MATERIAL COLLECTION SYSTEM SENSOR

• US 20150007546A1
• Filed: 07/03/2013
• Published: 01/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deere & Company
• Original Assignee: Deere & Company
• Inventors: Holz, William J., Shaver, Patrick J., Krajnik, Christopher A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,510,510 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 56/203
• CPC Class Codes: A01D 43/0631 Control devices specially adapted therefor

Abstract

A material collection system sensor includes a paddle pivotably mounted to a tunnel on a collection container floor. The forward end of the paddle is adjacent a front of the collection container and the rearward end is adjacent a rear of the collection container. A switch mounted to the tunnel under the paddle has an actuator extending above the tunnel that is actuatable by downward pivotal movement of the paddle. A sensitivity adjuster attached to the tunnel under the paddle has a sensitivity adjustment knob outside the collection container which compresses or relaxes a spring extending upwardly against the paddle.

Claims

1. A material collection system sensor, comprising:

a paddle pivotably mounted to a tunnel on a collection container floor and having a forward end adjacent a front of the collection container and a rearward end adjacent a rear of the collection container;

a switch mounted to the tunnel under the paddle and having an actuator extending above the tunnel that is actuatable by downward pivotal movement of the paddle; and

a sensitivity adjuster attached to the tunnel under the paddle and having a sensitivity adjustment knob outside of the collection container which compresses or relaxes a spring extending upwardly against the paddle.

2. The material collection system sensor of claim 1, further comprising a hydraulic dump cylinder positioned in a recess under the tunnel.

3. The material collection system sensor of claim 1, wherein the tunnel has an inclined top surface.

4. The material collection system sensor of claim 1, wherein the top surface of the tunnel provides a stop limiting downward pivotal movement of the paddle.

5. A material collection system sensor, comprising:

a paddle mounted in a collection container and having a forward end and a rearward end;

the rearward end pivotably mounted to a tunnel in the collection container;

a spring extending through a recess under the tunnel and biasing the forward end of the paddle upwardly;

a switch under the paddle that turns on a fullness warning indicator if the paddle pivots sufficiently downwardly toward the tunnel to actuate the switch; and

a sensitivity adjuster under the tunnel which changes the spring force acting on the paddle and having a knob outside the collection container.

6. The material collection system sensor of claim 5 wherein the tunnel has an inclined top surface.

7. The material collection system sensor of claim 5 wherein the tunnel is positioned near a middle of a floor of the collection container between a left side and a right side of the collection container.

8. A material collection system sensor, comprising:

a moveable paddle in a collection container having an upwardly biased forward end near a front of the collection container, and a pivotably mounted rearward end near a rear of the collection container;

a push button switch under the paddle that is actuated by downward movement of the paddle; and

a sensitivity adjuster to adjust the upward bias of the forward end of the paddle.

9. The material collection system sensor of claim 8 further comprising an inclined tunnel to which the moveable paddle is mounted.

10. The material collection system sensor of claim 9 further comprising a recess under the tunnel.

11. The material collection system sensor of claim 10 further comprising a hydraulic dump cylinder in the recess.