Guidance system for an agricultural implement

• US 5,476,147 A
• Filed: 08/24/1994
• Issued: 12/19/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fixemer, Richard A.
• Original Assignee: Fixemer, Richard A.
• Inventors: Fixemer, Richard A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Melius, Terry Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): WARNICK IV, SPENCER K
• Application Number:
  US08/295,247
• Time in Patent Office: 482 Days
• Field of Search: 172/236, 172/5, 172/6, 172/26, 172/278, 172/282, 172/283, 172/569, 172/576, 172/578, 172/590, 104/244.1, 180/131, 171/47, 56/10.2 F
• US Class Current: 172/26
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/004 automatic

Abstract

A guidance system for an implement drawn by a tractor with the implement being interconnected to the tractor by a guidance hitch which moves the implement laterally with respect to the tractor to maintain the implement in proper alignment with the rows of the field. An elongated arm is pivotally secured, about a vertical axis, to the implement adjacent one end thereof and extends forwardly therefrom. A pair of gauge wheels are rotatably mounted on the forward end of the arm and are adapted to follow along the opposite sides of a ridge of the row. The pivotal connection between the arm and the tool bar is effected by an angle sensing shaft extending from a guidance sensor. As the implement shifts one way or another with respect to the rows, the relative angular movement between the implement and the arm supporting the gauge wheels changes which causes the angle sensing shaft to be rotated thereby sending a signal to the guidance hitch to actuate the same to move the implement back into proper alignment with the rows. In an embodiment of the invention, the guidance hitch and guidance sensor are not used. The elongated arm supporting the gauge wheels is operatively interconnected to a coulter which is in ground engagement. As the elongated arm supporting the gauge wheels pivots with respect to the implement, as the implement moves out of proper alignment with the rows, the coulter steers the implement back into proper alignment with the rows.

Claims

1. A guidance system for an implement drawn by a tractor with the implement being interconnected to the tractor by a hitch means, the implement including a tool bar having a rearward side, a forward side, and opposite ends, comprising:

an elongated first support having rearward and forward ends;

said first support being pivotally secured, about a vertical axis, to said tool bar inwardly of one end thereof and extending forwardly therefrom;

a ground engaging means rotatably mounted to said first support at the forward end thereof for following a row;

at least one second support pivotally secured to said tool bar about a vertical axis, said second support vertical axis being in the same vertical plane and in a horizontally spaced relationship with respect to said first support vertical axis;

a ground engaging coulter pivotally secured, about a vertical axis, to said second support for engagement with a furrow between adjacent rows;

a mechanical linkage means interconnecting said first support and said coulter for pivoting said coulter, about its said vertical axis, with respect to said implement, corresponding to the angle between the longitudinal axis of said first elongated support and said tool bar, whereby said coulter aids in steering the implement into proper position with respect to the rows when said implement has moved out of alignment with the rows as sensed by the relative pivotal movement between said first support and said implement.

2. The guidance system of claim 1 wherein said ground engaging means on said first support comprises a pair of spaced apart wheels adapted to be positioned on opposite sides of a ridge of a row.