BE1024885B1 - ARRANGEMENT IN CLOSED LOOP OF AGGRESSIVITY OF A NADORSER - Google Patents

Abstract

A system for controlling the aggressiveness of a post-harvester (80) that resists non-threshed ears received from the grain cleaning system (26) in a harvesting machine for agricultural applications (10) is equipped with at least one imaging device (90) for an image from a grain sample (200). At least a portion of the grain sample (200) has passed through the post-harvester (80) at least once. A controller (106) is connected to the imaging device (90) and to an arrangement (108) to automatically adjust the aggressiveness of the post-harvester (80). The controller (106) is configured to automatically adjust the aggressiveness of the post-harvester (80) using the arrangement (108) based on information provided by the at least one imaging device (90).

Description

(30) Priority data:

(73) Holder (s):

CNH INDUSTRIAL BELGIUM NV

8210, ZEDELGEM

Belgium (72) Inventor (s):

BANKS Jr. Clayton E.

17508 BROWNSTOWN, PA PENNSYLVANIA United States of America

YOUNGMANS Dré W.J.

4791 AG CLOTHES

The Netherlands

MAHIEU Thomas

8900 YPRES

Belgium

MISSOTS Bart M.A.

3020 HERENT

Belgium

McCULLY William M.

17603 LANCASTER

United States of America (54) CONTROL IN CLOSED LOOP AGGRESSIVITY OF A RADIATOR (57) A system for controlling the aggressiveness of a rear tractor (80) that is not threshed ears received from the grain cleaning system (26) in a post-harvest harvester for agricultural applications (10), is equipped with at least one imaging device (90) to make an image of a grain sample (200). At least part of the grain sample (200) has passed through the post-harvester (80) at least once. A controller (106) is connected to the imaging device (90) and to an arrangement (108) to automatically adjust the aggressor of the post-harvester (80). The controller (106) is configured to automatically adjust the aggressor of the post-harvester (80) using the arrangement (108) based on information provided by the at least one imaging device (90).

BELGIAN INVENTION PATENT

FPS Economy, K.M.O., Self-employed & Energy

Publication number: 1024885 Filing number: BE2017 / 5000

Intellectual Property Office

International classification: A01F 12/52 A01D 41/127 A01F 12/18 Date of issue: 09/08/2018

The Minister of Economy,

Having regard to the Paris Convention of 20 March 1883 for the Protection of Industrial Property;

Having regard to the Law of March 28, 1984 on inventive patents, Article 22, for patent applications filed before September 22, 2014;

Having regard to Title 1 Invention Patents of Book XI of the Economic Law Code, Article XI.24, for patent applications filed from September 22, 2014;

Having regard to the Royal Decree of 2 December 1986 on the filing, granting and maintenance of inventive patents, Article 28;

Having regard to the application for an invention patent received by the Intellectual Property Office on 03/01/2017.

Whereas for patent applications that fall within the scope of Title 1, Book XI, of the Code of Economic Law (hereinafter WER), in accordance with Article XI.19, § 4, second paragraph, of the WER, the granted patent will be limited. to the patent claims for which the novelty search report was prepared, when the patent application is the subject of a novelty search report indicating a lack of unity of invention as referred to in paragraph 1, and when the applicant does not limit his filing and does not file a divisional application in accordance with the search report.

Decision:

Article 1

CNH INDUSTRIAL BELGIUM NV, Leon Claeysstraat 3A, 8210 ZEDELGEM Belgium;

represented by

BEETZ Joeri, Leon Claeysstraat 3A, 8210, ZEDELGEM;

a Belgian invention patent with a term of 20 years, subject to payment of the annual fees as referred to in Article XI.48, § 1 of the Economic Law Code, for: REGULATION

IN CLOSED LOOP OF THE AGGRESSIVITY OF A ADDERS.

INVENTOR (S):

BANKS Jr. Clayton E., P.O. Box 277 73 Allen Road, 17508, BROWNSTOWN, PA PENNSYLVANIA;

JONGMANS Dré W.J., Zevenbergseweg 13, 4791, AG KLUNDERT;

MAHIEU Thomas, Vleeshouwerstraat 26 6C, 8900, IEPER;

MISSOTTEN Bart M.A., Heidestraat 14, 3020, HERENT;

McCULLY William M. „420 Stone Creek Road, 17603, LANCASTER;

PRIORITY:

BREAKDOWN:

Split from basic application: Filing date of the basic application:

Article 2. - This patent is granted without prior investigation into the patentability of the invention, without warranty of the Merit of the invention, nor of the accuracy of its description and at the risk of the applicant (s).

Brussels, 09/08/2018,

With special authorization:

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SCHEME IN CLOSED LOOP OF AGGRESSIVITY

ADDITIONAL

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to harvesters for agricultural applications (hereinafter referred to simply as harvesters) and more particularly to processors of threshing ears (hereinafter referred to as post-harvesters) in the grain cleaning system of harvesters.

