Arrangement for the control of a device interface of an agricultural work vehicle

• US 9,622,399 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Kremmer, Martin, Reinards, Marco
• Primary Examiner(s): CHEUNG, CALVIN K
• Application Number:
  US14/741,033
• Publication Number:
  US 20150366124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 59/06 for machines mounted on tractors
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 63/1006 the hydraulic or pneumatic means structurally belonging to the tractor
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 76/00 Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/36159 Detachable or portable programming unit, display, pc, pda
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/45017 Agriculture machine, tractor

Abstract

An arrangement for the control of a device interface of an agricultural work vehicle includes a control unit of the work vehicle, which is connected, in a controlling manner, with an external power actuator for the adjustment of the position of the device interface, and a portable computer with input and a processor which has a wireless communication connection with the control unit and on which software was downloaded, which makes possible control of the actuator by the input, via the processor and the control unit.

Claims

1. A system for remotely controlling a device interface of an agricultural work vehicle, the system comprising:

a control unit connected to an external-power actuator to adjust a position of the device interface;

a vehicle bus connected to the control unit;

an interface;

a device bus in communication with the control unit via the interface, the device bus being configured to control the external-power actuator via a virtual terminal;

a portable computer comprising;

a processor, and

a wireless communication unit in communication with the control unit, the portable computer being configured to control the external-power actuator via the processor and the control unit based on an input; and

a communication device connected to the device bus, the communication device comprising;

a communication controller configured to simulate a device connected to the device bus, and configured to control of the external-power actuator via the portable computer,

a protocol converter configured to convert a communication protocol used by the portable computer into an ISO 11783 protocol used by the device bus, and

a transmitting and receiving module.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein remotely controlling the device interface of the work vehicle can occur if at least one of the following conditions is fulfilled:

the portable computer and the work vehicle are paired by exchanging a pairing code;

the portable computer and the work vehicle are authorized successfully between one another by near-field communication or input by an operator into the portable computer or input by the operator into a work vehicle terminal;

the work vehicle is shut down;

or

in a predetermined time, the work vehicle has received a heartbeat communication from the portable computer and there is no general timeout of the communication between the portable computer and the work vehicle.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication unit is configured to communicate with the control unit via a radio communication according to a network protocol-based standard or a standard for cell phones.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the device interface is a front three-point linkage and the external-power actuator is configured to:

raise and lower a lower guiding element of the front three-point linkage;

adjust a length of an upper guiding element of the front three-point linkage;

or

open and close a lock positioned on a guiding element of the front three-point linkage.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the device interface is a rear three-point linkage and the external-power actuator is configured to:

raise and lower a lower guiding element of the rear three-point linkage;

adjust a length of an upper guiding element of the rear three-point linkage;

or

extend and retract hydraulic stabilizers.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the device interface is a trailer coupling, and the external-power actuator is configured to:

open and close the trailer coupling;

or

adjust the trailer coupling in a forward direction or a vertical direction.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the device interface is a PTO shaft, and the external-power actuator is configured to switch the PTO shaft on and off.