Deere + Company

Jack Conan Anderson

Richard Allen Humpal

Brandon C Carlson

Garry Eugene Baxter

Mark E Barker

Donald Eugene Young

Joshua Jacob Engelbrecht

Thomas Mark Wubben

Marvin Anthony Maiwald

William Allen Brett

Branden C Carlson

D E Young

An activating portion on one section of an adjustable wheel assembly triggers a proximity switch on a vehicle such as a field sprayer to provide a signal indicative of wheel tread. The signal is sent to a controller which controls wheel tread adjustment. Two or more assemblies may be adjusted simultaneously reduce adjustment time. The operator control is located in the vehicle cab for entering wheel spacings, providing an indication of the actual spacing and individual wheel position, and providing error and warning messages. An interlock system prevents axle telescoping unless certain vehicle conditions are satisfied, such as the vehicle speed being below a preselected point and vehicle being in the field mode.

Adjustable axle control

A vehicle is provided with an axle suspended from a main frame of the vehicle by right- and left-hand pairs of connecting rods. As viewed from the top, one of each of the right- and left-hand pairs of connecting rods crosses the other of the pair of rods, and, as viewed from the side, the right- and left-hand pairs of rods are disposed parallel to each other. This arrangement of the connecting rods results in the axle moving substantially vertically up and down during operation of vehicle over uneven terrain.

Suspended axle for sprayer

A shaft angle sensing arrangement for an implement steerable axle includes a shaft rotatable about a shaft axis within shaft mounting structure, a cam ring with a cam surface mounted over the shaft, and a threaded aperture in the axle housing adjacent the cam surface. As the cam ring rotates with the shaft, the distance between the cam surface and the support area varies. A displacement transducer threaded into the aperture includes a contact member engaging the cam surface so that rotation of the shaft causes the contact member to move dependent on the angular position of the shaft to provide a shaft position feedback signal to an automatic position controller or readout device.

Rotary cam driven sensor and feedback control

An independent strut suspension utilizes upright twin spindles and a spindle cap linked to the spindles that translates vertically along the spindles as the suspension moves over uneven terrain. An upright strut shaft is mounted in a strut journal for axial and rotational movement with respect to the journal. A steering arm is connected for rotation about the strut shaft axis, and the strut shaft moves axially with respect to the steering arm as the frame moves over the uneven terrain. The upright spindles connect the steering arm and the upper mount, and a spring is supported between the upper end of the strut shaft and the upper mount and provides cushioning for the wheel support as the strut shaft moves axially in the journal.

High clearance vehicle suspension with twin spindles for transferring steering torque

An agricultural sprayer includes tubular main frame rails supporting tank and plumbing structure. A tank port is located between the rails with a substantial portion of the plumbing structure supported between the rails and between the upper and lower planes of the rails for protection and a neat appearance. The upright walls of the rails include round holes reinforced with round tube secured to the walls to seal the wall and prevent contaminants from entering the rails. The round tube is split to allow torsional frame flexibility while preventing high stress at the round tube sidewall connections. A straight horizontal fluid line path between the port and a location outside the frame is provided through the round tube to limit line length, eliminate elbows, improve appearance, improve cleanout functions and facilitate a low mounting of the tank on the frame.

Implement with plumbing lines through a main frame tube

A knee joint assembly for an agricultural implement or a vehicle includes a relatively short knee casting with an apertured end of rectangular cross section which is inserted in a mating steel knee tube. The apertures in the casting end align with beveled apertures in the side walls of the knee tube. Steel pins of length approximately equal to the spacing of the side walls are pressed into the casting through the beveled apertures. Groove welds then secure the steel pins to the knee tube. The casting is relatively small and does not require any welding. Inexpensive ductile iron and common steel tubes can be used for most or all of the assemblies on a machine. The apertured end of the casting includes concave walls to accommodate knee tube concavity and weld flash on the inside of the knee tube.

Growing community of inventors

Madrid, IA, United States of America

Jack Conan Anderson