Deere & Company

Other

Eaton Corporation

Paul David Parker

James Thomas Noonan

David Alan Payne

Brian Thomas Mosdal

Anthony Scott Royer

Darin Ledru Roth

David V Rotole

Eric Ryan Lang

Jason Daniel Wattonville

Loren G Arnold

Timothy John Trelstad

James F Sullivan

Bruce Craig Newendorp

Warren L Thompson

Thomas Eugene Boe

Shane Julius Brueggen

Donald W Demorest

Richard James Livdahl

James Edward Sabelka

Kerry S Martin

Jerry F Carlin

Fred C Livesay, Jr

Joseph Eugene Story

Jeffrey Lee Murrey

Paul D Lair

James E Koon

Brenda Parker

Nancy Esther Post

Alan Alfred Larson

Stove top cover

A method is provided for determining the throughput of a parallelepiped agricultural baler. The baler has a feed duct communicating between a crop pick-up assembly and a baling chamber and the feed duct serves as a pre-compression chamber to accumulate crop to a predetermined density before the crop is transferred to the baling chamber. The transfer of the crop from the feed duct (pre-compression chamber) to the baling chamber is accomplished by a stuffer mechanism actuated in response to a crop density sensor associated with the feed duct (pre-compression chamber). The baler further has a plunger mechanism that compresses the crop into a column to form a bale in the baling chamber. The invention senses when the crop in the feed duct (pre-compression chamber) has reached a predetermined density for transfer to the baling chamber and when the plunger has attained a home position that allows for transfer of crop from the feed duct (pre-compression chamber) into the baling chamber. A wait time between when the feed duct (pre-compression chamber) has reached a predetermined density for transfer of crop to the baling chamber and the plunger is in the home position is calculated and displayed to an operator of the baler.

Method of maximizing baler throughput

A drive arrangement for controlling the tying function of a large rectangular baler includes a knotter drive shaft having a drive member mounted on it for free rotation. A one-way clutch is connected between the drive member and the drive shaft for rotating the drive shaft only when the drive member is rotated in a first direction. The drive member has an elongate flexible element associated therewith and is driven in the first direction by retraction of an extensible and retractable hydraulic motor having its rod end coupled to one end of the flexible element, the other end of the flexible element being coupled to a spring that stores energy only when the hydraulic motor is retracted. At the end of the tying function, the hydraulic motor is extended to its beginning position, the loaded spring then taking up the slack in the flexible element and the one-way clutch then free-wheeling.

Independently powered knotter and needle drive arrangement for a large rectangular baler

A large rectangular baler includes pick-up and packer rotors, a pivotable stuffer, a plunger head, a knotter shaft and a needle yoke, and tension panels that are all driven hydraulically and independently controlled through electrically controlled valves that actuate the various hydraulic power devices used to power the various functions. An electronic control unit is coupled to each of the control valves and receives feedback signals from the controlled functions which are compared with values representing desired function results so as to further control the valves to attain the desired results. In addition to the feedback signals from the powered functions, signals from a bale length sensor and a ground speed sensor are also coupled to the electronic control unit for use in controlling the powered functions.

Large rectangular baler having hydraulically powered functions, and control system therefor

Lift wheel structure for an implement includes four bar linkage having a curved lower link connected to the frame closely adjacent a first tool-carrying rank. A caster wheel is supported at the forward end of the linkage for castering in an accommodation area defined by the curved lower link. Plates are bolted to the sides of the lower link and extend along sides of an upper link to a connection with a lift cylinder directly above the upper link. The link and the cylinder closely overlie the frame to limit interference with other components mounted above the frame and to facilitate compact folding of implement sections. Loads, including cylinder lift loads, are transmitted primarily through the lower link. A protected transducer assembly is connected between the lower link and the frame to maximize and linearize transducer response in the depth control range. The lift wheel structure can by mounted at different locations on the frame to accommodate different tool configurations and provide the desired automatic depth control and leveling functions. In one embodiment a tension link connects a forward four bar linkage wheel structure with a rear single pivot lift wheel structure such that level lift is provided.

Agricultural implement lift wheel structure

A hitch link structure includes two hitch tubes angled with respect to each other and having forward ends connected by upper and lower hitch plates welded to the tubes. The plates include weld cutouts designed so the same plates can be used with a variety of different hitch tube angles, depending on the width of the mainframe hitch mount-up. Three apertures in the forward end of each of the plates receive bolts which connect the selected hitch link to the plates. The apertures also act as weld fixturing locators to speed hitch construction. The weld cutouts, in generally a half moon configuration, facilitate low cost fillet welds at easily accessible locations regardless of hitch tube angle and facilitate fillet weld connections in relatively lowly stressed areas. The lower plate is apertured to define an intermediate support hole for the safety chain, and the central bolt connecting the hitch link also attaches to the safety chain so the chain is accommodated without additional parts.

