Height sensor arrangement for agricultural applications

Abstract

A curved arm coupled to a rotating shaft in a sensor for detecting the height of an apparatus, such as used in agriculture, traveling over the ground is comprised entirely of a high strength, lightweight, flexible and resilient elastomeric material such as thermoplastic polyurethane. An upper end of the sensor arm is attached to the shaft, while a lower portion of the arm engages the soil and undergoes vertical displacement as it traverses irregular terrain. The height of the apparatus above the soil is measured in terms of the rotational displacement of the shaft. The strength, flexibility and resiliency of the sensor arm allows it to withstand large applied forces. As the arm traverses the soil and engages various obstructions such as ruts, terraces, rocks, roots, etc., it undergoes deflection (in all directions), twisting, compression and stretching, yet assumes its original configuration, size and shape to provide accurate height measurements.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.