Combine unload drive control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9049817-B2
Application number	US-201113326746-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2011
Priority date	Dec 15, 2011
Publication date	Jun 9, 2015
Grant date	Jun 9, 2015

Abstract

A control system for an unload drive system of a combine and a method for controlling an unload drive system of a combine by sensing a force on an unload auger. The combine includes a grain tank for storing grain and at least one auger for unloading grain from the grain tank. The combine includes at least one movable auger cover coupled to the grain tank for controlling the amount of grain to flow into the at least one auger. The control system includes at least one sensor for sensing a force on the unload drive system and a controller for receiving at least one force condition from the at least one sensor representing the sensed force on the unload drive system and causing the at least one movable auger cover to move based on the sensed force condition.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A combine unload drive control system comprising:
a grain tank for storing grain;
at least one auger for unloading grain from the grain tank;
at least one movable auger cover coupled to the grain tank for controlling the amount of grain to flow into the at least one auger;
at least one sensor for sensing a force on the at least one auger; and
a controller for:
(i) receiving at least one force condition from the at least one sensor representing the sensed force on the at least one auger; and
(ii) causing the at least one movable auger cover to move based on the received at least one force condition.

2. The unload drive control system of claim 1 , further comprising an unload chain drive coupled to the at least one auger by a sprocket along a first portion of the unload chain drive, wherein the at least one sensor senses a force on the at least one auger through the sprocket, and the at least one force condition received by the controller represents the sensed force on the at least one auger through the sprocket.

3. The unload drive control system of claim 2 , further comprising a load bar having a first end rigidly attached to a grain tank frame and a second end rotatably connected to the unload chain drive, wherein the at least one sensor is connected to the load bar for sensing the force on the at least one auger through the sprocket.

4. The unload drive control system of claim 1 , wherein, the at least one auger comprises a first grain tank auger and a second grain tank auger;
the control system further comprises an unload chain drive coupled to: (i) the first grain tank auger by a first sprocket along a first portion of the unload chain drive; and (ii) the second grain tank auger by a second sprocket along a second portion of the unload chain drive;
the at least one sensor comprises a first sensor which senses a first and second grain tank auger force on the first grain tank auger through the first sprocket and the second grain tank auger through the second sprocket; and
the at least one force condition received by the controller represents the combined sensed force on the first grain tank auger through the first sprocket and second grain tank auger through the second sprocket.

5. The unload drive control system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one auger further comprises an unload conveying auger for conveying the grain from the first and second grain tank augers through an unload conveyer;
the first sensor senses a combined force on the first grain tank auger through the first sprocket, the second grain tank auger through the second sprocket, and the unload conveying auger through a third sprocket; and
the at least one force condition received by the controller represents the combined sensed force on the first grain tank auger through the first sprocket, the second grain tank auger through the second sprocket, and the unload conveying auger through the third sprocket.

6. The unload drive control system of claim 4 , wherein the at least one auger further comprises: an unload conveying auger for conveying the grain from the first and second grain tank augers through an unload conveyer;
the at least one sensor further comprises a second sensor for sensing a combined force on the first grain tank auger through the first sprocket, the second grain tank auger through the second sprocket and an unload conveying auger through the third sprocket; and
the at least one force condition received by the controller comprises: (i) a first and second grain tank auger force condition representing the combined sensed force on the first grain tank auger through the first sprocket and second grain tank auger through the second sprocket and (ii) a combined force condition representing the combined sensed force on the first grain tank auger through the first sprocket, the second grain tank auger through the second sprocket and an unload conveying auger through the third sprocket.

7. The unload drive control system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one auger comprises a first grain tank auger and a second grain tank auger;
the unload drive control system further comprises:
an unload conveying auger for conveying the grain from the first and second grain tank augers through an unload conveyer;
an unload chain drive coupled to: (i) the first grain tank auger by a first sprocket along a first portion of the unload chain drive; (ii) the second grain tank auger by a second sprocket along a second portion of the unload chain drive;

and (iii) the unload conveying auger by a third sprocket along a third portion of the unload chain drive;
the at least one sensor comprises;
a first sensor for sensing a first force on the first grain tank auger through the first sprocket, the second grain tank auger through the second sprocket and the unload conveying auger through the third sprocket;
a second sensor for sensing a second force on both the first grain tank auger through the first sprocket and the second grain tank auger through the second sprocket; and
a third sensor for sensing a third force on the first grain tank auger through the first sprocket; and

wherein, the at least one force condition received by the controller comprises: a first force condition representing the sensed first force; a second force condition representing the sensed second force; and a third force condition representing the sensed third force.

8. A control system for a combine unload drive system, the control system comprising:
a grain tank for storing grain;
at least one auger for unloading grain from the grain tank;
at least one movable auger cover coupled to the grain tank for controlling the amount of grain to flow into the at least one auger;
at least one sensor for sensing a force on the unload drive system;
a controller for: (i) receiving at least one force condition from the at least one sensor representing the sensed force on the unload drive system; and (ii) causing the at least one movable auger cover to move based on the at least one force condition.

9. The control system of claim 8 , wherein the at least one auger comprises a first grain tank auger, the at least one sensor senses a force on the first grain tank auger, and the at least one force condition received by the controller represents the sensed force on the first grain tank auger.

10. The control system of claim 9 , wherein the controller causes one of the at least one movable auger covers to move if the at least one force condition representing the sensed force on the first grain tank auger exceeds a predetermined force threshold.

11. The control system of claim 8 , wherein
the at least one auger comprises: a first grain tank auger and a second grain tank auger;
the at least one sensor comprises a first sensor which senses a first and second grain tank auger force on both the first and second grain tank augers; and
the at least one force condition received by the controller represents the sensed force on both the first and second grain tank augers.

12. The control system of claim 11 , wherein
the at least one auger further comprises: an unload conveying auger for conveying the grain from the first and second grain tank augers through an unload conveyer;
the first sensor senses a combined force on the first grain tank auger, the second grain tank auger and the unload conveying auger, and
the at least one force condition received by the controller represents the combined sensed force on the first grain tank auger, the second grain tank auger and the unload conveying auger.

13. The control system of claim 11 , wherein
the at least one auger further comprises: an unload conve

Assignees

• Mccully William Mark
• Banks Jr Clayton E
• Grotelueschen Nathan C
• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Mccully William Mark
• Banks Jr Clayton E
• Grotelueschen Nathan C

Classifications

• A01D41/1272

  for measuring grain flow · CPC title

• A01D41/1217 Primary

  Unloading mechanisms · CPC title