Vehicle Control System

• US 20160029542A1
• Filed: 07/31/2015
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AGCO International GmbH (AGCO International Holdings BV)
• Original Assignee: AGCO International GmbH (AGCO International Holdings BV)
• Inventors: Gschwendtner, Christian, Ostenried, Guenther, Stich, Ulrich, Unsinn, Werner
• Granted Patent: US 9,883,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/041 preventing or limiting side-play of implements preventing overstrain A01B61/00
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 61/02 of the coupling devices between tractor and machine
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/10 operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/102 characterised by the location of the mounting on the tractor, e.g. on the rear part
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/112 to control draught load, i.e. tractive force
• CPC Class Codes: B60D 1/30 for sway control , e.g. stabilising or anti-fishtail devices; Sway alarm means

Abstract

A tractor control system, which controls an operating condition of an implement attached to the tractor. The control system includes a sensing means providing a force signal which indicates the pull force necessary to pull an implement in a desired position; a control which receives the force signal; and means for measuring at least one parameter associated with the tractor mode and/or the implement mode and the implement position is adjusted to a new position when the force signal varies. The control system includes pre-determined values associated with certain tractor and/or implement modes. A measured parameter is compared with a pre-determined parameter value and if the measured parameter would result in an undesired movement of the implement, the force signal is deactivated, or the response to the force signal is deactivated to prevent undesired movement of the attachment.

Claims

1. A tractor control system, wherein said control system controls an operating condition of an implement attached to a linkage on the tractor and said control system providing a force signal which is indicative of the current pull force necessary to pull the implement in a desired position, the system further comprising a control unit which receives the force signal and measurement means for measuring at least one parameter associated with a tractor mode and/or an implement mode, and wherein the position of the implement is adjusted to a new position when said force signal varies, characterised in that the control system comprises pre-determined parameter values associated with a tractor and/or implement mode and wherein the measured parameter is compared with the pre-determined parameter values and if the measured parameter would result in an undesired movement of the implement attachment means, the force signal is deactivated, or the response to the force signal is deactivated to prevent undesired movement of the attachment means.

2. The tractor control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pre-determined parameter value comprises a permitted/non permitted value which if exceeded or not attained by the measured parameter results in the force signal, or the response to the force signal being deactivated.

3. The tractor control system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the measured implement mode comprises a mode which determines whether an implement is attached to a ball hitch or a linkage.

4. The tractor control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pre-determined tractor mode comprises any of reversing, coasting, travelling uphill, travelling downhill, braking or accelerating of the tractor and if the measured tractor mode detects any of the pre-determined tractor modes, the force signal is deactivated, or the response to the pull force signal is deactivated.

5. The tractor control systems as claimed claim 1 wherein the pre-determined tractor mode is in stand still, the drag mode is deactivated.

6. The tractor control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pre-determined implement mode comprises the raised transport mode and if the measured implement mode detects this implement position, the force signal is deactivated, or the response to the force signal is deactivated.

7. The tractor control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the pre-determined implement mode comprises the attachment of a implement type not contacting ground during operation and if the measured implement mode detects said implement type, the force signal is deactivated, or the response to the force signal is deactivated.

8. The tractor control system as claimed claim 1 wherein the detection of different measured parameter values associated with the tractor and/or implement modes is prioritised and the control system deactivates the force signal or the response to the force signal depending on the prioritisation of the detected measured parameter values.

9. The tractor control system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the force signal is provided by a pressure sensor within the hydraulic circuit of a transmission/drive system.