Programmable one-touch raise feature for an agricultural harvester such as a windrower

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10517207-B2
Application number	US-201715583477-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 1, 2017
Priority date	May 2, 2016
Publication date	Dec 31, 2019
Grant date	Dec 31, 2019

Abstract

An agricultural vehicle including a chassis and a header carried by the chassis and including a cutter mechanism. The header is adjustable in a vertical direction. The agricultural vehicle also includes a header actuator connected to the header and configured to adjust the header in the vertical direction, and a controller coupled to the header actuator. The controller is configured for receiving an input command for controlling an operation of the header actuator to achieve a lifting height, operating the header actuator in conformance with the input command, and terminating the operating of the header actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An agricultural vehicle comprising:
a chassis;
a header carried by said chassis and including a cutter mechanism, said header configured for forming a windrow having a windrow height, and said header being adjustable in a vertical direction;
a header actuator connected to said header and configured to adjust said header in the vertical direction; and
a controller coupled to said header actuator, said controller being configured for:
receiving an input command for controlling an operation of the header actuator to achieve a lifting height;
determining one of a distance for raising the header in the vertical direction and a time period for raising the header in the vertical direction to achieve a lifting height that is dependent on the windrow height;
initiating a vertical adjustment of the header with the header actuator;
stopping the vertical adjustment of the header upon achieving said lifting height.

2. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said controller is further configured for determining whether said operating of the header actuator is in compliance with said input command.

3. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said controller is further configured for:
detecting a distance moved by said header during said operation of the header actuator;
receiving an operator input command for raising said header a prescribed distance; and
terminating the operating of the header actuator after achieving said lifting height.

4. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said controller is further configured for:
determining a time period over which said header actuator has been operating;
receiving an operator input command for operating said header actuator over a prescribed time period; and
terminating the operating of the header after operating said header actuator for said prescribed time period.

5. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a location sensor coupled to said controller.

6. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 5 , wherein said controller is further configured for commencing said operating of the header actuator in response to a location determined by said location sensor.

7. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein said agricultural vehicle further includes a switch that is coupled to said controller; and
said controller is further configured for commencing said operating of the header actuator in response to activating said switch.

8. The agricultural vehicle according to claim 7 , wherein said switch is one of a physical switch and a graphic image in a graphical user interface shown on a touchscreen display.

9. A method of controlling an agricultural vehicle including a header being adjustable in a vertical direction while harvesting a crop and forming a windrow having a windrow height, said method comprising the steps of:
determining one of a distance for raising the header in the vertical direction and a time period for raising the header in the vertical direction to achieve a lifting height that is dependent on said windrow height;
initiating a vertical adjustment of the header;
ascertaining when said lifting height has been achieved by one of:
determining a distance the header has been raised and comparing the distance the header has been raised to said distance for raising the header in the vertical direction to achieve the lifting height; and
determining a time period over which the vertical adjustment has occurred and comparing the time period over which the vertical adjustment has occurred to said time period for raising the header in the vertical direction to achieve the lifting height; and
stopping the vertical adjustment of the header upon achieving said lifting height.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said step of initiating the vertical adjustment of the header is initiated by an operator inputting a command by activating a switch.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein said switch is at least one of a physical switch and a graphic image in a graphical user interface shown on a touchscreen display.

12. The method according to claim 9 , wherein said agricultural vehicle further includes a controller.

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein said agricultural vehicle further includes a location sensor coupled to said controller and configured to provide a location signal to said controller.

14. The method according to claim 13 , wherein said step of initiating the vertical adjustment of the header is initiated by said controller in response to a location determined by said location sensor.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Pankaj Madhu
• Fackler Robert L
• Huggard Roger D

Classifications

• A01D34/04

  with cutters at the front · CPC title

• A01D34/006 Primary

  Control or measuring arrangements · CPC title

• A01D57/00

  Delivering mechanisms for harvesters or mowers · CPC title

• A01D2101/00

  Lawn-mowers · CPC title

• A01D57/28

  Windrower attachments with tines · CPC title