Radar-transparent components for headers of agricultural vehicles and related systems
AssigneeCNH Industrial America LLC
InventorCory Douglas Hunt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for detecting one or more parameters associated with a header configured for use with an agricultural vehicle includes a header component and a radar sensor supported relative to the header component. The radar sensor has a field of view along which the radar sensor is configured to transmit radio waves for reflection off a surface. At least a portion of the header component is positioned within the field of view of the radar sensor or passes through the field of view of the radar sensor and is formed from one or more radar-transparent materials.
Claims20
A system for detecting one or more parameters associated with headers configured for use with an agricultural vehicle, the system comprising:
- a header comprising a reel rotatable about a rotational axis, the reel comprising:
- a plurality of tine bar assemblies supported relative to the rotational axis of the reel, each tine bar assembly including a tine support member and plurality of tines coupled to the tine support member;
- a central support member extending along the rotational axis;
- and
- at least one radial support member coupled to the tine support member of each tine bar assembly and being configured to support the plurality of tine bar assemblies relative to the central support member;
- and
- a radar sensor supported by the header and having a field of view along which the radar sensor is configured to transmit radio waves for reflection off a surface;
- wherein:
- the tine support member of each tine bar assembly passes through the field of view of the radar sensor with rotation of the reel about the rotational axis;
- and
- the tine support member of each tine bar assembly is formed from one or more radar-transparent materials.
A header configured for use with an agricultural vehicle, the header comprising:
- a frame;
- a reel rotatable relative to the frame about a rotational axis, the reel comprising:
- a plurality of tines;
- a plurality of tine-supporting components configured to support the plurality of tines relative to the rotational axis, the plurality of tine-supporting components comprising:
- a central support member extending along the rotational axis;
- a plurality of tine support members spaced apart radially from the central support member, with each tine support member being coupled to a subset of the plurality of tines;
- and
- at least one radial support member coupled to the plurality of tine support members and being configured to support the plurality of tine support members relative to the central support member;
- and
- a radar sensor supported by the header relative to the frame and having a field of view along which the radar sensor is configured to transmit radio waves for reflection off a surface;
- wherein:
- at least one of the plurality of tine-supporting components is formed from one or more radar-transparent materials;
- and
- the least one of the plurality of tine-supporting components is positioned within the field of view of the radar sensor or passes through the field of view of the radar sensor.
A system for detecting one or more parameters associated with a header configured for use with an agricultural vehicle, the system comprising:
- a header component;
- and
- a radar sensor supported by the header component and having a field of view along which the radar sensor is configured to transmit radio waves for reflection off a surface;
- wherein:
- at least a portion of the header component is positioned within the field of view of the radar sensor or passes through the field of view of the radar sensor;
- and
- the at least a portion of the header component is formed from one or more radar-transparent materials.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.