US 7,398,144 B2 · Apparatus and method to calibrate the PTO with the disk or sickle of an agricultural windrower

Abstract

An apparatus and method for calibrating a PTO for driving a cutter of a header of an agricultural windrower, wherein a programmable control module in connection with at least signal operated device in operative control of a variable displacement pump operable for controlling operation of the PTO, is programmed as part of an automatic calibration routine for directing signals to the device having values which will increase over time from a first value toward a second value. At the same time, the control module determines when a first movement of the cutter occurs. If the first movement occurs before the second signal value is reached, information representative of an electrical signal corresponding to the first movement is stored. The routine is then repeated using a higher range of electrical signal values to calibrate where the cutter reaches max speed. In either instance, if the speed condition is not reached with the outputting of the signals within the range, the calibration fails.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A method of calibrating a PTO for driving a cutter of a header of an agricultural windrower, comprising steps of:

providing a windrower including a PTO having a fluid pump operable by a signal controlled device for controlling pressurized fluid flow through the PTO to a cutter of a header for controlling a speed of operation of the cutter;
providing a programmable control module in connection with the signal controlled device and operable for outputting control signals thereto having variable signal values;
and
wherein the control module is programmed as part of a calibration routine for automatically:
outputting control signals to the signal controlled device having signal values which will increase over time from a first predetermined value toward a second predetermined value;
monitoring the header for an indication of initial movement of the cutter;
and
if the indication of the initial movement of the cutter is present, then storing information representative of a signal value outputted to the signal controlled device corresponding to the initial movement of the cutter;
and
if the values of the signals outputted to the signal controlled device are increased to the second predetermined value and the indication is not present, then determining that the calibration fails.

7 more elements

Apparatus for calibrating a PTO of an agricultural windrower for driving a cutter of a header of the windrower, comprising:

a PTO driveline having at least one solenoid controlled pump operable by an electrical signal for controlling pressurized fluid flow through the pump to a cutter of a header for controlling a speed of operation of the cutter;
a programmable control module in connection with the at least one solenoid in connection with the pump and with a source of electricity, the control module being operable for controllably directing an electrical signal having a variable signal value from the source of electricity to the solenoid;
an input device in connection with the control and operable by an operator for inputting a predetermined signal thereto;
and
wherein the control module is programmed as part of a calibration routine to automatically:
direct electrical signals to the solenoid having values which will increase over time from a first predetermined value toward a second predetermined value, and, as the electrical signals are directed to the solenoid, determining if a first movement of the cutter occurs, and if the first movement of the cutter occurs before the electrical signals directed to the solenoid are increased to the second predetermined value, then store information representative of an electrical signal directed to the solenoid corresponding to the first movement of the cutter, and if the electrical signals directed to the solenoid are increased to the second predetermined value and the first movement of the cutter has not occurred, then to determine that the calibration has failed.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Apparatus and method to calibrate the PTO with the disk or sickle of an agricultural windrower

Life of this patent

Apparatus and method to calibrate the PTO with the disk or sickle of an agricultural windrower

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16