Deere + Company

Michael D Peat

David A Veasy

Michael G Kean

Craig Christofferson

John M Hageman

Tarik Loukili

Lance Robert Sherlock

Nathan Joseph Horstman

Todd F Velde

Joshua M Schau

Mark John Cherney

Francois Stander

Mark E Breutzman

Angel N Villalobos

Peter J Jorgensen

Shannon Massingill

A system and method are provided for automated cleaning of a loading container of a transport vehicle (e.g., dump truck, ejector, scraper), wherein the loading container includes controllable elements (e.g., hydraulic lift cylinders for a truck bin, an ejector blade) for transitioning between loaded and unloaded states. Characteristics of carryback material remaining in the loading container are estimated during a detected unloaded state of the transport vehicle, wherein whether to initiate an automated cleaning stage is determined based on at least one of the estimated characteristics. Upon determining to initiate the automated cleaning stage, performance of a cleaning routine is automatically directed during or in association with an unloading stage for the loading container via the controllable elements. The elements are controlled during the cleaning routine in accordance with a severity level selected from among various progressively increasing severity levels based on at least one of the estimated characteristics.

Selectively implementing automated cleaning routines during unloading cycles for transport vehicles

A work machine includes a chassis and a linkage supported for movement relative to the chassis. The linkage has a lock pin aperture and a plurality of locking holes. The lock pin aperture may be aligned with one of the plurality of locking holes to position the linkage in use of the work machine.

Apparatuses and methods for measuring saddle linkage position of a motor grader

A control method to operate a scraper over ground, the control method comprising: receiving a signal indicative of a desired attack angle between a cutting edge of the scraper and the ground; receiving a height control signal to control a cutting edge height; receiving one or more measuring signals from one or more sensors, calculating a measured attack angle based on the one or more measuring signals; comparing the measured attack angle and the desired attack angle; and outputting at least one control signal commanding movement of a bowl of the scraper based on the height control signal and a result of the comparing the measured attack angle and the desired attack angle.

Scraper control method

A grader includes a chassis, a saddle linkage, and a motion measurement system. The saddle linkage is supported for movement relative to the chassis and includes a mount movably coupled to the chassis, first and second arms each movably coupled to the mount, and a crossbar movably coupled to each of the first and second arms. The mount has a lock pin aperture, each of the first and second arms has a locking hole, and the crossbar has a plurality of locking holes. The lock pin aperture may be aligned with one locking hole of the first arm, the second arm, or the crossbar to position the saddle linkage in use of the grader. The motion measurement system is coupled to the saddle linkage and configured to measure movement or position of one or more components of the grader in use thereof.

A system, method, and apparatus includes measuring wear of a cutting edge of a blade of a work vehicle. Blade position or calibration measurements are made with or without a cutting edge. A wear condition of the cutting edge is acceptable when the blade position measurement less an acceptable wear to the cutting edge amount is less than a blade calibration measurement. A wear condition of the cutting edge is unacceptable when the blade position measurement less an acceptable wear to the cutting edge amount is greater than a blade calibration measurement. Alternatively, a wear condition of the cutting edge is unacceptable when a blade calibration measurement plus a tolerance margin is greater than the blade position measurement. The wear condition of the cutting edge is acceptable when the blade calibration measurement plus a tolerance margin is less than the blade position measurement.

Motor grader cutting edge wear calibration and warning system

Machines, calibration kits for machines, and methods of calibrating machines are disclosed herein. A machine includes a chassis, a frame, and a calibration kit. The chassis has a first coupling element and the frame has a second coupling element configured for interaction with the first coupling element to pivotally couple the frame to the chassis. The calibration kit is coupled to the chassis adjacent the second coupling element.

Calibration kit for work machine

A work vehicle including a body, an operational frame movable relative to the body about a primary joint, a linkage arrangement configured to adjust a position of the operational frame relative to the body, and a working implement coupled to the operational frame and movable relative to the body. A first sensor is positioned on the body. A second sensor is positioned on at least one of the operational frame, the linkage arrangement, and the working implement. A processor is configured to receive a first signal from the first sensor, where the first signal is representative of a measurement sensed by the first sensor, receive a second signal from the second sensor, where the second signal is representative of a measurement sensed by the second sensor, and determine a measurement error of the first sensor based on the signals from the first sensor and the second sensor.

Method of calibrating a sensor on a work vehicle

A vehicle grade control system and method of controlling an implement position of a motor grader moving along a path of a surface. The motor grader includes a frame supported by wheels and an implement adjustably coupled to the frame. The control system includes a processor and a memory configured to receive a grade target to grade the surface to a desired grade with the implement based on the grade target. Surface irregularities of the surface in a path of the motor grader are located. An angle of the frame is determined based on the located surface irregularities and a difference between the identified angle of the frame and the grade target is determined. A position of the implement with respect to the frame based on the determined difference is identified and the surface is graded with the identified position of the implement.

Forward looking sensor for predictive grade control

Graders and methods of operation thereof. A grader includes a chassis, a saddle linkage, and a motion measurement system. The saddle linkage is supported for movement relative to the chassis and includes a mount movably coupled to the chassis, first and second arms each movably coupled to the mount, and a crossbar movably coupled to each of the first and second arms. The mount has a lock pin aperture, each of the first and second arms has a locking hole, and the crossbar has a plurality of locking holes. The lock pin aperture may be aligned with one locking hole of the first arm, the second arm, or the crossbar to position the saddle linkage in use of the grader. The motion measurement system is coupled to the saddle linkage and configured to measure movement or position of one or more components of the grader in use thereof.

A vehicle grade control system and method of controlling an implement position of a motor grader moving along a path of a surface. The motor grader includes a frame supported by a ground engaging traction device and an implement adjustably coupled to the frame. The control system includes a processor and a memory configured to receive a grade target to grade the surface to a desired grade with the implement, based on the grade target. A front image sensor provides images of a front surface profile, an implement image sensor provides images of collected surface material on the implement, and a rear image sensor provides images on a rear surface profile. The surface is graded by adjusting a position of the implement based on the images provided by each of the front image sensor, the implement image sensor, and the rear image sensor.

System and method of soil management for an implement

A motor grader including a main frame, an operational frame movable relative to the main frame about a primary joint, and a plurality of hydraulic cylinders configured to adjust a position of the operational frame relative to the main frame, where each cylinder of the plurality of cylinders is movable between an extended position and a retracted position to adjust the length thereof. The motor grader further includes a processor configured to receive a signal indicating a desired cross slope of the operational frame, receive a signal identifying one of the plurality of cylinders as a lead cylinder, determine a desired position of the operational frame that achieves the desired cross slope of the operational frame, estimate a current position of the operational frame by monitoring a length of the lead cylinder, and adjust the position of the operational frame by controlling a follower cylinder of the plurality of cylinders to create the desired cross slope.

Agricultural machine having a processor configured to track a position of a draft frame

A motor grader including a main frame, an operational frame movable relative to the main frame in three directions, and a linkage system coupling the operational frame to the main frame. The linkage system includes a plurality of hydraulic cylinders each movable between an extended position and a retracted position to adjust the length thereof. The plurality of cylinders is operationally connected such that movement of one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders causes movement of at least another cylinder of the plurality of cylinders. A processor is configured to receive a signal related to the length of at least one cylinder of the plurality of cylinders, and estimate, based in part on the signal, a position of the operational frame relative to the main frame in the three directions.

Growing community of inventors

Dubuque, IA, United States of America

Michael D Peat