Agricultural working machine

• US 8,321,093 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Original Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH (CLAAS KGaA mbH)
• Inventors: Pollklas, Manfred, Immer, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Algahaim, Helal A
• Application Number:
  US12/174,008
• Publication Number:
  US 20090030581A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,595 Days
• Field of Search: 701/29, 701/50, 701/93, 340/442, 340/444
• US Class Current: 701/50
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 41/127 Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted for combines
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/085 Control or measuring arrangements specially adapted therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 23/00 Devices for measuring, signalling, controlling, or distributing tyre pressure or temperature, specially adapted for mounting on vehicles; Arrangement of tyre inflating devices on vehicles, e.g. of pumps or of tanks; Tyre cooling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/20 Tyre data
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/22 Agricultural vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/222 Harvesters

Abstract

The present invention relates to an agricultural working machine (2), in particular a forage harvester (1) with a device for adjusting the ground speed v, with which the maximum ground speed v of the agricultural working machine (2) is determined as a function of the tire pressure of at least one tire (14).

Claims

1. An agricultural working machine, comprising:

a tire pressure control system (26) for inflating and deflating a tire (14) to control an air pressure level of the tire such that during street operation the tire air pressure is at a street pressure level and during field operation the tire air pressure is at a field pressure level that is reduced compared to the street pressure level; and

a device for adjusting a ground speed, wherein a maximum ground speed (v) of the agricultural working machine (2) is determined as a function of the tire air pressure of the tire (14) using a tire air pressure sensor (33) in the tire, and

wherein a maximum driveable ground speed (v) that depends on the tire air pressure is preselectable for different tire sizes, for different tire types or both.

2. The agricultural working machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the maximum driveable ground speed (v) is determined with reference to at least one characteristic curve k, which accounts for at least a parameter of tire air pressure of the tire (14).

3. The agricultural working machine as recited in claim 2, wherein the at least one characteristic curve k also accounts for a parameter of tire type and/or tire size.

4. The agricultural working machine as recited in claim 2, further comprising a memory device (31) and a control panel (35), wherein the at least one characteristic curve k is storable in the memory device (31), wherein a particular preselected, tire pressure-dependent, maximum ground speed value, tire type, and tire size is enterable in the memory device (31) via the control panel (35).

5. The agricultural working machine as recited in claim 4, wherein the tire air pressure sensor (33) generates an output signal processed in a control and evaluation unit (34), which queries a preselected maximum driveable ground speed (v) stored in the memory device (31) according to the output signal, and wherein the queried ground speed (v) value is transmitted to a ground speed control device (21) for automatic control of the ground speed (v).

6. The agricultural working machine as recited in claim 5, wherein the agricultural working machine (2) comprises at least two tires (14) and is configured to be operated at a maximum ground speed (v) corresponding to a preselected ground speed value of the lowest tire pressure sensed by the tire air pressure sensor (33) when different tire air pressures are detected in the at least two tires (14).

7. The agricultural working machine as recited in claim 1, wherein a tire pressure-dependent, maximum driveable ground speed (v) is displayed to a driver (23) of the agricultural working machine (2) via a display unit (36) in a driver'"'"'s cab (25), and further comprising actuating elements configured for adjustment by the driver (23) of the maximum driveable ground speed (v).

8. The agricultural working machine as recited in claim 1, wherein, if the maximum driveable ground speed (v) that is determined as a function of the tire air pressure is exceeded, an optical and/or acoustic warning signal is output to a driver (23) via a signal transducer, and/or a ground drive (19) of the agricultural working machine (2) is automatically regulated down to a maximum driveable ground speed (v) that was preselected based on the detected tire air pressure.

9. The agricultural working machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the agricultural working machine (2) is a combine harvester, a forage harvester (1), or a tractor.

10. The agricultural working machine as recited in claim 1, wherein the tire pressure control system (26) includes a control unit (30) and adjustable valves (30), which together effect the inflating and deflating of the tire (14).

11. The agricultural working machine as recited in claim 10, wherein the tire pressure control system (26) further includes a compressor (27) and supply lines (28) for supplying air to the tire (14).