Crop material flow control system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9814184-B2
Application number	US-201113292591-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 9, 2011
Priority date	Nov 9, 2011
Publication date	Nov 14, 2017
Grant date	Nov 14, 2017

Abstract

An apparatus and method for distributing crop material onto a cleaning sieve of an agricultural combine. The method includes providing at least one sensor configured and operable for sensing information representative of at least one of a quantity of grain associated with the crop material distributor and an inclination angle associated with the crop material distributor, and outputting signals representative thereof. The method includes providing a crop material distributor disposed between a threshing system of the combine and the sieve, for distributing crop material from the threshing system generally evenly onto the sieve. The method includes providing an apparatus operably associated with the distributor for controllably distributing crop material onto the sieve. The method includes controlling a position of the apparatus as a function of signals from the at least one sensor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system that regulates delivery of crop material to a sieve of an agricultural combine, comprising:
a threshing system;
the sieve positioned and configured to receive a flow of crop material containing grain from the threshing system and allowing the grain and various elements of the crop material to pass through the sieve while guiding and propelling a flow of other elements of the crop material past an edge of the sieve;
a crop material distributor disposed generally forward of and above the sieve to distribute the crop material from the threshing system onto the sieve;
an apparatus having a surface transverse to an upper surface of the distributor that impedes the flow of crop material over the crop material distributor, wherein the surface is movable by an actuator to one of raise or lower the surface with respect to the upper surface of the distributor, to control the flow of crop over the crop material distributor and on to the sieve; wherein the rotation of the apparatus toward a position substantially perpendicular to the crop material distributor impedes the flow of crop material from the threshing system on to the sieve,
a sensor that detects information associated with at least one of the crop material or an angle of inclination for the crop material distributor,
a control system that controls the actuator in response to signals generated based on the information; and
the apparatus is pivotally connected to the crop material distributor that forms an angle of connection between the surface of the apparatus and an upper surface of the crop material distributor, wherein the angle of connection between the apparatus and the crop material distributor changes during the rotation, to regulate the flow of crop material rearward over the surface of the apparatus to the sieve.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is positioned in close proximity with an end of the crop material distributor.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor detects information associated with a depth of crop material positioned on the crop material distributor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensor detects information associated with weight of crop material positioned on the crop material distributor.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is pivotably connected between the distributor and the apparatus and the control system is operable for controlling the actuator to urge the apparatus between a first angular position and a second angular position with respect to the distributor.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is connected between the distributor and the apparatus and the control system is operable for controlling the actuator to urge the apparatus between a first axial position and a second axial position with respect to the distributor.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is connected to the distributor, the actuator urging the apparatus between a first axial position and a second axial position with respect to the distributor.

8. A retrofit kit for an agricultural combine comprising:
an apparatus operably associable with a crop material distributor disposed generally forward of and above a sieve positioned and configured to receive crop material containing grain from a threshing system and allowing the grain and smaller elements of the crop material to pass through the sieve while guiding and propelling a flow of larger elements of the crop material past an edge of the sieve, the apparatus configured and operable for distributing crop material from the threshing system onto the sieve; the apparatus comprising a transverse surface with respect to the distributor connected to and movable by an actuator to one of raise or lower the surface with respect to an upper surface of the distributor to regulate the flow of crop over the crop material distributor and on to the sieve, wherein raising the surface of the apparatus above the upper surface of the crop material distributor impedes the flow of crop material from the threshing system on to the sieve;
the actuator configurable and controllably operable to one of raise or lower the surface of apparatus with respect to the distributor;
a sensor that senses information representative of at least one of a quantity of grain associated with the crop material distributor and a position associated with the crop material distributor and outputting signals representative thereof;
a compatible software package that facilitates regulation of crop delivery via a control system having a controller for providing operative control of the actuator and receiving the signals outputted thereby, wherein the control system is operable for controlling the position of the actuator for positioning the apparatus; and
mechanical fasteners, electrical wiring and electrical connectors as required for installation of the apparatus, the actuator, the sensor and the control system in the combine.

9. A method of distributing crop material onto a cleaning sieve of an agricultural combine, comprising:
providing a crop material distributor disposed generally forward of and above the sieve, for distributing crop material from a threshing system generally evenly onto the sieve;
providing at least one sensor configured and operable for sensing information representative of at least one of a quantity of grain associated with the crop material distributor and an inclination angle associated with the crop material distributor, and outputting signals representative thereof;
controlling flow of the crop material from over the crop material distributor and on to the sieve via a rotation of an apparatus pivotally connected to the crop material distributor; wherein the rotation of the apparatus toward a position substantially perpendicular to the crop material distributor further impedes the flow of crop material from the threshing system over the apparatus on to the sieve;
controlling a position of the apparatus as a function of signals from the at least one sensor, and;
changing an angle of connection between the apparatus and the distributor via the rotation altering the flow of crop material over the apparatus to the sieve, wherein the apparatus is configured to be rotated above a surface of the distributor in a first orientation.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein providing the apparatus includes positioning the apparatus in close proximity with an end of the crop material distributor that is near the sieve.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the surface is comprised of a solid piece of material or has slots or openings in the material.

Assignees

• Ricketts Jonathan E
• Hillen Curtis F
• Farley Herbert M
• Cnh Ind America Llc

Inventors

• Ricketts Jonathan E
• Hillen Curtis F
• Farley Herbert M

Classifications

• A01D75/282 Primary

  acting on the grain cleaning and separating device (grain cleaners, separators per se A01F12/44) · CPC title

• A01F12/448

  Sieve adjusting means · CPC title

• A01F12/446

  Sieving means · CPC title