The term combine harvester (or picker, combine in English) for a harvester has grown historically because it combines multiple harvesting functions in a single crop, such as picking, threshing, separation and cleaning. A combine harvester contains a mower that removes the crop from a field and a feeder housing that transports the crop to a threshing rotor. The threshing rotor rotates in a perforated housing, which can take the form of adjustable concaves, and threshes the crop to remove the grain. Once the grain is threshed, it falls through a perforation in the concaves onto a grain bowl. From the grain bowl, the grain is cleaned using a cleaning system and then transported to a grain tank on board the combine. A cleaning fan blows air through the screens to remove chaff and other debris from the rear of the combine. Non-grain crop material (further referred to as non-grain), such as straw, from the threshing section, passes through a scrap treatment system that can use a straw chopper to process the non-grain and direct it to the rear of the combine. When the grain tank becomes full, the combine is positioned near a vehicle in which the grain is to be unloaded, such as a trailer, a self-unloader, an ordinary truck or the like, and a discharge system on the combine is driven to deliver the grain to the vehicle to transfer.

In particular, a rotary threshing or separating system includes one or more rotors which can extend axially (from front to back) or transversely (from side to side), and which are partially or completely surrounded by perforated concaves. The harvest material is threshed and separated by rotating the rotor within the concaves. Coarse non-grain, such as stems and leaves, passes through a threshing drum to remove any remaining grain, then is transported to the rear of the combine and unloaded in the field. The separated cereal grains

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B E2017 / 5000, together with some finer non-grain such as chaff, dust, straw and other crop residues, are discharged through the concaves and fall onto a grain bowl where they are transported to a cleaning system. Alternatively, the grain and finer non-grain may also fall directly onto the cleaning system itself.

A cleaning system then separates the grain from the non-grain and usually includes a fan that directs an air stream up and back through vertically mounted screens that reciprocate in a forward and backward fashion. The airflow lifts the lighter non-grain and carries it to the rear end of the combine to unload it in the field. Clean grain, which is heavier, and larger pieces of non-grain, which are not blown away by the airflow, fall on a surface of an upper sieve (also called short straw sieve) through which the clean grain passes partially or completely to a lower sieve ( also called cleaning sieve). Grain and non-grain left on the top and bottom screens are physically separated by the back-and-forth action of the screens as the material moves backward. All grain and / or non-grain passing through the top sieve, but not through the bottom sieve, is directed to a bowl of threshed ears. Grain that falls through the bottom sieve ends up on a bottom tray of the cleaning system, where it is transported forward to a clean grain auger. The clean grain auger transfers the grain to a grain elevator, which transports the grain upwards! to a grain tank to store it temporarily. The grain accumulates until the grain tank is full and unloaded into a neighboring vehicle such as a semi-trailer, a self-unloader, an ordinary truck or the like, through a discharge system on the combine that is operated to transfer grain to the vehicle.

Meanwhile, incompletely cleaned grain, called non-threshed ears (tailings in English), may consist of incomplete or non-threshed crop, free grain from fully threshed crop and other plant material or non-grain (MOG = non-grain crop material, usually further abbreviated to non-grain in Dutch). Such threshed spikes from the top or bottom screen that have fallen on the threshing auger scale are returned by the cleaning system. Often a return auger or threshing spike transporter receives the threshing spikes from a threshing spike auger trough at the front end of the auger shell, and lifts the threshing spikes vertically around the threshing spikes through the threshing and threshing spikes. separation or cleaning system. Between the auger trough for staple 52762

B E2017 / 5000 threshing ears and the return auger or conveyor for threshed ears, a post-threshing machine can be fitted, with the function of further threshing the threshed ears before returning them to the cleaning system.

The aggressiveness of the post-harvester is controlled by increasing or decreasing the radial clearance or threshing clearance between the rasps on the revolving drum of the post-harvester and a portion of the cylindrical housing, usually the bottom of the housing. Different crops and different harvesting conditions require different measures of aggressiveness of the post-drier to effectively thresh the threshed ears that have passed through the cleaning system. In the past, determining and optimizing the effectiveness of the combine harvester was often a cumbersome process of guessing and missing, consisting of inspecting the output of the combine or grain in the combine's grain tank and manually adjusting the radial clearance or threshing of the nador, where such manual adjustment was complicated and time consuming.

For example, U.S. Patent 3,247,855 teaches us to manually adjust the operating clearance between the vane blades and the wall of a vaner unit mounted on top of the threshing spike conveyor which returns it to the cleaning system. The operating clearance is adjusted by using eccentric blocks on which the impeller shaft is mounted and with an associated handle that can occupy predetermined positions. Patent E.P. 2,064,941 teaches us in a similar manner to adjust the operating clearance between the vane blades and a wall of the post-harvester housing by using an adjustable wall. Similarly, International Patent Application No. WO 2009034442A2 discloses an after-harvester, the housing of which is located on top of the return auger, which returns threshed ears to the cleaning system, whereby the after-hive is manually adjusted using threads. U.S. Patent 6,342,006 discloses the use of a grain counter to determine how much grain passes behind the combine's first threshing system, and then adjusts the settings of this primary threshing system. A sieve on an elevator auger or auger conveyor output auger is adjustable to control grain dropping on the grain counter, but the aggressiveness of a post-harvester is not automatically adjusted, as no separate post-harvester is fitted.

