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US 12,642,183 B2Granted
Dual rotor crop load system and method
AssigneeDeere & Company
InventorsJason R. Dehnke, Logan K. Trueblood, Derek J. Franke, Nicholas J. Keener
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An agricultural machine includes a first threshing rotor and a second threshing rotor positioned adjacent to the first threshing rotor. Each threshing rotor is configured to rotate to process harvested crop. The agricultural machine includes first and second sensors configured to measure a parameter indicative of crop load on the first threshing rotor and on the second threshing rotor, respectively. The agricultural machine includes a controller configured to change distribution of harvested crop in the agricultural machine based on a comparison between the measured parameter received from the first sensor and the measured parameter received from the second sensor.
Claims18
An agricultural machine for processing harvested crop comprising:
- a dual rotor threshing assembly including a first threshing rotor and a second threshing rotor positioned adjacent to the first threshing rotor, wherein each of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor are configured to rotate to process the harvested crop;
- a first sensor and a second sensor each configured to measure a parameter indicative of crop load;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to receive signals from the first sensor and the second sensor associated with the measured parameter;
- wherein the first sensor is configured to measure the parameter indicative of crop load on the first threshing rotor;
- wherein the second sensor is configured to measure the parameter indicative of crop load on the second threshing rotor;
- wherein the controller is configured to determine whether one of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor has a lesser crop load than the other of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor based on the signals associated with the measured parameter received from the first sensor and the second sensor;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to, during operation of both the first and second threshing rotors, and in response to determining that one of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor has a lesser crop load than the other of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor, facilitate a displacement of a deflector to change a distribution of harvested crop between the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor.
6 more elements
An agricultural machine for processing harvested crop comprising:
- a dual rotor threshing assembly including a first threshing rotor and a second threshing rotor positioned adjacent to the first threshing rotor, wherein each of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor are configured to rotate to process the harvested crop;
- a first sensor and a second sensor each configured to measure a parameter indicative of crop load;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to receive signals from the first sensor and the second sensor associated with the measured parameter;
- a frame to which the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor are coupled;
- a threshing basket including a first side movable relative to the first threshing rotor and configured to process the harvested crop in cooperation with the first threshing rotor, and a second side movable, independently of the first side, relative to the second threshing rotor and configured to process the harvested crop in cooperation with the second threshing rotor;
- a first cylinder assembly that is coupled to the frame, coupled to the first side of the threshing basket, and configured to extend and retract with movement of the first side of the threshing basket;
- and
- a second cylinder assembly that is coupled to the frame, coupled to the second side of the threshing basket, and configured to extend and retract with movement of the second side of the threshing basket;
- and
- wherein the first sensor is configured to measure pressure in the first cylinder assembly and the second sensor is configured to measure pressure in the second cylinder assembly,
- wherein the first sensor is configured to measure the parameter indicative of crop load on the first threshing rotor;
- wherein the second sensor is configured to measure the parameter indicative of crop load on the second threshing rotor;
- wherein the controller is configured to determine whether one of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor has a lesser crop load than the other of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor based on the signals associated with the measured parameter received from the first sensor and the second sensor;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to change a distribution of harvested crop between the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor in response to determining that one of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor has a lesser crop load than the other of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor.
13 more elements
A method associated with processing harvested crop via an agricultural machine, the method comprising:
- rotating a first threshing rotor and a second threshing rotor positioned adjacent to the first threshing rotor to process the harvested crop;
- measuring, via a first sensor, a parameter indicative of crop load on the first threshing rotor;
- measuring, via a second sensor, the parameter indicative of crop load on the second threshing rotor;
- receiving, via a controller, the measured parameter from the first sensor and from the second sensor;
- determining, via the controller, whether one of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor has a lesser crop load than the other of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor based on the measured parameter received from the first sensor and from the second sensor;
- and
- changing, during operation of both the first and second threshing rotors, a distribution of harvested crop between the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor in response to determining that one of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor has a lesser crop load than the other of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor.
4 more elements
A method associated with processing harvested crop via an agricultural machine, the method comprising:
- rotating a first threshing rotor and a second threshing rotor positioned adjacent to the first threshing rotor to process the harvested crop;
- measuring, via a first sensor, a parameter indicative of crop load on the first threshing rotor;
- measuring, via a second sensor, the parameter indicative of crop load on the second threshing rotor;
- receiving, via a controller, the measured parameter from the first sensor and from the second sensor;
- determining, via the controller, whether one of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor has a lesser crop load than the other of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor based on the measured parameter received from the first sensor and from the second sensor;
- and
- changing a distribution of harvested crop between the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor in response to determining that one of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor has a lesser crop load than the other of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor, and
- wherein measuring the parameter indicative of the crop load includes measuring a position or change in position of first and second sides of a thresher basket that cooperates with the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor to process the harvested crop.
5 more elements
An agricultural machine for processing harvested crop comprising:
- a dual rotor threshing assembly including a first threshing rotor and a second threshing rotor positioned adjacent to the first threshing rotor, wherein each of the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor are configured to rotate to process the harvested crop;
- a guide drum configured to rotate relative to a frame to direct harvested crop downstream to the first threshing rotor and the second threshing rotor;
- a first sensor and a second sensor each configured to measure a parameter indicative of crop load;
- and
- a controller operatively coupled to the first sensor and the second sensor and configured to receive signals from the first sensor and the second sensor associated with the measured parameter;
- wherein the first sensor is configured to measure the parameter indicative of crop load on the first threshing rotor;
- wherein the second sensor is configured to measure the parameter indicative of crop load on the second threshing rotor;
- and
- wherein the controller is configured to, during operation of both the first and second threshing rotors, change a distribution of harvested crop based on the signals associated with the measured parameter received from the first sensor and the second sensor.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.