Material independent mass flow sensor
AssigneeTopcon Positioning Systems, Inc.
InventorsJohn P. FITZSIMMONS, David C. EATON
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A material independent mass flow sensor is used to generate signals that can be used to calculate mass flow of grain harvested by a combine. A method for determining a mass of material includes the steps of receiving data from a three-measurement transducer and determining an angular center of mass location of an object based on the data from the three-measurement transducer. A coefficient of friction of the object is determined. A velocity of the object is determined. A mass of the object is determined. The mass of the object can be determined based on the angular center of mass location of the object, the coefficient of friction of the object, and the velocity of the object.
Claims20
A method for determining mass of an object moving through a material independent mass flow sensor (MIMFS), the method comprising:
- receiving data from a three-measurement transducer attached to a load curve as the object moves through the MIMFS;
- determining an angular center of mass location of the object along the load curve based on the data from the three-measurement transducer;
- determining a coefficient of friction of the object;
- determining a velocity of the object;
- and
- determining a mass of the object based on the angular center of mass location of the object, the coefficient of friction of the object, and the velocity of the object.
A material independent mass flow sensor (MIMFS) comprising:
- a load curve configured to guide an object received at one end of the load curve to an opposite end of the load curve;
- a three-measurement transducer attached to the load curve for measuring bend force FB, stretch force FS, and torque T;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory storing computer program instructions, the computer program instructions, when executed on the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- determining an angular center of mass location of the object along the load curve based on data received from the three-measurement transducer;
- determining a coefficient of friction of the object;
- determining a velocity of the object;
- and
- determining a mass of the object based on the angular center of mass location of the mass, the coefficient of friction of the mass, and the velocity of the mass.
A combine for harvesting material from a field, the combine having a material independent mass flow sensor (MIMFS), the sensor comprising:
- a load curve configured to guide an object received at one end of the load curve to an opposite end of the load curve;
- a three-measurement transducer attached to the load curve for measuring bend force FB, stretch force FS, and torque T ;
- a processor;
- and
- a memory storing computer program instructions, the computer program instructions, when executed on the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- determining an angular center of mass location of the object along the load curve based on data received from the three-measurement transducer;
- determining a coefficient of friction of the object;
- determining a velocity of the object;
- and
- determining a mass of the object based on the angular center of mass location of the mass, the coefficient of friction of the mass, and the velocity of the mass.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.