Implement hitch

Implement depth control and display

Lift wheel arm for an implement

A multi-section implement frame includes outer wing sections which fold relative to inner wing sections and then over a main center frame to a transport position. The wing sections include selectively extendable and retractable structure such as lift wheel assemblies which, if extended in the transport position, can interfere with each other. Transducers detect the position of the inner wing sections during folding and unfolding and provide signals to an implement control unit (ICU) to automatically operate the lift wheel assemblies to prevent interference during folding and unfolding and to assure the lift wheels are extended before the implement frame reaches the fully unfolded position. Proximity switches supported above the center frame or other transducer devices such as mercury switches on the wing sections responsive to section angle provide the signals to the ICU. During folding, the ICU causes the lift structure to retract after both switches are activated. During unfolding, the lift structure is extended only after there is no longer potential interference between components. Extension of the lift assemblies during unfolding is controlled by the ICU so that the frame is generally level in the fully unfolded position. The outer wing sections can be folded to narrow the machine when the ground is difficult to penetrate or when a narrow working width is required while still retaining implement operation under the control of the ICU.

Wheel control structure for a folding implement

A flat fold hinge assembly for implement frame sections that fold substantially greater than 90 degrees includes a modular hinge having first and second hinge portions that bolt solidly to the frame sections. A folding cylinder is protectively cradled between the sides of a cast mounting bracket closely adjacent the frame tube. Floating links are connected to the rod end of the cylinder generally below the main pivot which is offset above the frame tube a distance substantially less than most previously available hinge structures for compact storage of the wing frame close to the inner frame. The design, preferably utilizing four cast components, is more compact than previous designs so the frame sections fold more compactly. The simple mounting arrangement provides versatility in locating the hinge assembly to accommodate a wide variety implement configurations and implement attachments. The hinge structure acts to reinforce the tubular frame construction and distribute heavy loads transferred from implement attachments and tools. A mounting area on the hinge facilitates connection of additional hardware such as a wing support tube truss.

Compact hinge assembly for a folding implement

An implement lift with a plurality of individual electrohydraulically controlled lift cylinders spaced on a tool frame includes a bypass system for facilitating continued implement operation in the event of a failure of the electronics or wiring. The system includes an electrically controlled valve at each cylinder normally operated by an electronic controller but manually lockable in an open position if there is a circuit failure so the operator can control the implement from the tractor selective control valve (SCV). Hydraulic hoses with quick disconnects compatible with both the tractor SCV connections and the main electrohydraulic valve on the tractor are connected to the tractor valve for normal automatic operation but can be easily rerouted to the SCV connections for control by the SCV when the cylinder valves are manually locked in the open position.

Bypass system for electronically controlled implement lift

An implement frame construction includes a fore-and-aft extending apertured tube with transversely extending tool mounting tubes with cross section matching the shape of the apertures. The tubes are inserted through the apertures to provide a mechanical connection not solely reliant on joint weld strength. The resulting joints are fillet welded on both sides of the fore-and-aft tube and provide more bending and torsional resistance than a butt-welded joint without need for gussets. The smaller tube runs continuously through the joint to reduce the number of components and welds necessary for a given frame configuration. The components themselves position the frame tubes relative to each other to simplify weld fixturing and increase resistance to parallelograming. Hinge areas are provided with welded tube-within-tube construction to prevent wall collapse and retain mounting bolt torque. A main frame section is constructed with continuous fore-and-aft extending hitch tubes which transfer loading directly from the transverse tubes to the towing vehicle and include aft ends for supporting trailing hitch structure. Wing frame sections are built with a similar tube construction, and one frame configuration may be used for right or left wings.

Implement frame construction including tube within a tube

A wear shin for a shank of a tillage tool such as a ripper includes a profile having a narrow leading edge with forwardly concave sides extending rearwardly and outwardly from the leading edge to sides generally aligned with the sides of the shank. Upper and lower ears extend on opposite sides of the upper and lower portions of the shank, and fasteners extend through the ears and shank to releasably secure the shin to the leading edge of the shank. The shin has a narrow profile with width approximately equal to the width of the shank other than at the connecting ears. The narrow leading edge of the shin provides good soil shearing characteristics so the implement slices through the soil, while the forwardly concave sides provide an increasing rate of soil deflection in the rearward direction for better wear, better soil and trash deflection characteristics, and reduced draft requirements.

Wear shin for a tillage implement

An implement lift system including a plurality of individual electrohydraulically controlled cylinders spaced on a tool frame and connected to lift wheel. An implement control unit (ICU) in the towing vehicle cab is connected to feedback potentiometers or similar transducers which provide signals corresponding to cylinder stroke length or suspension position. The feedback signals are compared at the ICU to a control signal obtained by rotation of a lever or knob on an operator control unit in the cab. Depending on the cylinder position relative to the operator selected position, the ICU provides an output signal to the electrohydraulic valve to achieve a proportional amount of flow for the desired cylinder position. The ICU also compares feedback signals from the transducers and adjusts the output voltage to each of the valves so that the frame can be raised and lowered evenly. In conditions where independent adjustment of different frame portions is desired, the operator control unit can be adjusted to provide the necessary offset signal for each section. The lift system provides uniform depth control and level lift for different frame configurations including frames with wings. Systems with dissimilar cylinders having different capacities or stroke lengths are easily accommodated.

Electrohydraulic control of implement lift cylinders

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Ankeny, IA, United States of America

Paul David Parker