Inertial system for detecting foreign objects between contra-rotating rolls
AssigneeKasha Farm Supplies Ltd.
InventorWayne C. Duncan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A foreign object detector comprises an inertial sensor mounted for displacement with one of the displaceable rolls in the feed mechanism of a forage harvester. When a foreign object is forced through the rolls, the acceleration of the rolls' displacement exceeds a predetermined threshold and the detector stops the feed mechanism. Preferably, the detector's sensor is a microswitch having an inertially-actuable lever and which is mounted for displacement with the upper feed roll. More preferably, the detector's circuitry ties into existing metal detector circuitry for reducing cost and complexity, while being easily retrofitted into existing forage harvesters.
Claims27
A method for detecting the presence of a substantially non-compressible foreign object between contra-rotating, parallel and opposing rotating rolls, at least one roll being displaceable relative to the another for adjusting the spacing therebetween, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an inertial sensor mounted for displacement with at least one of the rotating rolls and being capable of sensing acceleration;
- and
- monitoring the inertial sensor for, and emitting a signal when, said acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold, said signal being indicative of the presence of a foreign object.
A method for detecting the presence of foreign objects in crop material in a feed mechanism of a harvesting machine, the feed mechanism comprising at least one upper and one lower feed roll, the upper feed roll being movable relative to the lower feed roll for adjusting the spacing therebetween, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing an inertial sensor mounted for displacement with the upper feed roll and being capable of sensing the acceleration of the upper feed roll;
- monitoring the inertial sensor for, and emitting a signal when, said acceleration exceeds a predetermined threshold, said signal being indicative of the presence of a foreign object;
- and
- stopping the feed mechanism upon said sensor's signal exceeding a predetermined threshold.
Apparatus for detecting the presence of a substantially non-compressible foreign object between contra-rotating, substantially parallel and opposing rotating rolls, the apparatus comprising:
- a first rotating roll;
- a second rotating roll which is displaceable relative to the first roll for adjusting the spacing therebetween;
- and
- an inertial sensor mounted for displacement with the second rotating roll, the sensor being capable of sensing acceleration and emitting a signal when said acceleration of the second rotating roll and sensor exceeds a predetermined threshold, said signal being indicative of the presence of a foreign object between the first and second rolls.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.