2354results about "Agricultural undercarriages" patented technology

An agricultural robot system and method of harvesting, pruning, culling, weeding, measuring and managing of agricultural crops. Uses autonomous and semi-autonomous robot(s) comprising machine-vision using cameras that identify and locate the fruit on each tree, points on a vine to prune, etc., or may be utilized in measuring agricultural parameters or aid in managing agricultural resources. The cameras may be coupled with an arm or other implement to allow views from inside the plant when performing the desired agricultural function. A robot moves through a field first to “map” the plant locations, number and size of fruit and approximate positions of fruit or map the cordons and canes of grape vines. Once the map is complete, a robot or server can create an action plan that a robot may implement. An action plan may comprise operations and data specifying the agricultural function to perform.

A cradle for use with a portable electronic appliance. The cradle includes a frame, including a mounting portion in which the portable electronic appliance is mounted, a temperature sensor to measure a temperature around the portable electronic appliance, a fan to cool down the portable electronic appliance, a power supplying unit to supply electric power to the fan, and a controller. The controller drives the fan when the temperature measured by the temperature sensor is determined to be equal to or higher than a predetermined temperature according to measurements of the temperature sensor.

An agricultural robot system and method of harvesting, pruning, culling, weeding, measuring and managing of agricultural crops. Uses autonomous and semi-autonomous robot(s) comprising machine-vision using cameras that identify and locate the fruit on each tree, points on a vine to prune, etc., or may be utilized in measuring agricultural parameters or aid in managing agricultural resources. The cameras may be coupled with an arm or other implement to allow views from inside the plant when performing the desired agricultural function. A robot moves through a field first to “map” the plant locations, number and size of fruit and approximate positions of fruit or map the cordons and canes of grape vines. Once the map is complete, a robot or server can create an action plan that a robot may implement. An action plan may comprise operations and data specifying the agricultural function to perform.

A crop harvesting header includes a center portion mounted on two spring arms and two separate wings pivotally connected to the center portion. The wings are connected to the center portion by interconnecting linkages which transfer weight from the wings to the spring arms each including a balance beam arranged to balance the lifting force from the spring arm with the downward forces from the center portion and wing such that the downward force on a skid plate of each portion on the ground varies automatically as the total downward force is varied. The balance beams apply force to the linkages by a compression member to reduce forces. The movement caused by floating of the header and the change of angle of the header are compensated at the balance beam to ensure that the force to the wings is reduced as the requirement caused by changes in geometry reduces.

A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes a plurality of platform sections, with each platform section including a leading edge. At least one platform section includes a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt, and a plurality of belt guides positioned partially above the endless belt adjacent the leading edge. The belt guides are movable relative to each other.

A riding lawnmower vehicle includes two main drive wheels, at least one caster wheel, an electric traction motor, an internal combustion engine, a generator driven by the internal combustion engine, and a lawnmower. The electric energy generated by the generator can be supplied directly or via an electric accumulator to the electric traction motor. The main drive wheels are independently driven by the electric traction motor, which can operate as a traction power source. When viewed from one end to the other end in the width direction of the vehicle, the internal combustion engine and a secondary battery operable as the electric accumulator overlap each other, and the main drive wheels overlap at least a part of at least one of the internal combustion engine, the generator, the secondary battery, a fuel cell, a capacitor, an inverter, a cooling device, a mower driving motor, and a grass-collecting duct.

A hydraulic lift / flotation system for the header of a crop harvesting machine wherein each side of the header is supported by a single cylinder, which performs both the flotation and lift functions. To accommodate unbalanced headers (center of gravity not centered between the lift arms), hydraulic oil is sent to the return side of the lift cylinder on the lighter side of the header, thus resulting in even raising, lowering and float.

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.

A harvesting machine includes a harvesting header with a header frame, a cutterbar assembly attached to the header frame along the length thereof and configured to cut a crop, and a draper assembly positioned behind the cutterbar assembly and operable to receive severed crop material from the cutterbar assembly. The draper assembly includes a center draper that delivers crop material to a feeder house of the harvesting machine and oppositely spaced side drapers that deliver crop material to the center draper. The harvesting header is operable to flex and thereby follow an uneven terrain.

