Yield monitoring apparatus, systems, and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016143221-A1
Application number	US-201414900047-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 23, 2014
Priority date	Jun 21, 2013
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for monitoring yield while harvesting grain. Grain released from paddles on the clean grain elevator chain of a harvester contacts a flow sensor which reports the rate of grain flow through the clean grain elevator. In some embodiments a brush is mounted to the chain and disposed to clean the flow sensor surface. In other embodiments a bucket mounted to the clean grain elevator chain releases grain against the flow sensor at a rate dependent on a grain property.

First claim

1 . An apparatus for monitoring a mass flow rate of harvested grain in a combine having a clean grain elevator including a clean grain elevator chain, comprising:
a sensor surface; a sensor disposed to measure displacement of said sensor surface; a plurality of paddles mounted to said clean grain elevator chain; and a bucket mounted to said clean grain elevator chain, wherein said bucket releases grain, and wherein said released grain contacts said sensor surface.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a force with which said released grain contacts said sensor surface is related to a property of said grain.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a force with which said released grain contacts said sensor surface is related to a viscosity of said grain.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a force with which said released grain contacts said sensor surface is related to a flowability of said grain.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said bucket comprises:
a lower surface on which a first layer of grain is collected, wherein additional grain collected by said bucket rests on top of said first layer, wherein said lower surface is disposed such that said additional grain flows across said first layer of grain before being released by said paddle.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said lower surface is disposed at an angle A from a plane Pp lying perpendicular to a plane Pr extending radially from the center C of an upper sprocket of the clean grain elevator, and wherein said angle A is at least about an angle of repose of said grain.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein said lower surface is disposed at an angle A from a plane Pp lying perpendicular to a plane Pr extending radially from the center C of an upper sprocket of the clean grain elevator, and wherein said angle A is at least about 25 degrees.

8 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further including:
a lip adjacent to said lower surface, said lip preventing said first layer of grain from sliding out of said bucket as said bucket rounds an upper end of the clean grain elevator chain.

9 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further including a baffle restricting an amount of grain released by said bucket.

10 . The apparatus of claim 2 , further including:
processing circuitry in data communication with said sensor, said processing circuitry configured to estimate a flow rate of grain based on a signal generated by said sensor.

11 . The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein said processing circuitry is further configured to identify a property pulse, said property pulse being generated when grain released by said bucket contacts said sensor surface.

12 . The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein said processing circuitry is further configured to modify said estimated flow rate based on a property of said property pulse.

13 . The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
a brush mounted the clean grain elevator and disposed to contact said sensor surface.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein said processing circuitry is further configured to identify a brush pulse, said brush pulse being generated when said brush contacts said sensor surface.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein said processing circuitry is further configured to omit said brush pulse in calculating said estimated flow rate.

Assignees

• Prec Planting Llc

Inventors

• Koch Justin
• Strnad Michael

Classifications

• G01F1/30

  for fluent solid material · CPC title

• A01F12/46 Primary

  Mechanical grain conveyors · CPC title

• G01F22/00

  Methods or apparatus for measuring volume of fluids or fluent solid material, not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• A01D41/1272 Primary

  for measuring grain flow · CPC title

• A01D65/02

  Lifting fingers · CPC title