Deere & Company

Robert E Fox

Bruce L Hubbard

Wendell D Reece

William L Smith, Jr

James Joseph Phelan

Thomas Eugene Boe

Kenneth C McConnell

Donald R Flugrad

James K Jensen

A hydraulic rockshaft control circuit which includes a three-way valve that normally operates the rockshaft is connected to the lift cylinder on a trailing implement. A hitch lock valve connected to the rockshaft control valve maintains the rockshaft in a preselected position regardless of changes in pressure at the valve output. The extend side of the lift cylinder is connected to the control valve output so that the tractor hitch control is used to operate the trailing implement cylinder. To overcome the inability of the three-way valve to positively retract the trailing implement cylinder, a reducing/relieving valve is connected to the retract side of the cylinder and is adjusted to provide just enough pressure to retract the cylinder and raise the implement wheels from ground contact when the extend side is connected to return pressure. A position feedback system on the implement is connected to the hitch control unit (HCU) on the tractor. When the HCU senses a feedback signal from the implement, the HCU control mode changes from rockshaft control to trailing implement control wherein implement position is set and maintained in a manner similar to that for the conventional rockshaft control. A voltage readout from the feedback signal provides a visual indication of implement position.

Hydraulic system for a towed implement

A feedback mechanism for providing an implement position signal includes a rotary potentiometer mounted on the implement frame adjacent the rockshaft with the axis of the potentiometer shaft extending parallel to the rockshaft. A linkage structure includes a potentiometer arm connected to a rockshaft arm by a link such that the angle the potentiometer arm forms with the link is acute when the implement is in the transport position and obtuse when the implement is in the lowered field-working range. At the lowermost position of the implement, the link and potentiometer arm approach an overcenter position. The linkage structure provides amplified rotation of the potentiometer shaft relative to the rockshaft when the implement is in the field-working range of positions, while rotation of the shaft is reduced relative to rockshaft rotation when the implement is raised above the field-working position. In the preferred embodiment, rotation of the rockshaft 10.degree. in the field-working range results in rotation of over 30.degree. of the potentiometer shaft. Rotation of the rockshaft 10.degree. in the upper range of raised transport positions results in less than about 8.degree. of potentiometer shaft rotation. The amplified rotation in the field-working range significantly increases accuracy and repeatability of the feedback signal.

Positon feedback mechanism for an implement

A cotton path blockage detector has an acoustic output directed toward the discharge door floor on the cotton picking unit directly behind and to one side of the stream of cotton coming off a doffer. When the unit is operating properly, the floor area is generally clear of cotton and a first distance signal is provided. When a blockage occurs, the area begins to fill with cotton and debris, causing a decrease in the monitored distance. A threshold distance signal which is less than the distance signal to the floor causes an alarm to be activated to warn the operator of a plug. To prevent false alarms where the blockage may only be temporary, a slew rate limitation is built into the processing circuit. In another aspect of the invention, the signal radiated into the cotton conveying path is reflected by cotton, and a doppler circuit detects the presence of a doppler shift in frequency indicating moving cotton in the path. Absence of the doppler shaft indicates either the unit is off or the unit is plugged upstream of the detector. Detection of cotton in the path with a corresponding doppler frequency shift indicates acceptable operation, while detection of cotton with no frequency shift indicates a downstream plug.

Cotton harvester blockage detection method and flow sensor therefor

A conveyor is mounted on the slope side of a cotton basket. Lift structure pivots the basket until the slope side of the basket angles slightly downwardly toward the trailer or module builder which receives the cotton. The conveyor moves the cotton from the basket, and a metering bar positioned above and inwardly from the dump end of the conveyor when the basket is in the dump position is rotated with the conveyor drive to assure a smooth continuous flow of cotton without bunching or stalling on the conveyor.

