Method and apparatus for measuring grain characteristics
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A grain harvesting and measuring system comprising:
- a grain harvesting device;
at least one grain container coupled to said grain harvesting device;
at least one level sensor in communication with said grain container;
at least one weight sensor in communication with said grain container, said weight sensor being capable of sensing a static weight of grain within said grain container; and
at least one signal processor in signal communication with said level sensor and said weight sensor.
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Abstract
Methods and apparatus for measuring grain characteristics, including grain test weight, using a container having one or more sensors. The sensors may include moisture, weight, grain flow, density, and level sensors. The container may be attached to a grain harvesting device, such as a combine, for measuring characteristics of grain harvested from test plots. Multiple containers may be employed with a grain diversion device so that sequential test plots may be harvested and measured with little or no interruption. The sensors, grain diversion device, and other equipment may be in signal communication with a signal processor for automated measurement.
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Citations
77 Claims
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1. A grain harvesting and measuring system comprising:
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a grain harvesting device; at least one grain container coupled to said grain harvesting device; at least one level sensor in communication with said grain container; at least one weight sensor in communication with said grain container, said weight sensor being capable of sensing a static weight of grain within said grain container; and at least one signal processor in signal communication with said level sensor and said weight sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 71)
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13. A grain measuring apparatus, comprising:
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a grain container; a moisture sensor having an output representative of a moisture content of grain within said container; a weight sensor having an output representative of a weight of grain within said container; a level sensor having an output representative of a level of grain within said container; and a signal processor having an input and an output, said signal processor input comprising said moisture sensor output, said weight sensor output, and said level sensor output, and said signal processor output being representative of a characteristic of said grain. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 72)
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21. A grain harvesting and measuring system comprising:
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a grain harvesting device having at least one grain source; a plurality of grain containers, each of said containers having at least one respective inlet and at least one respective outlet in communication with an interior of said container, said containers being coupled to said grain harvesting device; at least one sensor having an output representative of a characteristic of grain within each of said respective containers; and at least one grain diversion device coupled between said grain source and at least two of said container grain inlets, said grain diversion device being capable of selectively directing grain to either of said two container grain inlets. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for measuring characteristics of grain, comprising:
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providing a grain measuring apparatus including; a grain container, a moisture sensor having an output representative of a moisture content of grain within said container, a weight sensor having an output representative of a weight of grain within said container, a level sensor having an output representative of a level of grain within said container, and a signal processor having an input and an output, said signal processor input comprising said moisture sensor output, said weight sensor output, and said level sensor output, and said signal processor output being representative of a characteristic of said grain; collecting grain within said container; and measuring said level, weight, and moisture content of said grain within said container. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 73)
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44. A method for harvesting grain, comprising:
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providing a grain harvesting and measuring system comprising; a grain harvesting device, at least one grain container coupled to said grain harvesting device, at least one level sensor in communication with said grain container, at least one weight sensor in communication with said grain container said weight sensor being capable of sensing a static weight of grain within said grain container, and at least one signal processor in signal communication with said level sensor and said weight sensor; harvesting grain with said grain harvesting device; collecting said grain within said container; and measuring said level and static weight of said grain within said container. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 74)
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52. A method for harvesting grain test plots, comprising:
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providing a grain harvesting device having at least one grain source; providing a grain measuring apparatus, said grain measuring apparatus including; a plurality of grain containers, each of said containers having at least one respective inlet and at least one respective outlet in communication with an interior of said container, said containers being coupled to said grain harvesting device, at least one sensor having an output representative of a characteristic of grain within each of said respective containers, and at least one grain diversion device coupled between said grain source and at least two of said container grain inlets, said grain diversion device being capable of selectively directing grain to either of said two container grain inlets; harvesting said grain test plots with said grain harvesting device; collecting said grain within at least one of said containers; and measuring said characteristic of said grain within said container using said sensor. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64)
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65. A grain harvesting and measuring system comprising:
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a grain harvesting device; at least one grain container coupled to said grain harvesting device; at least one sensor capable of directly sensing grain density and having an output representative of a density of grain within said container; and at least one signal processor having an input comprising said output from said at least one sensor. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 75)
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68. A method for harvesting grain, comprising:
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providing a grain harvesting and measuring system comprising; a grain harvesting device, at least one grain container coupled to said grain harvesting device, at least one sensor capable of directly sensing grain density and having an output representative of a density of grain within said container, and at least one signal processor having an input comprising said output from said at least one sensor; harvesting grain with said grain harvesting device; collecting said grain within said container; and measuring said density of said grain within said container. - View Dependent Claims (69, 70)
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76. A grain harvesting and measuring system comprising:
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a grain harvesting device; at least one grain container coupled to said grain harvesting device, said grain container being capable of containing all of the grain harvested from one test plot; at least one level sensor in communication with said grain container; at least one weight sensor in communication with said grain container; and at least one signal processor in signal communication with said level sensor and said weight sensor.
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77. A method for harvesting grain, comprising:
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providing a grain harvesting and measuring system comprising; a grain harvesting device, at least one grain container coupled to said grain harvesting device, said grain container being capable of containing all of the grain harvested from one test plot, at least one level sensor in communication with said grain container, at least one weight sensor in communication with said grain container, and at least one signal processor in signal communication with said level sensor and said weight sensor; harvesting grain with said grain harvesting device; collecting said grain within said container; and measuring said level and weight of said grain within said container.
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Specification