Yield monitor for forage crops
AssigneeWisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
InventorsKevin J. Shinners, Neil G. Barnett, Walter M. Schlesser
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Yield monitor apparatus and methods for a forage processing machinery are provided according to the invention. The yield monitor measures a forage yield by variously measuring a forage impingement force, a forage volume flow, a forage volume increment accumulation, or a forage processing machinery drive load. The yield monitor may generate a yield amount, with the yield amount capable of being stored and displayed to a forage processing machinery operator. Alternatively, the yield monitor may generate a groundspeed control signal that is used by the forage processing machinery to control a forage processing machinery groundspeed or other forage processing machinery parameters.
Claims146
A yield monitor for a forage processing machinery, comprising:
- a cross auger supported by at least one force measuring device, said at least one force measuring device generates a force signal substantially related to a forage mass flow rate;
- a computer that receives said force signal and generates a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a force signal due to a forage stream impinging on a cross auger and at least one force measuring device;
- and
- generating a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A yield monitor for a forage processing machinery, comprising:
- a spinner communicating with at least one force measuring device, said at least one force measuring device generating a force signal in response to a force on said spinner due to impingement by a forage stream, said force signal being substantially related to a forage mass flow rate;
- a computer that receives said force signal and generates a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a force signal due to a forage stream impinging on a spinner, said force signal being generated by at least one force measuring device communicating with said spinner;
- and
- generating a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A yield monitor for a forage processing machinery, comprising:
- a deflector shield affixed to at least one force measuring device, with said deflector shield being positioned below a cutter head of a forage harvester to guide a forage stream leaving said cutter head, said forage stream impinging on said deflector shield and said at least one force measuring device, with said at least one force measuring device generating a force signal substantially related to a forage mass flow rate;
- a computer that receives said force signal and generates a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a force signal due to a forage stream impinging on a deflector shield and an associated at least one force measuring device positioned below a cutter head of a forage harvester;
- generating a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A yield monitor for a forage processing machinery, comprising:
- a transition stage within said forage processing machinery, said transition stage having a wide proximal opening and a narrow distal opening, with said distal opening gathering and channeling a forage stream flowing therethrough, said transition stage including at least one hinged side panel communicating a forage stream impingement force to an associated at least one force measuring device, with said at least one force measuring device generating a force signal substantially related to a forage mass flow rate;
- a computer that receives said force signal and generates a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and said forage processing machinery intake parameter.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a force signal due to a forage stream impinging force on a transition stage side panel, said side panel communicating said forage stream impinging force to an associated at least one force measuring device;
- generating a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A yield monitor for a forage processing machinery, comprising:
- a blower having a blower chamber and a blower spout extending substantially vertically away from said blower chamber, said blower spout including a blower spout bend wherein said blower spout curves from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation, with a force measuring device and an associated impingement plate being located in said blower, said force measuring device generating a force signal substantially related to a forage mass flow rate;
- a computer that receives said force signal and generates a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a force signal substantially related to an impinging force of a forage stream, said force signal being generated by an impingement plate and an associated force measuring device positioned in a blower spout;
- and
- generating a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A yield monitor for a forage processing machinery, comprising:
- a roller and at least one associated force measuring device, said at least one associated force measuring device measuring a separation force imparted on said roller by a forage stream and generating a force signal substantially related to a forage mass flow rate;
- and
- a computer receiving said force signal and generating a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a force signal of a separation force imparted on a roller in a forage processing machinery, said separation force signal being substantially related to a forage mass flow rate;
- and
- generating a yield amount based upon said separation force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A yield monitor for a forage processing machinery, comprising:
- an upper roller of a pair of rollers;
- an ultrasonic displacement measuring device that measures a displacement of said upper roller, with said ultrasonic displacement measuring device generating a displacement signal substantially related to a forage mass flow rate and without contacting said upper roller;
- and
- a computer receiving said displacement signal and generating a yield amount based upon said displacement signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a displacement signal of a displacement of a roller in a forage processing machinery, said displacement signal being generated by an ultrasonic displacement measuring device and being substantially related to a forage mass flow rate;
- and
- generating a yield amount based upon said displacement signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A yield monitor for a forage processing machinery, comprising:
- an impeller hood extending over an impeller, said hood being hinged to said forage processing machinery and communicating a forage stream impingement force to an associated at least one force measuring device, with said at least one force measuring device generating a force signal substantially related to a forage mass flow rate;
- a computer that receives said force signal and generates a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a force signal due to a forage stream impinging force on an impeller hood, said impeller hood communicating said forage stream impinging force to an associated at least one force measuring device;
- generating a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A yield monitor for a forage processing machinery, comprising:
- a swath shield communicating a forage stream impingement force to an associated at least one force measuring device, said at least one force measuring device measuring an impinging force on said swath shield and generating a force signal substantially related to a forage mass flow rate;
- a computer that receives said force signal and generates a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a force signal substantially related to an impinging force of a forage stream impinging on a swath shield;
- and
- generating a yield amount based upon said force signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A yield monitor for a forage processing machinery, comprising:
- a drive load measuring device affixed to a drive device of said forage processing machinery, said drive load measuring device generating a drive load signal related to a forage mass flow rate;
- and
- a computer receiving said drive load signal;
- wherein said computer is capable of generating a yield amount based upon said drive load signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a drive load signal related to a mass flow rate of a forage stream feeding into said forage processing machinery;
- and
- generating a yield amount based upon said drive load signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A yield monitor for a forage processing machinery, comprising:
- a blower having a blower chamber and a blower spout extending substantially vertically away from said blower chamber, said blower spout including a blower spout bend wherein said blower spout curves from a substantially vertical orientation to a substantially horizontal orientation, with a forage stream distance measuring device being located in said blower spout after said blower spout bend, said forage stream distance measuring device generating a distance signal substantially related to a forage mass flow rate;
- and
- a computer that receives said distance signal and generates a yield amount based upon said distance signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a distance signal substantially related to a distance to a forage stream in a blower spout, said distance signal being generated by an ultrasonic distance sensor positioned in said blower spout;
- and
- generating a yield amount based upon said distance signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A yield monitor for a forage accumulating machinery, comprising:
- a volume increment accumulation measuring device generating a volume increment accumulation signal substantially related to a forage mass;
- and
- a computer that receives said volume increment accumulation signal and generates yield amount based upon said accumulation signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and said forage accumulating machinery groundspeed.
A method for measuring a forage yield in a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- generating a forage volume increment accumulation movement signal substantially related to a movement of an accumulated forage stream accumulating in said forage processing machinery;
- and
- generating a yield amount based upon said forage volume increment accumulation movement signal, a forage processing machinery groundspeed, and forage processing machinery intake parameters.
A computer-implemented method for providing a yield feedback to a forage processing machinery, comprising the steps of:
- determining in a first computer a forage mass flow rate through said forage processing machinery;
- receiving in said first computer a groundspeed measurement of a forage processing machinery groundspeed;
- calculating in said first computer a yield amount based upon said mass flow rate and said groundspeed measurement;
- generating in said first computer a groundspeed control signal from said yield amount;
- and
- controlling said foraging processing machinery groundspeed with a second computer to substantially equal said groundspeed control signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.