Agriculture: Twin Row Merger

The Twin Row Merger is used to collect multiple rows of crop into a single row for efficient harvesting. The original mechanical design did not allow for terrain following or side hill operation leading to crop and machine damage. This mechanical design also left crops in the field missed by the first pass of the merger.

The power of hydraulics integrated with the intelligent electronic controls contribute to the enormous increase in productivity achieved by this machine. GS Hydraulics created a closed loop ground height control system to maximize crop yield, and minimize crop and machine damage. Also, a coordinated steering system provides for tight end of row corners and side hill operation. Linear position feedback and unique rotary position sensors are used to achieve precise closed-loop control. The new CAN control system utilizes a master control module that allows proper movement of crops without damage to the live plant. The Steering also allows the merger to steer on side hills for correct following of the cut rows resulting in higher crop yield and eliminated mechanical damage previously caused by striking the ground. The electro-hydraulic valves, packaged close to each articulation point, provide compact size and efficient system performance.