Device and a method for the detection of structure-borne acoustic vibrations

• US 7,654,141 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Original Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Inventors: Brune, Markus, Behnke, Willi
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAYYAZ, NASHMIYA SAQIB
• Application Number:
  US11/508,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20070062288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 735/84, 735/92, 735/97, 56/102.R, 56/102.J
• US Class Current: 73/584
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/1273 for measuring grain loss

Abstract

In a method and a device for the detection of at least one structure-borne acoustic vibration in a component of an agricultural harvesting machine, a timer is used to determine a transit-time difference of a structure-borne acoustic vibration that is received by at least a first structure-borne sound sensor and at least a second structure-borne sound sensor and, based on the transit-time difference, a source of the structure-borne acoustic vibration is determined, thereby enabling the location of the pulses triggering the structure-borne acoustic vibration to be identified.

Claims

1. A method for detecting at least one structure-borne acoustic vibration in a component of an agricultural harvesting machine, comprising the steps of determining a transit-time difference of a structure-borne acoustic vibration that is received by a pulse detector, the pulse detector comprising at least a first structure-borne sound sensor adapted for identifying harvested grains striking the pulse detector and at least a second structure-borne sound sensor adapted for identifying harvested grains striking the pulse detector using a timer;

based on the transit-time difference, determining a source of the structure-borne acoustic vibration;

using the transit-time difference and a specified maximum possible transit time to calculate at least one transit time required by the structure-borne acoustic vibration to travel from the source until said vibration is received by the first structure-borne sound sensor or by the second structure-borne sound sensor;

using the calculated transit time and a specific sound velocity to calculate a distance between the source of the structure-borne acoustic vibration and the first or the second structure-borne sound sensor; and

using the distance as an indication of the source of the acoustic vibration in the component.

2. A method as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising starting the timer as soon as one of the structure-borne sound sensors receives the structure-borne acoustic vibration; and

stopping the timer as soon as both structure-borne sound sensors receive the structure-borne acoustic vibration.

3. A method as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising starting the timer when a sound pressure signal representative of the structure-borne acoustic vibration exceeds a specified peak sound pressure value.

4. A method as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising halting the determination of the transit-time difference when the transit-time difference measured by the timer reaches or exceeds a maximum possible transit time.

5. A method as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising halting the determination of the transit-time difference and resetting the timer when a sound pressure of the structure-borne acoustic vibration fails below a specified peak sound pressure.

6. A method as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising storing the distance between the source of the structure-borne acoustic vibration and the structure-borne sound sensors, in a control and evaluation unit, with a point in time of the determination of the difference.

7. A method as defined in claim 6;

and further comprising determining by the control and evaluation unit a distribution of the source of the structure-borne acoustic vibration in the component for a specifiable time period.

8. A method as defined in claim 1;

and further comprising starting the determination of the transit-time difference when the structure-borne sound sensors stop receiving a structure-borne acoustic vibration.

9. A device for detecting at least one structure-borne acoustic vibration in a pulse detector component of an agricultural harvesting machine, the pulse detector component comprising at least a first structure-borne sound sensor adapted for identifying harvested grains striking the pulse detector and at least a second structure-borne sound sensor adapted for identifying harvested grains striking the pulse detector arranged for measuring a structure-borne acoustic vibration;

at least one timer for determining the transit-time difference of the structure-borne acoustic vibration received by the first structure-borne sound sensor and the second structure-borne sound sensor;

means for using the transit-time difference and a specified maximum possible transit time to calculate at least one transit time required by the structure-borne acoustic vibration to travel from the source until said vibration is received by the first structure-borne sound sensor or by the second structure-borne sound sensor; and

means for determining a source of the structure-borne acoustic vibration based on the transit-time difference by using the calculated transit time and a specific sound velocity to calculate a distance between the source of the structure-borne acoustic vibration and the first or the second structure-borne sound sensor, and using the distance as an indication of the source of the acoustic vibration in the component.

10. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said means include a control and evaluation unit for determining the source of the structure-borne acoustic vibration based on the transit-time difference.

11. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said first structure-borne sound sensor is located on the pulse detector component at a distance between said second structure-borne sound sensor.

12. A device as defined in claim 9, wherein said structure-borne sound sensors are located on ends of the pulse detector component.

13. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein said structure-borne sound sensors are connected with said control and evaluation unit.

14. A device as defined in claim 10, wherein said control and evaluation unit is connected with said timer.

15. An agricultural harvesting machine configured as a combine harvester, comprising a pulse detector for determining a separation of a stream of crop material;

and a device for detecting at least one structure-borne acoustic vibration in said pulse detector of the combine harvester, said device including at least a first structure-borne sound sensor adapted for identifying harvested grains striking the pulse detector and at least a second structure-borne sound sensor adapted for identifying harvested grains striking the pulse detector arranged for measuring a structure-borne acoustic vibration, at least one timer for determining the transit-time difference of the structure-borne acoustic vibration received by the first structure-borne sound sensor and the second structure-borne sound sensor, means for using the transit-time difference and a specified maximum possible transit time to calculate at least one transit time required by the structure-borne acoustic vibration to travel from the source until said vibration is received by the first structure-borne sound sensor or by the second structure-borne sound sensor; and

means for determining a source of the structure-borne acoustic vibration based on the transit-time difference by using the calculated transit time and a specific sound velocity to calculate a distance between the source of the structure-borne acoustic vibration and the first or the second structure-borne sound sensor, and using the distance as an indication of the source of the acoustic vibration in the component.

16. An agricultural harvesting machine as defined in claim 15, wherein said pulse detector extends over a working width of a working unit of the combine harvester and detects a point of impact of harvested grains in a direction of the working width of the working unit.

17. An agricultural harvesting machine as defined in claim 15, wherein said means for determining include a control and evaluation unit which is configured for comparing a sum of values representative of two sound pressures produced in the structure-borne sound sensors with a value representative of a limiting sound pressure.

18. An agricultural harvesting machine as defined in claim 15, wherein said means for determining include a control and evaluation unit which is configured for comparing signals representative of sound pressures derived from at least two structure-borne acoustic vibrations that have a same source and that are detected by said structure-borne sound sensors, and by comparing the signals representative of the sound pressures, determining by said pulse detector a greater dampening of the structure-borne acoustic vibrations.

19. An agricultural harvesting machine as defined in claim 18, wherein said pulse detector is configured so that when the dampening of the structure-borne acoustic vibrations remains constant, the pulse detector compares signals representative of the sound pressures of at least two structure-borne acoustic vibrations that have the same source and that are detected by the structure-borne sound sensors.