Modular sensor array for bulk material detection
AssigneeCNH Industrial America LLC
InventorsMatthew Gould, Cory Hunt, Bart M. A. Missotten, John H. Posselius
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A combine having a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, a grain tank for storing the separated grain, a grain tank level sensor for detecting a level of grain in the grain tank, and a controller that controls the combine. The controller is configured to receive the level of grain from the grain tank level sensors, determine a volume of a grain base from the level of the grain, determine a volume of a grain heap above the grain base, determine a total volume by combining the volume of the grain base with the volume of the grain heap.
Claims20
A combine comprising:
- a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop;
- a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue;
- a grain tank for storing the separated grain;
- a grain tank level sensor for detecting a level of grain in the grain tank;
- and
- a controller that controls the combine, the controller configured to:
- receive the level of grain from the grain tank level sensor,
- determine a volume of a grain base from the level of the grain,
- determine a volume of a grain heap above the grain base, and
- determine a total volume by combining the volume of the grain base with the volume of the grain heap.
A method for controlling a combine including a chassis, a feeder housing for receiving harvested crop, a separating system for threshing the harvested crop to separate grain from residue, a grain tank for storing the separated grain, a grain tank level sensor for detecting a level of grain in the grain tank, and a controller that controls the combine, the method comprising:
- receiving, by the controller, the level of grain from the grain tank level sensor,
- determining, by the controller, a volume of a grain base from the level of the grain,
- determining, by the controller, a volume of a grain heap above the grain base, and
- determining, by the controller, a total volume by combining the volume of the grain base with the volume of the grain heap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.