SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING CROP TRANSFER

• US 20120263560A1
• Filed: 03/12/2012
• Published: 10/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Original Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Inventors: Diekhans, Norbert, Huster, Jochen, Claussen, Frank
• Application Number:
  US13/417,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20120263560A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 414/294
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/087 with controllable discharge spout

Abstract

A system for controlling crop transfer from a self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine into the loading container of a hauling vehicle includes a transfer device assigned to the harvesting machine from which the crop emerges in the form of a crop discharge flow and a detection device which detects the position of the loading container relative to the harvesting machine and transmits it to a control unit. The control unit actuates at least one actuator assigned to the transfer device in such a way that the crop discharge flow lands within the loading container in order to fill it with crop. The control unit generates a control signal (S) for the hauling vehicle that specifies a position of the hauling vehicle relative to the harvesting machine that is suitable for transfer into the loading container.

Claims

1. A system for controlling crop transfer from a self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine (1) into a loading container (2) of a hauling vehicle (3), comprising:

a transfer device (4) assigned to the harvesting machine (1), from which the crop emerges in the form of a crop discharge flow (5), and

a detection device which ascertains the position of the loading container (2) relative to the harvesting machine (1) and transmits it to a control unit (7),

wherein the control unit (7) actuates at least one actuator (8, 9, 10) assigned to the transfer device (4) in such a way that the crop discharge flow (5) lands within the loading container (2) in order to fill the loading container (2) with crop, and

wherein the control unit (7) operates to generate a control signal (S) for the hauling vehicle (3) that specifies a position of the hauling vehicle (3) relative to the harvesting machine (1), which position is suitable for transfer into the loading container (2).

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control signal (S) is output in a form that is understandable by a driver of the hauling vehicle (3).

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control signal (S) is input into a ground speed regulator (11) assigned to the hauling vehicle, which automatically positions the hauling vehicle (3) relative to the harvesting machine (1).

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control signal (S) includes a ground speed to be attained by the hauling vehicle (3), a rear wheel position to be implemented by the hauling vehicle (3), or both.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (7) counteracts the transfer procedure approaching a critical state by way of the control signal (S) generated for the hauling vehicle (3).

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein a sensor (6) is provided that is suitable for detecting an impact point (P) of the crop discharge flow (5) and wherein the critical state is the impact point (P) being located outside of the loading container (2).

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a sensor (6) is provided that is suitable for detecting outer edges of the loading container (2).

8. The system according to claim 5, wherein a sensor (6) is provided that is suitable for detecting the filling state of the loading container (2) and wherein the critical state is a maximum fill level having been reached.

9. The system according to claim 5, wherein the critical state is an end position of the transfer device (4) having been reached.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (7) operates in accordance with a pre-specified or pre-configured filling strategy when generating the control signal (S).

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator (8, 9, 10) is one or more of a group consisting of an actuator (9) for height adjustment of the transfer device (4), an actuator (8) for rotating the transfer device (4), an actuator (10) for the flap control of the transfer device (4), an actuator for the gap width adjustment on the post-accelerator and an actuator which influences the impact point (P).

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein the detection device comprises a camera (6) or a system comprising a plurality of cameras.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the camera (6) is disposed on the harvesting machine (1) and is oriented for the optical detection of the loading container (2).

14. The according to claim 1, wherein the detection device is configured to determine a relative position of the loading container (2) by comparing position data on the harvesting machine (1) with position data on the loading container (2) or the hauling vehicle (3).

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the harvesting machine is a forage harvester (1) or a combine harvester.

16. A method for controlling crop transfer from a self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine (1) into the loading container (2) of a hauling vehicle (3) using a transfer device (4) from which the crop emerges in the form of a crop discharge flow (5), comprising:

determining a position of the loading container (2) relative to the harvesting machine (1) in order to orient the transfer device (4) by way of at least one actuator (8, 9, 10) in such a way that the crop discharge flow (5) lands within the loading container (2), and

controlling the hauling vehicle (3) into the position relative to the harvesting machine (1).