Electronic tractor control
US4715012A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 15, 1980 |
| Grant date | Dec 22, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 15, 2000 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG05B2219/25115
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of subsystems (66, 70) associated with an agricultural vehicle such as a tractor. Examples of such subsystems in a tractor are hitch positioning, power take off (PTO), multiple range transmissions, differential lock, diesel fuel injection, and the like. A unified control system is provided including a central control unit having a first microprocessor (56) and a plurality of subservient control units each having a microprocessor (58, 60). Each of the subservient control unit microprocessors (58, 60) are connected for controlling at least one subsystem (66, 70) and for sensing the operating conditions of at least a single subsystem (66, 70) using sensors (68, 72). The subservient control unit microprocessors (58, 60) are also connected to the central control unit microprocessor (56) which controls communication between the subservient control unit microprocessors (58, 60). Various control criteria, including desired relationships among various subsets of the conditions, are stored in memories associated with the microprocessors. The microprocessors cycle through a series of subroutines in which various subsets of conditions are comp…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.