Accumulator contents detection system for harvester

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11744179-B2
Application number	US-202016815550-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 11, 2020
Priority date	Mar 11, 2020
Publication date	Sep 5, 2023
Grant date	Sep 5, 2023

Abstract

An accumulator contents detection system for a harvester includes an accumulator, a plurality of metering rollers, and at least one sensor. The accumulator accumulates crop material. The plurality of metering rollers receives crop material from the accumulator. The plurality of metering rollers includes a drive metering roller. The at least one sensor detects a load transmitted to the drive metering roller.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An accumulator contents detection system for a harvester, the system comprising:
an accumulator configured to accumulate crop material;
a plurality of metering rollers configured to receive crop material from the accumulator, the metering rollers including a drive metering roller;
at least one sensor configured to detect a load transmitted to the drive metering roller;
a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor,
an indicator communicatively coupled to the controller and configured to indicate the load detected by the at least one sensor is below a threshold amount;
a baler configured to receive crop material from the accumulator to form a bale of crop material, the baler including a wrapping system to wrap the bale of crop material, and
wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the wrapping system and configured to transmit a signal to start operation of the wrapping system to wrap the bale of crop material if the load detected by the at least one sensor is below the threshold amount.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor,
a hydraulic system including a hydraulic motor coupled to the drive metering roller and configured to be driven by a hydraulic pump, and
wherein the at least one sensor is in the form of a pressure sensor configured to detect hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic system.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the hydraulic pump and configured to transmit a signal to cease operation of the hydraulic pump if the hydraulic pressure detected by the pressure sensor is outside of a predetermined range.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the hydraulic pressure detected by the pressure sensor includes at least one of a hydraulic pressure upstream of the hydraulic motor, and a hydraulic pressure downstream of the hydraulic motor.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the pressure sensor is in the form of a differential pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure drop across the hydraulic motor.

6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor,
an electric motor coupled to the drive metering roller, and
wherein the at least one sensor is in the form of a current sensor configured to detect a current draw of the electric motor.

7. The system of claim 6 , wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the electric motor and configured to transmit a signal to cease operation of the electric motor if the current draw of the electric motor is below a predetermined threshold value.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising
a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, and
wherein the at least one sensor is in the form of a torque sensor coupled to the drive metering roller.

9. The system of claim 8 , further comprising
a drive unit driving the drive metering roller, and
wherein the controller is communicatively coupled to the drive unit and configured to transmit a signal to cease operation of the drive unit if a torque detected by the torque sensor is below a predetermined threshold value.

10. A harvester comprising the system of claim 1 , the harvester including
a chassis,
an operator station supported by the chassis,
a harvesting header coupled to the chassis,
a duct in communication with the harvesting header, the duct configured to deliver crop material from the harvesting header to the accumulator, and
wherein the accumulator and the metering rollers are supported by the chassis.

11. A method of metering crop material from an accumulator of a harvester, the method comprising:
receiving crop material from the accumulator to a plurality of metering rollers;
conveying crop material with the metering rollers; and
detecting a load transmitted to a drive metering roller of the metering rollers;
comparing the load transmitted to the drive metering roller to a first threshold;
stopping the drive metering roller if the load transmitted to the drive metering roller is less than the first threshold;
determining a number of times the drive metering roller has been stopped; and
comparing the number of times the drive metering roller has been stopped to a second threshold.

12. The method of claim 11 ,
wherein if the load transmitted to the drive metering roller is greater than the first threshold, maintaining operation of the drive metering roller.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising wrapping a bale of crop material while the drive metering roller is stopped and the number of times the drive metering roller has been stopped is greater than the second threshold.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising ejecting the bale of crop material after wrapping the bale of crop material is complete and while the drive metering roller is stopped.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising resuming operation of the drive metering roller after wrapping the bale of crop material and ejecting the bale of crop material is complete.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein, if the number of times the drive metering roller has been stopped is less than the second threshold, maintain stopping the drive metering roller and determine if the accumulator is full of crop material.

17. An accumulator contents detection system for a harvester, the system comprising:
an accumulator comprising a frame defining an interior having an inlet configured to receive crop material and an outlet configured to discharge the crop material;
an auger located in the interior of the accumulator, the auger configured to compact the crop material;
a plurality of metering rollers located in the interior and configured to convey the crop material from the accumulator through the outlet, the plurality of metering rollers including a drive metering roller;
a first drive unit for operably driving the auger and a second drive unit for operably driving the drive metering roller;
a controller for controlling the first drive unit and the second drive unit;
a first sensor disposed in communication with the controller, the first sensor detecting an operating condition of the first drive unit;
a second sensor disposed in communication with the controller, the second sensor detecting an operating condition of the second drive unit;
wherein, the controller is configured to receive the operating condition of the first drive unit from the sensor and compare the operating condition to a threshold;
wherein, if the operating condition of the first drive unit exceeds the threshold, the controller determines the accumulator is full of crop material.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first sensor is located at a first height in the interior of the accumulator and the second sensor is located at a second height in the interior thereof, the first height being greater than the second height.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first sensor is located adjacent the inlet and the second sensor is located adjacent the outlet.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein, if the operating condition of the first drive unit is less than the threshold, the controller determines the accumulator is not full of crop material.

21. The system of claim 20 , wherein the controller operably controls the second drive unit to stop driving the drive meter roller when the operating condition of the first drive unit is less than the threshold.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Cracraft Mark A

Classifications

• A01D41/1271 Primary

  for measuring crop flow · CPC title

• A01D41/1274

  for drives · CPC title

• A01F15/071

  Wrapping devices (tying devices A01F15/141) · CPC title

• A01F15/0825

  Regulating or controlling density or shape of the bale · CPC title

• A01F15/0875

  Discharge devices · CPC title