U.S. Patent No. 4,348,855 discloses a sieve system mounted at the top of the combine's grain elevator that maintains the ratio of damaged and undamaged

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52762 determines grain by separating the damaged grain and then striking it on a sensor. The system then varies the speed of the primary threshing rotor to minimize grain damage while operating at the highest rotor speed. However, no post-harvester is involved. U.S. Patent 20030216159 discloses a concave removal tool from a cross-rotor combine harvester. A concave adjustment mechanism using one or more actuators is provided. This is again done by adjusting the concaves of the primary threshing and separation system and by adjusting the aggressiveness of a post-harvesting system. U.S. Patent discloses a concave of a transverse main threshing rotor which has a hinged end with a bridging device between the hinged end portion and the rest of the threshing system. Even now, however, this is done by adjusting the concaves of the primary threshing and separation system and not by adjusting the aggressiveness of a post-harvesting system.

Thus, what is needed here relative to the prior art is a system and method of optimizing the post-tractor efficiency without the operator having to go through a guess and miss process followed by manual radial clearance adjustment or threshing of the post-harvester.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides such a way to optimize the efficiency of the post-harvester. Embodiments of this invention are applied to the post-harvester which has the function of threshing threshed ears before returning them through the cleaning system of the harvester. The post-harvester may be equipped with grating on a rotating drum that rotates within a cylindrical housing. The cylindrical housing contains a bottom, which may or may not be provided with protrusions to improve the threshing action of the post-harvester. A sensor or grain camera may be attached to the combine's outlet from the combine's grain elevator or to the combine's cylindrical housing, or elsewhere in the combine's cleaning system or subsequent grain handling equipment to ensure the effectiveness of the post-threshing ears. determine. The information provided by the sensor or grain camera is used to adjust the aggressor of the post-harvester to optimize the post-threshing spikes.

The rotary drum graters pass within a radial clearance or threshing clearance relative to the bottom of the rear combine housing when the rotary drum

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52762 is running. The aggressiveness of the post-harvester is controlled to a great extent by varying this radial clearance or threshing clearance. Different crops and different harvesting conditions require different degrees of aggressiveness from the post-harvester to effectively post-harvest the threshed ears that have passed through the cleaning system. In particular, if too many pods, ears or culms of unthreshed grain pass through the combine, it is necessary to reduce the radial clearance or threshing clearance to increase the combine's aggressiveness. On the other hand, if too much grain or too many grains are broken in the nador, it is necessary to increase the radial clearance or threshing clearance to reduce the aggressiveness of the nador. Adjustment mechanisms are capable of increasing or decreasing the radial clearance or threshing clearance by raising or lowering a bottom of the cylindrical housing of the combine harvester using one or more actuators.

The sensor or grain camera, which is connected to a control system or controller, interacts with the control system or controller to determine if too many pods, ears or culms of threshed grain are passing through the combine, or too much grain or many grains are broken in the post-harvester. If the control system or controller, in conjunction with the sensor or grain camera, determines that too many pods, ears or culms of unthreshed grain pass through the combine, then the control system or controller determines that it is necessary to reduce the radial clearance or threshing clearance to increase the aggressiveness of the combine harvester. The controller or control system then raises the bottom of the house by using adjustment mechanisms. After this adjustment, the control system or controller also works together with the sensor or grain camera to determine whether too many pods, ears or culms of unthreshed grain still pass through the post-harvester, or if there is too much grain or too many grains in it. the post-harvester is broken and, if necessary, further adjusts the radial clearance or threshing clearance, in closed loop or undelayed (in real time).

If the control system or controller decides, in conjunction with sor or the grain camera, that too much grain or too many grains are broken in the post-harvester, the control system or controller then determines that it is necessary to increase the radial clearance or threshing clearance to reduce the aggressiveness of the post-tractor. The controller or control system then lowers the bottom of the house by using adjustment mechanisms. But even now, after this adjustment, the control system or the controller again works together with the sensor or grain camera to determine whether too much grain or too many grains are still broken in the post-harvester, or if too many pods, ears

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BE2017 / 5000 or straws of threshed grain now pass through the post-harvester, and if necessary further adjust the radial clearance or threshing clearance, in closed loop or undelayed (in real time).

An indicator or indicators may be associated with one or each adjustment mechanism to provide visual feedback about the current radial clearance or threshing clearance to an operator performing a visual inspection. Alternatively, feedback can be given to the operator in the combine operator's cabin by means of a pressure gauge or other optical or acoustic device, or by means of an electronic efficiency control device. The sensor or grain camera is able and has the function to make an image of grain that has been post-threshed. The sensor or grain camera can be a digital camera that produces digital images that are subsequently processed by the controller or control system. Alternatively, the sensor or grain camera may be another type of sensor with imaging capabilities, such as via ultrasonic, thermal or infrared imaging, or radar imaging, as non-limiting examples. Independently or in conjunction with the control system or controller, the sensor or grain camera works to identify pods with non-threshed grains, ears and culms in the grain sample, and to identify grain kernels broken in the grain sample. The controller or control system uses this information to increase or decrease the radial clearance or threshing clearance, closed loop aggressiveness and real time (real-time) respectively, as described above.

