SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVEMENT OF HARVEST WITH CROP STORAGE IN GRAIN BAGS

• US 20120087771A1
• Filed: 10/08/2010
• Published: 04/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Wenzel, Craig Edward
• Granted Patent: US 9,072,227 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/808
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/50 Sack-filling devices; Counting or weighing devices
• CPC Class Codes: A01F 12/60 Grain tanks for combines A01D41/1208

Abstract

A method for the debottlenecking of grain harvesting and grain bagging comprises a set of steps. Grain is transported in a grain cart from a harvester at a harvesting location to an accumulation site. Grain is bulk unloaded crop from the grain cart at an accumulation site by, for example, gravity dumping through a rear door of the grain cart. The cart returns to the harvester; and the grain at the accumulation site is transferred into a silo storage bag. The steps of transporting the grain, bulk unloading the grain, and returning the cart comprise a first process. The step of transferring the grain from the accumulation site into a bag comprises a second process. The first process and second process proceed in parallel.

Claims

1. A method for managing the movement and storage of grain, the method comprising the steps of:

transporting grain in a grain cart from a harvesting location to an accumulation site;

unloading grain from the grain cart at the accumulation site to form unloaded grain;

returning the grain cart to the harvesting location; and

transferring the unloaded grain from the accumulation site into a grain bag while at least one of the transporting step, unloading step, and the retuning step occur.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of unloading grain further comprises bulk unloading of grain from the grain cart.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of bulk unloading is selected from the group consisting of bottom dumping, side dumping, and rear dumping from the grain cart.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of unloading grain further comprises unloading grain on the ground.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of unloading grain further comprises unloading grain below ground.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising a liner positioned between the grain and the liner.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of unloading grain further comprises unloading grain into a bin selected from the group consisting of:

a storage bin, a mobile storage bin, a hopper, a truck grain bin, and a grain rail car.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the grain cart further comprises a bulk unloading grain cart.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising transferring grain into the bulk unloading grain cart from a grain harvester utilizing grain transfer equipment positioned in the harvester.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the bulk unloading grain cart is characterized by not having an auger.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the transfer equipment comprises an auger.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of unloading further comprises rear gravity dumping from the bulk unloading grain cart, and wherein the bulk unloading grain cart comprises a hydraulic piston and cylinder.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein the bulk unloading grain cart further comprises at least one from the group consisting of a gate, a door, a sliding door, and a window.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transferring the unloaded grain from the accumulation site into a grain bag further comprises:

loading grain into the grain bag attached to a grain bagging unit, the loading thereby providing a propelling force and stretching force to the grain bagging unit;

responsive to stretching of the grain bag information, controlling the braking of the grain bagging unit;

responsive to sensed course of the grain bagging unit information, controlling the steering of the grain bagging unit;

sensing the relative positions of a grain transferor and a receiving hopper so as to obtain a sensed relative position;

responsive to the sensed relative position, controlling the position of a second grain cart and tractor assembly relative to the grain bagging unit such that the grain transferor connected to the second grain cart maintains a loading position with respect to the hopper disposed on the grain bagging unit; and

loading grain from the second grain cart through the transferor into the hopper.

15. A method for managing the movement and storage of grain, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving grain from a harvester into a grain cart such that the time for receiving comprises a receiving interval of time;

transporting grain in a grain cart from a harvesting location to an accumulation location such that the time for transporting comprises a transporting interval of time;

unloading grain from the grain cart at the accumulation location such that the time for loading comprises an unloading interval of time;

returning the grain cart from the accumulation location to the harvester such that the time for returning comprises a returning interval of time; and

wherein the receiving interval of time is greater than the sum of the transporting interval of time, the unloading interval of time, and the returning interval of time.

16. The method according to claim 15 further comprising loading grain from the grain cart accumulation location into a grain bag in a parallel process with the steps of receiving, transporting, and returning.

