Grain cleaning system and method of controlling such
AssigneeAGCO International GmbH
InventorsDan Hermann, Morten Leth Bilde
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An impact sensor is mounted in a duct of a grain cleaning system above an upper sieve. The impact sensor has an upstream-facing impact-sensing surface with respect to a cleaning airstream, and is configured to transduce impact events and generate impact signals. An electronic control unit (ECU) is configured to generate control signals based upon a particle energy value that is determined from the impact signals. The control signals may serve to adjust various working units of a combine harvester including, by way of example, a cleaning fan and sieves.
Claims15
A grain cleaning system comprising:
- a screening apparatus having a duct;
- an upper sieve and a lower sieve disposed in the duct;
- a fan arranged to generate a cleaning airstream through the duct;
- an impact sensor mounted in the duct above the upper sieve and comprising an impact-sensing surface facing in an upstream direction with respect to the cleaning airstream, wherein the impact sensor is configured to transduce impact events and generate impact signals therefrom;
- an electronic control unit (ECU) that is in communication with the impact sensor, wherein the ECU is configured to generate control signals based upon a particle energy value determined from the impact signals;
- and
- an ultrasonic sensing device comprising:
- a transmitter configured to transmit a base signal through the cleaning airstream;
- and
- a receiver configured to transduce a reflected signal reflected off of airborne particles in the cleaning airstream,
- wherein the ECU is in communication with the ultrasonic sensing device, and
- wherein the ECU is configured to determine a Doppler frequency from a frequency of the base signal and a frequency of the reflected signal, and determine a velocity value for the airborne particles from the Doppler frequency.
A method of controlling a combine harvester which comprises a plurality of working units including a grain cleaning system with an upper sieve and a lower sieve, the method comprising:
- positioning an impact sensor above the upper sieve, wherein the impact sensor comprises an upstream-facing, impact-sensing surface;
- generating an impact signal;
- calculating a particle energy value from the impact signal;
- and
- determining a particle velocity value and calculating a particle mass value from the particle energy value and the particle velocity value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.