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US 10,091,943 B2Granted
Round module weighing using differential pressure sensing
AssigneesDeere & Company, Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsMark A. Cracraft, Jesse D. Haecker, Thomas M. Alferink, Jeffrey C. Askey, Matthew J. Darr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A harvester generates a round module and positions the round module on a handler. The handler includes a cylinder having a base end and a rod end. A differential pressure across the cylinder is detected. A round module weight is generated based on the detected differential pressure.
Claims20
A mobile baling machine, comprising:
- a baling system that generates a module of harvested material;
- a handler coupled to the baling system to receive the module, the handler being pivotable relative to a frame of the mobile baling machine;
- a cylinder having a base end and a rod end, coupled to the handler to drive pivotal movement of the handler relative to the frame to move the handler to a transport position for transporting the module during travel of the mobile baling machine;
- a set of cylinder sensors that sense a differential pressure across the cylinder when the module is on the handler;
- and
- bale weight processing logic, executable on a computer processor, that generates a bale weight value based on a position of the handler and based on the differential pressure sensed across the cylinder.
3 more elements
A method, comprising:
- receiving a module of agricultural material, from a baling system of a mobile baling machine, on a handler coupled to the baling system, the handler being movable relative to a frame of the mobile baling machine;
- controlling an actuator, having an inlet end and an outlet end, to drive movement of the handler relative to the frame to move the handler to a transport position for transporting the module during travel of the mobile baling machine;
- sensing a position of the handler relative to the frame;
- sensing a differential pressure across the inlet and outlet ends of the actuator when the module is on the handler;
- and
- generating a hale weight value based on the position of the handler and based on the differential pressure.
3 more elements
A cotton harvester, comprising:
- a haling system that generates a cotton module;
- a handler coupled to the haling system to receive the cotton module, the handler being movable relative to a frame of the cotton harvester;
- a cylinder having a base end and a rod end, coupled to the handler to drive movement of the handler relative to the frame to move the handler to a transport position for transporting the cotton module during travel of the cotton harvester;
- a bale diameter sensor that senses a size value indicative of a diameter of the cotton module;
- a set of cylinder sensors that sense a differential pressure across the cylinder when the cotton module is on the handler;
- and
- bale weight processing logic, executable on a computer processor, that generates a bale weight value based on a position of the handler, the sensed size value and the differential pressure sensed across the cylinder.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.