The sensor or grain camera may be mounted on the grain elevator outlet, on the post-cylinder cylindrical housing, or elsewhere within the cleaning system, grain elevator, grain tank, or even on the transport system, provided that at least a portion of the grain sample is which has previously passed through the post-harvester as threshed ears. Other such places where a sensor or grain camera according to an embodiment of the invention may be located are the front or rear surface of the post-harvester, attached to the return auger, and attached to the bottom shell of the grain cleaning system, or attached to the clean grain auger, if not -limiting examples.

The invention is directed in one form to a system for controlling the aggressiveness of a post-harvester in a harvester. The harvester contains a threshing and separating system, a grain cleaning system, a jack trough for threshing ears and a return auger, a clean grain auger, a grain elevator with an outlet and a

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52762 grain tank. The post-harvester has the function of residual threshing ears received from the grain cleaning system. The post-harvester is coupled with the jack-threshing auger trough and the return auger, and has a rotating threshing device within a house. The system is equipped with at least one imaging device aimed to create an image of a grain sample, at least part of which has passed through the post-harvester. The system is further equipped with a controller or control system connected to the imaging device. The post-harvester is equipped with an arrangement to automatically adjust the post-harvester aggressiveness, which is connected to and controlled by the controller or control system. The controller or control system is configured to automatically adjust the aggressor of the nador using the arrangement based on information provided by the at least one imaging device.

In another form, the invention is directed to a harvester that includes a threshing and separating system carried by the chassis to separate grain from non-grain, a cleaning system that receives grain from the threshing and separating system to further clean the grain , a post-drier that receives threshed ears from the cleaning system, and a system for controlling the aggressiveness of the post-drier. The harvester further includes an auger for threshing ears and a return auger, a clean grain auger, a grain elevator with an outlet and a grain tank. The post-harvester has the function of threshing non-threshed ears that he has received from the grain cleaning system. The post-harvester is coupled to the threshing grain auger and the return auger and includes a rotating threshing device within a house. The post-aggressor control system is equipped with at least one imaging device aimed to image a grain sample, at least a portion of which has passed through the post-combine. The system is further equipped with a controller or control system connected to the imaging device. The post-harvester is equipped with an arrangement to automatically adjust the post-harvester aggressiveness, which is connected to and controlled by the controller or control system. The controller or control system is configured to automatically adjust the aggressor of the nador using the arrangement based on information provided by the at least one imaging device.

An advantage of the present invention is that it automatically optimizes the efficiency of the post-harvester, so that a minimum of un-threshed grain or broken grain kernels is supplied to the grain tank. Another advantage is that the effect

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52762 of this invention is largely automatic and requires a minimum of guessing and missing and physical exertion by the operator of the harvester.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will now be made clear from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments referring to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of this invention and the means of achieving them will become more apparent and the invention may be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the invention together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a combine harvester;

Figure 2 is an isometric view of a clean grain auger, a jack threshing auger, a post-thresher and a return auger according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 3 is a cutaway front view of a post-harvester according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 4 is an isometric view of a post-harvester according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 5 is an isometric view of a post-harvester according to an embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is an isometric view of an adjustment mechanism of a post-tractor according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 7 is an isometric view of a sensor or grain camera used with a post-harvester according to an embodiment of the invention;

Figure 8A depicts a grain sample from previously insufficiently threshed ears;

Figure 8B depicts a grain sample from insufficiently previously threshed ears; and

Figure 8C depicts a grain sample resulting from overly threshed ears;

Figure 9 illustrates a method of controlling the post-harvester of Figure 4, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

Figure 10 illustrates a decision matrix for controlling the backer of

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Figure 4, in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of this invention. Corresponding references (numbers and / or letters) indicate corresponding parts throughout all the different views. The examples set forth herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such examples should not be interpreted as if they would limit the scope of the invention in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terms grain, straw and threshing ears are used throughout this specification primarily for convenience, but it should be understood that these terms are not intended to be limiting. So “grain” refers to that part of the crop material that is threshed and separated from the part of the crop material to be discarded, which is referred to as non-grain, MOG (in English) or straw. Incompletely threshed crop material that may contain unthreshed crop material, free grain from fully threshed crop, and other non-grain (MOG); here are called threshed ears. Also, the terms forward, backward, left and right when used in connection with the harvesters and / or parts thereof are usually defined with reference to the forward direction of the harvester in operation, but again they should not be construed as limiting terms. The terms "in length", "length" and "transverse" are defined relative to the length direction of the harvester and should not be construed as limiting.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to Figure 1, a harvester is shown in the form of a combine 10, generally a chassis 12, wheels 14 and 16 that contact the ground, a mower 18, a feeder housing 20, an operator's cab 22, a threshing and separation system 24, a cleaning system 26, a grain tank 28 and a unloading conveyor 30. The unloading conveyor 30 is illustrated as a unloading jack, but can also be configured as a conveyor belt, a chain lift, etc. The front wheels 14 are larger flotation type wheels, and rear wheels 16 are smaller steerable wheels. The driving force is selectively applied to the front wheels 14 by a power source in the form of a diesel engine 32 and a transmission (not shown).

