Deere + Company

Hagie Manufacturing Company

John Deere Fabriek Horst B.v.

Kent Alvin Klemme

Joshua Jacob Engelbrecht

Thomas Mark Wubben

Brandon C Carlson

Michael M Miller

James R Williams

Robert E Lorentzen

Brenden Lew Stephens

Henry Clifton Sink, Iii

Clark Steel Thomas

Micah Joel Berberich

Travis Gene Funseth

Gregory E Peterson

Nathan F Tortorella

Sankaran Subramaniam

Klaus Hahn

Garry Eugene Baxter

Gregory Scott McCunn

Dolly Y Wu

Jonathan J Nelson

Willy Peeters

Andrew E DePriest

Richard J Chowaniec, Jr

Robert Eugene Lorentzen

Petrus Johannes Maria Fransen

Heiko Eberbach

Michael Dean Fugate

Mathew T Miller

William Anthony Brett

Vernon Kent Gambleton

Ralf Hirschpek

Hans Andre Johan Theeuwen

Hans Andre Theeuwen

Methods and systems for operating a detasseler machine to optimize detasseling efficiency. Front-facing image data is captured by a camera positioned with a field of view in front of the detasseler machine as the detasseler machine operates in a crop field. A new set of machine operating parameters for the detasseler machine is periodically determined based on the a set of crop parameters indicated by the front-facing image data and control signals are transmitted to one or more actuators to operate the detasseler machine according to the determined set of machine operating parameters. In some implementations, rear-facing image data used to quantify missed tassels left by the detasseler machine and the machine operating parameters are further adjusted to reduce the missed tassel metric. The mechanism for determining the set of machine operating parameters is then retrained based on the adjusted machine operating parameters.

Machine-vision system for automated adjustment of a detasseler machine

Systems and methods for tracking missed tassels left by a detasseling machine. Rear-facing image data is captured by a camera positioned with a field of view behind the detasseling machine and image processing is applied to the rear-facing image data to quantity a missed tassel metric for a geospatial area. An indication of the missed tassel metric is displayed to an operator of the detasseling machine. In some implementations, the displayed indication of the missed tassel metric is updated in near real-time as the detasseling machine continue to operate in the crop field as an accumulated total missed tassel percentage for the entire crop field and/or as a missed tassel map indicating a percentage of missed tassels for each of a plurality of different geospatial sub-areas in the crop field.

Machine-vision system for tracking and quantifying missed tassel during a detasseling operation

An agricultural vehicle is moveable across a surface. The agricultural vehicle includes a chassis, a traction member coupled to the chassis with the traction member configured to engage the surface and move the chassis relative to the surface, a holding tank coupled to the chassis with the holding tank configured to support agricultural matter, a support boom coupled to the chassis, and a plurality of applicator assemblies. Each applicator assembly of the plurality of applicator assemblies includes a resilient body coupled to the support boom, a foot coupled to the body with the foot configured to be biased into engagement with the surface via the resiliency of the body, and a nozzle. The nozzle is in communication with the holding tank and configured to dispense the agricultural matter.

Drop-down applicators for an agricultural sprayer

Embodiments of a boom system for a work vehicle has a first boom member with a plurality of first boom segments aligned lengthwise to extend along a first boom dimension and a second boom member with a plurality of second boom segments aligned lengthwise to extend in the first boom dimension and spaced from the first boom member in a second boom dimension. The boom system also has a union spanning the second boom dimension to couple the first boom member to the second boom member and having a first coupling segment joining consecutive first boom sections together and a second coupling segment joining consecutive second boom sections together.

Segmented boom system for work vehicle

An agricultural field sprayer () includes an electrically driven pump () locatable directly under sprayer fluid tank for conveying the fluid from the tank to a supply line. A return line () connects the pump () to the tank (), and a sprayer line () connecting the pump () to an application assembly (). The return line () and the sprayer line () include electrically operated control valves (), and an electronic control system () operates the motor () and the control valves () as a function of different variables including field sprayer speed and sprayer fluid characteristics. The valve and motor controls and an additional valve-controlled return line facilitate numerous operational modes including tank fill, rinse, recirculation, spray, partial width spray, and stop modes.

