# US 10,306,821 B2 · Device and method for controlling the operation of a towed implement, which can be activated hydraulically, on a vehicle

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- Number: US 10,306,821 B2
- Document ID: US10306821B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/373,530
- Filed: 2016-12-09
- Published: 2017-06-15
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-12-10
- Assignees: Robert Bosch GmbH
- Applicants: Robert Bosch GmbH
- Inventors: Gabriele Michalke; Markus Schleyer; Steffen Rose; Tillmann Falck
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10306821B2

## CPC

- A01B 63/10: operated by hydraulic or pneumatic means
- A01B 63/1013: {and being located inside the tractor body}
- A01B 63/111: regulating working depth of implements
- A01B 69/001: {Steering by means of optical assistance, e.g. television cameras (steering devices for road marking vehicles E01C23/163)}
- A01B 71/02: Setting or adjusting mechanisms
- A01B 76/00: Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00
- A01D 87/122: {for bales on the ground (vehicles for loading A01D90/08)}
- B60D 1/00: Traction couplings; Hitches; Draw-gear; Towing devices (fifth-wheel traction couplings B62D53/08)
- B60D 1/36: for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers
- B60P 1/04: with a tipping movement of load-transporting element (dredgers or soil-shifting machines E02F3/00)
- B62D 13/06: for backing a normally drawn trailer
- B62D 49/00: Tractors (of walk type B62D51/04; endless- track features B62D55/00 {; transport specially adapted for underground galleries E21F13/02})
- B64F 1/227: for direct connection to aircraft, e.g. tow tractors without towing bars
- B66F 9/082: {inclinable}
- E02D 5/80: Ground anchors {(for galleries, tunnels or shafts E21D21/00)}
- G01B 21/06: specially adapted for measuring length or width of objects while moving
- G01N 3/08: by applying steady tensile or compressive forces (G01N3/28 takes precedence)
- A01B: SOIL WORKING IN AGRICULTURE OR FORESTRY; PARTS, DETAILS, OR ACCESSORIES OF AGRICULTURAL MACHINES OR IMPLEMENTS, IN GENERAL (making or covering furrows or holes for sowing, planting or manuring A01C5/00; mowers convertible to soil working apparatus or capable of soil working A01D42/04; mowers combined with soil working implements A01D43/12; soil working for engineering purposes E01, E02, E21)
- A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING
- B60D: VEHICLE CONNECTIONS
- B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00)
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)
- B64F: GROUND OR AIRCRAFT-CARRIER-DECK INSTALLATIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR USE IN CONNECTION WITH AIRCRAFT; DESIGNING, MANUFACTURING, ASSEMBLING, CLEANING, MAINTAINING OR REPAIRING AIRCRAFT, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; HANDLING, TRANSPORTING, TESTING OR INSPECTING AIRCRAFT COMPONENTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B66F: HOISTING, LIFTING, HAULING OR PUSHING, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. DEVICES WHICH APPLY A LIFTING OR PUSHING FORCE DIRECTLY TO THE SURFACE OF A LOAD ({invalid lifting devices A61G7/10; } mounting artificial islands on piles or like supports E02B17/00; scaffolding combined with lifting devices E04G1/22; lifting devices for sliding forms E04G11/24; lifting of buildings E04G23/06; shores or struts E04G25/00; lifts or other hoisting devices on ladders E06C7/12; props for mining E21D15/00)
- E02D: FOUNDATIONS; EXCAVATIONS; EMBANKMENTS (specially adapted for hydraulic engineering E02B); UNDERGROUND OR UNDERWATER STRUCTURES {(tunnels, tunnelling, mining E21)}
- G01B: MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
- G01N: INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES (measuring or testing apparatus or processes other than immunoassay, involving enzymes or microorganisms C12M, C12Q)

## Abstract

The disclosure relates to a device of a vehicle, in particular a tractor, having a hydraulic activation unit for controlling the operation of a towed implement on the vehicle, comprising at least one position detection unit with at least one camera, position detection marks, and an evaluation unit and a data-transmitting connection to a control unit which is assigned to the hydraulic activation unit. Furthermore, a method is proposed, wherein by means of such a position detection unit the position of the towed implement can be determined, and the position can be adjusted according to requirements by suitable operation of the hydraulic activation unit.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A device for a vehicle having a hydraulic activation unit configured to control an operation of a towed implement of the vehicle, the device comprising:
at least one position detection unit having at least one camera;
at least one position detection mark arranged on one of (i) the towed implement and (ii) the hydraulic activation unit configured to control an operation of the towed implement, wherein the at least one camera is directed toward the at least one position detection mark to generate image data indicative of the position of the at least one position detection mark;
an evaluation unit connected to said at least one camera and configured and adapted to (i) determine a position of the towed implement from the image data, (ii) compare the position to a reference position, and (iii) activate the hydraulic activation unit to adjust the position of the towed implement in response to a difference in the position and the reference position; and
a data-transmitting connection from the evaluation unit to a control unit that is assigned to the hydraulic activation unit.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one camera is arranged on one of (i) the vehicle and (ii) the towed implement.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one position detection mark includes a plurality of position detection marks that are spaced apart from one another.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The device according to claim 1, further comprising:
a tensile force-measuring apparatus connected to the evaluation unit in a data-transmitting fashion.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The device according to claim 4, wherein:
the tensile force-measuring apparatus is coupled to the at least one camera; and
the at least one camera is directed toward a stress-optical material arranged on one of (i) the towed implement and (ii) the hydraulic activation unit configured to control the towed implement.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The device according to claim 5, wherein the stress-optical material is attached to one of (i) the towed implement and (ii) a lifting mechanism of the towed implement.