System and method for detecting worn or damaged components of an agricultural machine based on acoustic data

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11475717-B2
Application number	US-201916245607-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2019
Priority date	Jan 11, 2019
Publication date	Oct 18, 2022
Grant date	Oct 18, 2022

Abstract

In one aspect, a system for detecting worn or damaged components of an agricultural machine may include first and second acoustic sensors positioned at first and second locations on the agricultural machine, respectively, with the second location being spaced apart from the first location. A controller of the system may be configured to determine a first acoustic parameter associated with the first location of the agricultural machine based on acoustic data received from the first acoustic sensor. The controller may also be configured to determine a second acoustic parameter associated with the second location of the agricultural machine based on acoustic data received from the second acoustic sensor. Furthermore, the controller may be configured to determine a component of the agricultural machine is worn or damaged when the first acoustic parameter differs from the second acoustic parameter by a predetermined amount.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system for detecting worn or damaged components of an agricultural machine, the system comprising:
an agricultural machine frame;
a first ground engaging tool mounted on the agricultural machine frame at a first location;
a first acoustic sensor configured to capture data indicative of a sound being emitted by the first ground engaging tool at the first location;
a second ground engaging tool mounted on the agricultural machine frame at a second location, the second location being spaced apart from the first location;
a second acoustic sensor configured to capture data indicative of a sound being emitted by the second ground engaging tool at the second location;
a controller communicatively coupled to the first acoustic sensor and the second acoustic sensor, the controller configured to:
determine a first pitch emitted by the first ground engaging tool at the first location based on acoustic data received from the first acoustic sensor;
determine a second pitch emitted by the second ground engaging tool at the second location based on acoustic data received from the second acoustic sensor;
compare the first pitch and the second pitch to determine when the first pitch differs from the second pitch; and
determine one of the first ground engaging tool or the second ground engaging tool is worn or damaged when the first pitch differs from the second pitch by a predetermined amount.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to determine that the one of the first ground engaging tool or the second ground engaging tool is worn or damaged when the first pitch differs from the second pitch by the predetermined amount across a predetermined time period.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to initiate a control action when it is determined the one of the first ground engaging tool or the second ground engaging tool of the agricultural machine is worn or damaged.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the control action comprises notifying an operator of the agricultural machine that the one of the first ground engaging tool or the second ground engaging tool of the agricultural machine is worn or damaged.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the control action comprises adjusting an operating parameter of the agricultural machine.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of a ground speed of the agricultural machine or a penetration depth of the one of the first ground engaging tool or the second ground engaging tool.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first location is spaced apart from the second location along at least one of a longitudinal direction or a lateral direction of the agricultural machine.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the agricultural machine comprises an engine, the first acoustic sensor and the second acoustic sensor being acoustically isolated from the engine.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first ground engaging tool comprises a first shank and the second ground engaging tool comprises a second shank.

10. A method for detecting worn or damaged components of an agricultural machine, the agricultural machine including a first acoustic sensor positioned at a first location on the agricultural machine and a second acoustic sensor positioned at a second location on the agricultural machine, the second location being spaced apart from the first location, the method comprising:
determining, with a computing device, a first pitch emitted by the first ground engaging tool at a first location of the agricultural machine based on acoustic data received from the first acoustic sensor;
determining, with the computing device, a second pitch emitted by the second ground engaging tool at the second location of the agricultural machine based on acoustic data received from the second acoustic sensor;
determining, with the computing device, a component of the agricultural machine is worn or damaged when the first pitch differs from the second pitch by a predetermined amount; and
initiating, with the computing device, a control action when it is determined the component of the agricultural machine is worn or damaged.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein determining the component is worn or damaged comprises determining, with the computing device, that the component is worn or damaged when the first pitch differs from the second pitch by the predetermined amount across a predetermined time period.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the control action comprises notifying an operator of the agricultural machine that the component of the agricultural machine is worn or damaged.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the control action comprises adjusting an operating parameter of the agricultural machine.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the operating parameter comprises at least one of a ground speed of the agricultural machine or a penetration depth of the one of the first ground engaging tool or the second ground engaging tool of the agricultural machine.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first location is spaced apart from the second location along at least one of a longitudinal direction or a lateral direction of the agricultural machine.

16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the agricultural machine further comprises an engine, the first acoustic sensor and the second acoustic sensor being acoustically isolated from the engine.

Assignees

• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Harmon Joshua David
• Wu Huiyan

Classifications

• G07C5/0816

  Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction · CPC title

• G07C5/006 Primary

  Indicating maintenance · CPC title

• G07C5/0833

  using audio means · CPC title

• A01B49/027

  with a rotating, soil working support element, e.g. a roller · CPC title

• A01B76/00

  Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00 · CPC title