Articulated equipment position control system and method
First Claim
1. A position control method for positioning a working component relative to a motive component, which comprises the steps of:
- providing an articulated connection between said components;
providing said motive component with a first locating device including a DGPS receiver;
providing a OPS output from said first locating device corresponding to a position of said motive component;
providing a second locating device associated with said working component;
providing an output from said second locating device locating said working component relative to said motive component;
providing a controller;
connecting said controller to said locating devices;
providing a positioning device connected to said controller;
operably and drivingly connecting said positioning device to said working component;
providing a positioning signal output from said controller; and
positioning said working component relative to said motive component with said positioning device in response to said positioning signal.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An articulated equipment position control system and method are provided for equipment consisting of motive and working components. The components are connected by an articulated connector, such as a pivotal hitch. GPS-derived positional data is utilized for power-articulating the hitch to maintain the working component, such as an implement, on a predetermined course. Operator-inducted course deviations can thus be corrected. The working component can also be positioned to follow the course of the movive component. The system includes a microprocessor control subsystem, which interfaces with a steering guidance system.
276 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A position control method for positioning a working component relative to a motive component, which comprises the steps of:
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providing an articulated connection between said components; providing said motive component with a first locating device including a DGPS receiver; providing a OPS output from said first locating device corresponding to a position of said motive component; providing a second locating device associated with said working component; providing an output from said second locating device locating said working component relative to said motive component; providing a controller; connecting said controller to said locating devices; providing a positioning device connected to said controller; operably and drivingly connecting said positioning device to said working component; providing a positioning signal output from said controller; and positioning said working component relative to said motive component with said positioning device in response to said positioning signal.
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2. A position control method for independently positioning interconnected motive and working components, which comprises the steps of:
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providing an articulated connection between said components; providing said motive component with a first locating device including a GNSS receiver; providing a GNSS output from said first locating device corresponding to a position of said motive component; providing a second locating device associated with said working component; providing an output from said second locating device locating said working component; providing a controller; connecting said controller to at least one of said locating devices; providing a positioning device connected to said controller and to said working component; providing a positioning signal output from said controller; and positioning said working component with said positioning device in response to said positioning signal. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A position control method for positioning a working component relative to a motive component, which comprises the steps of:
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providing an articulated connection between said components; providing said motive component with a first locating device including a DOPS receiver; providing a GPS output from said first locating device corresponding to a position of said motive component; providing a second locating device associated with said working component; providing an output from said second locating device locating said working component relative to said motive component; providing a controller; connecting said controller to said locating devices; providing a positioning device connected to said controller; operably and drivingly connecting said positioning device to said working component; providing a positioning signal output from said controller; positioning said working component relative to said motive component with said positioning device in response to said positioning signal; providing said second locating device with a second GNSS receiver; and providing a GNSS output from said second locating device corresponding to a GNSS position of said working component; providing said controller with first and second microprocessors on said motive and working components respectively; connecting said first and second microprocessors to said first and second receivers respectively; positioning said working component relative to said motive component with said positioning device in response to said positioning signal output; storing GNSS-based straight and curved desired tracks in said controller; providing position-correcting output to said positioning device in response to deviations of said motive component from a desired track; providing a straight-line operating mode adapted for guiding said implement along a relatively straight-line track; providing a contour operating mode adapted for guiding said implement along a curvilinear track; and compensating for a turning radius based on motive component speed and rate-of-turn.
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Specification