US3831706A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic row marker apparatus
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1973-01-22
•
Granted: 1974-08-27
•
Expires: 1993-01-22
Abstract
Abstract A pair of self-propelled vehicles are positioned in spaced apart alignment on a field to establish a line of sight for an operator along an initial path of travel of a manually operated powered farm implement. Each of the self-propelled vehicles includes an electrically driven motor connected to a source of power for imparting movement to the self-propelled vehicle. Electrical controls, including a control device, are provided for independently actuating the electrically driven motor of each of the self-powered vehicles, in a selected sequence to impart movement to the self-propelled vehicle in a direction perpendicular to the line of sight to establish a subsequent line of sight. A regulating device on each vehicle deactuates the motor to regulate the length of movement of the vehicle.
Inventors
- 👤 C Nordine
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:13
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D1/00; B62D1/24; B62D1/28; B60; B60K; B60K1/00; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S180/00; Y10S180/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of guiding a manually operated powered farm implement in a path of travel comprising the steps of: a. positioning at least a pair of self-propelled vehicles carrying omnidirectionally visible signals on a field, spaced mutually in the desired direction of travel of the implement, for independent movement generally perpendicular to said desired direction; b. aligning said self-propelled vehicles to establish a line of sight along an initial path of travel for the operator of the manually operated powered farm implement; c. controlling said vehicles separately from the powered farm implement to cause said independent movement thereof through predetermined distances and in the selected sequence to establish a subsequent line of sight spaced from and generally parallel to the preceding line of sight; and d. regulating the length of said movements perpendicular to the preceding line of sight on each of said self-propelled vehicles.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of guiding a manually operated powered farm implement in a path of travel comprising the steps of: a. positioning at least a pair of self-propelled vehicles carrying omnidirectionally visible signals on a field, spaced mutually in the desired direction of travel of the implement, for independent movement generally perpendicular to said desired direction; b. aligning said self-propelled vehicles to establish a line of sight along an initial path of travel for the operator of the manually operated powered farm implement; c. controlling said vehicles separately from the powered farm implement to cause said independent movement thereof through predetermined distances and in the selected sequence to establish a subsequent line of sight spaced from and generally parallel to the preceding line of sight; and d. regulating the length of said movements perpendicular to the preceding line of sight on each of said self-propelled vehicles.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 with the additional step of directing the movement of the implement in accordance with successive lines of sight so established.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for use in identifying the locations of rows to be followed by the operator of a farm implement comprising, in combination: a. a vehicle arranged for trackless movement along a predetermined line generally perpendicular to the desired direction of the rows; b. an omnidirectionally visible reference member carried by said vehicle for cooperation with at least one other similar member to define a line of sight identifying a row to be followed; c. power means on said vehicle energizable to propel the vehicle along said predetermined line; d. means actuable by the operator of the implement to give a signal for controlling the vehicle; e. control means on said vehicle for causing energization of the power means in response to said signal; f. and regulating means on said vehicle, responsive to distance traveled thereby, for causing deenergization of the power means of said vehicle after it has traveled a predetermined distance.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
152 words
Apparatus for use in identifying the locations of rows to be followed by the operator of a farm implement comprising, in combination: a. a vehicle arranged for trackless movement along a predetermined line generally perpendicular to the desired direction of the rows; b. an omnidirectionally visible reference member carried by said vehicle for cooperation with at least one other similar member to define a line of sight identifying a row to be followed; c. power means on said vehicle energizable to propel the vehicle along said predetermined line; d. means actuable by the operator of the implement to give a signal for controlling the vehicle; e. control means on said vehicle for causing energization of the power means in response to said signal; f. and regulating means on said vehicle, responsive to distance traveled thereby, for causing deenergization of the power means of said vehicle after it has traveled a predetermined distance.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for use in identifying the location of rows to be followed by the operator of a farm implement, comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of vehicles spaced in the desired direction of said rows, and arranged for trackless movement along predetermined lines generally perpendicular to said desired direction; b. omnidirectionally visible reference means carried by said vehicles for jointly defining a line of sight identifying a row to be followed; c. power means on each vehicle energizable to propel the vehicle along its predetermined line; d. means actuable by the operator of the implement to give signals for controlling the vehicles independently; e. control means on said vehicles for severally causing energization of the power means on said vehicles in response to different ones of said signals; f. and regulating means on each vehicle, responsive to distance traveled thereby, for causing deenergization of the power means on said vehicle after it has been propelled a predetermined distance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
