Integrated row guidance system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025057064-A1
Application number	US-202418807889-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 16, 2024
Priority date	Aug 17, 2023
Publication date	Feb 20, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

An agricultural implement mountable to a towing vehicle comprises a main mounting assembly, a toolbar slidably attached to the main mounting assembly, a plurality of row units mounted on the toolbar, a wand guidance system, and a control unit. The main mounting assembly is configured to be mountable to the towing vehicle. The wand guidance system is mounted on a selected one of the plurality of row units. The wand guidance system is configured to sense a position of the selected row unit relative to a first of a plurality of crop rows and generate a control signal based on the position of the selected row unit relative to the first crop row. The control unit is configured to adjust a lateral position of the toolbar relative to the main mounting assembly based on the control signal.

First claim

1 . An agricultural implement mountable to a towing vehicle, the agricultural implement comprising:
a main mounting assembly configured to be mountable to the towing vehicle; a toolbar slidably attached to the main mounting assembly; a plurality of row units mounted on the toolbar; a wand guidance system mounted on a selected one of the plurality of row units, wherein the wand guidance system is configured to sense a position of the selected row unit relative to a first of a plurality of crop rows and generate a control signal based on the position of the selected row unit relative to the first crop row; and a control unit configured to adjust a lateral position of the toolbar relative to the main mounting assembly based on the control signal.

2 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the wand guidance system comprises a first sensor wand configured to engage the first crop row when the selected row unit is not in a preferred position relative to the first crop row.

3 . The agricultural implement of claim 2 , wherein the selected row unit is in the preferred position when it is centered between the first crop row and a second one of the plurality of crop rows adjacent the first crop row.

4 . The agricultural implement of claim 3 , wherein the wand guidance system further comprises a second sensor wand configured to engage the second crop row when the selected row unit is not in a second preferred position relative to the adjacent crop row.

5 . The agricultural implement of claim 4 , wherein the selected row unit is in the second preferred position when it is centered between the first crop row and the second crop row.

6 . The agricultural implement of claim 2 , wherein the wand guidance system further comprises a centering spring configured to bias the first sensor wand into a neutral position, wherein the first sensor wand is in the neutral position when the selected row unit is in the preferred position relative to the first crop row.

7 . The agricultural implement of claim 2 , wherein the wand guidance system further comprises a position sensor configured to sense a rotational position of the first sensor wand relative to the selected row unit.

8 . The agricultural implement of claim 7 , wherein the position sensor generates the control signal to adjust the lateral position of the toolbar.

9 . The agricultural implement of claim 2 , wherein the wand guidance system further comprises a turnbuckle configured to adjust the width of the first sensor wand.

10 . The agricultural implement of claim 1 , wherein the wand guidance system further comprises a crop deflector mounted between the wand guidance system and the towing vehicle.

11 . An agricultural implement mountable to a towing vehicle, the agricultural implement comprising:
a main mounting assembly configured to be mountable to the towing vehicle; a toolbar slidably attached to the main mounting assembly; a plurality of row units mounted on the toolbar; a wand guidance system comprising a first sensor wand having a contact point, wherein the contact point is adjacent to a selected one of the plurality of row units, wherein the wand guidance system is configured to sense a position of the selected row unit relative to a first of a plurality of crop rows and generate a control signal based on the position of the selected row unit relative to the first crop row; and a control unit configured to adjust a lateral position of the toolbar relative to the main mounting assembly based on the control signal.

12 . The agricultural implement of claim 11 , wherein the first sensor wand is configured to engage the first crop row when the selected row unit is not in a preferred position relative to the first crop row.

13 . The agricultural implement of claim 12 , wherein the selected row unit is in the preferred position when it is centered between the first crop row and a second one of the plurality of crop rows adjacent the first crop row.

14 . The agricultural implement of claim 13 , wherein the wand guidance system further comprises a second sensor wand configured to engage the second crop row when the selected row unit is not in a second preferred position relative to the adjacent crop row.

15 . The agricultural implement of claim 14 , wherein the selected row unit is in the second preferred position when it is centered between the first crop row and the second crop row.

16 . The agricultural implement of claim 12 , wherein the wand guidance system further comprises a centering spring configured to bias the first sensor wand into a neutral position, wherein the first sensor wand is in the neutral position when the selected row unit is in the preferred position relative to the first crop row.

17 . The agricultural implement of claim 12 , wherein the wand guidance system further comprises a position sensor configured to sense a rotational position of the first sensor wand relative to the selected row unit.

18 . The agricultural implement of claim 17 , wherein the position sensor generates the control signal to adjust the lateral position of the toolbar.

19 . The agricultural implement of claim 12 , wherein the wand guidance system further comprises a turnbuckle configured to adjust the width of the first sensor wand.

20 . The agricultural implement of claim 11 , wherein the wand guidance system further comprises a crop deflector mounted between the wand guidance system and the towing vehicle.

Assignees

• Macdon Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Flick Daniel
• Hundt Karl Bernard

Classifications

• A01B69/004

  automatic · CPC title

• A01B63/10

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means · CPC title

• A01B39/18

  for weeding · CPC title

• A01C7/208

  Chassis; Coupling means to a tractor or the like; Lifting means; Side markers · CPC title

• A01B63/32

  operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means {without automatic control} · CPC title