Case Corporation

Eric D Jacobson

Abraham Orbach

David D Flamme

Paul W Haack

Ralph D Price

A control system for agricultural implements such as planters, conventional or air drills is disclosed herein. The implement includes a frame with one or more sections. Each section supports a plurality of row units configured to apply a product at variable rates to rows in a field. The products can include seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and herbicides. In one configuration, the control system monitors the rates at which the product is applied to the rows. This configuration of the control system includes sensors configured to sense the rates at which product is applied, and a control module configured to monitor the sensed rates and generate a multiplexed output signal representative thereof. The output signal is used, for example, by a cab-mounted display or recording device. The control system, however, can be reconfigured to both monitor and control the application rates by installing a second control module on the frame. The second control module generates rate control signals in response to rate command input signals. The rate control signals are applied to the metering device to cause the metering device to meter product to the row units at the commanded rates. Commanded rates are set, for example, by a cab-mounted display control module.

Modular agricultural implement control system

A control system for agricultural implements such as planters, conventional or air drills is disclosed herein. The implement has a frame with multiple sections and each section has a plurality of row units to apply product to multiple rows in a field. The implement is equipped with global output devices (e.g., lights, actuators for moving moveable frame members, actuators for moving markers) to perform global implement functions in response to global control signals. Each section includes one or more local product metering devices for applying products at varying rates in response to local control signals. The products include seed, fertilizer, insecticide and herbicide. The control system includes command sources (e.g., a lighting connector; an operator interface in the cab) to generate global commands for the global implement functions and to generate local rate commands for the metering devices. The control system further includes a global controller, and local controllers corresponding to the sections. The global controller receives the global commands for the global implement functions and generates the global control signals therefrom. The local controllers receive the local rate commands for the local product metering devices and generate the local control signals therefrom.

Global controller and distributed local controller(s) for an

A directional control system for an off-highway implement including a self-propelled engine with a transmission assembly connected thereto for operation in a multitude of speed ranges. The directional control system includes an electrical power source, and a directional selector that is movable to any of three different positions corresponding to forward, neutral, and reverse modes of operation for the implement. The directional control system includes a controller having forward and reverse actuators for conditioning the transmission assembly for operation in forward and reverse modes. The controller is also capable of conditioning the transmission assembly for operation in a neutral mode. An electrical system is connected between the power source and the controller for deriving the control signals used to condition the implement. The electrical system includes a sensor assembly for monitoring the position of the directional selector and for applying control signals to the controller as a function of the position of the directional selector. The electrical system further includes logic circuitry for permitting the actuators to condition the transmission assembly as long as the direction selector is positioned in a neutral position prior to its movement to either the forward or reverse positions. The electrical system further includes a starting circuit and logic circuitry for preventing starting of the engine until the directional selector is in a neutral position. The directional control system of the present invention is further configured to require purposeful movement of the directional selector before the implement will change between various modes of operation.

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Downers Grove, IL, United States of America

Eric D Jacobson