Automatic combine harvester adjustment system
First Claim
1. In a combine harvester adjustment system having a plurality of actuator means for selectively adjusting a corresponding plurality of system operating parameters over ranges of values, the improvement comprising:
- a keyboard including a plurality of crop keys, one for selecting each of a plurality of crops;
first means for producing a signal representing the moisture level of a crop to be harvested;
memory means for storing sets of optimum operating values, there being one set of optimum operating values corresponding to each different combination of crop and moisture level with each set including an optimum operating value for each actuator means;
a microprocessor responsive to said first means and to actuation of one of said crop keys for reading from said memory the corresponding set of operating values; and
,output means responsive to said microprocessor and optimum operating values read from said memory for applying adjusting signals to said actuator means to adjust said operating parameters to said optimum operating values within the range of values for harvesting the selected crop.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The adjustment of operating parameters such as the sieve opening, concave opening, chaffer opening, rotor speed and/or fan speed is/are accomplished under the control of a microprocessor operating in response to the striking of keys on a keyboard. The combine harvester operator may select a particular parameter for adjustment by striking a key corresponding to that parameter. The desired setting of the selected parameter is then keyed into the keyboard and an ADJUST key struck to activate the adjustment process. Alternatively, the operator may strike a key corresponding to the crop to be harvested, a further key corresponding to the ambient moisture level of the crop, and then the ADJUST key. In this case the microprocessor reads from a stored table the values for adjusting all parameters so as to obtain a satisfactory sample and a maximum yield for the crop being harvested. The microprocessor sends signals to actuators for adjusting the various parameters and transducers sense the various parameters and provide information to the microprocessor for determining when the parameters have been adjusted to the selected values. A visual display is provided so that the operator may monitor the parameters and also observe entries keyed in at the keyboard.
127 Citations
17 Claims
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1. In a combine harvester adjustment system having a plurality of actuator means for selectively adjusting a corresponding plurality of system operating parameters over ranges of values, the improvement comprising:
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a keyboard including a plurality of crop keys, one for selecting each of a plurality of crops; first means for producing a signal representing the moisture level of a crop to be harvested; memory means for storing sets of optimum operating values, there being one set of optimum operating values corresponding to each different combination of crop and moisture level with each set including an optimum operating value for each actuator means; a microprocessor responsive to said first means and to actuation of one of said crop keys for reading from said memory the corresponding set of operating values; and
,output means responsive to said microprocessor and optimum operating values read from said memory for applying adjusting signals to said actuator means to adjust said operating parameters to said optimum operating values within the range of values for harvesting the selected crop. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A combine harvester adjustment system for adjusting operating parameters including the sieve opening, chaffer opening, concave clearance, rotor speed and fan speed, said system comprising:
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a closed loop including, sensor means for sensing said sieve, chaffer, concave, rotor speed and fan speed and producing analog signals proportional thereto; analog to digital converter means responsive to said analog signals for producing digital signals; actuator means for changing said sieve opening, chaffer opening, concave opening, rotor speed and fan speed; and microprocessor means connected between said analog to digital converter means and said actuator means; a memory connected to said microprocessor for storing adjusting values; and a plurality of keys connected to said microprocessor, said microprocessor including means responsive to actuation of said keys for comparing adjusting values from said memory with the digital values from said converter means, and applying adjusting signals to said actuator means until said adjusting values and digital signals are equal.
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8. In a combine harvester adjustment system having actuator means for adjusting at least one system operating parameter selected from the group comprising sieve opening, concave clearance, chaffer opening, rotor speed and fan speed, the improvement comprising:
means for generating digital signals representing actual operating parameters; keyboard means for entering data relating to a desired setting of at least one of said parameters; output means for applying adjusting signals to at least one of said actuator means; and
,means responsive to said keyboard means and said means for generating digital signals for comparing one of said operating parameters with the data entered at said keyboard and enabling said output means to apply adjusting signals to one of said actuator means until said one operating parameter is equal to said desired setting. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. The method of adjusting operating parameters of a combine harvester automatically, said method comprising:
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storing sets of adjusting values, there being one set of adjusting values for each combination of a crop and a moisture level for that crop; each set of values including an adjusting value corresponding to each operating parameter; repetitively sensing said parameters to obtain the actual values thereof; selecting a crop and a moisture level to thereby select one of said sets of adjusting values; comparing the adjusting values in the selected one of said sets of adjusting values with said actual values; and
,adjusting each operating parameter until the comparison between the actual value and adjusting value for that parameter indicates that the two are equal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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Specification