Baler with wear reducing controller
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorEric R. Lang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A baler having a compression system for forming a bale includes a plunger that reciprocates within a baling chamber between an extended position and a retracted position. The baler also includes a controller configured to detect and calculate the amount of work exerted by the plunger as it reciprocates within the baling chamber. The controller generally calculates the work exerted by the plunger by determining the force applied to the plunger and the distance the plunger has traveled with respect to the baling chamber.
Claims19
A method for reducing wear on a baler, the baler including a baling chamber, a plunger movable with respect to the baling chamber, a first sensor operable to measure force applied to the plunger, a second sensor operable to measure the position of the plunger with respect to the baling chamber, and a controller in operable communication with the first sensor, the second sensor, and the plunger, the method comprising:
- calculating the force applied to the plunger over a predetermined period of time based at least in part on readings from the first sensor;
- calculating the distance the plunger has moved with respect to the baling chamber over the same predetermined period of time based at least in part on readings from the second sensor;
- calculating the work exerted by the plunger based at least in part on the force applied to the plunger and the distance the plunger has moved with respect to the baling chamber;
- and
- comparing the work calculation with one or more pre-calculated parameters.
A baler comprising:
- a baling chamber,
- a plunger movable with respect to the baling chamber;
- a bale case;
- a forming bale positioned within the baling chamber;
- a first sensor operable to measure the force applied to the plunger;
- a second sensor operable to measure movement of the forming bale with respect to the bale case;
- and
- a controller in operable communication with the first sensor, the second sensor, and the plunger, the controller configured to:
- calculate the force applied to the plunger over a predetermined period of time based at least in part on readings from the first sensor,
- calculate the distance the forming bale has moved with respect to the baling case over the same predetermined period of time based at least in part on readings from the second sensor,
- calculate the work exerted by the plunger over a predetermined period of time based at least partially based on the force applied to the plunger during the predetermined period of time and the distance the forming bale has moved with respect to the baling case;
- and
- compare the work calculation with one or more pre-calculated parameters.
A baler for baling crop material, the baler comprising:
- a frame;
- one or more wheels rotatably coupled to the frame;
- a baling chamber configured to receive crop material;
- a plunger at least partially positioned within the baling chamber, the plunger operable to reciprocate between a retracted and extended position;
- a controller in operable communication with the feed assembly, the baling chamber, and the plunger, wherein the controller is configured to calculate the work exerted by the plunger based at least in part on the change in position of the plunger within the baling chamber and the force applied to the plunger;
- and
- wherein the controller compares the work calculation with one or more pre-calculated parameters and adjusts the one or more pre-calculated parameters based at least in part on previous work calculations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.