Variable rate discharge system for crop accumulator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016014970-A1
Application number	US-201414333545-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 17, 2014
Priority date	Jul 17, 2014
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for controlling the speed of harvested crop as it is discharged from a crop accumulator onto a field comprising a discharge mechanism for imparting a desired rearward travel speed to the harvested crop as it is being discharged from the crop accumulator and a speed measurement device for measuring forward travel speed of the crop accumulator. A processor is in communication with the discharge mechanism and the speed measurement device and is operable to adjust the discharge mechanism for imparting the desired rearward travel speed or the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is substantially equal to the forward travel speed such that the harvested crop has a substantially net zero speed as it contacts the ground.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for controlling the speed of harvested crop as it is discharged from a crop accumulator onto a field, the system comprising:
a discharge mechanism for imparting a desired rearward travel speed to the harvested crop as it is being discharged from the crop accumulator; a speed measurement device for measuring forward travel speed of the crop accumulator; and a processor in communication with the discharge mechanism and the speed measurement device, the processor operable to adjust at least one of the discharge mechanism for imparting the desired rearward travel speed and the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is substantially equal to the forward travel speed such that the harvested crop has a substantially net zero speed as it contacts the ground.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a GPS unit configured with at least one virtual trip line that is communicated to the processor, the processor operable to adjust at least one of the discharge mechanism for imparting the desired rearward travel speed and the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is one of proportional to the forward travel speed and substantially the same as the forward travel speed, such that the harvested crop contacts the ground according to at least one of the following: on the virtual trip line, adjacent to the virtual trip line, in a zone defined by a predetermined distance from the virtual trip line, and outside of a zone defined by a predetermined distance from the virtual trip line.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the discharge mechanism is a carriage assembly comprising a carriage and an electric motor for moving the carriage.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the speed measurement device is one of a GPS unit, a speedometer, and a radar configured with at least one virtual trip line that is communicated to the processor, the processor operable to adjust at least one of the discharge mechanism for imparting the desired rearward travel speed and the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is one of proportional to the forward travel speed and substantially the same as the forward travel speed, such that the harvested crop contacts the ground according to at least one of the following: on the virtual trip line, adjacent to the virtual trip line, in a zone defined by a predetermined distance from the virtual trip line, and outside of a zone defined by a predetermined distance from the virtual trip line.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the GPS unit is a cellular phone.

6 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an alarm that alerts an operator when harvested crop is discharged.

7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the discharge mechanism is a carriage assembly comprising a carriage and a hydraulic cylinder for moving the carriage.

8 . A system for controlling the speed of harvested crop as it is discharged from a crop accumulator onto a field, the system comprising:
a discharge mechanism for imparting a rearward travel speed to the harvested crop as it is being discharged from the crop accumulator; and a speed measurement device for measuring forward travel speed of the crop accumulator; wherein the system alerts an operator to adjust at least one of the discharge mechanism to impart the rearward travel speed and the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is at least one of proportional to the forward travel speed and substantially equal to the forward travel speed, such that the harvested crop has a substantially net zero speed as it contacts the ground.

9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the discharge mechanism is a carriage assembly comprising a carriage, a hydraulic cylinder for moving the carriage, and a manually adjustable hydraulic flow control valve for controlling the hydraulic cylinder.

10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the discharge mechanism is a carriage assembly comprising a carriage and an electric motor for moving the carriage.

11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the speed measurement device is one of a GPS unit, a speedometer, and a radar configured with at least one virtual trip line that is communicated to the operator, the operator at least one of activates the discharge mechanism and alters the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is one of proportional to the forward travel speed and substantially the same as the forward travel speed, such that the harvested crop contacts the ground according to at least one of the following: on the virtual trip line, adjacent to the virtual trip line, in a zone defined by a predetermined distance from the virtual trip line, and outside of a zone defined by a predetermined distance from the virtual trip line.

12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the GPS unit is a cellular phone.

13 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising an alarm that alerts an operator when harvested crop is discharged.

14 . A system for controlling the speed of harvested crop as it is discharged from a crop accumulator onto a field, the system comprising:
a discharge mechanism for imparting a desired rearward travel speed to the harvested crop as it is being discharged from the crop accumulator; a speed measurement device for measuring forward travel speed of the crop accumulator; a GPS unit configured with at least one virtual trip line; and a processor in communication with the discharge mechanism, the speed measurement device, and the GPS unit, the processor operable to adjust at least one of the discharge mechanism for imparting the desired rearward travel speed and the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is one of proportional to the forward travel speed and substantially the same as the forward travel speed, such that the harvested crop contacts the ground according to at least one of the following: on the virtual trip line, adjacent to the virtual trip line, in a zone defined by a predetermined distance from the virtual trip line, and outside of a zone defined by a predetermined distance from the virtual trip line.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the discharge mechanism is a carriage assembly comprising a carriage and an electric motor for moving the carriage.

16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the discharge mechanism is a carriage assembly comprising a carriage and a hydraulic cylinder for moving the carriage.

17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the speed measurement device is one of a GPS unit, a speedometer, and a radar configured with at least one virtual trip line that is communicated to the processor, the processor operable to adjust at least one of the discharge mechanism for imparting the desired rearward travel speed and the forward travel speed of the crop accumulator, to discharge harvested crop with a rearward travel speed that is one of proportional to the forward travel speed and substantially the same as the forward travel speed, such that the harvested crop contacts the ground according to at least one of the following: on the virtual trip line, adjacent to the virtual trip line, in a zone defined by a predetermined distance from the virtual trip line, and outside of a zone defined by a predetermined distance from the virtual trip line.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Kraus Timothy J
• Anstey Henry D

Classifications

• A01F15/0883 Primary

  for round balers · CPC title

• A01F15/0765

  Rolling bales on the ground · CPC title

• A01D85/005

  Forming groups of bales, e.g. bale sledges (loaders for bales A01D87/12; vehicles for loading bales A01D90/08) · CPC title

• A01F15/0875

  Discharge devices · CPC title

• A01D2085/007

  Machines directly attached to a baler · CPC title