Crop Header with Wing Balance Calibration

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020000033-A1
Application number	US-201916452030-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 25, 2019
Priority date	Jun 29, 2018
Publication date	Jan 2, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

In a crop harvesting header with a center section and two wings where each wing is pivotal relative to the center section about a pivot axis extending in a generally forward direction which includes a balance system to maintain a balanced ground force distribution across the width of the header there is provided an automatic adjustment system for maintaining proper balance. The system includes angle or other sensors which detect the pivot angle of the wing section. This can be used in a static testing system where the position to set to a detected midpoint and/or in a dynamic system where repeatedly, over a time period during which the header is operating, data is detected relating to the positions of each wing frame portion.

First claim

1 . A crop harvesting header for use in a harvesting operation comprising:
a main frame structure extending across a width of the header for movement in a forward direction generally at right angles to the width across ground including a crop to be harvested; a mounting assembly for carrying the main frame structure on a propulsion vehicle; a cutter bar across a front of the table arranged to move over the ground in a cutting action; the main frame structure including a center frame portion, a first wing frame portion and a second wing frame portion; each of the wing frame portions being connected to the center frame portion by a pivot coupling arranged for pivotal movement of the wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion about a pivot axis extending in a generally forward direction; each of the wing frame portions being movable about the pivot axis to different angles of the wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion; each wing frame portion being movable from a mid position, in which the wing frame portion lies on a common line with the center frame portion, upwardly to a raised position in which the angle changes so that the wing frame portion is inclined upwardly from the pivot axis, and downwardly to a lowered position in which the angle changes so that the wing frame portion is declined downwardly from the pivot axis; the first wing frame portion including a first balance system for applying a first lifting force to the center frame portion and a balanced first wing lifting force to the first wing frame portion to support the first wing frame portion to provide a balanced ground force distribution across the width of the header including the center frame portion and the first wing frame portion; the first balance system including a first adjustment member which changes a first ratio of the first lifting force relative to the first wing lifting force; the second wing frame portion including a second balance system for applying a lifting force to the center frame portion and a balanced wing lifting force to the second wing frame portion to support the second wing frame portion to provide a balanced ground force distribution across the width of the header including the center frame portion and the second wing frame portion; the second balance system including a second adjustment member which changes a second ratio of the second lifting force relative to the second wing lifting force; and calibration system arranged to calibrate the first and second balance systems, the calibration system comprising:
at least one first sensor which directly or indirectly provides first data relating to the angle between the first wing frame portion and the center frame portion;
at least one second sensor which directly or indirectly provides second data relating to the angle between the second wing frame portion and the center frame portion;
a first actuator operating said first adjustment member;
a second actuator operating said second adjustment member;
and a processor which receives said first and second data and provides therefrom first and second set point data for said first and second actuators.

2 . The header according to claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor operates, for detecting said positions of each wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion, by detecting movement of a component of the wing frame portion relative to a component of the center frame portion.

3 . The header according to claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor operates by detecting a change of angle of a component of the wing frame portion relative to a component of the center frame portion, which change is proportional to the change in angle at the pivot axis.

4 . The header according to claim 3 wherein the sensor comprises an angle sensor mounted at a pivot point.

5 . The header according to claim 4 wherein the angle sensor is mounted between two components of the balance linkage which pivot relative to one another as the wing frame portion pivos about the pivot axis.

6 . The header according to claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor operates, for detecting said positions of each wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion, by detecting a distance of each of the wing frame portions and the center frame portion from the ground and there is provided a plurality of sensors detecting the height of the portions from the ground.

7 . The header according to claim 1 wherein said at least one sensor operates, for detecting said positions of each wing frame portion relative to the center frame portion, by detecting relative force of the wing frame portions and the center frame portion on the ground and there is provided a plurality of sensors detecting the pressure of the portions on the ground at spaced positions across the header.

8 . The header according to claim 1 wherein said processor receives data repeatedly from said first and second sensors, over a time period during which the header is operating in said harvesting operation.

9 . The header according to claim 8 wherein the processor calculates first and second set point data for said first and second actuators by a determination as to whether the wing frame portions are predominantly raised or predominantly lowered during the time period.

10 . The header according to claim 8 wherein the processor records the data while harvesting over a set period of time.

11 . The header according to claim 10 wherein the processor calculates as said value an average position of said wing frame portions over the set period of time.

12 . The header according to claim 11 wherein the processor includes a look up table for determining an amount of adjustment in relation to the calculated value.

13 . The header according to claim 1 wherein the processor operates, with the header stationary and running, for each of the first and second respective balance systems independently:
-a- to operate the actuator to move the respective adjustment member to a position in which the respective wing frame portion is in the raised position;
-b- to operate the actuator to move the adjustment member from the position until the respective wing frame portion moves to the mid position and to record a first position of the adjustment member at the mid position of the respective wing frame portion;
-c- to operate the actuator to move the respective adjustment member to a position in which the respective wing frame portion is in the lowered position;
-d- to operate the actuator to move the respective adjustment member from the position until the respective wing frame portion moves to the mid position and to record a second position of the respective adjustment member at the mid position of the respective wing frame portion;
-e- to determine from the first and second positions the set point data for the respective balance system.

14 . The header according to claim 13 wherein the set point data is mid-way between the first and second positions.

15 . The header according to claim 13 wherein there is provided a wing locking device for locking the other wing frame portion when the respective wing frame portion is moved.

16 . The header according to claim 13 wherein said set point data forms an initial set point from a static test taken while the header is stationary and subsequently further dynamic tests are carried out while the harvester is moving in a harvesting action.

17 . The header according to claim 16 wherein, in said dynamic tests, said processor receives data repeatedly from said first and seco

Assignees

• Macdon Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Shearer Bruce Robert
• Grenier Eric
• Willer Lance
• Talbot Francois

Classifications

• A01D41/141 Primary

  Automatic header control · CPC title

• A01D41/145

  Header lifting devices · CPC title

• A01D47/00

  Headers {for topping of plants, e.g. stalks with ears} · CPC title

• A01D41/127

  Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines · CPC title