Although the combine 10 is shown with wheels, it should also be understood that the combine 10 may contain tracks, e.g. full or half

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52762 tracks. The header 18 is mounted on the front of the combine 10 and includes a cutting bar 34 for cutting crops from a field while moving the combine 10 forward. A rotary reel 36 feeds crop to the header 18, and a double auger 38 feeds chopped crop laterally inward on either side of the supply housing 20. The supply housing 20 transports the cut crop to the threshing and separating system 24, and is selectively movable vertically using suitable actuators, eg hydraulic cylinders (not shown).

The threshing and separating system 24 is of axial flow type, and generally includes a rotor 40 which is at least partially enclosed and rotatable within a correspondingly perforated concave 42. The cut crops are threshed and separated by the rotation of the rotor 40 inside the concave 42 and larger elements, such as stems, leaves and the like, are discharged from the rear of the combine 10. Smaller elements of the crop material, including grain and non-grain, including lighter-than-grain particles, such as chaff, dust, and straw, are discharged through the concave perforations 42.

Grain separated by the threshing and separating assembly 24 falls onto a grain tray 44 and is conveyed to the cleaning system 26. The cleaning system 26 may include an optional pre-cleaning screen 46, an upper screen 48 (also known as a short straw screen), a bottom screen 50 (also called a cleaning screen), and a cleaning fan 52. Grain on sieves 46, 48 and 50 is subjected to a cleaning action by fan 52, which generates an air flow through the sieves to chaff non-grain, chaff debris to remove impurities, such as dust, from this crop material in the air float to discharge it from the combine 10 via the straw cap 54. The grain bowl 44 and the pre-cleaning screen 46 reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the machine to transport the grain and finer non-grain to the top surface of the top screen 48. The top sieve 48 and the bottom sieve 50 are arranged vertically with respect to each other and also reciprocate in the longitudinal direction of the machine to spread the grain over sieves 48, 50 with the grain being cleaned through the openings of gravity the seven 48, 50 can fall.

Cleaned grain falls on a clean grain auger 56 placed transversely under and in front of the bottom sieve 50. The grain auger 56 receives clean grain from each sieve 48, 50 and from the bottom shell 58 of the grain cleaning system 26. The clean grain auger 56 laterally conveys the clean grain to an over the counter

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52762 vertically arranged grain elevator 60 to feed it to the grain tank 28. The cross augers 68 at the bottom of grain tank 28 transport the clean grain in the grain tank 28 to the unloading auger 30 to discharge it from the combine 10. A residue treatment system 70 integrated into the rear of the harvester 10 receives airborne non-grain, residue and chaff from the threshing and separation system 24 and from the cleaning system 26. Meanwhile, threshed ears from the grain cleaning system 26 fall into a trough of a threshing spike auger 62. The threshing spikes are conveyed through the threshing spike auger trough 64 onto a return auger 66, which returns the threshed spikes of the grain cleaning system 26 for a repeated cleaning action.

Returning now to Figure 2, there is shown a partial view of the clean grain auger 56, the auger for threshing ears 64, and the return auger 66 of the cleaning system 26. At the end of the auger for threshed ears 64 where threshed ears supplied to the return auger 66 for further transport to the upstream end of the cleaning system 26, a waste treatment system 80 according to an embodiment of this invention is provided. The post-harvester 80 serves to further thresh the threshed ears on their way back to the upstream end of the cleaning system 26, and is equipped with rasps 94 on a rotating drum 82 that rotates inside a cylindrical housing 84. The cylindrical housing 84 includes a bottom 86, which may or may not be provided with projections 96 to further enhance the threshing action of the post-harvester 80. A sensor or grain camera 90a may be attached to the output of the grain elevator 60, as shown in Figure 1, to determine the effectiveness of the post-threshing ears. Alternatively, the sensor or grain camera 90b may be attached to the cylindrical housing 84 of the post-harvester 80, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The sensor or grain camera 90a or 90b may be a digital camera producing digital images. Alternatively, the sensor or grain camera 90a or 90b may be another type of sensor with imaging capabilities, such as via ultrasonic, thermal or infrared imaging, or radar imaging, as non-limiting examples. The information provided by the sensor or grain camera 90a or 90b is used to adjust the aggressiveness of the post-harvester 80 to optimize the post-threshing spikes as will be demonstrated.

