Crop header with wing balance calibration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10952375-B2
Application number	US-201816113521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 27, 2018
Priority date	Jun 29, 2018
Publication date	Mar 23, 2021
Grant date	Mar 23, 2021

Abstract

In a crop harvesting header with a center section and two wings where each wing is pivotal relative to the center section about a pivot axis extending in a generally forward direction which includes a balance system to maintain a balanced ground force distribution across the width of the header there is provided an automatic adjustment system for maintaining proper balance. The system includes a sensor which repeatedly, over a time period during which the header is operating, detects data relating to the positions, distance from the ground or weight applied to the ground of each wing frame portion, a processor arranged in response to the sensed data to calculate a value representative of the positions and an adjustment mechanism for effecting an adjustment of the balance system in response to the value.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A crop harvesting header for use in a harvesting operation comprising:
a main frame structure extending across a width of the header for movement in a forward direction generally at right angles to the width across ground including a crop to be harvested;
a mounting assembly for carrying the main frame structure on a propulsion vehicle;
a cutter bar across a front of the main frame structure arranged to move over the ground in a cutting action;
the main frame structure including a center frame portion, a first wing frame portion and a second wing frame portion;
each of the wing frame portions being connected to the center frame portion by a pivot coupling arranged for pivotal movement relative to the center frame portion about a pivot axis extending in a generally forward direction to positions of the wing frame portion which are in line with, raised above and lowered below the center frame portion;
a balance system for applying a lifting force to the center frame portion and a balanced wing lifting force to each of the wing frame portions to support the wing frame portions to provide a balanced ground force distribution across the width of the header including the center frame portion and the wing frame portions, wherein the balance system comprises:
a balance beam having a forward end and a rear end, wherein the forward end of the balance beam is pivotally connected to the center frame portion;
a tension link having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the tension link is connected to one of the wing frame portions;
a bell crank having a first arm and a second arm extending from a pivot point, wherein the first arm of the bell crank includes a slot, the pivot point of the bell crank is pivotably connected to the second end of the tension link, and the second arm of the bell crank is pivotably connected to the center frame portion; and
a compression link having a first end pivotably connected to the slot in the bell crank and a second end pivotably connected to the rear end of the balance beam; and
an adjustment system arranged to provide adjustment of the balance system to maintain said balanced ground force distribution, the adjustment system comprising:
at least one sensor repeatedly, over a time period during which the header is operating in said harvesting operation, detecting data relating to a condition of the balance system;
a processor arranged in response to said data sensed by said at least one sensor to calculate a value representative of said data of the wing frame portions over the time period;
the adjustment system effecting an adjustment of the balance system in response to said value.

2. The header according to claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor is arranged to detect positions of each wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion.

3. The header according to claim 2 wherein said at least one sensor operates, for detecting said positions of each wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion, by detecting movement of a component of the wing frame portion relative to a component of the center frame portion.

4. The header according to claim 3 wherein said at least one sensor operates by detecting a change of angle of a component of the wing frame portion relative to a component of the center frame portion.

5. The header according to claim 2 wherein said at least one sensor operates, for detecting said positions of each wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion, by detecting a distance of each of the wing frame portions and the center frame portion from the ground and there is provided a plurality of sensors detecting the height of the portions from the ground.

6. The header according to claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor operates, for detecting data relating to a condition of the balance system, by detecting a distance of each of the wing frame portions and the center frame portion from the ground.

7. The header according to claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor operates, for detecting data relating to a condition of the balance system, by detecting a force applied by each of the wing frame portions and the center frame portion to the ground.

8. The header according to claim 7 wherein there is provided a plurality of separate ground engaging elements at spaced positions along the main frame structure for supporting the cutter bar from the ground and said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of separate sensors each arranged at a respective one of the ground engaging elements for providing an output related to a force applied by the header through the respective ground engaging elements to the ground.

9. The header according to claim 1 including at least one sensor for detecting whether the header is operating in said harvesting operation.

10. The header according to claim 9 wherein said at least one sensor for detecting whether the header is operating includes a knife speed sensor.

11. The header according to claim 1 wherein the processor calculates as said value an indication as to whether the wing frame portions are predominantly raised or predominantly lowered during the time period.

12. The header according to claim 1 wherein the processor receives and uses independent sensor data relating to the two wing frame portions to calculate independent values for each of said wing portions value and said adjustment system is arranged for adjusting the balance system for each of the wing frame portions independently.

13. The header according to claim 12 wherein the processor determines independent adjustment values for the separate wing frame portions from the independent sensor data.

14. The header according to claim 1 wherein the processor records the data while harvesting over a set period of time.

15. The header according to claim 14 wherein the processor calculates as said value an average position of said wing frame portions over the set period of time.

16. The header according to claim 1 wherein the processor includes a look up table for determining an amount of adjustment in relation to the calculated value.

17. The header according to claim 1 wherein the processor is arranged such that when the value is within a predetermined range of acceptability, no adjustment is made.

18. The header according to claim 1 wherein the processor records the new adjustment position after an adjustment is affected.

Assignees

• Macdon Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Shearer Bruce Robert
• Grenier Eric
• Willer Lance
• Talbot Francois

Classifications

• A01D47/00 Primary

  Headers {for topping of plants, e.g. stalks with ears} · CPC title

• A01D41/144 Primary

  Foldable headers · CPC title

• A01B63/008

  Vertical adjustment of tools (A01B63/10 takes precedence) · CPC title

• A01D41/141 Primary

  Automatic header control · CPC title