Hitch assembly control system

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In view of the above and in accordance with the present invention there is provided a control system for a hitch assembly which provides position control of the hitch assembly relative to the frame of the off-highway implement to which it is adapted to be attached.
The hitch assembly of the present invention has the added ability to regulate the position of the hitch, assembly through independent and heretofore unknown adjustments.
The hitch assembly is adapted to be positioned as through an actuator for controlling the elevation of a ground penetrating assembly connected to the hitch assembly and adapted to be pulled behind the off-highway equipment.
The hitch assembly can be provided with different "configurations".
As used herein, the term "configuration" is meant to denote different options that are provided in combination with the hitch assembly.
In one "configuration", the hitch assembly is provided with various mechanisms which allows the control system to operate the hitch assembly in a DRAFT state.
The control system of the present invention is preferably configured to operate the hitch assembly in a plurality of different states of operation.
In a preferred embodiment, the control system includes a first sensor assembly for sensing a draft force produced by the interaction of the ground penetrating assembly and the field through which it is drawn and an operator controlled reference draft force.
The preferred form of control system further includes a second sensor assembly for sensing the actual position of the hitch assembly and an operator controlled reference hitch position.
A central processing unit is connected to the first and second sensor assemblies for computing a first error value representative of the difference between the draft force produced by the ground interaction and the reference draft force and for computing a second error value representative of the difference between the actual position of the hitch assembly and the desired or reference position of the hitch, with the central processing unit deriving the control signals for the actuator from the computed first and second error values