A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes a plurality of platform sections positioned in end-to-end juxtaposed relation to each other. At least one platform section includes a frame, a plurality of float arms movably coupled with the frame, an endless belt carried by the plurality of float arms, and a cutterbar assembly carried by the plurality of float arms and movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions.

A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes a plurality of platform sections, with each platform section including a leading edge. At least one platform section includes a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt, and a plurality of belt guides positioned partially above the endless belt adjacent the leading edge. The belt guides are movable relative to each other.

A discharge baffle for a lawnmower may be operated to open or close the discharge opening of the lawnmower without interfering with the operation of the discharge shroud of the lawnmower.

A cutting platform for use with an agricultural harvesting machine includes at least one platform section. Each platform section has a cutterbar assembly movable in a localized manner in upwards and downwards directions, an endless belt with a leading edge, and a plurality of skid shoes. Each skid shoe extends rearwardly from the cutterbar assembly and has an upper surface defining a belt support for the leading edge of the endless belt.

A blade attachment for an off-road vehicle such as an ATV is provided. A mounting frame is pivotally connected at its rearward end to the ATV rearwardly of the forward end thereof. A hinge plate is pivotally mounted, about a vertical axis, to the forward end of the mounting frame and has the blade of this invention mounted thereon to enable the blade to be pivoted left, right, or positioned in a straight position. The blade is locked in its various positions by a blade position lever. A linkage is mounted on the forward end of the push tube assembly which is operatively connected to the blade position lever for moving the blade position lever between its locked and unlocked positions. The blade position lever is automatically moved to its unlocked position upon the linkage engaging the underside of the ATV. A winch is operatively connected, in a slip clutch fashion, to the hinge plate to enable the blade to be pivotally moved, about a vertical axis, between its various angular positions, when the blade position lever is in its unlocked position through the linkages.

An autonomously robotic machine for performing one or more agricultural operations. The machine includes a frame having a length and an adjustable width. A plurality of ground-engaging mechanisms are coupled to the frame for propelling the machine in a direction of travel. The machine includes a controller, a power-generating device, and a generator. The controller controls the machine, and the generator receives mechanical power from the power-generating device and produces electrical power. A docking assembly is coupled to the frame. The docking assembly includes a power unit and at least one coupler for coupling to any one of a plurality of agricultural implements.

The use of self-powered, autonomous vehicles in agricultural and other domestic applications is provided. The vehicles include a self-propelled drive system, tracks or wheels operatively connected to the drive system, a power supply operatively connected to the drive system, an attachment mechanism for attaching equipment to the vehicle, and an intelligent control operatively connected to the drive system, power supply, and attachment mechanism. The vehicle is configured to connect to the equipment to perform agricultural operations based upon the equipment. Multiple vehicles can be used in a field at the same time. Furthermore, the invention includes the ability to move one or more of the autonomous vehicles from field to field, home to field, or from generally any first location to a second location.

A deck assembly for a self-propelled, walk-behind rotary lawn rotary mower is provided. The deck assembly is configurable for either front or rear wheel drive and includes a deck defining a cutting chamber which may house a cutting member. The cutting chamber is bound at least in part by a rear enclosure member. The deck assembly also includes a side discharge port having a side discharge port door. A rear discharge port located on a rear portion of the deck is also provided. Preferably, a duct of substantially rectangular cross section extends through the rear enclosure member between the cutting chamber and the rear discharge port. In one embodiment, the duct has a first, uppermost surface and a second, lowermost surface, wherein the first, uppermost surface and the second, lowermost surface both form substantially horizontal planes.

A lawn mower has a power source for rotationally driving an output shaft. A housing has an interior space having a generally spiral-shaped portion. A cutting blade is disposed in the interior space of the housing and is connected to the output shaft for rotation therewith to cut grass while the spiral-shaped portion of the interior space generates a swirling airflow allowing the cut grass to swirl within the interior space. An enclosure is connected to the housing and has a grass discharge passage having an inlet opening disposed in communication with the interior space of the housing for discharging grass cut by the cutting blade and swirling within the interior space of the housing. A guiding member is disposed in the interior space of the housing for gradually changing a direction of the swirling airflow and the swirling cut grass and for guiding the swirling airflow and the swirling cut grass toward the grass discharge passage of the enclosure.