Cotton basket unloading structure

An element placed within a cotton conveying duct of a cotton harvester above the air discharge jet is shaped to shed cotton and supports a vacuum opening which communicates with a simple differential pressure switch through a vacuum conduit. The aspiration effect of normal air flow over the opening provides a vacuum in the conduit which maintains the switch open, but if air velocity in the duct drops below a preselected value due to a plug, low fan speed or faulty hose, the vacuum decreases and the switch closes to energize a warning device.

Air system monitor for a cotton harvester

A double latch system for maintaining an implement outrigger in a folded position, including a primary latch member which receives a locking pin to secure the outrigger in the raised position, and a pivoting secondary latch having a hooked end which automatically aligns with a latch pin when the locking pin is removed from a storage position for insertion into the primary latch. To lower the outrigger, the locking pin must first be removed from the primary latch, and the secondary latch hook must be pivoted and held away from the latch pin by lifting the secondary latch and inserting the locking pin in the storage position.

Foldable implement with transport latch

An improved cutter wheel that is particularly useful with tilling apparatus for sod seeding purposes. The cutter wheel is mounted for rotation by a drive structure that includes a drive shaft. The cutter wheel includes a central disk portion with an outer periphery defining a plurality of equally spaced slots, each for receiving a tip-holding insert. A bullet-shaped tungsten carbide tip is soldered or brazed to the tip-holder and the holder is welded to the disk. The disk periphery is shaped to allow cutting clearance for the tip, to protect the tip from breaking off, and to provide rear support for the tip-holder. The angle at which the tip is connected to the holder is chosen so that the brazed or soldered joint is loaded primarily in compression as the wheel cuts through the soil.

Cutter wheel for tillage apparatus

A hydraulic rate control system for maintaining a selected application rate at varying ground speeds. The application rate is selected through an operator control which permits the operator to dial in the spray tip size, the width of the spray pattern per tip and the desired spray rate in gallons per acre, and this application rate can be changed on the go. A ground-driven hydraulic oil pump directs its entire flow through a variable orifice, adjusted through manipulation of the operator control, and the oil pressure acts against a balance valve which maintains the pressure of the chemical to be sprayed equal to the oil pressure at the variable orifice. As the ground speed increases or decreases, the oil pressure and thus the chemical pressure increases or decreases accordingly to maintain the selected application rate.

Hydraulic rate control system for sprayers

An improved cutter wheel that is useful in conjunction with tilling apparatus for sod seeding purposes. The wheel has a body fashioned from sheet metal. The periphery is characterized by smooth contours which define the teeth and gullets. The wheel is devoid of hooked sections or notches as well as abrupt gullets where stringy material such as Bermuda grass could become caught or hairpin to cause wrapping. Different teeth are offset in opposite directions from the plane of the body to increase the effective cutting width. Additionally, the symmetry of the cutter wheel is such that it can be mounted for rotation in either direction.

Minimum wrap bi-rotational cutter wheel for a tillage implement

A depth control skid and seed boot assembly is disclosed that is particularly useful in a sod seeding implement for adjusting the maximum depth of cut of a cutting wheel and for adjusting the depth of the seed boot independently of each other. An arm rotatably mounting a pair of cutting wheels slidably receives the forward section of the skid. The rear of the skid is bolted to a bracket assembly vertically positionable with respect to the arm for adjusting the depth of cut. The bracket assembly pivotally carries the seed boot which is yieldingly and adjustably held in position with respect to the ground by a bolt and spring assembly. The seed boot can pivot upwardly against the bias of the spring out of the way of obstacles.

Depth control and seed boot assembly for tillage apparatus

Structure for rockably suspending a flexible fluid container from a vehicle frame includes a flexible saddle wherein the container is carried and hanger elements universally suspending the saddle from the frame.

Tank suspension

A portable transferring and metering apparatus is provided which permits quick and easy transfer of chemical fluids from one container to another without unnecessary exposure of the operator to chemicals being transferred. An adjustable metering device controls the transfer of a desired volume of chemicals and shuts down the transfer pump upon completed transfer of that volume of chemicals.

Growing community of inventors

Minburn, IA, United States of America

Robert E Fox