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US 11,439,064 B2Granted
Pre-unloading power reduction system and method
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorAlan D. Sheidler
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A work machine for harvesting crop includes a controller and an engine. The controller is configured to command operation of the engine in accordance with various power curves based on sensed factors associated with the harvested crop. The work machine stores the harvested crop in a tank to be unloaded by an unloading auger which is powered by the engine. Prior to activation of the unloading auger, the controller commands the engine to operate in accordance with a power curve associated with a reduced power level to reserve power for operation of the unloading auger.
Claims18
A work machine comprising:
- a supporting structure;
- a harvester assembly coupled to the supporting structure;
- ground engaging mechanisms coupled to the supporting structure;
- a tank coupled to the supporting structure and configured to contain harvested crop harvested by the harvester assembly;
- an engine configured to drive rotation of the ground engaging mechanisms to move the supporting structure during operation of the work machine;
- a controller operatively coupled to the engine, the controller including a memory and a first power curve and a second power curve stored in the memory, the second power curve having a lesser power level relative to the first power curve over a range of engine speeds;
- an operator input device operatively coupled to the controller and configured to send signals to the controller;
- a crop sensor operatively coupled to the controller and configured to identify an amount of harvested crop in the tank;
- wherein the controller is configured to operate the engine, in response to signals received from the operator input device, in:
- (i) a nominal mode associated with the first power curve;
- (ii) a reserve mode associated with the second power curve;
- and (iii) an automatic mode associated with the first power curve and the second power curve;
- wherein, in the automatic mode, the controller is configured to change operation of the engine from operation in accordance with the first power curve to operation in accordance with the second power curve in response to at least one sensed factor associated with the harvested crop;
- and
- wherein the at least one sensed factor associated with the harvested crop includes a determination that the amount of harvested crop in the tank is above a predetermined upper threshold crop level.
12 more elements
A work machine comprising:
- a supporting structure;
- a harvester assembly coupled to the supporting structure;
- ground engaging mechanisms coupled to the supporting structure;
- a tank coupled to the supporting structure and configured to contain harvested crop;
- an unloading device that is configured to remove harvested crop from the tank when the unloading device is activated;
- an engine coupled to the supporting structure and configured to provide power to the ground engaging mechanisms and the unloading device;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the engine and including a memory having a first power curve, a second power curve, and a third power curve stored thereon,
- wherein the second power curve has a lesser power level relative to the first power curve over a range of engine speeds, and the third power curve has a greater power level relative to the first power curve over the range of engine speeds;
- wherein the controller is configured to change operation of the engine from operation in accordance with the first power curve to operation in accordance with the second power curve in response to at least one sensed factor associated with the harvested crop and, subsequently, to operate the engine in accordance with the third power curve when the unloading device is activated;
- and
- wherein the at least one sensed factor associated with the harvested crop includes the amount of harvested crop in the tank.
9 more elements
A method of operating a work machine comprising:
- operating an engine of the work machine in accordance with a first power curve having a first power level over a range of engine speeds;
- determining that a tank configured to contain harvested crop has been filled with harvested crop above a predetermined upper threshold crop level;
- and
- operating the engine of the work machine in accordance with a second power curve having a second power level lesser than the first power level over the range of engine speeds, in response to determining that the tank has been filled with harvested crop above the predetermined upper threshold crop level.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.