Predicting grain tank levels when on slopes or hills

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10609864-B2
Application number	US-201715828577-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 1, 2017
Priority date	Dec 1, 2017
Publication date	Apr 7, 2020
Grant date	Apr 7, 2020

Abstract

An embodiment includes a combine including a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, a grain tank for storing the separated grain, a grain tank level sensor for detecting a level of grain in the grain tank, an inclination sensor for detecting inclination of the combine, and a controller that controls the combine. The controller configured to receive the grain tank level from the grain tank level sensor, receive an inclination value from the inclination sensor, adjust the grain tank level based on the inclination value, and alert an operator of the adjusted grain tank level.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A combine comprising:
a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop;
a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue;
a grain tank for storing the separated grain;
a grain tank level sensor for detecting a level of grain in the grain tank;
an inclination sensor for detecting inclination of the combine; and
a controller that controls the combine, the controller configured to:
receive the grain tank level from the grain tank level sensor,
receive an inclination value from the inclination sensor,
compute an adjusted grain tank level that is higher in the grain tank than the grain tank level detected by the sensor, by:
estimating an intersection point where the grain pile intersects the grain tank due to the inclination value, and
setting the adjusted grain tank level based on the intersection point, and

alert an operator of the adjusted grain tank level.

2. The combine of claim 1 ,
wherein the inclination sensor is a dual axis sensor measuring inclination in a fore-to-aft direction of the combine and a side-to-side direction of the combine.

3. The combine of claim 1 ,
wherein the inclination value includes an inclination angle and an inclination direction.

4. The combine of claim 1 ,
wherein the controller is further configured to adjust the grain tank level based on at least one of a type of the crop being harvested, and a geometry of the grain tank.

5. The combine of claim 1 ,
wherein the grain tank level sensor includes:
a first sensor for detecting the grain tank level as being partially full, and
a second sensor for detecting the grain tank level as being full.

6. The combine of claim 1 ,
wherein the grain tank level sensor includes at least one of a radio frequency (RF) sensor or an ultrasonic sensor for detecting the grain tank level.

7. The combine of claim 1 ,
wherein the controller is further configured to determine the grain tank level at a point of the grain surface closest to a top of the grain tank.

8. The combine of claim 1 ,
wherein the controller is further configured to determine the grain tank level at a point on a line or a plane defining a surface of the grain.

9. The combine of claim 1 ,
wherein the grain tank level sensor is at least one of a pressure sensor or a distance sensor.

10. The combine of claim 1 ,
wherein the controller is further configured to alert the operator of the adjusted grain tank level by sounding an audible or visual alarm, or by displaying the adjusted grain tank level.

11. A method for controlling a combine including a chassis, a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, a grain tank for storing the separated grain, a grain tank level sensor for detecting a grain level in the grain tank, an inclination sensor for detecting inclination of the combine, and a controller that controls the combine, the method comprising:
receiving, by the controller, the grain tank level from the grain tank level sensor;
receiving, by the controller, an inclination value from the inclination sensor;
computing, by the controller, an adjusted grain tank level that is higher in the grain tank than the grain tank level detected by the sensor, by:
estimating an intersection point where the grain pile intersects the grain tank due to the inclination value, and
setting the adjusted grain tank level based on the intersection point; and

alerting, by the controller, an operator of the adjusted grain tank level.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting, by the inclination sensor, inclination in a fore-to-aft direction of the combine and a side-to-side direction of the combine.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting, by the inclination sensor, the inclination value as an inclination angle and an inclination direction.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
adjusting, by the controller, the grain tank level based on at least one of a type of the crop being harvested, and a geometry of the grain tank.

15. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting, by the grain tank level sensor, the grain tank level as being partially full or full.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
transmitting, by the grain tank level sensor, at least one of a radio frequency (RF) signal or an ultrasonic signal towards the grain to detect the grain tank level.

17. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determine, by the controller, the grain tank level at a point of the grain surface closest to a top of the grain tank.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining, by the controller, the grain tank level at a point on a line or a plane defining a surface of the grain.

19. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
detecting, by the grain tank level sensor at least one of a pressure signal or a distance signal.

20. The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
alerting, by the controller, the operator of the adjusted grain tank level by sounding an audible or visual alarm, or by displaying the adjusted grain tank level.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Conrad Michael
• Yoder Denver

Classifications

• A01D41/1275 Primary

  for the level of grain in grain tanks · CPC title

• A01D41/1208

  Tanks for grain or chaff (for threshing machines A01F12/60) · CPC title

• A01F12/60

  Grain tanks {(for combines A01D41/1208)} · CPC title

• G01C9/00

  Measuring inclination, e.g. by clinometers, by levels · CPC title

• G01F23/0092

  Physics · mapped topic