Deere + Company

Cnh America LLC

Maro Performance Group, LLC

Cnh Belgium N.v.

Randall A Maro

Aaron L Barfels

Colter W Kinney

Nathan Albert Mariman

Grant J Wonderlich

Bradley A Wackerle

James Randall Peterson

Kenneth Herrmann

Michael M Whitney

Robert A Matousek

David James Rylander

Dale W Panoushek

Bryan Scott Claerhout

Peter R Nedved

Dale H Killen

Eric R Funk

Robert Lee Day

Ling Z Zeng

Garrett M Stroot

Geoffrey L Luzier

Carlos Alberto Soto

Michael Whitney

William L Cooksey

Mark C Ziegler

Vincent M Moster

John Bradley Lukac

Work machines, fertilizer opener assemblies for work machines, and methods of operating work machines are disclosed. A work machine includes a chassis, a frame, and a fertilizer opener assembly. The frame is coupled to the chassis for movement relative to the chassis. The fertilizer opener assembly is coupled to the frame to selectively form trenches in the soil for the deposition of fertilizer. The fertilizer opener assembly includes an actuator that is extendable and retractable to vary a length of the actuator and a cutting implement coupled to the actuator. Operation of the actuator drives movement of the cutting implement between a cutting position, in which the cutting implement makes contact with the soil to form trenches in the soil, and a transport position, in which the cutting implement is raised above the soil.

Work machines incorporating fertilizer opener assemblies, fertilizer opener assemblies therefor, and methods of operating work machines

Apparatuses, systems, and methods for coupling a row unit to a frame of an agricultural implement include a row unit, such as a planter row unit. The row unit may be coupled to a frame of an agricultural planter by engagement between mounting features of the planter row unit to one or more rails formed on a frame of the agricultural planter. One or more of the mounting features may be movable relative to one or more other mounting features in order to secure the planting row unit to the frame of the agricultural planter.

Row unit mounting system

A meter assembly for an agricultural machine includes a meter, a conduit, and a bypass. The meter includes a roller to move commodity to the conduit. The bypass is coupled to the conduit and the meter to facilitate air flow therebetween free of interference from the roller or the commodity.

Pressure balanced meter assembly and method of use

An agricultural machine includes a main frame, an adjustable frame coupled to the main frame and, a row unit which includes a linking arm coupled to the adjustable frame, and an actuator coupled to the main frame and the adjustable frame. The agricultural machine also includes a controller configured to command the actuator to output various downforces to the row units based on signals received from one or more sensors. The one or more sensors are configured to measure one more indicators associated with an actual height of the row unit relative to ground.

Ground following optimization with downforce control systems and methods

An agricultural machine includes a main frame, an adjustable frame coupled to the main frame and, a row unit which includes a linking arm coupled to the adjustable frame, and an actuator coupled to the main frame and the adjustable frame. The agricultural machine also includes a controller configured to command the actuator to move to various positions based on signals received from one or more sensors. The one or more sensors are configured to measure one more indicators associated with an actual height of the row unit relative to ground.

Ground following optimization with position control systems and methods

The present disclosure is an accumulator that has an oil chamber, a first piston separating a first gas chamber from the oil chamber, and a second piston separating a second gas chamber from the oil chamber. The first and second piston are independently movable to alter the volume of the oil chamber.

Dual gas pressure accumulator system

Agricultural implements and hydraulic circuits for agricultural implements are disclosed herein. An agricultural implement includes a fluid source, a plurality of fluid demand devices, a delivery control valve, and a priority valve. The fluid source is configured to supply hydraulic fluid. The plurality of fluid demand devices are each configured to receive hydraulic fluid supplied by the fluid source during operation of the agricultural implement. The delivery control valve is fluidly coupled between the fluid source and a first fluid demand device. The delivery control valve is configured to selectively deliver hydraulic fluid supplied by the fluid source to the first fluid demand device during operation of the agricultural implement. The priority valve is fluidly coupled between the delivery control valve and the first fluid demand device.

Agricultural implements and hydraulic circuits therefor incorporating one or more priority valves

A control system for controlling an implement that is movable between a work mode and a transport mode. The control system includes a source of hydraulic fluid, a first actuator and a second actuator. The first and second actuators are fluidly coupled to the source and disposed parallel to one another. A sensor detects movement of the first and second actuators between their retracted and fully extended positions, and a control valve is disposed in communication with the sensor and in fluid communication with the first and second actuators. As the implement moves to its transport mode, the sensor detects movement of the first and second actuators towards their fully extended positions. The control valve inhibits movement of the first and second actuators before either actuator reaches its fully extended position.

Walking track system of an agricultural implement

One or more techniques and/or systems for application of a supplemental downward force to a ground working implement. A mechanical advantage from a lever arm can be utilized to apply supplemental downforce to a ground working implement. A biasing force can be applied to the lever arm by a spring assembly at various locations. Moving the spring assembly along the lever arm can vary the amount of downward force applied by the lever arm to ground working implement. In some implementations, moving the spring assembly to a different end of the lever arm applies an upward force to a coupled ground working implement.

Implement variable downforce control

A female fluid adapter assembly that has a receiving end that receives a fluid device, a female quick connect end coupled to the receiving end, and a through hole defined between the receiving end and the female quick connect end to allow fluid to flow therebetween. Wherein, the female quick connect end has a first cylindrical opening having a first diameter, a second cylindrical opening having a second diameter, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter, a female transition profile defined between the first cylindrical opening and the second cylindrical opening, the female transition profile providing a transition from the first diameter of the first cylindrical opening to the second diameter of the second cylindrical opening. Wherein, the female quick connect end is coupleable to a male quick connect end having a male transition profile, the female transition profile being different from the male transition profile.

Universal threadless connection

An implement for traversing a field includes a main frame section and a frame wing section pivotally coupled to the main frame section. The frame wing section includes a wing wheel assembly for supporting the frame wing section. A hydraulic control system includes a pressure source, a control valve fluidly coupled with the pressure source, and an actuator assembly fluidly coupled to the control valve. The implement further includes a controller electrically coupled with the control valve. A wheel force sensor is configured to detect an amount of force on the wing wheel assembly and communicate the amount of force to the controller. The actuator assembly is coupled between the main frame section and the frame wing section. The controller operably controls movement of the control valve to actuate the actuator assembly and adjust the amount of force on the wing wheel assembly.

Method of controlling weight transfer of an implement and system thereof

An implement includes a mechanical coupling component configured to removably couple the implement to a support machine, a hydraulic fluid supply line configured to receive a supply flow of hydraulic fluid under pressure from a hydraulic system associated with the support machine, and a hydraulically-powered component configured to be actuated using the hydraulic fluid. The implement also includes a hydraulic fluid recovery system comprising a hydraulic fluid return line configured to fluidically couple to the hydraulic system associated with the support machine and provide a return flow of hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic system. A hydraulic fluid reservoir is configured to, when the hydraulic fluid return line is decoupled from the hydraulic system associated with the support machine, receive a portion of the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid return line when a fluid pressure in the hydraulic fluid return line increases to a pressure threshold.

Hydraulic implement fluid recovery

A hydraulic motor assembly includes a flow controller, a displacement controller and a hydraulic motor. The flow controller controls the flow of hydraulic fluid through the hydraulic motor and the displacement controller controls motor displacement. The hydraulic motor converts the pressure and flow into angular displacement of a drive shaft. An electrical generator is connected to the motor drive shaft and provides electrical power to accommodate a varying electrical load. As the electrical load varies, the flow controller and displacement controller vary the flow and displacement of the hydraulic motor to vary the torque applied to the generator by the drive shaft so that the drive shaft rotates at a desired speed.

Agricultural machine with a hydraulically driven generator

A work vehicle includes a delivery system with a run. The run includes an upstream flow structure having an inlet that is configured to receive metered commodity and a suction generator structure with a flow passage that is in fluid communication with the inlet. The flow passage includes a venturi profile with a restricting section and an expanding section. Furthermore, the run includes a downstream flow structure configured to receive the metered commodity via the flow passage and an airstream that conveys the metered commodity in a downstream direction through the downstream flow structure. A compressed air source is configured to provide pressurized air through the flow passage to create suction to suck the metered commodity away from the metering system and toward the downstream flow structure.

Growing community of inventors

Davenport, IA, United States of America

Randall A Maro