Deere & Company

Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc

Raymond D Thompson

William E Crookes

Dennis Lee Jeffries

Michael Dean Kollath

Edwin Roy Kreis

Peter Alan Kosmicki

James M Conner

Gregory E Sparks

Robert J White

Terrill Wayne Woods

Wesley F Buchele

Joe Lyle Schutte

Timothy J Mattson

Jeffrey David Dawson

Scott Lisle Cook

Darrell L Wright

William F Purcell

Ross K Brown

Ricky D Madson

Howard T Uehle

A draft force sensor is provided for a coupling member coupled between a towing vehicle and a towed earth engaging implement, such as a scraper. The draft force sensor includes first and second bores extending through the coupling member. Each bore has a horizontal axis which extends perpendicular to a main fore-and-aft axis of the coupling member. The second bore is positioned above the first bore and spaced apart from the first bore. Each of the bores is surrounded by an outer cylindrical wall. Four electrical strain gauges are spaced apart and placed on the wall of each of the bores. A center line bisects an axis line which extends between the axes of the first and second bores. The axis of each bore is spaced apart from the center line by a distance which is less than a diameter of the bores. The strain gauges are connected electrically in a circuit which generates a draft force signal in response to draft forces applied to the coupling member.

Towed implement draft force sensor

A compact, planar, multi-directional vibration attenuator seat support permits attenuating movement of an attached seat in any direction within a horizontal plane in response to vibration and other motions. The seat support includes a thin, generally planar seat supporting frame having opposite sides which mount the opposite ends of a first plurality of rods slidably received within a first plurality of bearings coupled to the opposite ends of an intermediate frame so that the seat supporting frame is movable along a first axis relative to the intermediate frame. The intermediate frame which is substantially completely contained within the plane of the seat supporting frame has opposite sides mounting the opposite ends of a second plurality of rods slidably received within a second plurality of bearings which mount the entire seat support and which permit movement of the intermediate frame along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Shock absorbers damp movement of the seat supporting frame relative to the intermediate frame and movement of the intermediate frame relative to the second plurality of bearings, while opposed pairs of springs hold the seat supporting and intermediate frames in nominal center positions.

Compact, planar, multi-directional vibration attenuator seat support

A suspended operator station within the cab of a tractor or similar vehicle adjusts the height of the seat and thereafter the positions of the steering wheel, foot pedals and other controls relative to the seat for maximum visibility and comfort of operators of different size, and permits attenuated movement of the seat and controls together. The seat is mounted on a platform which is suspended above the cab floor by an attenuator assembly permitting limited, attenuated movement of the platform in a generally horizontal plane and a height adjustable support having vertical shock absorption and which positions the height of the seat for optimum visibility. The seat is mounted on the platform via tracks which permit fore-aft adjustment of the seat relative to controls coupled to the platform. In one embodiment a tiltable and telescoping steering wheel and foot pedals are mounted on a subfloor which is coupled to and adjustable in height relative to the platform. In an alternative embodiment the foot pedals are mounted on the platform and a tiltable and telescoping steering wheel is mounted on a console extending from the armrest of the seat.

Suspended operator station

A compactor device for large round bales is disclosed comprising a horizontally disposed cylindrical housing containing a plunger, a double toggle mechanism connected to the plunger, a hydraulic cylinder connected to the double toggle mechanism for driving the plunger, and a stabilizer linkage connected to the plunger and the double toggle mechanism for maintaining the plunger in a vertical position during compaction of a bale.

Compactor device for large round bales

Growing community of inventors

Waterloo, IA, United States of America

Raymond D Thompson