupled to the MRF joystick resistance mechanism. The controller configured to: (i) selectively enable an operator adjustment of the joystick return position by a work vehicle operator; and (ii) when enabling the operator adjustment of the joystick return position, command the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to maintain the MRF resistance force at a predetermined level until the operator adjustment of the joystick return position is terminated.

Work vehicle magnetorheological fluid joystick systems having adjustable joystick return positions

Embodiments of a work vehicle magnetorheological fluid (MRF) joystick system include a joystick device having a base housing, a joystick movably mounted to the base housing, and a joystick position sensor configured to monitor joystick movement. An MRF joystick resistance mechanism is controllable to vary a joystick stiffness resisting movement of the joystick relative to the base housing, while a controller architecture is coupled to the joystick position sensor and to the MRF joystick resistance mechanism. The controller architecture is configured to: (i) selectively place the work vehicle MRF joystick system in a modified joystick stiffness mode during operation of the work vehicle; and (ii) when the work vehicle MRF joystick system is placed in the modified joystick stiffness mode, command the MRF joystick resistance mechanism to vary the joystick stiffness based, at least in part, on the movement of the joystick relative to the base housing.

Work vehicle magnetorheological fluid joystick systems operable in modified joystick stiffness modes

A method and a system for avoiding collision of an object with a work tool coupled to a work machine. The method comprising generating an object signal by an object detector, monitoring the object signal in real-time by a processor, processing the object signal to detect an object at least partially buried in the ground surface, determining a distance between the object and a distance threshold, and sending by a controller a control signal to one or more of a machine control system and a work tool control system to modify one or more of a movement of the work tool or the work machine based on the object reaching the distance threshold.

Work tool collision avoidance method and system for a work machine

A multiple mode operational system for a work machine may comprise a frame, a ground-engaging mechanism coupled to the frame, an attachment, an object detector, and a multiple mode control system. The multiple mode control system may include a control device and a controller receiving a signal from the control device. The controller may have a first operational mode and a second operational mode. The first operational mode may enable a first sensitivity response to the control device and the second operational mode may enable a second sensitivity response to the control device. The controller may be configured to receive an object signal from the object detector and modify the operational mode of the controller based on a detected distance of the object from a reference point.

Multiple mode operational system and method with object detection

An attachment-configurable control system and method for a work machine, the work machine comprising a frame and a ground-engaging mechanism; a boom assembly coupled to the frame and moveable relative to the frame by a pair of first hydraulic cylinders, and an attachment coupler coupled to a distal section of the boom arms, the attachment coupler moveable relative to the frame by a pair of second hydraulic cylinders; an operator cab coupled to the frame, the operator cab comprising a joystick configured to move in at least a first direction, and at least a second direction wherein the second direction is transverse to the first direction; and a controller enabling an operator to command movement of a first attachment coupled to the boom assembly using a first movement command configuration a second attachment coupled to the boom assembly using a second movement command configuration.

Attachment-configurable system for a work machine

Growing community of inventors

Dubuque, IA, United States of America

Brett S Graham