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Control system for controlling header speed of an agricultural vehicle

  • US 9,788,480 B2
  • Filed: 09/11/2014
  • Issued: 10/17/2017
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. An agricultural vehicle comprising:

  • a frame;

    a plurality of wheels attached to the frame;

    a ground speed control actuator configured to rotate at least one of said plurality of wheels to effectuate movement of the agricultural vehicle at a desired ground speed;

    a harvesting header attached to the frame, the header comprising a plurality of rotary cutters, wherein each rotary cutter has a rotating disc with at least one blade extending therefrom, said blade configured for cutting crops;

    a header actuator configured to actuate rotation of each of the rotating discs; and

    a processor configured for;

    monitoring said ground speed of the agricultural vehicle;

    calculating a threshold ground speed based on a predetermined maximum cut length for a particular crop or a particular crop condition using the following equation;

    the predetermined maximum cut length in inches equals 528 multiplied by the threshold ground speed in miles per hour divided by the constant predetermined rotational speed in rotations per minute;

    comparing the ground speed of the agricultural vehicle with the threshold ground speed;

    commanding the header actuator to rotate the discs at a constant predetermined rotational speed if the ground speed of the agricultural vehicle is below the threshold ground speed; and

    commanding the header actuator to increase rotational speed of the rotating discs in proportion to the ground speed of the agricultural vehicle if the ground speed of the agricultural vehicle is above the threshold ground speed.

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