초록 ▼

An arrangement for controlling the height above or depth below an irregular surface of a body moving over or below the surface includes a rotation sensor coupled to a controller responsive to an angular deflection signal output by the rotation sensor. The rotation sensor and controller are mounted t

An arrangement for controlling the height above or depth below an irregular surface of a body moving over or below the surface includes a rotation sensor coupled to a controller responsive to an angular deflection signal output by the rotation sensor. The rotation sensor and controller are mounted to a vehicle moving over the surface such as an agricultural vehicle traversing a field. A semi-rigid, flexible arm has a first end coupled to the rotation sensor with a ground engaging member attached to a second opposed end of the arm. In one embodiment, the flexible arm includes an elongated coil spring attached to a rigid shaft and the ground engaging member is a spherical ball attached to the shaft's distal end. The coil spring is pre-loaded to a selected bending or flexure force and permits the ground engaging member to impact obstructions in the field without damage to the rotation sensor. The coil spring also prevents damage to the rotation sensor when the vehicle is reversed in direction. The flexible arm may be urged downwardly to ensure that the ground engaging member contacts the soil and upward and downward rotation stops may be provided to limit rotation of the rotation sensor and flexible arm combination. When a plurality of rotation sensors and flexible arms are employed such as along the length of a combine header, each rotation sensor may be individually calibrated by rotating the sensor relative to the head unit to which it is mounted to permit all sensors to uniformly measure the height above or depth below the soil surface.

대표청구항 ▼

[I claim:] [1.]a pre-loaded, generally linear flexible arm coupled to a forward portion of the header and having first and second opposed ends, wherein the first end of said flexible arm engages and is displaced over the soil as the header moves above the soil;angular deflection sensing means couple

[I claim:] [1.]a pre-loaded, generally linear flexible arm coupled to a forward portion of the header and having first and second opposed ends, wherein the first end of said flexible arm engages and is displaced over the soil as the header moves above the soil;angular deflection sensing means coupled to the second end of said flexible arm for measuring a deflection of said flexible arm when the first end of said flexible arm encounters irregularities in the soil as the header moves above the soil and for providing a first signal representing the extent of deflection of said flexible and; andcontrol means coupled to said header and said angular deflection sensing means and responsive to said first signal for raising or lowering the header in accordance with said first signal in maintaining the header a designated height above the soil, wherein said flexible arm and angular deflection sensing means are attached to a head housing disposed on a forward portion of said combine and said head housing is comprised of polyurethane and includes a metal tip and am mounting bracket for attaching said metal tip to a forward end of said head housing, and wherein said mounting bracket further couples said flexible arm to a forward end of said head housing.