Spout control apparatus for agricultural machines
First Claim
1. Apparatus for automatically controlling the direction of a crop discharge spout on an agricultual machine with respect to a wagon attached thereto by means of a hitch assembly, said apparatus comprising:
- first sensor means for providing a first sensor signal representative of the angle between the longitudinal axes of said agricultural machine and said wagon,second sensor means for providing a second sensor signal representative of the angle between the directon of the crop discharge from said crop discharge spout and the longitudinal axis of said agricultural machine,comparator means for comprising said first and second sensor signals and providing an error signal derived from the difference therebetween, andutilization means coupled to said crop discharge spout and responsive to said error signal for adjusting the direction of the crop discharge from said crop discharge spout so that the discharged crop is continually directed into the wagon.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The crop discharge spout of an agricultural machine is continuously adjusted so that the crop material discharged therefrom is always directed into a wagon connected to the rear of the agricultural machine. A sensor disposed on the agricultural machine cooperates with a mechanical follower which is coupled therefrom to the wagon to provide a signal indicative of the angle between the agricultural machine and the wagon. The signal is compared with a signal from a second sensor indicative of the angle of the direction of the crop discharge from the spout with respect to the agricultural machine and an error signal is developed from the difference therebetween. The error signal is coupled to a motor which rotates the discharge spout accordingly until the error signal is reduced to zero.
98 Citations
8 Claims
-
1. Apparatus for automatically controlling the direction of a crop discharge spout on an agricultual machine with respect to a wagon attached thereto by means of a hitch assembly, said apparatus comprising:
-
first sensor means for providing a first sensor signal representative of the angle between the longitudinal axes of said agricultural machine and said wagon, second sensor means for providing a second sensor signal representative of the angle between the directon of the crop discharge from said crop discharge spout and the longitudinal axis of said agricultural machine, comparator means for comprising said first and second sensor signals and providing an error signal derived from the difference therebetween, and utilization means coupled to said crop discharge spout and responsive to said error signal for adjusting the direction of the crop discharge from said crop discharge spout so that the discharged crop is continually directed into the wagon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
-
Specification