Apparatus and method for controlling rotational speed and direction of a crop sprayer
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A crop sprayer control assembly comprising:
- a hand-operated control device;
an up-throttle sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device;
a down-throttle sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device;
an up-shift sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; and
a down-shift sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device;
wherein the hand-operated control device is movable between a first position toward which the control device is biased and each of a second position, a third position, a fourth position and a fifth position;
wherein the up-throttle sensor is operable to sense when the hand-operated control device is in the second position;
wherein the down-throttle sensor is operable to sense when the hand-operated control device is in the third position;
wherein the up-shift sensor is operable to sense when the hand-operated control device is in the fourth position; and
wherein the down-shift sensor is operable to sense when the hand-operated control device is in the fifth position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A crop sprayer control assembly includes a hand-operated control device with an up-throttle sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device. A down-throttle sensor, an up-shift sensor and a down-shift sensor are also operably connected to the hand-operated control device.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. A crop sprayer control assembly comprising:
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a hand-operated control device; an up-throttle sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; a down-throttle sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; an up-shift sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; and a down-shift sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; wherein the hand-operated control device is movable between a first position toward which the control device is biased and each of a second position, a third position, a fourth position and a fifth position; wherein the up-throttle sensor is operable to sense when the hand-operated control device is in the second position; wherein the down-throttle sensor is operable to sense when the hand-operated control device is in the third position; wherein the up-shift sensor is operable to sense when the hand-operated control device is in the fourth position; and wherein the down-shift sensor is operable to sense when the hand-operated control device is in the fifth position. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A crop sprayer control assembly comprising:
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a hand-operated control device; an up-throttle sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; a down-throttle sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; an up-shift sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; a down-shift sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; a forward gear sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; and a reverse gear sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A crop sprayer control assembly comprising:
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a hand-operated control device; an up-throttle sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; a down-throttle sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; an up-shift sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device; and a down-shift sensor operably connected to the hand-operated control device, wherein the hand-operated control device is angularly movable between a first position toward which the control device is biased and a second position, such that when the hand-operated control device is displaced toward the second position, the up-throttle actuator is controlled to accelerate the rotation of the driveshaft of the crop sprayer based upon the angular displacement of the hand-operated control device from the first position toward the second position. - View Dependent Claims (9)
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10. A crop sprayer speed control assembly comprising:
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a joystick having a first position; a first sensor associated with the first position; and a memory including first stored instructions which, when executed, determine that the first sensor has sensed the joystick in the first position, issue a first signal operable to change the rotational speed of the crop sprayer engine, continue to change the rotational speed of the engine until the first sensor no longer senses the joystick in the first position or until a first predetermined rotational speed has been achieved, and terminate the change in the rotational speed of the engine when the first sensor no longer senses the joystick in the first position or the first predetermined speed has been achieved; and a microprocessor for executing instructions stored in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of controlling the drive shaft of a crop sprayer comprising:
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sensing a control stick positioned in a first position with a first sensor; providing a first sensor output based upon the sensing of the control stick; changing the rotational speed of the crop sprayer drive shaft based upon the first sensor output; and terminating the change in the rotational speed of the drive shaft when the first sensor no longer senses the control stick in the first position or a first predetermined rotational speed of the drive shaft has been achieved. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method of controlling the speed and direction of a drive shaft on a crop sprayer comprising:
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moving a control stick from a first position to a second position; generating a first signal based upon the movement of the control stick to the second position; changing the rotational speed of the crop sprayer drive shaft based upon the first signal; moving the control stick from the second position to the first position; and terminating the change in the rotational speed of the drive shaft when the control stick is moved from the second position to the first position; moving the control stick from the first position to a third position; generating a second signal based upon the movement of the control stick to the third position; changing the rotational speed of the crop sprayer drive shaft based upon the second signal in a manner different from the change based upon the first signal; moving the control stick from the third position to the first position; and terminating the change in the rotational speed of the drive shaft when the control stick is moved from the third position to the first position. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. A method of controlling the speed and direction of a drive shaft on a crop sprayer comprising:
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moving a control stick from a first position to a second position;
generating a first signal based upon the movement of the control stick to the second position;changing the rotational speed of the crop sprayer drive shaft based upon the first signal; moving the control stick from the second position to the first position; and terminating the change in the rotational speed of the drive shaft when the control stick is moved from the second position to the first position; moving the control stick from the first position to a third position; generating a second signal based upon the movement of the control stick to the third position; and changing the gear in the transmission which is engaged to the drive shaft based upon the second signal. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification