Deere & Company

Dustin D Deneault

Aaron Scott Ritter

Bruce Alan Coers

Douglas John Bollin

A harvesting head height control circuit () for controlling the height of an articulated harvesting head () that is supported on a combine harvester () during harvesting in an agricultural field includes an ECU () configured to raise and lower the portions of the articulated harvesting head. The ECU () receives signals indicating the magnitude of a rearward force acting upon the articulated harvesting head and automatically changes the commanded operating height of the articulated harvesting head ().

Harvesting head height control circuit

A header height control system () includes a header height sensor () and a tire compression sensor () coupled to an electronic control unit (). The two signals are combined by the electronic control unit () to derive a compensated header height signal that compensates for the transient flexure of the pneumatic tires of the vehicle. This compensated header height signal is then used in a header height control algorithm executed by the electronic control unit () to control the height of the header ().

Header height control with tire flex compensation

An agricultural combine has a header height control circuit supplied with hydraulic fluid from a closed center pump. The pump has a variable displacement. The pump displacement is controlled by a control line connected to the pump. The control line is supplied with fluid from the feederhouse lift cylinders that passes through a valve. The valve supplies hydraulic fluid at the feederhouse lift cylinders to the control line of the pump. Upon receiving fluid from the valve the closed center pump rapidly changes its outlet pressure to match the pressure in the feederhouse lift cylinders and thus reduces the response time of the closed center pump.

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LeClaire, IA, United States of America

Dustin D Deneault