초록 ▼

A guidance system for an agricultural implement pulled by a tractor is disclosed. The implement, such as a cultivator or planter, has ground-engaging discs mounted to a frame or toolbar and includes a control hitch mounted to the conventional three-point tractor hitch. The toolbar of the implement i

A guidance system for an agricultural implement pulled by a tractor is disclosed. The implement, such as a cultivator or planter, has ground-engaging discs mounted to a frame or toolbar and includes a control hitch mounted to the conventional three-point tractor hitch. The toolbar of the implement is mounted to the control hitch for rotation about a vertical axis. A first sensing device senses the position of the implement relative to a desired lateral position, such as the distance from a crop row, and generates a signal representative of the displacement of the implement from that desired lateral position. The sensing device actuates a hydraulic circuit to turn the implement toolbar toward the desired position; and the discs steer the implement toward the desired lateral position. A second sensing device senses the angular position of the implement relative to the control hitch. When the first sensing device determines that the implement is in the desired lateral position, the second sensing device actuates the hydraulic circuit to rotate the implement toolbar to its normal use position transverse to the direction of travel.

대표청구항 ▼

Apparatus for guiding an implement relative to a desired path, said implement adapted to be drawn by a tractor having a hitch including first and second diverging draft links, said implement including a frame and a plurality of coulters attached to said frame such that said coulters may not normally

Apparatus for guiding an implement relative to a desired path, said implement adapted to be drawn by a tractor having a hitch including first and second diverging draft links, said implement including a frame and a plurality of coulters attached to said frame such that said coulters may not normally rotate about a vertical axis relative to said implement frame; first pivot mount means connected to said first and second draft links; second pivot mount means connected to said implement frame and cooperating with said first pivot mount means for forming a vertical pivot connection on the centerline of said tractor and said implement such that said implement may pivot about a vertical pivot axis; sensor means for sensing the position of said implement frame relative to said desired path; power actuator means coupling said first and second pivot mount means together and responsive to said sensor means for turning said implement frame about said vertical pivot axis and toward said desired path when said sensor means senses a deviation of the position of said implement frame from said desired path, thereby to move said implement toward said desired path as said tractor pulls said implement forward.