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US 10,542,666 B2Granted
Autonomous or remote-controlled vehicle platform for planting
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsRichard J. Connell, Michael M. Miller, Austin N. Thompson, Brandon M. McDonald, Shayne C. Rich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In one embodiment, a vehicle platform comprises a central body that can support one or more implement configurations, such as sprayer booms, or planting row units. A plurality of adjustable legs extends downward from the central body. Each adjustable leg has a corresponding leg actuator to adjust a respective vertical height of each adjustable leg. Each adjustable leg supports the central body. Planting row units are supported by or suspended from the central body.
Claims17
A vehicle platform comprising:
- a central body;
- a plurality of adjustable legs extending downward from the central body, each adjustable leg having a corresponding leg actuator to adjust a respective vertical height of each adjustable leg, each adjustable leg supports the central body;
- a plurality of planting row units supported by or suspended from the central body;
- each planting row unit comprising an opener for opening the soil, a seed tube with a seed outlet for planting seed in the opened soil or furrow, and a closer for closing or covering seed with soil;
- the planting row unit comprising a bin for holding seed, the bin coupled to a seed metering unit for controlling a rate of seed provided to the seed outlet associated with the opener;
- a pivotable arm assembly coupled between the central body and a support beam, wherein the planting row units are secured to the support beam;
- and
- an arm actuator, the arm actuator arranged to control a transverse position of the support beam and the planting row units with respect to a reference point on the central body, such that each of the planting row units may be aligned with a set of target positions for a row of seeds or plants.
5 more elements
A vehicle platform comprising:
- a central body;
- a plurality of adjustable legs extending downward from the central body, each adjustable leg having a corresponding leg actuator to adjust a respective vertical height of each adjustable leg, each adjustable leg supports the central body;
- a plurality of planting row units supported by or suspended from the central body;
- each planting row unit comprising an opener for opening the soil, a seed tube with a seed outlet for planting seed in the opened soil or furrow, and a closer for closing or covering seed with soil;
- and
- wherein the central body has a first side and a second side spaced apart from the first side by a fixed known distance, wherein a first location-determining receiver is associated with the first side and wherein a second location determining receiver is associated with the second side, the first location-determining receiver, alone or together with second location determining receiver configured to determine a position or angular orientation in a horizontal plane of the Earth of the vehicle platform or central body with respect to a reference angle, such as magnetic North.
3 more elements
A vehicle platform comprising:
- a central body;
- a plurality of adjustable legs extending downward from the central body, each adjustable leg having a corresponding leg actuator to adjust a respective vertical height of each adjustable leg, each adjustable leg supports the central body;
- a plurality of planting row units supported by or suspended from the central body;
- each planting row unit comprising an opener for opening the soil, a seed tube with a seed outlet for planting seed in the opened soil or furrow, and a closer for closing or covering seed with soil;
- the planting row unit comprising a bin for holding seed, the bin coupled to a seed metering unit for controlling a rate of seed provided to the seed outlet associated with the opener;
- a forked arm having a first distal end, a second distal end and a vertex, the forked arm pivotable at the vertex with respect to a support of the planting row unit to adjust a planting depth of the seed outlet;
- a gauge depth wheel rotatably coupled to the second distal end of the forked arm;
- and
- a depth adjustment mechanism coupled between the support and the first distal end.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.