Combination of a self-moving harvesting machine and a transport vehicle

• US 7,277,784 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Issued: 10/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Weiss, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): ARTHUR JEANGLAUDE, GERTRUDE
• Application Number:
  US10/517,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20060150584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,600 Days
• Field of Search: 701/49, 701/50, 56/102.E, 56/102.G, 172/4.5, 172/5, 172/9, 172/2
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 69/008 automatic
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0236 in combination with a laser lasers per se H01S
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0246 using a video camera in combination with image processing means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0257 using a radar radar systems designed for anti-collision purposes between land vehicles or between land vehicle and fixed obstacles G01S13/931
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0278 using satellite positioning signals, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 1/0295 by at least one leading vehicle of the fleet

Abstract

The invention refers to a combination of a self-propelled harvester (32) and a transport vehicle (33), set up to accept crops from the harvester, which has at least one driven and at least one steered axle, wherein the transport vehicle (33) has an electronic control unit (38) which is set up to control the driven and the steered axle of the transport vehicle (33), and the control unit (38) is connected to a receiving unit which is set up to receive position data for the harvester (32) so that the control unit (38) can be operated to control the transport vehicle (33) to accept crops from the harvester (32) automatically with respect to a position of the harvester (32).

The proposal is made that the control unit (38) be operable to automatically make the transport vehicle (32) drive parallel to the harvester (32) and to be docked to it so as to be able to accept crops from the harvester (32), and that the transport vehicle (33) be unmanned.

Claims

1. A vehicle combination comprising:

a self-propelled harvesters and

a transport vehicle adapted to receive harvested crops from the harvester, the transport vehicle having at least one driven and at least one steered axle;

an electronic control unit on the transport vehicle for controlling the driven and steered axle of the transport vehicle; and

a receiving unit in communication with the control unit, the receiving unit used to receive position data of the harvester such that the control unit can be operated to automatically control the transport vehicle in relation to the position of the harvester so as to receive harvested crops from the harvester, wherein the control unit is operated to automatically drive the transport vehicle to collect crops from the harvester during travel, and wherein the transport vehicle is unmanned.

2. The vehicle combination according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit is designed to receive information containing position coordinates from a position determination system.

3. The vehicle combination according to claim 2 wherein the harvester is provided with a satellite position determination system and position signals are communicated to the receiving unit of the transport vehicle.

4. The vehicle combination according to claim 2 wherein the harvester is provided with a GPS position determination system.

5. The vehicle combination according to claim 2 wherein the harvester is provided with a laser position determination system.

6. The vehicle combination according to claim 2 wherein the transport vehicle is provided with a laser beam guidance system.

7. The vehicle combination according to claim 2 wherein the transport vehicle is provided with an electronic camera with image processing system.

8. The vehicle combination according to claim 2 wherein the control unit is operated to calculate a sequence of movement vectors for the transport vehicle to approach the harvester using a stored identifier for the harvester.

9. The vehicle combination according to claim 8 wherein the identification data of the harvester is stored in the control unit.

10. The vehicle combination according to claim 1 wherein the harvester is equipped with a movable transfer tube for the transfer of harvested crops to the transport vehicle, and wherein the relative position of the transfer tube can be adjusted automatically for the uniform loading of the transport vehicle.

11. The vehicle combination according to claim 1 wherein sensors are provided on axles and wheels of the transport vehicle for the determination of movement vectors.

12. The vehicle combination according to claim 1 wherein sensors are provided on axles and wheels of the transport vehicle for the determination of rotational speeds.

13. The vehicle combination according to claim 1 wherein sensors are provided on axles and wheels of the transport vehicle for the determination of torques.

14. The vehicle combination according to claim 1 wherein sensors are provided on axles and wheels of the transport vehicle for the determination of respective masses.

15. The vehicle combination according to claim 1 wherein the wheels of the transport vehicle can be driven and steered individually.

16. The vehicle combination according to claim 1 wherein interchangeable crop containers can be mounted on a vehicle chassis of the transport vehicle.

17. The vehicle combination according to claim 1 wherein the transport vehicle is provided without an operator workplace.