US 6,581,695 B2Granted

Vehicle/implement coupling system

AssigneeDeere & Company

InventorsGerd Bernhardt, Sergiy Fedotov, Ruslan Rudik, Heinz Weiss

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Abstract

A coupling system couples an implement to a utility vehicle, such as an agricultural or industrial vehicle, and includes a vehicle-mounted coupling frame and an implement-mounted coupling frame. The position of the vehicle-mounted coupling frame is adjustable by an adjustment mechanism. A position sensor senses the position of the implement-mounted coupling frame. An analysis unit determines the position of the implement-mounted coupling frame relative to the vehicle-mounted coupling frame. A control unit calculates a coupling motion path of the vehicle-mounted coupling frame. In response to a starting signal, the control unit causes the adjusting mechanism to move the vehicle-mounted coupling frame along the coupling motion path.

Claims10

Dependent claims

An agricultural vehicle/implement mechanical coupling system having a movable coupling frame mounted on an agricultural vehicle, a stationary coupling frame mounted on an agricultural implement, and an adjusting mechanism for adjusting a position of the movable coupling frame, the coupling system comprising:

a position sensor generating position signals representing the position of the stationary coupling frame, the position sensor having all its components mounted on the agricultural vehicle and;
an analysis unit which determines the position of the stationary coupling frame relative to the movable coupling frame;
and
a control unit which determines a coupling motion path for a coupling process and, in response to a start signal, causes the adjusting mechanism to automatically move the movable coupling frame along the path and mechanically couple the movable coupling frame to the stationary coupling frame during a coupling process.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/058,937Filed 29 Jan 2002
Priority: DE 101 11 52910 Mar 2001
Published: US 2002/0125018 A112 Sep 2002
Granted: 24 Jun 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60D 1/36
Characterised by arrangements for particular functions: for facilitating connection, e.g. hitch catchers
A01B 59/068
Of the type comprising at least two lower arms and one upper arm generally arranged in a triangle, e.g. three-point hitches: the lower arms being…
B60D 2001/008
Specially adapted for use on vehicles other than cars: specially adapted for implements, e.g. towed tools
B60D
Vehicle connections