Sectional yield measurement on row independent harvesting head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016338263-A1
Application number	US-201514717373-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	May 20, 2015
Priority date	May 20, 2015
Publication date	Nov 24, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system for sectional yield measurement comprises a draper frame ( 106 ); a reciprocating knife ( 112 ) fixed to a forward edge of the draper frame ( 106 ); rollers ( 122, 126 ) spaced apart from one another across the width of the draper frame ( 106 ); a first endless belt ( 120, 124 ) supported on the plurality of rollers ( 122, 126 ); load sensors ( 300 ) disposed to sense a cut crop load applied to the plurality of rollers ( 122, 126 ); and an ECU ( 204 ) coupled to the load sensors to calculate a sectional yield of the row independent harvesting head ( 102 ) based at least upon signals indicative of the cut crop load.

First claim

1 . A system for sectional yield measurement across a width of a row independent harvesting head ( 102 ), comprising:
a draper frame ( 106 ) that extends laterally and generally perpendicular to a direction of travel “V”; a reciprocating knife ( 112 ) fixed to a forward edge of the draper frame ( 106 ) and extending substantially an entire width of the draper frame ( 106 ); a plurality of rollers ( 122 , 126 ) spaced apart from one another across the width of the draper frame ( 106 ), wherein the plurality of rollers rotate about axes that extend generally parallel to the direction of travel “V”; a first endless belt ( 120 , 124 ) supported on the plurality of rollers ( 122 , 126 ), wherein the plurality of rollers ( 122 , 126 ) support the at least a first endless belt ( 120 , 124 ), and wherein the first endless belt is disposed behind the reciprocating knife ( 112 ) to receive cut crop material severed by the reciprocating knife ( 112 ); load sensors ( 300 ) disposed to sense a cut crop load applied to the plurality of rollers ( 122 , 126 ) and to generate signals indicative of the cut crop load; and an ECU ( 204 ) coupled to the load sensors and configured to receive the signals indicative of the cut crop load and to calculate a sectional yield of the row independent harvesting head ( 102 ) based at least upon the signals indicative of the cut crop load.

2 . The system for sectional yield measurement according to claim 1 , wherein the ECU ( 204 ) is configured to determine a change in load between adjacent rollers.

3 . The system for sectional yield measurement according to claim 2 , wherein the ECU ( 204 ) is configured to determine the change in load by calculating a difference between a first signal generated by a first load sensor and a second signal generated by a second load sensor.

4 . The system for sectional yield measurement according to claim 1 , wherein at least one end of each of the plurality of rollers ( 122 , 126 ) is supported in a corresponding roller mount ( 200 , 202 ) and further wherein the load sensors ( 300 ) are disposed to sense a load applied by the at least one end of each of the plurality of rollers ( 122 , 126 ) to the corresponding roller mount ( 200 , 202 ).

5 . The system for sectional yield measurement according to claim 4 , wherein the corresponding roller mount ( 200 , 202 ) is fixed to a transverse frame member ( 108 , 110 ).

6 . The system for sectional yield measurement according to claim 3 , wherein the first signal indicates a cut crop load on a first roller of the plurality of rollers ( 122 , 126 ), and wherein the second signal indicates a cut crop load on a second roller of the plurality of rollers ( 122 , 126 ).

7 . The system for sectional yield measurement according to claim 6 , wherein the first roller of the plurality of rollers ( 122 , 126 ) and the second roller of the plurality of rollers ( 122 , 126 ) are disposed adjacent to each other with no rollers being disposed therebetween.

8 . The system for sectional yield measurement according to claim 1 , wherein the ECU ( 204 ) is configured to calculate a sectional yield for each of a plurality of sections of the first endless belt ( 120 , 124 ).

9 . The system for sectional yield management according to claim 8 , wherein the system further comprises a second endless belt ( 120 , 124 ) and wherein the ECU ( 204 ) is configured to calculate a sectional yield for each of a second plurality of sections of the second endless belt ( 120 , 124 ).

10 . An agricultural harvesting vehicle comprising an agricultural harvester and a system for sectional yield management according to claim 1 mounted on said agricultural harvester.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Dybro Niels

Classifications

• A01D34/14

  Knife-bars · CPC title

• A01D57/20

  with conveyor belts · CPC title

• A01D2101/00

  Lawn-mowers · CPC title

• A01D34/008 Primary

  for automated or remotely controlled operation · CPC title

• A01D41/1271 Primary

  for measuring crop flow · CPC title