The present invention relates to mobile machinery such as an agricultural tractor comprising a three-point hitch for the connection and use of working implements cultivating or excavating the earth and other duties involved in the industry of farming or grading excavation. The disclosed invention modifies and improves the conventional three-point hitch in use today. The disclosed invention modifies the three-point hitch by adding extending and retracting implement-actuators attachable to the existing bottom-lift-arms, therefore supplanting, but still using the existing bottom-lift-arms on the three-point hitch. The implement-actuators assist the implement in correcting the implements centerline when the tractor centerline is off a predetermined centerline path. In addition, the extending of the implement-actuators proportionally, inversely and simultaneously can correct the pivot point of the implement to match the pivot point of the tractor while the tractor performs turns during the working use of the implement.

The present disclosure refers to a method for controlling operation of an agricultural system, comprising a tractor; an implement (100) hitched through a draw bar (10) to the tractor, the implement (100) having working tools (31) configured to engage with a ground and/or an agricultural product in operation while the tractor is drawing the implement (100) over a field; and a control system, comprising a control unit (2) and a sensor arrangement (1) connected to the control unit (2) through a control bus (5), wherein the control unit (2) is configured to determine a draft force applied to the implement (100) through the draw bar from measurement signals detected by the sensor arrangement (1); the method comprising operating the implement in either normal mode or field transport mode of operation based on different draft force thresholds.

Coupling apparatus (80) for coupling a mower (3) to a front three-point linkage of a tractor comprises a mounting element (17) for coupling to the three-point linkage and a carrier element (19) to which the mower (3) is coupled. A linkage mechanism (20) comprising upper link members (81) and a lower link member (23) couples the carrier element (19) to the mounting element (17). The lower link member (23) is pivotally coupled to the mounting element (17) about a first lower pivot axis (30). A pair of take-up springs (45) act between the lower link member (23) and the mounting element (17) to take up a portion of the weight of the mower (3). The take-up springs (45) are coupled between corresponding anchor elements (60) and corresponding anchor brackets (49) on the lower link member (23). The anchor elements (60) are carried on respective compensating arms (88), which in turn are pivotal on pivot shafts (53) carried on the mounting element (17). Actuator arms (89) acting between the lower link member (23) and the compensating arms (88) urge the anchor element (60) upwardly and downwardly as the carrier element (19) moves upwardly and downwardly for controlling the turning moment induced by the take-up springs (45) in the linkage mechanism (20), in order to maintain the effective weight of the mower (3) bearing on the ground substantially constant.

An agricultural vehicle and method of controlling the same are provided, the vehicle having a motive power unit providing a driving torque to at least one driven wheel and having at least one tyre or track frictionally coupled with the periphery of the driven wheel. A vehicle operating parameter is controlled in dependence on the driving torque (T) and a slippage characteristic (98) relating the respective driving torque at which the frictional coupling between driven wheel and tyre or track begins to slip for a range of vehicle operating parameter values. The operating parameter is suitably a tyre pressure (P) or track tension, and the control may involve reducing driving torque (110) or increasing pressure/tension (112) to prevent slipping.