US 12,460,376 B2
Elevation increment-decrement with slope control
Daniel M. Kassen, Hazel Green, WI (US); Todd F. Velde, Dubuque, IA (US); and Carl J. Koenig, Dubuque, IA (US)
Assigned to Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed by Deere & Company, Moline, IL (US)
Filed on Feb. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/175,704.
Prior Publication US 2024/0287755 A1, Aug. 29, 2024
Int. Cl. E02F 3/84 (2006.01); E01C 19/00 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 3/845 (2013.01) [E01C 19/004 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A work vehicle, comprising:
a vehicle frame;
a ground-engaging blade movably connected to the vehicle frame by a linkage assembly configured to allow the blade to be raised and lowered relative to the vehicle frame;
a vehicle frame orientation sensor configured to provide a vehicle frame orientation signal indicative of an orientation of the vehicle frame relative to the direction of gravity;
a blade orientation sensor configured to provide a blade orientation signal indicative of an orientation of the blade relative to one of the vehicle frame and the direction of gravity; and
a controller including a mainfall slope control mode in which the controller is configured to:
determine a target value for a mainfall slope of a profile being formed by the blade as the work vehicle advances;
receive the vehicle frame orientation signal;
receive the blade orientation signal;
determine a parameter corresponding to a current value of the mainfall slope based at least in part on the vehicle frame orientation signal and the blade orientation signal; and
send a command signal to adjust a position of the blade relative to the vehicle frame to adjust the current value of the mainfall slope toward the target value; and
wherein the controller further includes an elevation adjustment mode in which the controller is configured to:
receive an elevation adjustment input command indicative of a desired increase or decrease in an elevation of the profile being formed by the blade as the work vehicle advances;
temporarily adjust the target value of the mainfall slope to an adjusted target value for an adjustment distance sufficient to achieve the desired increase or decrease in the elevation of the profile being formed by the blade as the work vehicle advances; and
after the work vehicle has advanced the adjustment distance, return the target value of the mainfall slope to the target value existing prior to the temporary adjustment of the target value.