Row following guidance device for a tractor-drawn row crop implement
First Claim
1. A row following guidance device for a tractor-drawn row crop implement, comprising:
- an inverted "U"-shaped mounting bar having means for attachment to the forward end of the implement, which attachment means are adapted to be arranged transversely of the crop rows;
means for controllably increasing the distance between one end of said mounting bar and the tractor, and decreasing the distance between the other end of said mounting bar and the tractor, including;
a first articulated member including an elongated arm and a lever, the elongated arm of said first articulated member having means for pivotally connecting it .[.to.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.one end to the tractor about an axis parallel to the axis of articulation of said first articulated member and adapted for horizontal pivotal movement, the lever of said first articulated member being pivotally connected at a point on the lever about an axis parallel to said axis of articulation to an end of said mounting bar;
a second articulated member including an elongated arm and a lever, the elongated arm of said second articulated member having means for pivotally connecting it at one end to the tractor about an axis parallel to the axis of articulation of said second articulated member and adapted for horizontal pivotal movement, the lever of said second articulated member being pivotally connected at a point on the second member lever about an axis parallel to said second member axis of articulation to the other end of said mounting bar, and wherein said first and second axes of articulation of said first and second articulated members, respectively, are parallel;
a horizontal arm pivotally connected at each end to a point on each of the levers of said first and second articulated members, each said point being spaced away from the pivotal .[.conenction.]. .Iadd.connection .Iaddend.of each said lever to said mounting bar, said horizontal arm adapted for transmitting pivotal movement of one of said levers to the other of said levers;
whereby the increase in distance between the tractor and the pivotal connection of said one lever to said mounting bar is proportionately decreased between the tractor and the pivotal connection of said other lever to said mounting bar;
means connected to said mounting bar adapted to be responsive to lateral movements of said mounting bar in relation to the crop rows for transmitting signals to said means controllably increasing and decreasing distance, whereby said implement is guidable along a crop row independently of lateral movement of the tractor; and
means activated by said signal transmitting means for pivoting said levers about their pivotal connections to said mounting bar, further including;
a first hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected at one end to said mounting bar and pivotally connected at the other end to the lever of said first articulated member at a point spaced away from the pivotal connection of said first member lever to said mounting bar, and a second hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected at one end to said mounting bar and pivotally connected at the other end to the lever of said second articulated member at a point spaced away from the pivotal connection of said lever to said mounting bar.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A row following guidance device connecting the right and left ends of the forward portion of a row crop implement to a tractor will adjust the length of each left and right connection as the tractor deviates laterally from alignment with the crop rows to correctively guide the implement in alignment with the crop rows. A row following wheel signals a steering valve upon any lateral deviation of the implement from crop row alignment, the steering valve correcting the deviation by lengthening one connection between the tractor and the implement and shortening the other. The row following wheel is mounted for movement independent of the implement so that the implement may be raised or lowered without affecting the operation of the wheel.
42 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A row following guidance device for a tractor-drawn row crop implement, comprising:
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an inverted "U"-shaped mounting bar having means for attachment to the forward end of the implement, which attachment means are adapted to be arranged transversely of the crop rows; means for controllably increasing the distance between one end of said mounting bar and the tractor, and decreasing the distance between the other end of said mounting bar and the tractor, including; a first articulated member including an elongated arm and a lever, the elongated arm of said first articulated member having means for pivotally connecting it .[.to.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.one end to the tractor about an axis parallel to the axis of articulation of said first articulated member and adapted for horizontal pivotal movement, the lever of said first articulated member being pivotally connected at a point on the lever about an axis parallel to said axis of articulation to an end of said mounting bar; a second articulated member including an elongated arm and a lever, the elongated arm of said second articulated member having means for pivotally connecting it at one end to the tractor about an axis parallel to the axis of articulation of said second articulated member and adapted for horizontal pivotal movement, the lever of said second articulated member being pivotally connected at a point on the second member lever about an axis parallel to said second member axis of articulation to the other end of said mounting bar, and wherein said first and second axes of articulation of said first and second articulated members, respectively, are parallel; a horizontal arm pivotally connected at each end to a point on each of the levers of said first and second articulated members, each said point being spaced away from the pivotal .[.conenction.]. .Iadd.connection .Iaddend.of each said lever to said mounting bar, said horizontal arm adapted for transmitting pivotal movement of one of said levers to the other of said levers;
whereby the increase in distance between the tractor and the pivotal connection of said one lever to said mounting bar is proportionately decreased between the tractor and the pivotal connection of said other lever to said mounting bar;means connected to said mounting bar adapted to be responsive to lateral movements of said mounting bar in relation to the crop rows for transmitting signals to said means controllably increasing and decreasing distance, whereby said implement is guidable along a crop row independently of lateral movement of the tractor; and means activated by said signal transmitting means for pivoting said levers about their pivotal connections to said mounting bar, further including; a first hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected at one end to said mounting bar and pivotally connected at the other end to the lever of said first articulated member at a point spaced away from the pivotal connection of said first member lever to said mounting bar, and a second hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected at one end to said mounting bar and pivotally connected at the other end to the lever of said second articulated member at a point spaced away from the pivotal connection of said lever to said mounting bar. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A row following guidance device for a tractor-drawn row crop implement, comprising:
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an inverted "U"-shaped mounting bar having means for attachment to the forward end of the implement, which attachment means are adapted to be arranged transversely of the crop rows; means for controllably increasing the distance between one end of said mounting bar and the tractor, and decreasing the distance between the other end of said mounting bar and the tractor; and means connected to said mounting bar adapted to be responsive to lateral movements of said mounting bar in relation to the crop rows, for transmitting signals to said distance-increasing-and-decreasing means;
