US 6,036,597 A · Combine harvester rotor load control

Abstract

The threshing cylinder or rotor of a combine harvester is driven by a rotor hydraulic motor. A rotor pump, driven by an internal combustion engine supplies hydraulic fluid to the rotor hydraulic motor to drive the rotor. A variable speed traction drive propels the harvester over the surface of a field to harvest crops. A control system varies the ground speed of the harvester based upon the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the rotor hydraulic motor to maintain a substantially constant crop material feed rate through the threshing cylinder or rotor. The control system can be an electronic system that measures the pressure of hydraulic fluid on the inlet side of the rotor hydraulic motor and varies the ground speed to keep the measured hydraulic fluid pressure substantially constant. A control system can also include a pressure control valve that varies the ground speed to maintain a constant rotor motor inlet hydraulic pressure.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A combine harvester comprising a frame;

a crop gathering mechanism mounted on a forward portion of the frame, a threshing cylinder and concave assembly mounted on the frame that receives crop material from the crop gathering mechanism and threshes the crop material;
a cylinder drive hydraulic motor that rotates the threshing cylinder;
a variable speed traction drive that propels the harvester across a field;
and a controller, connected to the variable speed traction drive and to the cylinder drive hydraulic motor, that measures the pressure of hydraulic fluid driving the cylinder drive hydraulic motor, compares the measured pressure with a selected pressure set point and changes the variable speed traction drive to control a feed rate of crop material passing into the threshing cylinder and concave assembly.

1 more element

A self-propelled combine harvester comprising a frame;

a plurality of wheels supporting the frame;
at least two driven wheels mounted on the frame for propelling the frame;
a crop gathering mechanism mounted on the forward portion of the frame for conveying crop material to a separator housing;
a threshing and separating rotor rotatably journaled on the frame inside the separator housing;
a concave mounted on the frame that cooperates with the threshing and separating rotor to thresh grain;
a separation grate mounted on the frame that cooperates with the threshing and separating rotor to separate grain from threshed crop material;
a cleaning assembly mounted on the frame inside the separator housing;
an internal combustion engine mounted on the frame for driving the harvester;
a rotor hydraulic motor driving the threshing and separating rotor;
a rotor hydraulic pump driven by the internal combustion engine and connected to the rotor hydraulic motor to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the rotor hydraulic motor;
a traction drive hydraulic motor driving the driven wheels;
a traction drive hydraulic pump driven by the internal combustion engine and connected to the traction drive hydraulic motor to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the traction drive hydraulic motor;
a pressure transducer for measuring the pressure of hydraulic fluid entering the rotor hydraulic motor;
a swash plate adjuster that changes the speed of the traction drive hydraulic motor;
an electronic controller connected to the pressure transducer and to the swash plate adjuster that compares the pressure signal from the pressure signal transducer with an adjustable set point pressure and sends signals to the swash plate adjuster as required to adjust the traction drive speed to maintain a substantially constant crop material feed rate through the threshing and separating rotor.

12 more elements

A self-propelled combine harvester comprising a frame;

a plurality of wheels supporting the frame;
at least two driven wheels mounted on the frame for propelling the frame;
a crop gathering mechanism mounted on the forward portion of the frame for conveying crop material to a separator housing;
a threshing cylinder rotatably journaled on the frame;
a concave mounted on the frame that cooperates with the threshing cylinder to thresh grain;
an internal combustion engine mounted on the frame for driving the harvester;
a threshing cylinder hydraulic motor driving the threshing cylinder;
a source of hydraulic fluid connected to the threshing cylinder hydraulic motor;
a traction drive hydraulic motor driving the driven wheels;
a traction drive hydraulic pump driven by the internal combustion engine and connected to the traction drive hydraulic motor to supply hydraulic fluid under pressure to the traction drive hydraulic motor, a traction pump swash plate adjustably mounted in the traction drive hydraulic pump for controlling hydraulic fluid flow to the traction drive hydraulic motor;
a traction pump swash plate control valve connected to the traction drive hydraulic pump that controls the position of the traction pump swash plate;
and a feed rate control valve connected to a hydraulic fluid inlet of the threshing cylinder hydraulic motor, a source of hydraulic fluid under pressure and in hydraulic communication with a control fluid inlet in the traction pump swash plate control valve and wherein the feed rate control valve controls the flow of hydraulic fluid through the control fluid inlet to control crop material feed rate through the threshing cylinder and the concave.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Combine harvester rotor load control

Life of this patent

Combine harvester rotor load control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22