Harvesters – Motorized harvester – With condition-responsive operation
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-28
2001-09-18
Will, Thomas B. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Motorized harvester
With condition-responsive operation
C056SDIG003, C056SDIG001
Reexamination Certificate
active
06289659
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1). Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to agricultural implements and, more specifically, to a height sensing shoe arrangement for an automatic height control on an implement or harvester.
2). Related Art
Harvesters such as cotton pickers include row units having height sensing shoes for automatic height adjustment to maintain an optimum unit operating position during harvesting. Each shoe is pivotally connected to an associated unit for rocking about an axis transverse to the forward direction of travel so a small portion of the shoe remains in contact with the soil. A rod is connected between the shoe and a valve or switch structure which responds to pivoting of the shoe to operate a row unit hydraulic lift to raise and lower the unit as necessary to maintain the optimum position. Often the harvester is operated in crusted or uneven field conditions, and the shoe rapidly pivots up and down as the harvester moves over closely spaced undulations in the soil surface. Such pivoting causes a corresponding rapid and undesirable movement of the valve or switch structure thereby inputting a less than optimum control signal to the hydraulic lift system. The rapid shoe pivoting caused by the small contact area riding over the soil surface increases forces and wear in the control system and in the hydraulic lift system. Although averaging to reduce rapid row unit movement can be accomplished electronically or hydraulically, the increase in system cost, complexity and response time usually makes such a fix undesirable. The small soil contact area on the shoe also results in rapid wear which necessitates time-consuming shoe replacements.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved height sensing shoe assembly for a harvester. It is a further object to provide such an assembly which overcomes most or all of the aforementioned problems.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved height sensing shoe assembly for a harvester which helps to optimize the control signal to the harvester lift system. It is a further object to provide such a shoe assembly which reduces undesirable rapid lift system reversing when the harvester is passing over closely spaced peaks and valleys in the soil surface. It is a further object to provide such an assembly which is simple, easy to mount and inexpensive. It is yet another object to provide such an assembly having an improved shoe which wears longer and more evenly than at least most previously available shoe assemblies.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved height sensing shoe assembly for a harvester which provides an averaging effect for closely spaced surface irregularities in the soil to reduce unwanted shoe pivoting and rapid lift system corrections. It is another object to provide such an assembly which utilizes a simple mechanical arrangement to provide an averaging effect without sacrificing system response time.
In accordance with the above objects, a height sensing shoe assembly for an implement such as a cotton harvester includes an arm with an upper end pivotally connected to the lower portion of a harvester row unit for rocking about an arm axis transverse to the forward direction. A shoe or ski elongated in the fore-and-aft direction includes a central location pivotally connected to the lower end of the arm for rocking about a shoe axis parallel to the arm axis. The elongated pivoting shoe tends to bridge peaks and valleys in the soil surface irregularities providing a mechanical averaging effect to reduce a unnecessary pivoting of the arm as the unit passes the irregularities. An actuator connected to the arm and responsive to the angle of the arm relative to the row unit controls the lift system to maintain the height of the unit above the ground within a preselected range. The averaging effect is achieved without need for expensive electronic or hydraulic components and without sacrificing system response time. The simple, inexpensive arrangement reduces rapid lift system reversing as the unit passes over closely spaced undulations in the soil surface. The pivoting shoe helps to keep the surface of the shoe generally parallel to the ground surface and to spread frictional soil contact over a larger area so that the shoe wears longer and more evenly. The range of pivoting of the shoe relative to the horizontal changes with movement of the row unit between the transport position and field-working position to prevent digging in of the shoe as the unit is lowered without adversely affecting the desired pivot range in the operating position of the unit. The assembly may be retrofitted easily to existing harvesters.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art upon reading the following detailed description in view of the drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3163974 (1965-01-01), Mack
patent: 3643407 (1972-02-01), Hubbard et al.
patent: 3925971 (1975-12-01), Goering et al.
patent: 4229931 (1980-10-01), Schlueter et al.
patent: 5090184 (1992-02-01), Garter et al.
patent: 5115628 (1992-05-01), Garter et al.
Deere & Company
Petravick Meredith
Will Thomas B.
LandOfFree
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