Crop feeler device for machine row guidance

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12457914-B2
Application number	US-202318344950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2023
Priority date	Jun 30, 2023
Publication date	Nov 4, 2025
Grant date	Nov 4, 2025

Abstract

A crop feeler device comprising a rod. A pivot device is coupled to the rod. The pivot device is configured to pivot in two opposing directions. A housing is rotatably coupled to the pivot device. A pair of torsion devices is positioned colinearly on the pivot device. The torsion devices are configured to return the rod to a central position after a pivot of the pivot device. A rotary sensor is positioned to measure a rotation of the pivot device or the rod as the rod moves from the central position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A crop feeler device comprising:
a rod; a pivot device coupled to the rod, the pivot device configured to pivot in two opposing directions; a housing rotatably coupled to the pivot device; a pair of torsion devices positioned colinearly on the pivot device, the torsion devices configured to return the rod to a central position after a pivot of the pivot device; and a rotary sensor positioned to measure a rotation of the pivot device or the rod as the rod moves from the central position, wherein the pivot device comprises a pair of stops and the housing comprises a pair of apertures and the pair of torsion devices each have one portion positioned against the stops and another portion positioned in the apertures.

2 . The crop feeler device of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a top plate and a bottom plate and the rotary sensor is coupled to the top plate or the bottom plate.

3 . The crop feeler device of claim 1 , wherein the pivot device rotates from the central position where the pivot device is not pivoted to a pivoted position where the pivot device is pivoted when the rod is contacted by a crop.

4 . The crop feeler device of claim 3 , wherein at least one of the torsion devices are twisted more in the pivoted position than in the central position.

5 . The crop feeler device of claim 1 , wherein the torsion devices comprise a torsion spring.

6 . The crop feeler device of claim 1 , wherein the torsion devices are coupled to one or more of the top plate and the bottom plate.

7 . The crop feeler device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor provides an output that is linear with respect to the movement of the rod or the pivot device.

8 . An agricultural work vehicle comprising:
a steering device configured to steer the agricultural work vehicle; a crop feeler device comprising:
a rod;
a pivot device coupled to the rod, the pivot device configured to pivot in two opposing directions;
a housing rotatably coupled to the pivot device;
a pair of torsion devices positioned colinearly on the pivot device, the torsion devices configured to return the rod to a central position after a pivot of the pivot device; and
a rotary sensor positioned to measure a rotation of the pivot device or the rod as the rod moves from the central position; and
a controller communicatively coupled to the rotary sensor, the controller comprising a data storage device and an electronic data processor, the data storage device configured for storing instructions that are executable by the electronic data processor to cause the electronic data processor to receive the signal, determine a steering output, and provide a steering signal to the steering device to steer the agricultural work vehicle, wherein the pivot device comprises a pair of stops and the housing comprises a pair of apertures and the pair of torsion devices each have one portion positioned against the stops and another portion positioned in the apertures.

9 . The agricultural work vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the housing comprises a top plate and a bottom plate and the rotary sensor is coupled to the top plate or the bottom plate.

10 . The agricultural work vehicle of claim 9 , wherein the torsion devices are coupled to one or more of the top plate and the bottom plate.

11 . The agricultural work vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the pivot device rotates from the central position where the pivot device is not pivoted to a pivoted position where the pivot device is pivoted when the rod is contacted by a crop.

12 . The agricultural work vehicle of claim 11 , wherein at least one of the torsion devices are twisted more in the pivoted position than in the central position.

13 . The agricultural work vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the torsion devices comprise a torsion spring.

14 . The agricultural work vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the sensor provides an output that is linear with respect to the movement of the rod or the pivot device.

15 . The agricultural work vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the steering device comprises a hydraulic cylinder.

16 . The agricultural work vehicle of claim 8 , further comprising an additional crop feeler device positioned on a side of the agricultural work vehicle opposite of the crop feeler device positioned on another side of the agricultural work vehicle.

17 . The agricultural work vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the crop feeler device contacts the crop in a first row and the additional crop feeler device contacts the crop in a second row.

18 . A method for controlling an agricultural work vehicle, the agricultural work vehicle comprising a steering device configured to steer the agricultural work vehicle, the method comprising:
providing a crop feeler device comprising a rod, a pivot device coupled to the rod, the pivot device configured to pivot in two opposing directions, a housing rotatably coupled to the pivot device, a pair of torsion devices positioned colinearly on the pivot device, the torsion devices configured to return the rod to a central position after a pivot of the pivot device, and a rotary sensor positioned to measure a rotation of the pivot device or the rod as the rod moves from the central position and provide a signal, wherein the pivot device comprises a pair of stops and the housing comprises a pair of apertures and the pair of torsion devices each have one portion positioned against the stops and another portion positioned in the apertures; and receiving the signal; determining a steering output; and providing a steering signal to the steering device to steer the agricultural work vehicle.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Barker Mark E

Classifications

• A01D41/1278 Primary

  for automatic steering · CPC title

• B62D6/001

  the torque NOT being among the input parameters · CPC title

• A01B69/008 Primary

  automatic · CPC title