Agricultural field sprayer and process for its operation

A spray linkage () for a crop sprayer includes a support () and a central frame () pivotally connected to the support (), the central frame () being pivotable about an axis () from a neutral position. At least one hydraulic cylinder () is fastened at one end to the support () and at the other end to the central frame (). To damp the spray linkage () during oscillating movements, at least a first hydraulic cylinder () has a first and a second hydraulic chamber (), a first hydraulic line () is provided which discharges into the first hydraulic chamber () and a second hydraulic line () is provided which discharges into the second hydraulic chamber (). Restrictor structure () throttles hydraulic flow from a hydraulic chamber () while hydraulic flow into a hydraulic chamber () is relatively unthrottled.

Spray boom with dampening device

A fast fill pump system for a self-propelled field sprayer includes high capacity centrifugal pump for tank filling. The centrifugal pump is connected in parallel with the fill connection and primed by a lower capacity diaphragm spraying pump. Two check valves and a pressure sensor allow the sprayer control to automatically control the pump priming and tank filling with the activation of one switch. The two-pump system preserves tank filling speed, even during operation of eductor or tank agitation functions. The centrifugal pump can be removed and the spraying pump operated to fill the tank without substantial base machine modification.

Self-priming fast fill sprayer pump system

Foldable boom inner wings are attached to a boom center frame through a rocker attached to a breakaway hydraulic cylinder pressurized to full stroke and connected to an accumulator. When a wing impacts an object, the impact load is transmitted through the fold cylinder and rocker into the breakaway cylinder. As the breakaway cylinder retracts to allow the wing to pivot, pressure builds in the system in three stages. First pressure builds along an accumulator pressure curve until a relief valve in the hydraulic system actives to initiate the second stage wherein oil is dumped through the relief valve. Thereafter, pressure is again allowed to build along the same accumulator curve to absorb impact hydraulically before the cylinder reaches full stroke. The staged pressure buildup prevents boom momentum from gaining and loads from increasing above the strength of the overall structure.

Boom breakaway system

Agricultural boom section

An easily manufactured large boom construction includes a plurality of main tube support sections fabricated from plate material of differing material thickness, grade and section dependent on load. The tube support sections include apertured areas which provide a preliminary snap-fit of the main tubes to significantly reduce need for additional fixturing. The opposite ends of diagonal tubes pass through apertures in the fabricated support sections for accurate tube location without complicated weld fixtures or precise tube length and cut end angle tolerances. The tubes are welded on opposite sides of the sections to eliminate need for tube-to-tube connections or connections wherein a cut end edge has to be precisely placed against a planar surface. An inverted right triangle boom cross section with wing over-top fold configuration ability provides strength, stiffness and infinite nozzle placement possibilities.

Agricultural boom structure

A stationary rinse nozzle made of durable, non-corrosive material includes a simple deflector directing a uniform water jet in all directions so the need for a rotating nozzle or a multi-apertured rinse tube is eliminated. A large rinse orifice provides the necessary volume of water for effective low pressure rinsing of residual products from the tank walls. The deflector support is located in the middle of a tube so that blank spots in the spray pattern are avoided.

Tank rinse structure for an agricultural sprayer

A nozzle assembly includes a plastic, one-piece flood tip that attaches directly over the bayonet connector of a nozzle body. The nozzle body is of the diaphragm type for reduced weight, cost and complexity but modified to increase flow capacity. In one embodiment, a 90-degree bayonet is provided on the nozzle body turret, and other bayonet selections are also available on the turret for flat fan spray patterns. In a second embodiment, a conventional radially extending bayonet pattern is provided, and the flood tip itself is fabricated with a 90-degree turn. The plumbing system utilized for high spray rate applications with the flood tip is the same as for lower rate spraying using a different tip mounted on other bayonet connector on the turret.

Sprayer flood tip and nozzle body assembly

A chemical loading system includes a venturi located at the top of the solution tank to reduce the fluid mass that has to be lifted into the tank. An anti-bridging nozzle at the outlet of the eductor hopper assures that material is pushed into the vacuum created by the venturi. To reduce air space in the granular material and increase pull by the venturi vacuum, fluid is directed to the material through the anti-bridging nozzle and through a rinse ring around the top of the hopper. The rinse ring, also used to rinse the hopper after loading the material and provide structural rigidity, includes a rolled edge at the top of the hopper walls with notches in the edge of the ring to provide improved placement of rinsing solution.

Structure for loading chemicals into solution tanks

Growing community of inventors

Ankeny, IA, United States of America

Kent Alvin Klemme