17. A method for managing the movement and storage of grain, the method comprising the steps of:

filling grain into a harvester such that the time for filling the harvester comprises a filling interval of time;

receiving grain from a harvester into a grain cart such that the time for receiving comprises a receiving interval of time;

transporting grain in a grain cart from a harvesting location to an accumulation location such that the time for transporting comprises a transporting interval of time;

unloading grain from the grain cart at the accumulation location such that the time for loading comprises an unloading interval of time;

returning the grain cart from the accumulation location to the harvester such that the time for returning comprises a returning interval of time; and

wherein the filling interval of time is less than the sum of the transporting interval of time, the unloading interval of time, and the returning interval of time.

18. The method according to claim 17 further comprising parallel grain bag loading.

19. A method for managing crop harvesting and crop bagging comprising:

transporting a crop product in a cart from a harvester to an accumulation site;

bulk unloading crop product from the cart at the accumulation site;

returning the cart to the harvester; and

transferring the crop product from the accumulation site into a bag,

wherein a first process comprises transporting the crop product, bulk unloading the crop product, and returning the cart;

wherein a second process comprises transferring the crop product from the accumulation site into a bag;

wherein the first process and second process proceed in parallel.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the step of transferring the crop product from the accumulation site into a bag further comprises:

loading the crop product into a bag attached to a bagging unit, the loading thereby providing a propelling force and stretching force to the bagging unit;

responsive to stretching of the bag information, controlling the braking of the bagging unit;

responsive to sensed course of the bagging unit information, controlling the steering of the bagging unit;

sensing the relative positions of a grain transferor and a receiving hopper so as to obtain a sensed relative position;

responsive to the sensed relative position, controlling the position of a crop product loading cart and tractor assembly relative to the bagging unit such that the grain transferor connected to the crop product loading cart maintains a loading position with respect to the hopper disposed on the bagging unit; and

loading grain from the crop product loading cart through the transferor into the hopper.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the crop product loading cart comprises:

a wheeled vehicle platform the platform configured to receive attachment of a grain bag;

a hopper disposed on the vehicle, the hopper configured to receive grain;

a grain distributor connected to the platform and configured to transfer grain from the hopper to the grain bag;

a prime mover configured to provide power to the grain distributor;

a braking system associated with the platform;

a steering system associated with the platform;

a controller configured to control the braking system and the steering system;

a braking control system comprising a sensor configured to provide bag stretch information to the controller, and the controller configured to provide braking commands to the grain bagger braking system responsive to stretch information; and

a steering control system comprising a course sensor configured to provide course information to the controller and the controller configured to provide steering commands to the grain bagger steering system responsive to course information.

22. The method according to claim 19 wherein the step of transferring the crop product from the accumulation site into a bag further comprises use of a system comprising:

a crop product loading cart;

a vehicle attached to the crop product loading cart;

a bagger configured so as to receive attachment of a bag and to load the crop product into the bag;

a prime mover connected to the bagger and configured to power the bagger;

a hopper connected to the bagger and configured to receive the crop product;

a crop product transferor configured to transfer crop product from the crop product loading cart to the hopper, and wherein the hopper and the crop product transferor define a loading position; and

a coordinated movement system configured so as to receive position information as to the crop product transferor and the hopper and further configured to provide course adjusting information so as to maintain the crop product transferor in the loading position relative to the hopper.

23. The system according to claim 22 wherein the coordinated movement system provides course adjusting information to the vehicle.

24. The system according to claim 22 further comprising a controller configured to control the coordinated movement system.

25. The system according to claim 22 wherein the bagger comprises a braking system and braking control system and further comprises a bagger controller, and wherein the bagger braking control system comprises a bag stretch sensor configured to provide bag stretch information to the controller, and the controller is configured to provide braking commands to the bagger braking system.

26. The system according to claim 22 wherein the bag stretch sensor is selected from the group consisting of resistance sensors, visual readers, potentiometers, mechanical sensors, torque detector, hydraulic pressure sensor, and belt tension sensor.

27. The system according to claim 22 wherein the bagger further comprises a steering system and steering control system, and the system further comprises a bagger controller, and wherein the bagger steering control system comprises a course sensor configured to provide course information to the controller and the controller is configured to provide steering commands to the bagger steering system.

28. The system according to claim 27 wherein the steering controller further comprises a global positioning satellite system receiver configured to receive global positioning satellite system course information.