Returning now to Figure 3, a partial view of the construction of the post-harvester 80 is shown. Also now grating 94 on the rotating drum 82 is within it

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52762 cylindrical housing 84 attached and interact with the protrusions 96 mounted on the bottom 86 of the housing for back-threshing the threshed ears on their way back upstream of the cleaning system 26 (not shown), as in Figure 2 As can be seen in Figure 3, the rasps 94 pass within a radial clearance or threshing clearance with respect to the bottom 86 of the housing as the rotating drum 82 rotates. Different crops and different harvesting conditions require different degrees of aggressiveness of post-harvester 80 to effectively post-harvest the threshing ears that have passed through the cleaning system 26. More specifically, if too many pods, ears or stems of non-threshed grain pass through the post-harvester 80, it is then necessary to decrease the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 to increase the aggressiveness of the post-harvester 80. On the other hand, if too much grain or too many grains are broken in the nador, it is then necessary to increase the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 to decrease the aggressiveness of the nador 80.

In the past, determining and optimizing the efficiency of the combine harvester was often a cumbersome process of guessing and missing, consisting of inspecting the output of the combine harvester or grain in the combine's grain tank and manually adjusting the radial or threshing of the post-harvester. To remedy this, the bottom 86 of the housing of the post-harvester 80 according to the embodiment of this invention is shown in Figure 3, equipped with an arrangement 108 in the form of adjustment mechanisms 98a and 98b to automatically adjust the aggressiveness of the post-harvester 80 to suit. The adjusting mechanisms 98a and 98b function to increase or decrease the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 by moving the bottom 86 of the housing up or down as will be shown in further detail. Each of the adjustment mechanisms 98a and 98b includes a cam 104a and 104b, respectively, so that the bottom 86 of the housing is raised higher in the example shown in Figure 3 when the right adjustment mechanism 98b is turned clockwise and the left adjustment mechanism 98a is turned counterclockwise. rotated. The bottom 86 of the housing is lowered in the example shown in Figure 3 when the right-hand adjusting mechanism 98b is turned counterclockwise and the left-hand adjusting mechanism 98a is turned clockwise.

Although the cams 104a and 104b of the adjustment mechanisms 98a and 98b shown in the embodiment of this invention shown in Figure 3 are arranged as shown, it can be envisioned that the cams 104a and 104b can be mounted in the opposite direction so that the

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52762 bottom 86 of the housing rises when the right-hand adjusting mechanism 98b is turned counterclockwise and the left-hand adjusting mechanism 98a is turned clockwise, and lowered when the right-hand adjusting mechanism 98b is turned clockwise and the left-hand adjusting mechanism 98a is turned counterclockwise. Furthermore, the adjustment mechanisms 98a and 98b are shown as operating via cams 104a and 104b in the embodiment of this invention shown in Figure 3, since it is contemplated that it is within the scope of this invention that the adjustment mechanisms 98a and 98b be designed as another type of a motion transmitting mechanism, such as a linkage, a rack drive, a screw drive or a cable and a pulley.

Returning now to Figure 4, another view of a post-harvester 80 according to an embodiment of this invention is shown. The rotating drum 82 is partially visible within the cylindrical housing 84, while a sensor or grain camera 90b is shown attached to the outside of the cylindrical housing 84. The left adjustment mechanism 98a is partially visible under the backer 80 and is equipped with an actuator 92a connected to a lever arm 100a which acts to rotate the left adjustment mechanism 98a by moving the bottom 86 of the housing (not visible in Figure 4) up or down. The actuator 92a is connected at its other end to a fixed mounting point, such as the chassis 12 of the combine 10. The right-hand adjusting mechanism 98b (not visible) is similarly equipped with an actuator 92b connected to a lever arm 100b mounted on its The function of turn is to rotate the right-hand adjustment mechanism 98b. One or more indicators 102 may be connected to one or each adjustment mechanism 98a and 98b to provide visual feedback on the current magnitude of the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 to an operator performing a visual inspection. Alternatively, feedback can be given to the operator in the operator's cabin 22 of the combine 10 via a pressure gauge or other optical or acoustic device (not shown), or by means of an electronic efficiency control device (not shown).

The sensor or grain camera 90a attached to the outlet of the grain elevator 60 points to the grain moving towards the grain tank 28. Alternatively, as shown in Figure 4, the sensor or grain camera 90b mounted on the outside of the cylindrical housing 84 points to the cylindrical housing 84 where the threshed ears are rotated by the rotating drum 82, rasps 94 and (when fitted) projections 96. thirsty.

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The sensor or grain camera 90b is connected to a controller or control system 106 (hereinafter referred to as controller) via a signal line 91b. The sensor or grain camera 90b and the controller 106 cooperate to determine whether too many pods, ears, or stalks of non-threshed grain pass through the combine 80 or that too much grain or too many grains are broken in the combine 80. The controller 106 is connected to a control valve 105 via a signal line 105. The control valve 105 is located within the hydraulic circuit 110 of the combine 10 to operate the actuator 92a. Control valve 105 has the function of selectively supplying hydraulic fluid from hydraulic circuit 110 to actuator 92a through a hydraulic supply line 93a or to selectively prevent hydraulic fluid from hydraulic circuit 110 from being supplied to actuator 92a through hydraulic supply line 93a .

