Header Tongue Alignment for Automated Tow Vehicle Coupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural headers need to be removed from harvesters for transport due to space limitations on roadways, complicating the transport process.

Innovation Solution

A method and system using processors and sensors to align an agricultural machine with a tow vehicle by determining a movement profile of a tongue and identifying a target hitch, maneuvering the vehicles to align the coupler with the hitch, and engaging the coupler using actuators.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the agricultural header is removed from the harvester for transport, then the transportability of the agricultural machine is improved, but the complexity of the transport process increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetransportabilityVSAvoidtransport process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The agricultural machine performs self-alignment and self-coupling to the tow vehicle through automated sensors and actuators that maneuver the tongue and coupler into position without requiring external assistance or complex manual procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical alignment operations with an automated control system using sensors (optical, ultrasonic, radar) and actuators that automatically position the tongue and coupler, simplifying the transport process despite the header removal requirement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If manual alignment and coupling procedures are used, then the system complexity is reduced, but the time and labor required for coupling increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoupling speedVSAvoidalignment system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary sensing and positioning operations before final coupling, with sensors detecting the tow vehicle's position and the actuators pre-positioning the tongue and coupler to ensure rapid and accurate connection without requiring complex real-time manual adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs feedback control where sensors continuously monitor the position of the tongue and coupler relative to the tow vehicle, and the control system adjusts actuator commands in real-time to achieve precise alignment and coupling, improving speed while managing complexity through automated closed-loop control

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS20260001377A1Agricultural header transport system

Publication Date: 2026.01.01 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A method for aligning an agricultural machine with a tow vehicle for connection therebetween may include determining a movement profile of a tongue of the agricultural machine relative to a portion of the agricultural machine, the movement profile corresponding to a plurality of available positions of the tongue along a range of motion; identifying a target of the tow vehicle; maneuvering one of the tow vehicle or the agricultural machine relative to the other of the tow vehicle or the agricultural machine; and ceasing maneuvering of the tow vehicle or the agricultural machine relative to the other of the tow vehicle or the agricultural machine when a position of the target corresponds with one of the plurality of the available positions of the tongue.