Guidance system for an agricultural implement

Abstract

A guidance system for an implement drawn by a tractor with the implement being interconnected to the tractor by a guidance hitch which moves the implement laterally with respect to the tractor to maintain the implement in proper alignment with the rows of the field. An elongated arm is pivotally secured, about a vertical axis, to the implement adjacent one end thereof and extends forwardly therefrom. A pair of gauge wheels are rotatably mounted on the forward end of the arm and are adapted to follow along the opposite sides of a ridge of the row. The pivotal connection between the arm and the tool bar is effected by an angle sensing shaft extending from a guidance sensor. As the implement shifts one way or another with respect to the rows, the relative angular movement between the implement and the arm supporting the gauge wheels changes which causes the angle sensing shaft to be rotated thereby sending a signal to the guidance hitch to actuate the same to move the implement back into proper alignment with the rows. In an embodiment of the invention, the guidance hitch and guidance sensor are not used. The elongated arm supporting the gauge wheels is operatively interconnected to a coulter which is in ground engagement. As the elongated arm supporting the gauge wheels pivots with respect to the implement, as the implement moves out of proper alignment with the rows, the coulter steers the implement back into proper alignment with the rows.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.