In one exemplary embodiment, the sensor or grain camera 90b may be a digital camera that captures image (s) from the interior of the backer 80 and encodes such recorded image (s) as image data. In another exemplary embodiment, the sensor or grain camera 90b may be another type of sensor with imaging capabilities, such as via ultrasonic, thermal or infrared imaging, or radar imaging, as non-limiting examples. In such an embodiment, the sensor or grain camera 90b also generates the appropriate image data.

In one exemplary embodiment, the sensor or grain camera 90b transfers the image data to the controller 106 through the signal line 91b. The controller 106 receives and processes the image data to determine whether too many pods, ears, or stacks of non-threshed grain pass through the post-harvester 80 or whether too much grain or too many grains are broken in the post-harvester 80. If the controller 106 decides that too many pods, ears or stalks of unthreshed grain pass through the post-harvester 80, the controller 106 determines that it is necessary to reduce the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 to increase the aggressiveness of the post-harvester 80 . On the other hand, if the controller 106 decides that too much grain or too many grains are broken in the post-combine, the controller 106 decides that it is necessary to increase the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 to decrease the aggressiveness of the post-combine 80. The controller 106 then determines the degree to which the bottom 86 of the housing should be adjusted and sends a signal through the signal line 107 to the control valve 105 to open (to reduce threshing clearance 88) or to close (to reduce threshing clearance).

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52762).

In another exemplary embodiment, the sensor or grain camera 90b does not send the image data to the controller 106 through the signal line 91b, but the sensor or grain camera 90b itself determines, based on the image data, whether there are too many pods, ears or Strands of unthreshed grain pass through the post-combine 80 either that too much grain or too many grains are broken in the post-combine 80. If the sensor or grain camera 90b decides that too many pods, ears or stalks of non-threshed grain pass through the post-harvester 80, the sensor or grain camera 90b sends a signal to controller 106 reporting this condition. The controller 106 receives this signal, indicating that it is necessary to decrease the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 in order to increase the aggressiveness of post-harvester 80. On the other hand, if the sensor or grain camera 90b decides that too much grain or too many grains are broken in the post-harvester 80, the sensor or grain camera 90b sends a signal to controller 106 reporting this condition. The controller 106 receives this signal, indicating that it is necessary to increase the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 in order to decrease the aggressiveness of the backer 80. In any case, the controller 106 then determines the extent to which the bottom 86 of the housing should be adjusted and sends a signal through the signal line 107 to the control valve 105 to open (to reduce threshing clearance 88) or to close (to threshing clearance 88).

In the case where either the sensor or the grain camera 90b or the controller 106 decides that too much grain or too many grains were broken in the post-harvester 80, the control system or controller 106 operatively connected to the left actuator 92a does the signal line 107, the control valve 105 and the hydraulic input line 93a, retract the left-hand actuator 92a, causing the left-hand adjustment mechanism 98a to rotate counterclockwise by means of the lever arm 100a. The left end of the bottom 86 of the housing is thereby moved upwardly via the cam 104a of the left adjustment mechanism 98a. Likewise, the control system or controller 106, which is functionally connected to the right actuator 92b, through another signal line similar to the signal line 107, a control valve similar to the control valve 105, and a hydraulic input line similar to the hydraulic input line 93a, ensure that the right actuator 92b (not visible) retracts, causing the right-hand adjustment mechanism 98b (not visible) to rotate clockwise through the lever arm 100b (not visible). The right end of the bottom 86 of the housing is thereby moved upwardly by the cam 104b of the right

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52762 adjustment mechanism 98b. According to this setting, the control system or controller 106 again interacts with the sensor or grain camera 90a or 90b to determine if too many pods, ears, or stalks of unthreshed grain are still passing through the post-harvester 80, or if too many grain or too many grains are now broken in the post-harvester 80, and if necessary further adjusts the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88, in closed loop or undelayed (in real time).

In the case where either the sensor or the grain camera 90b or the controller 106 decides that too much grain or too many grains are broken in the post-harvester 80, it is then necessary to increase the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 to increase the aggressiveness of the post-harvester. 80. In this case, the control system or controller 106 extends the left actuator 92a, causing the left adjustment mechanism 98a to rotate clockwise by means of the lever arm 100a, thereby moving the left end of the bottom 86 of the housing down through the cam 104a of the left adjustment mechanism 98a. Likewise, the control system or controller 106 causes the right-hand actuator 92b (not visible) to extend, causing the right-hand adjustment mechanism 98b (not visible) to rotate counterclockwise through the lever arm 100b (not visible), and the right end of the bottom 86 of the housing is thereby lowered by means of the cam 104b of the right-hand adjusting mechanism 98b. But even now the control system or controller 106 according to this setting cooperates once again with the sensor or grain camera 90a or 90b to determine whether too much grain or too many grains are still broken in the post-harvester 80, or if too much pods, ears or culms of non-threshed grain now pass through the post-harvester 80, and if necessary further adjusts the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88, in closed loop or real-time.

