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US 12,582,040 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for measuring crop throughput
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorGeorg A. Kormann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus for determining a throughput of a harvesting machine. More specifically, a harvesting machine having a throughput sensor and an electronic control device, the throughput sensor calibrated on part of a field with a crop stand of constant density to consider the influence of the rate of advancement and the rate of conveyance of the harvesting machine on the signal of the throughput sensor.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- harvesting a first crop of a crop stand having a constant crop density in a field with a harvesting machine traveling at a first rate of advancement, wherein the first crop passes through the harvesting machine at a first rate of conveyance;
- harvesting a second crop of the crop stand having the constant crop density with the harvesting machine at a second rate of advancement, wherein the second crop passes through the harvesting machine at a second rate of conveyance;
- measuring, using a sensor, a throughput volume of the first and second crop as the first and second crop pass through the harvesting machine at the first rate of conveyance and the second rate of conveyance, respectively;
- determining a correction value associated with the sensor based on a proportionality between:
- (a) a height measured by the sensor of the throughput volume and (b) the first and second rate of advancement and the first and second rate of conveyance;
- and
- applying, during a harvesting operation in the field, the correction value in subsequent measurements of the throughput volume by the sensor.
4 more elements
An apparatus comprising:
- a harvesting machine configured to harvest a first crop and a second crop of a crop stand having a constant crop density in a field at a first and second rate of advancement, respectively;
- a sensor associated with the harvesting machine and configured to measure a throughput volume of the first and second crop passing through the harvesting machine at a first and second rate of conveyance, respectively;
- and
- an electronic control unit configured to:
- determine a correction value associated with the sensor based on a proportionality between:
- (a) a height measured by the sensor of the throughput volume and (b) the first and second rate of advancement and the first and second rate of conveyance;
- and
- applying apply, during operation of the harvesting machine in the field, the correction value in subsequent measurements of the throughput volume by the sensor.
5 more elements
At least one non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising machine-readable instructions to cause at least one processor circuit to at least:
- cause harvesting of a first crop of a crop stand having a constant crop density in a field with a harvesting machine traveling at a first rate of advancement, wherein the first crop passes through the harvesting machine at a first rate of conveyance;
- cause harvesting of a second crop of the crop stand having the constant crop density with the harvesting machine at a second rate of advancement, wherein the second crop passes through the harvesting machine at a second rate of conveyance;
- measure, using a sensor, a throughput volume of the first and second crop as the first and second crop pass through the harvesting machine at the first rate of conveyance and the second rate of conveyance, respectively;
- determine a correction value associated with the sensor based on a proportionality between:
- (a) a height measured by the sensor of the throughput volume and (b) the first and second rate of advancement and the first and second rate of conveyance;
- and
- apply, during a harvesting operation in the field, the correction value in subsequent measurements of the throughput volume by the sensor.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.