Initiating tractor stop and bale wrap function
AssigneeCNH America LLC
InventorsKevin M. Smith, Riccardo Morselli, Mark Wileniec, James W. Henry, Gianluca Conti, Christopher A. Foster, Mark K. Chow
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination tractor and baler is provided to automate tractor stopping and baler wrapping while incorporating operator interaction to improve the efficiency of the tractor and baler combination in operation. Automated control systems and manual operator devices are utilized to improve the timing of the tractor stop and baler wrapping time sequences. Various methods to improve efficiency, including methods to synchronize tractor stop with wrapping activation are provided.
Claims28
A tractor and baler control system comprising:
- at least one controller for generating a signal initiating bale wrapping and programmed for receiving information pertaining to whether the bale reached a predetermined size from one or more bale sensors;
- a tractor stop command device located in the tractor configured to receive activating input by an operator;
- one or more speed sensors located in proximity to a tractor driving system in the tractor to detect speed of the tractor;
- the at least one controller connected to the stop command device and a tractor driving system, wherein the at least one controller initiates a tractor stop by adjusting the tractor driving system based on information pertaining to speed received by the at least one controller from the one or more speed sensors after the stop command device has been activated;
- a processor in the at least one controller to generate a value from sensed speed information;
- and
- the at least one controller programmed to generate a signal to initiate bale wrapping at the generated value.
The tractor and baler control system of claim of 1, wherein the value is a predetermined time from when the at least one controller initiates the tractor stop, wherein the predetermined time is calculated by the at least one controller from tractor deceleration rate and current detected speed of the tractor.
The tractor and baler control system of claim of 1, further comprising memory located in the at least one controller for storing previous tractor stop times and detected tractor speeds at the related stop times, wherein the value is a predetermined time from when the at least one controller initiated the tractor stop, wherein the predetermined time is calculated by the at least one controller from the stored previous tractor stop times and detected tractor speeds at the related stop times.
A method for stopping a tractor to wrap a bale in a baler connected to the tractor comprising;
- driving the tractor connected to the baler by an operator;
- receiving information pertaining to a predetermined bale size in a bale chamber of the baler from one or more bale sensors located in proximity to the bale chamber at at least one controller:
- informing the operator of the tractor from the at least one controller through an interface that the predetermined bale size has been reached;
- activating a stop command device by activating input from the operator to initiate a stop command after the operator is informed that the predetermined bale size has been reached;
- receiving the stop command at the at least one controller from the stop command device;
- initiating at the at least one controller a stop sequence to stop the tractor after receiving the stop command;
- receiving tractor speed information at the, at least one controller from one or more speed sensors in proximity to a transmission system of the tractor;
- commanding the at least one controller to initiate a net wrapping sequence after receiving sensed speed information at the at least one controller;
- initiating a net wrapping sequence and wrapping the bale in the bale chamber at a particular time after the net wrapping sequence is initiated by the at least one controller.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.