Speed control method and system for harvester
AssigneeCNH Industrial America LLC
InventorsMadhu Pankaj, Robert L. Fackler, Steven C. Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of autonomously controlling the ground speed of a harvester, such as a self-propelled or towed wind rower, uses both the engine speed and the header speed as control parameters to increase or decrease the ground speed as necessary to maintain efficient harvester operation over varying terrain and crop conditions. A control system includes a controller which receives signals from sensors indicative of engine speed, header speed and harvester ground speed and uses actuators to control the header speed, engine speed and harvester ground speed. An operator interface permits an operator to engage or disengage the autonomous mode of control system operation, as well as to directly control the harvester.
Claims18
A method for controlling the ground speed of a harvester comprising an engine and a header, said method comprising:
- setting a maximum ground speed;
- measuring a current ground speed;
- measuring engine speed;
- measuring header speed;
- and
- increasing said current ground speed if said current ground speed is less than said maximum ground speed, and said engine speed is greater than an engine speed lower limit, and said header speed is greater than a header speed lower limit.
A method for controlling the ground speed of a harvester comprising an engine and a header, said method comprising:
- setting a maximum ground speed;
- measuring a current ground speed;
- measuring engine speed;
- measuring
- header speed;
- and increasing or decreasing said current ground speed of said harvester in response to said engine speed and said header speed;
- and increasing said engine speed if said engine speed is less than an engine speed upper limit and said header speed is greater than a header speed lower limit.
A method for controlling the ground speed of a harvester comprising an engine and a header, said method comprising:
- setting a maximum ground speed;
- measuring a current ground speed;
- measuring engine speed;
- measuring
- header speed;
- and increasing or decreasing said current ground speed of said harvester in response to said engine speed and said header speed;
- and decreasing said current ground speed if said header speed is less than a header speed lower limit.
A method for controlling the ground speed of a harvester comprising an engine and a header, said method comprising:
- setting a maximum ground speed;
- measuring a current ground speed;
- measuring engine speed;
- measuring
- header speed;
- and increasing or decreasing said current ground speed of said harvester in response to said engine speed and said header speed;
- and increasing said current ground speed if said header speed is greater than a header speed lower limit and less than a header speed upper limit by a predetermined amount.
A harvester, said harvester comprising:
- a chassis having an engine and a plurality of wheels mounted thereon;
- a motive drive system operatively connecting said engine with at least one of said wheels for rotation thereof;
- a header attached to said chassis, said header having rotating elements;
- a header drive system operatively connecting said engine with said header for rotation of said rotating elements;
- and
- a control system comprising:
- an engine speed sensor for measuring engine speed;
- a header speed sensor for measuring rotational speed of said rotating elements;
- a speed sensor for measuring a current ground speed of said harvester;
- an engine actuator for controlling said engine speed;
- a header actuator for controlling said header speed;
- a speed actuator for controlling said current ground speed of said harvester;
- a controller including resident software, said controller being in communication with said engine speed sensor, said header speed sensor, and said speed sensor for receiving signals therefrom, said controller being in communication with said actuators for sending signals thereto;
- wherein
- wherein said controller is adapted to increase said current ground speed if said current ground speed is less than a maximum ground speed, and said engine speed is greater than an engine speed lower limit, and said header speed is greater than a header speed lower limit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.