Patent ID: 8280590

Claim:
An automatically adjustable oscillation stop for a steerable rear axle of an agricultural combine ( 100 ), the combine ( 100 ) having a longitudinal axis extending in a direction of travel, a chassis ( 214 ), two front drive wheels ( 120 , 122 ) supported on the chassis ( 214 ), two rear steerable wheels ( 124 , 126 ) disposed on a rear axle assembly ( 201 ) that is supported on the chassis ( 214 ) at a pivot coupling ( 206 ) thereby permitting the rear axle assembly ( 201 ) to pivot about a pivotal axis ( 208 ) through a pivot angle, the rear axle assembly ( 201 ) being extendible to permit at least a first of the two rear steerable wheels ( 124 , 126 ) to have a first plurality of lateral positions, the oscillation stop comprising: a first stop ( 210 , 212 ), said first stop ( 210 , 212 ) being interposed between the chassis ( 214 ) of the agricultural combine ( 100 ) and the rear axle assembly ( 201 ), said first stop ( 210 , 212 ) configured to limit the pivot angle in a first direction of rotation about the pivotal axis ( 208 ), said first stop ( 210 , 212 ) having a first plurality of different first stop positions, each of said first stop positions corresponding to a different pivot angle limit; a first sensor ( 222 , 224 ) configured to generate a first signal indicative of the first plurality of lateral positions; and an electronic control unit ( 400 ) coupled to the first stop ( 210 , 212 ) to command said first stop ( 210 , 212 ) to said first plurality of different first stop positions and coupled to the first sensor to receive the first signal therefrom, said electronic control unit ( 400 ) having a non-volatile memory ( 414 ) storing a first plurality of digital computer instructions, said first plurality further including instructions directing the electronic control unit ( 400 ) to read the first signal, to digitally calculate a stop position for said first stop ( 210 , 212 ) based at least upon the first signal that will prevent at least one component of the rear axle assembly ( 201 ) from dragging against the agricultural combine when said rear axle assembly ( 201 ) pivots with respect to the chassis ( 214 ) of the agricultural combine ( 100 ).