System and method to detect a failed shear bolt supporting a concave of an agricultural combine
First Claim
1. A method for detecting a broken shear bolt supporting one end of a concave of a threshing apparatus of an agricultural combine, wherein the threshing apparatus has a rotor, wherein the rotor has an axis of rotation, wherein the concave has a pin on another end of the concave, the pin allowing pivotal rotation of the concave about an axis of rotation of the pin, wherein the axis of rotation of the pin is offset from the axis of rotation of the rotor, comprising the step of:
- coupling a position sensor to the pin for determining a pivotable position of the concave about the axis of rotation of the pin; and
determining a rate of change of the pivotable position of the concave about the axis of rotation of the pin and comparing the determined rate of change to a predetermined rate of change value and, if the determined rate of change exceeds the predetermined value, then determining that a broken shear bolt condition exists, wherein if it is determined that a broken shear bolt condition exists, then outputting a signal representative thereof.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for detecting existence of a failed or broken shear bolt supporting all or a portion of a concave of a threshing system of an agricultural combine and utilizing information relating to rates of movement and absence of movement of a concave to determine the existence and non-existence of a failed or broken shear bolt supporting the concave. More particularly, the present system and method is operable to diagnose existence of a broken shear bolt from a rapid downward movement of the concave and non-movement of the concave during operation of a driver for repositioning the concave. Also, existence of a false broken concave condition can be diagnosed by movements of the concave responsive to operation of the driver.
36 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a broken shear bolt supporting one end of a concave of a threshing apparatus of an agricultural combine, wherein the threshing apparatus has a rotor, wherein the rotor has an axis of rotation, wherein the concave has a pin on another end of the concave, the pin allowing pivotal rotation of the concave about an axis of rotation of the pin, wherein the axis of rotation of the pin is offset from the axis of rotation of the rotor, comprising the step of:
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coupling a position sensor to the pin for determining a pivotable position of the concave about the axis of rotation of the pin; and determining a rate of change of the pivotable position of the concave about the axis of rotation of the pin and comparing the determined rate of change to a predetermined rate of change value and, if the determined rate of change exceeds the predetermined value, then determining that a broken shear bolt condition exists, wherein if it is determined that a broken shear bolt condition exists, then outputting a signal representative thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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Specification