The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 20, 2005
Filed:
Aug. 31, 2004
Tom Foster Sonnek, Reinbeck, IA (US);
Mark Samuel Philips, Grimes, IA (US);
Daniel John Johannsen, Ankeny, IA (US);
Scott Francis Stueck, Ankeny, IA (US);
Tom Foster Sonnek, Reinbeck, IA (US);
Mark Samuel Philips, Grimes, IA (US);
Daniel John Johannsen, Ankeny, IA (US);
Scott Francis Stueck, Ankeny, IA (US);
Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US);
Abstract
A compact three-bar linkage steering probe assembly, particularly useful with ultra-narrow row cotton harvester units, includes two vertical rocker arms pivotally connected to a harvester row unit at mid-point locations and upper ends connected by a cross link to generally constrain the arms for rocking in unison. Crop guides connected to the lower ends of the rocker arms follow the bases of the plant stalks as the row of plants enter the unit. The vertical arms are maintained within spacer tubes which prevent interference with adjacent rows of plants and which assure the arms are not disturbed by the adjacent rows. A sensor responsive to rotation of the rocker arms is located at the central pivotal connection. Arm leaf springs or a spring biased adjustable upper cross link provides probe flexibility for accommodating different plant stalk sizes.