Deere + Company

Bryan Kirk Buerkle

Noel Wayne Anderson

Niels Dybro

Steven A Duppong

Christopher D Turner

Shufeng Han

Frank Buhrke

Michael Dean Kollath

Kendall Lee Giesmann

Christopher Allen Myers

Lucas Aaron Laudenbach

Nicholas Taylor

James Gregory Johnson

Joseph Luther Doubet

Robert David Andrew Wolsky

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling machine configurations. An example method includes deter mining a desired trajectory of an auxiliary machine based at least in part on a desired work path or an alignment of a host machine and the auxiliary machine; determining a first actual trajectory of the auxiliary machine based on i) determining a first distance between a first side of the auxiliary machine and the host machine and ii) determining a second distance between a second side of the auxiliary machine and the host machine, the first side is opposite the second side; comparing the desired trajectory of the auxiliary machine to the first actual trajectory of the auxiliary machine; and when the first actual trajectory does not satisfy a threshold distance of the desired trajectory, selecting a trajectory-assist mode to steer the auxiliary machine toward the desired trajectory.

Methods and apparatus to control machine configurations

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling machine configurations. An example method includes determining a desired trajectory of an auxiliary machine based at least in part on a desired work path or an alignment of a host machine and the auxiliary machine; determining a first actual trajectory of the auxiliary machine; comparing the desired trajectory of the auxiliary machine to the first actual trajectory of the auxiliary machine; when the first actual trajectory does not satisfy a threshold distance of the desired trajectory, crab steering the auxiliary machine toward the desired trajectory while a course of the host machine is different than a course of the auxiliary machine.

An automatic control system moves a vehicle so that it can be coupled to an implement. The vehicle has propulsion and steering controls which respond to electronic input signals. A visual target is mounted on the implement. Vehicle mounted cameras generate images of the target. A motion control unit receives and processes the images, and generates vehicle movement commands as a function of the images which are communicated to the propulsion and steering controls. The motion control unit includes a perception engine connected to the cameras, a controller connected to the perception engine, and a vehicle/operator interface which is connected to the controller, and to the propulsion and steering controls. The perception engine captures images from the cameras, un-distorts the images, and searches for the target. If the target is found, the perception engine recovers vehicle posture information and transmits said information to the controller.

Vehicle auto-motion control system

Methods and apparatus are disclosed for controlling machine configurations. An example method disclosed herein includes identifying a machine configuration, the machine configuration comprising a host machine connected to an auxiliary machine; determining a desired trajectory based on at least one of the host machine turning, a desired work path, or an alignment of the host machine and the auxiliary machine; and controlling steering of the auxiliary machine based on a desired trajectory of the host machine.

An operator seat for a work vehicle is disclosed. The operator seat includes an operator support rotatably mountable to the work vehicle and an arm coupled to the operator support to rotate with the operator support. The arm includes at least one human-machine interface device. The operator seat includes a hinge pivotally connecting the arm to the operator support, and a linkage having a first end and a second end. The first end is coupled to the operator support, and the linkage is configured such that rotation of the operator support in a first direction causes the second end of the linkage to move the arm in a second direction substantially opposite the first direction.

Operator seat swivel with arm release

A vehicle includes an operator station, a propulsion system, a steering system a hitch, and a vehicle positioning system. The positioning system includes positioning controls outside the operator station of the vehicle and adjacent to the hitch, such as on a rear fender. The positioning controls include a forward switch, a reverse switch, a left switch and a right switch. A controller is connected to the positioning controls, to the propulsion and steering systems. The controller moves the vehicle forward or rearward in response to actuation of the forward or reverse switches. The controller operates the steering system in response to actuation of the left or right switches. The steering system may include a brake control valve which brakes one of a pair of driven wheels while the other driven wheel is rotating. The steering system may include a steering control valve which is operable to turn steerable wheels.

Vehicle positioning system

Self-powered apparatus are disclosed. An example apparatus includes a front chassis portion and a rear chassis portion. The front chassis portion is to be coupled to the rear chassis portion. The front chassis portion is substantially the same as the rear chassis portion. When the front and rear chassis portions are coupled, the front chassis portion includes a first end of the apparatus and the rear chassis portion includes a second end of the apparatus.

Self-powered apparatus

A ballast assembly for a work vehicle includes a ballast weight having a central groove. Two pairs of coupling pins extend across the central groove. A pair of support rods are attached to an underside of a frame part of the vehicle. The assembly also includes a pair of ballast bracket, each of which is releasably coupled to a corresponding pair of the coupling pins. The assembly also includes a pair of links, each having an end pivotally coupled to a corresponding ballast bracket, and having a body with a slot which slidably receives a corresponding support rod. A hydraulic cylinder has a first end pivotally coupled to one of the links and a second end pivotally coupled to the frame part. Each ballast bracket includes a latch member which releasably holds the ballast bracket to the corresponding pair of coupling pins.

Ballast assembly

A modular transmission assembly is provided for an agricultural or industrial utility vehicle especially for a tractor. The transmission assembly comprises a housing member with at least three attachment sites for components of a three point hitch arrangement. The attachment sites being provided at the housing member for attaching at least two draft links and at least one upper link. The transmission assembly further comprises a power take off transmission module being adapted to the housing member, the transmission module having at least two different gear ratios.

Modular transmission assembly for an agricultural or industrial utility vehicle

A drawbar clevis assembly includes a drawbar with a greater offset between the upper inboard member and the lower outboard member. The clevis assembly also includes a strap which is mounted to the drawbar and which has an opening in a mid portion. The strap is slid over the drawbar so that the opening receives a portion of the drawbar and so that the inner portion of the strap is attached to an underside of the inboard portion of the drawbar.

Drawbar clevis assembly

A vehicle drawbar hammer strap assembly may be coupled to an implement tongue with a drawbar pin. A cross pin with a lever arm is operable to releasably hold the drawbar pin. A trigger is engagable with the tongue and the cross pin, and is pivotal from a latched position wherein it engages the cross pin and holds the cross pin in its locked position to an unlatched position wherein it is spaced apart from the cross pin. The tongue engages the trigger and pivot the trigger in an over-center manner from its latched to its unlatched position. The trigger includes a latch member attached to a wire form part which is pivotally coupled to the hammer strap. The latch member is engagable with the lever arm and with an end of the tongue.

Drawbar hammer strap assembly with pin trigger

A drawbar hammer strap assembly design achieves a low profile, and prevents rotation of the drawbar and of the cross pin. The drawbar hammer strap assembly includes a drawbar, a hammer strap member attached to the drawbar, a drawbar pin mountable to drawbar and hammer strap member and a cross pin rotatably mounted in the hammer strap for releasably holding the drawbar pin in its mounted position. The hammer strap has a pair of detent recesses formed in the sides thereof. The drawbar hammer strap assembly also includes a handle member which is pivotally coupled to an upper end of the drawbar pin. The handle member is pivotal to an unlatched position wherein it is spaced apart from the detent recess, and to a latched position wherein it is releasably received in the detent recess. The handle member is engagable with a lever arm of the cross pin to hold the cross pin in its locked position when the handle member is in its latched position.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Falls, IA, United States of America

Bryan Kirk Buerkle