whereby said implement is .[.gridable.]. .Iadd.guidable .Iaddend.along a crop row independently of lateral movement of the tractor, including;a hydraulic steering valve having means for attachment to the tractor and a rotatable actuator rod which projects from the bottom of said valve; an arm pivotally connected at one end for vertical pivotal movement, to the projecting end of said actuator rod, for activating said steering valve by rotating said actuator rod; and row following means pivotally connected to said mounting bar and adapted to move said activator arm so as to rotate the actuator rod when said mounting bar moves laterally in relation to said crop rows. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A row following guidance device for a row crop implement drawn by a tractor with a hitch, comprising:
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an "L"-shaped portion of an inverted "U"-shaped support means, having means for rigid attachment to the crop implement at one end of one leg of which "L"-shaped portion which leg extends horizontally at a right angle to the direction of travel, said "L"-shaped portion further having a leg depending from said one leg; an extending support means aligned with the direction of travel and rigidly attached to said "L"-shaped portion at the juncture of its two legs, said support means extending outwardly from said "L"-shaped portion to a free end thereof; a lever connected intermediate its ends, for pivotal rotation about a horizontal axis oriented transverse to the direction of travel, to a point on the depending leg of said "L"-shaped portion near the lower end thereof, said lever having means for pivotal connection at its lower end to the trailing end of an arm of the tractor hitch and being pivotally connected as its upper end to the end of a horizontal tie rod which rotates about a vertical pin affixed to said "L"-shaped portion at a point thereon aligned with said means for attachment to the crop implement; a hydraulic cylinder means pivotally connected at one end to said extending support means at a point thereon near its free end and pivotally connected at its other end to the horizontal tie rod near its connection to said lever; and means for detecting lateral movement of the crop implement with respect to the crop rows and transmitting proportionate signals to a means for controlling said hydraulic cylinder, whereby the crop implement will be guided along a crop row independent of the relative lateral position of the tractor. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A row following guidance device for a tractor-drawn implement, comprising:
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a first horizontal elongated member having means for attachment to the forward end of a farm implement, which attachment means is adapted to be arranged transversely of crop rows; a second horizontal elongated member having means for attachment to a tractor, said second member being pivotally attached about a vertical axis at a point thereon intermediate its ends to said first member at a point thereon intermediate its ends, wherein one of said first and second members is characterized as having a portion thereof located between said intermediate point and an end thereof; a hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected at one end to a point within said portion of said one of said first and second members and pivotally connected at its other end to said other member at a point away from said intermediate point thereon; and means pulled by said tractor and adapted to be responsive to lateral movements of the implement in relation to the crop rows for transmitting signals proportionate to said lateral movement to a hydraulic pressure means for actuating said hydraulic cylinder to cause pivotal movement between said first and second members. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21. The guidance device of claim 20, wherein the same one of said first and second members as was characterized as having said portion is further characterized as having a second portion thereof located away from said intermediate point an equal and opposite distance and angle as is said first mentioned portion, said second portion further comprising; a second hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected at one end to a point within said second portion, said point being located an equal and opposite distance away and angle from said intermediate point as is said point to which said first hydraulic cylinder is connected to said first portion and pivotally connected at its other end to said other member at a point away from its intermediate point an equal and opposite distance and angle therefrom as the point thereon to which said first cylinder is connected; and wherein said hydraulic pressure means is further characterized as also being connected to said second hydraulic cylinder for applying equal and opposite pressure thereto as to said first hydraulic cylinder. .Iaddend.
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21. Iadd.22. A following guidance device for a tractor-drawn implement, comprising:
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a horizontal elongated member having means for attachment to the forward end of a farm implement, which attachment means is adapted to be arranged transversely of crop rows; means for controllably increasing the distance between one end of said elongated member and the tractor, and decreasing the distance between the other end of said elongated member and the tractor, including; a first articulated member including an elongated arm and a lever, the elongated arm of said first articulated member having means for pivotally connecting it to a first side of the tractor about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of articulation of said first articulated member, the lever of said first articulated member being pivotally connected about an axis parallel to said axis of articulation at a point on the lever intermediate its ends to said elongated member; a second articulated member including an elongated arm and a lever, the elongated arm of said second articulated member having means for pivotally connecting it to the second side of the tractor about a horizontal axis parallel to the axis of articulation of said second articulated member, the lever of said second articulated member being pivotally connected about an axis parallel to said axis of articulation at a point on the second member lever intermediate its end to said elongated member, and wherein said first and second axes of articulation of said first and second articulated members, respectively, are parallel; means connected to said elongated member adapted to be responsive to lateral movements of said elongated member in relation to the crop rows for transmitting signals to said means controllably increasing and decreasing distance, whereby said implement is guidable along a crop row independently of lateral movement of the tractor; and means activated by said signal transmitting means for pivoting said levers oppositely and proportionally directionwise about their pivotal connections to said elongated member, further including; a first hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected at one end to the free end of the lever of said first articulated member and pivotally connected at the other end to said elongated member at a point spaced away from the pivotal connection of said first member lever to said elongated member; and a second hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected at one end to said elongated member and pivotally connected at the other end to the lever of said second articulated member at a point spaced away from the pivotal connection of said lever to said elongated member. .Iaddend.
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Specification