158 words
Apparatus for use in identifying the location of rows to be followed by the operator of a farm implement, comprising, in combination: a. a plurality of vehicles spaced in the desired direction of said rows, and arranged for trackless movement along predetermined lines generally perpendicular to said desired direction; b. omnidirectionally visible reference means carried by said vehicles for jointly defining a line of sight identifying a row to be followed; c. power means on each vehicle energizable to propel the vehicle along its predetermined line; d. means actuable by the operator of the implement to give signals for controlling the vehicles independently; e. control means on said vehicles for severally causing energization of the power means on said vehicles in response to different ones of said signals; f. and regulating means on each vehicle, responsive to distance traveled thereby, for causing deenergization of the power means on said vehicle after it has been propelled a predetermined distance.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 which includes means actuated out of a normal state by momentary operation of said control means, and returned to said normal state by momentary operation of said regulating means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 in which said means is actuated out of said normal state by an electromagnetic device and is retained out of said normal state by a holding circuit assoCiated with said device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
Apparatus according to claim 4 which includes a member actuated out of a normal position by momentary operation of said control means, and returned to said normal position by momentary operation of said regulating means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the vehicle includes at least one ground contacting wheel, and in which the regulating means includes a chain driven by said wheel past said member and cam means mounted on said chain for engaging said member to return it to said normal position, so that the distance traveled by the vehicle is determined by the length of said chain.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 together with an idler for said chain and means for adjusting the position of said idler to cooperate with chains of different lengths.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 in which said member is actuated out of said normal position by an electromagnetic device and is retained out of said normal state by residual magnetism in said device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for use in identifying the location of rows to be followed by the operator of a farm implement, comprising, in combination: a. means actuable by the operator of the implement to give a plurality of remotely distinguishable control signals; b. a plurality of spaced vehicles remote from the implement and arranged for trackless movement along predetermined lines generally perpendicular to the desired direction of the row; c. omnidirectionally visible reference members carried by said vehicles for jointly defining a line of sight identifying the location of a desired row; d. power means on each said vehicle energizable to propel the vehicle along said predetermined line; e. control means on said vehicles for severally causing energization of the power means on said vehicles in response to different ones of said signals; f. and regulating means on said vehicle responsive to distance traveled thereby, for causing deenergization of the power means of said vehicle after it has been propelled a predetermined distance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
161 words
Apparatus for use in identifying the location of rows to be followed by the operator of a farm implement, comprising, in combination: a. means actuable by the operator of the implement to give a plurality of remotely distinguishable control signals; b. a plurality of spaced vehicles remote from the implement and arranged for trackless movement along predetermined lines generally perpendicular to the desired direction of the row; c. omnidirectionally visible reference members carried by said vehicles for jointly defining a line of sight identifying the location of a desired row; d. power means on each said vehicle energizable to propel the vehicle along said predetermined line; e. control means on said vehicles for severally causing energization of the power means on said vehicles in response to different ones of said signals; f. and regulating means on said vehicle responsive to distance traveled thereby, for causing deenergization of the power means of said vehicle after it has been propelled a predetermined distance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3186493A
Cited
US3472322A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-08-26 | 1978-02-25 | 1978-08-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-08-26 | 1982-02-25 | 1982-08-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-08-26 | 1986-02-25 | 1986-08-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |