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Suspension control system providing orientation control for an agricultural machine

  • US 10,183,542 B1
  • Filed: 12/11/2017
  • Issued: 01/22/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2017
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A suspension system for an agricultural machine, comprising:

  • a plurality of suspension assemblies, each suspension assembly comprising a swing frame assembly and a cylinder, each cylinder comprising a piston rod configured to extend and retract with respect to a base, wherein the swing frame assembly is coupled to the agricultural machine, and wherein the cylinder is operationally coupled to the swing frame assembly at an actuation point;

    a plurality of position sensors, each position sensor being configured with respect to a cylinder, wherein each position sensor is configured to generate a signal indicating a position of a piston rod with respect to a base;

    a plurality of electronically controlled valves, each electronically controlled valve being configured to control a flow of fluid to and from a control volume for operating a cylinder;

    a vehicle sensor configured to provide an output, the vehicle sensor being selected from a group consisting of;

    a speed sensor configured to provide an output indicating a speed of the agricultural machine, and a turn angle sensor configured to provide an output indicating a turn angle of the agricultural machine; and

    a processor in communication with the plurality of position sensors, the plurality of electronically controlled valves, and the vehicle sensor, the processor executing a program stored in a non-transient medium to;

    determine a height for each suspension assembly from a position indicated by a position sensor configured with respect to a cylinder of the suspension assembly;

    calculate at least one of pitch and roll of the agricultural machine to determine a height correction for each suspension assembly, wherein pitch is a comparison between front and back heights of the agricultural machine, and roll is a comparison between left side and right side heights of the agricultural machine;

    compare the output of the vehicle sensor to a threshold; and

    control the electronically controlled valves to change the control volumes to apply the height corrections when the output exceeds the threshold.

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