초록 ▼

Method and apparatus for keeping a machine member of an agricultural machine at a substantially constant height above a field during its movement through the field. A wheel-supported main frame supports, for vertical movement, an auxiliary frame carrying the machine member and also carrying an ultra

Method and apparatus for keeping a machine member of an agricultural machine at a substantially constant height above a field during its movement through the field. A wheel-supported main frame supports, for vertical movement, an auxiliary frame carrying the machine member and also carrying an ultrasonic transducer spaced at a constant distance away from the machine member. The machine member is set at an initial position relative to the surface of said field. Thereafter the position of said machine member relative to said main frame is determined, and an electrical signal corresponding thereto generated. The height of said transducer above the field is determined ultrasonically and an electrical signal corresponding thereto generated. From these electrical signals the amount and direction of divergence of the actual position of the machine member relative to the field surface from its initial set position is determined, and an electrical correction signal corresponding thereto is produced, causing movement of the auxiliary frame relative to the main frame.

대표청구항 ▼

A method for keeping a machine member of an agricultural machine at a substantially constant height above a field during its movement through the field, said machine having a wheel-supported main frame and an auxiliary frame carrying said machine member and an ultrasonic transducer spaced at a const

A method for keeping a machine member of an agricultural machine at a substantially constant height above a field during its movement through the field, said machine having a wheel-supported main frame and an auxiliary frame carrying said machine member and an ultrasonic transducer spaced at a constant distance away from said machine member, said auxiliary frame being supported by said main frame for generally vertical movement relative thereto, comprising: setting said machine member at an initial position relative to the surface of said field, from which initial position the actual relative position of said machine member tends to diverge, determining the position of said machine member relative to said main frame and generating an electrical signal corresponding thereto, determining ultrasonically the height of said transducer above the field and generating an electrical signal corresponding thereto, calculating, from the electrical signals of said two determining steps, the amount and direction of divergence of said actual position of said machine member relative to the field surface from its initial position relative thereto and producing an electrical correction signal corresponding thereto, and moving the position of said auxiliary frame relative to said main frame in response to said correction signal, to bring said actual position toward conformity with said desired position.