Accumulator contents detection system for harvester

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2021282318-A1
Application number	US-202016815550-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 11, 2020
Priority date	Mar 11, 2020
Publication date	Sep 16, 2021
Grant date	—

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

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; and at least one sensor configured to detect a load transmitted to the drive metering roller.

2 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising
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.

3 . The system of claim 2 , further comprising
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.

4 . 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.

5 . The system of claim 4 , 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.

6 . The system of claim 5 , 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.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein
the pressure sensor is in the form of a differential pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure drop across the hydraulic motor.

8 . 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.

9 . The system of claim 8 , 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.

10 . 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.

11 . The system of claim 10 , 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.

12 . 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.

13 . 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.

14 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising
comparing the load transmitted to the drive metering roller to a predetermined range, and wherein
if the load transmitted to the drive metering roller is within the predetermined range, maintaining operation of the drive metering roller, and
if the load transmitted to the drive metering roller is outside the predetermined range, ceasing operation of the drive metering roller.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising
wrapping a bale of crop material while the drive metering roller is stopped.

16 . The method of claim 15 , 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.

17 . The method of claim 16 , 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.

18 . A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a program for operating a harvester, the program being executable by a controller such that the controller is configured to:
initiate operation of a drive unit configured to drive a drive metering roller; receive load data related to a load transmitted to the drive metering roller; compare the load data to a predetermined range; and cease operation of the drive unit if the load data is outside of the predetermined range.

19 . The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the program is executable by the controller such that the controller is further configured to
initiate operation of a wrapping system to wrap a bale of crop material while the drive unit is inoperative.

20 . The computer readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the program is executable by the controller such that the controller is further configured to
resume operation of the drive unit after the wrapping system has wrapped the bale of crop material and the bale of crop material has been ejected.

Assignees

• Deere & Co

Inventors

• Cracraft Mark A

Classifications

• A01D43/077 Primary

  with auxiliary means, e.g. fans, for transporting the mown crop · CPC title

• A01F15/08

  Details · CPC title

• A01D59/02

  Packers · CPC title

• G01D21/02

  Measuring two or more variables by means not covered by a single other subclass · CPC title

• G01L3/00 Primary

  Measuring torque, work, mechanical power, or mechanical efficiency, in general · CPC title