AN AUTONOMOUS AGRICULTURAL MACHINE FOR PERFORMING AN AGRICULTURAL OPERATION, IN PARTICULAR CROP PROCESSING

• US 20030229425A1
• Filed: 06/05/2003
• Published: 12/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lely Enterprises AG
• Original Assignee: Lely Enterprises AG
• Inventors: MIEDEMA, Theo Jan
• Application Number:
  US10/250,121
• Publication Number:
  US 20030229425A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 75/20 Devices for protecting men or animals

Abstract

An autonomous agricultural machine for performing an agricultural operation, in particular crop processing. The agricultural machine is autonomously displaceable over an agricultural parcel. The agricultural machine is provided with a drive and with a movable agricultural device for performing the agricultural operation. The agricultural machine is provided with a protecting element for protecting the moving agricultural device, with a displacement-detector for detecting displacement of the agricultural machine and for emitting a displacement signal, and with an operating device for operating the protecting element in dependence on the displacement signal.

Claims

1. An autonomous agricultural machine for performing an agricultural operation, in particular crop processing, the agricultural machine being autonomously displaceable over an agricultural parcel, the agricultural machine comprising:

a drive;

a movable agricultural device for performing the agricultural operation;

a protecting element for protecting the movable agricultural device;

a displacement-detector for detecting a displacement of the agricultural machine and for emitting a displacement signal; and

an operating device for operating the protecting element in response to the displacement signal.

2. The autonomous-agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the displacement-detector comprises the drive of the agricultural machine.

3. The autonomous agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating device brings the protecting element into an active position in which the protecting element protects the movable agricultural device if the displacement signal indicates that the agricultural machine is not moving, and wherein the operating device brings the protecting element into an inactive position in which the protecting element releases the movable agricultural device if the displacement signal indicates that the agricultural machine is moving.

4. The autonomous agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating device is an electronic operating device.

5. The autonomous agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the operating device is a hydraulic operating device.

6. The autonomous agricultural machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the operating device brings the protecting element into an active position in which the protecting element protects the movable agricultural device if the displacement signal indicates that the agricultural machine is not moving, and wherein the operating device brings the protecting element into an inactive position in which the protecting element releases the movable agricultural device if the displacement signal indicates that the agricultural machine is moving.

7. The autonomous agricultural machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the operating device is an electronic operating device.

8. The autonomous agricultural machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein the operating device is a hydraulic operating device.

9. The autonomous agricultural machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the operating device is an electronic operating device.

10. The autonomous agricultural machine as claimed in claim 3, wherein the operating device is a hydraulic operating device.

11. The autonomous agricultural machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein the movable agricultural device is a mower.

12. An autonomous agricultural machine for performing an agricultural operation comprising:

a drive;

a movable agricultural device for performing the agricultural operation;

a protecting element for protecting the movable agricultural device;

a displacement-detector for detecting a displacement speed of the agricultural machine and for emitting a speed signal; and

an operating device for bringing the protecting element into an active position in which the protecting element protects the movable agricultural device if the speed signal indicates that the agricultural machine moving slower than a given value, and wherein the operating device brings the protecting element into an inactive position in which the protecting element releases the movable agricultural device if the displacement signal indicates that the agricultural machine is moving faster than a given value.

13. A method of protecting a movable agricultural device on an autonomous agricultural machine for performing an agricultural operation, the agricultural machine being autonomously displaceable over an agricultural parcel, the method comprising:

providing a protecting element in a first position for protecting the movable agricultural device when the agricultural machine is not moving;

detecting a displacement of the agricultural machine and emitting a displacement signal; and

operating the protecting element in response to the displacement signal, to a second position for exposing the movable agricultural device.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the displacement signal is emitted in response to a displacement of the agricultural machine at above a given speed.