Agricultural vehicle having an actively variable swath gate position

1 . An agricultural machine system, comprising:

a mower-conditioner machine including a mower-conditioner machine frame, a plurality of conditioner rolls coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame, and a pivotable swath gate coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame to pivot between a raised position and a lowered position; and

a control system operatively coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame, the control system including:

a controller system configured for:

determining a swath gate position adjustment based at least in part on a conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls, wherein the swath gate position adjustment corresponds to the pivotable swath gate being moved to the raised position at a first conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls and the swath gate position adjustment corresponds to the pivotable swath gate being moved to the lowered position at a second conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls that is less than the first conditioner speed.

2 . The agricultural machine system of claim 1 , further comprising an agricultural work vehicle, wherein the mower-conditioner machine is coupled with the agricultural work vehicle and includes a cutting mechanism coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame, a ground speed of the mower-conditioner machine being associated with a ground speed of the agricultural work vehicle, and the conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls being associated with a speed of the cutting mechanism.

3 . The agricultural machine system of claim 2 , wherein the control system further includes:

a first sensor configured for:

sensing a swath gate position;

outputting a swath gate position signal corresponding to the swath gate position;

a second sensor configured for:

sensing the conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls;

outputting a conditioner speed signal corresponding to the conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls.

4 . The agricultural machine system of claim 3 , wherein the control system further includes a third sensor configured for:

sensing the ground speed of the agricultural work vehicle;

outputting an agricultural work vehicle ground speed signal corresponding to the ground speed of the agricultural work vehicle.

5 . The agricultural machine system of claim 4 , wherein the controller system is further configured for:

receiving the swath gate position signal, the conditioner speed signal, and the agricultural work vehicle ground speed signal;

determining the swath gate position adjustment based at least in part on the swath gate position signal, the conditioner speed signal, and the agricultural work vehicle ground speed signal;

outputting a swath gate position adjustment signal, based at least in part on the swath gate position adjustment.

6 . A control system of an agricultural machine system, the agricultural machine system including a mower-conditioner machine and a control system, the mower-conditioner machine including a mower-conditioner machine frame, a plurality of conditioner rolls coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame, and a pivotable swath gate coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame to pivot between a raised position and a lowered position, the control system operatively coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame, the control system comprising:

a controller system configured for determining a swath gate position adjustment based at least in part on a conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls, wherein the swath gate position adjustment corresponds to the pivotable swath gate being moved to the raised position at a first conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls and the swath gate position adjustment corresponds to the pivotable swath gate being moved to the lowered position at a second conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls that is less than the first conditioner speed.

7 . The control system of claim 6 , wherein the control system is configured for being a part of the agricultural machine system which further includes an agricultural work vehicle, wherein the mower-conditioner machine is coupled with the agricultural work vehicle and includes a cutting mechanism coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame, a ground speed of the mower-conditioner machine being associated with a ground speed of the agricultural work vehicle, and the conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls being associated with a speed of the cutting mechanism.

8 . The control system of claim 7 , wherein the control system further includes:

a first sensor configured for:

sensing a swath gate position;

outputting a swath gate position signal corresponding to the swath gate position;

a second sensor configured for:

sensing the conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls;

outputting a conditioner speed signal corresponding to the conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls.

9 . The control system of claim 8 , wherein the control system further includes a third sensor configured for:

sensing the ground speed of the agricultural work vehicle;

outputting an agricultural work vehicle ground speed signal corresponding to the ground speed of the agricultural work vehicle.

10 . The control system of claim 9 , wherein the controller system is further configured for:

receiving the swath gate position signal, the conditioner speed signal, and the agricultural work vehicle ground speed signal;

determining the swath gate position adjustment based at least in part on the swath gate position signal, the conditioner speed signal, and the agricultural work vehicle ground speed signal;

outputting a swath gate position adjustment signal, based at least in part on the swath gate position adjustment.

11 . A method of using an agricultural machine system, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a mower-conditioner machine and a control system, the mower-conditioner machine including a mower-conditioner machine frame, a plurality of conditioner rolls coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame, and a pivotable swath gate coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame to pivot between a raised position and a lowered position, the control system operatively being coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame and including a controller system; and

determining, by the controller system, a swath gate position adjustment based at least in part on a conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls, wherein the swath gate position adjustment corresponds to the pivotable swath gate being moved to the raised position at a first conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls and the swath gate position adjustment corresponds to the pivotable swath gate being moved to the lowered position at a second conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls that is less than the first conditioner speed.

12 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising an agricultural work vehicle, wherein the mower-conditioner machine is coupled with the agricultural work vehicle and includes a cutting mechanism coupled with the mower-conditioner machine frame, a ground speed of the mower-conditioner machine being associated with a ground speed of the agricultural work vehicle, and the conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls being associated with a speed of the cutting mechanism.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the control system further includes:

a first sensor configured for:

sensing a swath gate position;

outputting a swath gate position signal corresponding to the swath gate position;

a second sensor configured for:

sensing the conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls;

outputting a conditioner speed signal corresponding to the conditioner speed of the plurality of conditioner rolls.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the control system further includes a third sensor configured for:

sensing the ground speed of the agricultural work vehicle;

outputting an agricultural work vehicle ground speed signal corresponding to the ground speed of the agricultural work vehicle.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the controller system is further configured for:

receiving the swath gate position signal, the conditioner speed signal, and the agricultural work vehicle ground speed signal;

determining the swath gate position adjustment based at least in part on the swath gate position signal, the conditioner speed signal, and the agricultural work vehicle ground speed signal;

outputting a swath gate position adjustment signal, based at least in part on the swath gate position adjustment.