Towable agricultural implement having automatic steering system

An agricultural implement configured to be towed by a prime mover, comprising:

• a steerable implement frame having a pair of outer wheels and an axle between the outer wheels for supporting a pair of steerable wheels;
• said implement frame supports a plurality of spaced apart row units that deposit granular material onto a planting surface;
• a steering sensor that measures angular position of the inner wheels relative to their respective pivot axes, and provides a first feedback signal;
• a field implement sensor mounted to the frame and operative to provide a field position feedback signal corresponding to the position of the implement frame;
• a steering device operative to move the steerable wheels so as to steer the implement frame relative to the prime mover during towing;
• and
• a steering controller including a microprocessor operatively connected to the steering sensor and the field implement sensor for receiving the first feedback signal and the field position feedback signal and generating a control signal in response thereto, the steering controller providing the control signals to the steering device to move the steerable wheels selectively according to one of a plurality of operating modes, wherein the operating modes include:
• a transportation steering mode wherein the steering controller provides control signals to the steering device to cause the steering device to turn the steerable wheels so as to follow the prime mover;
• a cornering steering mode wherein the steering controller provides control signals to the steering device to cause the steering device to turn the steerable wheels in a cornering maneuver at a predefined field position;
• a swath tracking steering mode wherein the steering controller provides control signals to the steering device to cause the steering device to turn the steerable wheels so as to track predetermined swaths in a field;
• and
• a crab steering mode wherein the steering controller provides control signals to the steering device based on steering command signals received from a steering controller of the prime mover.

An agricultural implement configured to be towed by a prime mover, comprising:

• an implement frame supported above a field surface by a set of inner wheels disposed between a set of outer wheels;
• said implement frame supports a plurality of spaced apart row units that deposit granular material onto a planting surface;
• a steering device operative to auto-position the inner wheels so as to steer the implement frame relative to the prime mover during towing;
• a towing angle sensor that measures angular displacement between the implement frame and the prime mover and provides a towing angle feedback signal;
• a steering sensor that measures angular position of the set of inner wheels and provides a wheel angle feedback signal;
• and
• a steering controller including a microprocessor operatively connected to the steering sensor and the field implement sensor for receiving the towing angle feedback signal and the wheel angle feedback signal, the steering controller generating a steering control signal in response to the towing angle feedback signal and the wheel angle feedback signal and providing the steering control signal to the steering device to control auto-positioning of the set of inner wheels based on one of a plurality of steering control modes.

An agricultural implement adapted to be towed by a prune mover, comprising:

• an implement frame supported by a pair of inner wheels disposed between a pair of outer wheels and a hitch point for hitching the frame to the prime mover, each wheel pivotable about a pivot axis;
• said implement frame supports a plurality of spaced apart row units that deposit granular material onto a planting surface;
• the prime mover having a steering sensor that measures angular position of the inner wheels relative to their respective pivot axes, and provides a first feedback signal;
• a field implement sensor mounted to the frame and operative to provide a field position feedback signal corresponding to the position of the frame;
• a steering controller including a microprocessor operatively connected to the steering sensor and the field implement sensor for receiving the feedback signal and the field position feedback signal and generating a steering control signal in response thereto;
• and
• a steering device operatively connected to the steering controller and configured to receive the steering control signal therefrom, the steering device turning the pair of inner wheels according to the steering control signal, whereby the implement frame is steered relative to the prime mover during towing.