A blade attachment for an off-road vehicle such as an ATV is provided. A mounting frame is pivotally connected at its rearward end to the ATV rearwardly of the forward end thereof. A hinge plate is pivotally mounted, about a vertical axis, to the forward end of the mounting frame and has the blade of this invention mounted thereon to enable the blade to be pivoted left, right, or positioned in a straight position. The blade is locked in its various positions by a blade position lever. The blade position lever is automatically moved to its unlocked position when the blade is moved upwardly to a predetermined position and is automatically moved towards its locked position when the blade is moved downwardly to a predetermined height. A winch is operatively connected, in a slip clutch fashion, to the hinge plate to enable the blade to be pivotally moved, about a vertical axis, between its various angular positions, when the blade position lever is in its unlocked position.

An attachment coupling device is designed to releasably connect a variety of attachments to an arm and a push link of heavy machinery such as hydraulic excavators. The attachment coupling device comprises a pair of mounting brackets fixedly secured to the attachment, each bracket having first and second hooks spaced apart with each other. Another major element of the coupling device is a coupler which includes, a fixed plate affixed to the arm and the push link, a pair of fixed coupling pins each protruding outwardly from the fixed plate for engagement with the first hook of each of the mounting brackets, a pair of movable coupling pins for movement between a retracted release position and an extended coupling position wherein the respective one of the movable pins comes into engagement with the second hook of each of the mounting brackets, and an actuator for causing movement of the movable coupling pins.

A riding lawnmower vehicle includes two main drive wheels, at least one caster wheel, an electric traction motor, an internal combustion engine, a generator driven by the internal combustion engine, and a lawnmower. The electric energy generated by the generator can be supplied directly or via an electric accumulator to the electric traction motor. The main drive wheels are independently driven by the electric traction motor, which can operate as a traction power source. When viewed from one end to the other end in the width direction of the vehicle, the internal combustion engine and a secondary battery operable as the electric accumulator overlap each other, and the main drive wheels overlap at least a part of at least one of the internal combustion engine, the generator, the secondary battery, a fuel cell, a capacitor, an inverter, a cooling device, a mower driving motor, and a grass-collecting duct.

A multi-position creeper has multiple seating positions including a supine configuration, an inclined seating configuration and an upright seating configuration. The creeper includes a frame having a first support frame, a second support frame and a third support frame. A locking mechanism is utilized to pivotally lock the first and second support frames together. A coupling assembly is used to connect the second and third support frames together.

An agricultural robot system and method of harvesting, pruning, culling, weeding, measuring and managing of agricultural crops. Uses autonomous and semi-autonomous robot(s) comprising machine-vision using cameras that identify and locate the fruit on each tree, points on a vine to prune, etc., or may be utilized in measuring agricultural parameters or aid in managing agricultural resources. The cameras may be coupled with an arm or other implement to allow views from inside the plant when performing the desired agricultural function. A robot moves through a field first to “map” the plant locations, number and size of fruit and approximate positions of fruit or map the cordons and canes of grape vines. Once the map is complete, a robot or server can create an action plan that a robot may implement. An action plan may comprise operations and data specifying the agricultural function to perform.

The use of self-powered, autonomous vehicles in agricultural and other domestic applications is provided. The vehicles include a self-propelled drive system, tracks or wheels operatively connected to the drive system, a power supply operatively connected to the drive system, an attachment mechanism for attaching equipment to the vehicle, and an intelligent control operatively connected to the drive system, power supply, and attachment mechanism. The vehicle is configured to connect to the equipment to perform agricultural operations based upon the equipment. Multiple vehicles can be used in a field at the same time. Furthermore, the invention includes the ability to move one or more of the autonomous vehicles from field to field, home to field, or from generally any first location to a second location.