Although the aforementioned has been described with respect to the sensor or grain camera 90b, the sensor or grain camera 90a is also connected to the controller 106 via a signal line 91a (not illustrated). The sensor or grain camera 90a interacts with the controller 106 in a manner similar to the manner in which the sensor or grain camera 90b interacts with the controller 106. Thus, the sensor or grain camera 90a can either transmit image data to the controller 106 to determine whether too much grain or too many grains are still broken in the post-harvester 80, or whether there are too many pods, ears or culms of non- pass threshed grain through the post-harvester 80. Alternatively, the sensor or grain camera 90a can make such a determination and forward a signal with determination to the controller 106 so that the controller 106 controls the actuators

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92a and 92b can operate accordingly.

Referring now to Figure 9, a method 900 for controlling the post-harvester of Figure 4 is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The method 900 begins with a Step 910 for setting a standard clearance 88 by extending or retracting the actuators 92a, 92b. In an exemplary embodiment, the clearance 88 is set via a manual selection by an operator of the combine 10, such as by entering a standard clearance 88 of the combine 80 into an interface in the cab 22 of the combine 10, or choosing a crop to be harvested. Such selection is forwarded to the controller 106, which receives it in Step 910, and based on the entered or selected standard clearance 88, the controller 106 orders to extend or retract the actuators 92a, 92b to obtain the clearance 88 which is standard is for the crop. In an exemplary embodiment, the controller 106 in Step 910 also receives from the user an indication of a desired level of broken grain and / or threshed grain. Such a level can be low, medium, or high.

The method 900 proceeds to Step 920, wherein the grain camera 90a, 90b takes image (s) from the inside of the post-harvester 80 and encodes recorded image (s) as image data. In Step 930, either the grain camera 90a, 90b or the processor 106 processes the image data, depending on which embodiment was used. On the basis of the processed image data, in Step 940, either the grain camera 90a, 90b or the processor 106 calculates the content of broken grain grains and unthreshed grain based on the image data. In an exemplary embodiment, either the grain camera 90a, 90b or the processor 106 calculates the content of broken grain grains and threshed grain as low, medium, or high.

In Step 940, the grain camera 90a, 90b or processor 106 compares these numbers, e.g., low average and high, with the desired levels, e.g., low average, or high, entered by the user in Step 910 to Determine whether too much grain or too many grains are still broken in the post-harvester 80, or whether too many pods, ears, or stalks of non-threshed grain pass through the post-harvester 80. Based on the determination made in Step 940, the processor 106 orders the actuators 92a, 92b to extend or retract to obtain a desired clearance 88 in order to calculate the calculated content of broken grain and threshed ears to the desired level. that was entered by the user in Step 910. The method 900 then returns to Step 920 to repeat the aforementioned process. Figure

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52762 illustrates an exemplary table of decision rules for controlling clearance 88 based on calculated content of broken grain and non-threshed grain and the desired content of broken grain and non-threshed grain.

It is understood that the operation of the control system or controller 106 described herein is obtained by the control system or controller 106 after loading and executing software code or instructions that are tangibly stored on a tangible computer-readable medium 109, such as a magnetic medium, e.g. a hard computer disk, an optical medium, e.g. an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, e.g. a flash memory or other storage media known in the art. Thus, any function performed by the control system or controller 106 described herein, such as processing the image data received from the sensor or grain cameras 90a, 90b, generating the control signal and forwarding it through the signal line 107, and the steps of the method 900, entered in software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on the computer-readable tangible medium 109. After loading and executing such software code or instructions by the control system or controller 106, the control system or controller 106 perform any function of the control system or controller 106 and the method 900 described herein.

In the exemplary embodiment in which the sensor or grain camera 90a, 90b determines based on the image data whether too much grain or too many grains were broken in the post-harvester 80, or whether too many pods, ears or culms of non- passing threshed grain through the post-harvester 80, the sensor or grain camera 90a, 90b may also contain a respective concrete on the stored internal tangible readable computer medium 93a, 93b (not illustrated). In such an embodiment, the function of the sensor or grain camera 90a, 90b described herein is performed by the sensor or grain camera 90a, 90b after loading and executing software code or instructions tangibly stored on the tangible readable computer medium 93a, 93b, such as on a magnetic medium, e.g. a hard computer disk, an optical medium, e.g. an optical disk, a semiconductor memory, e.g. a flash memory or other storage media known in the art. Thus, all functions performed by the sensor or grain camera 90a, 90b described herein, such as the processing of the image data and the transmission of the indication of whether too much grain or too many grains were broken in the post-harvester 80, or now too many pods, ears or culms

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52762 unthreshed grain passes through the post-harvester 80 through the signal line 91a, 91b to the controller 106, and the steps of the method 900, entered in software code or instructions which are tangibly stored on the tangible readable computer medium 93a, 93b. After loading and executing such software code or instructions by the sensor or grain camera 90a, 90b, the sensor or grain camera 90a, 90b can perform any function of the sensor or grain camera 90a, 90b described herein.

Again referring to Figures 5 and 6, further details are given of the arrangement 108 to automatically adjust the aggressor of the post-harvester 80 in the form of adjustment mechanisms 98a and 98b connected to the bottom 86 of the cylindrical housing 84 of the post-harvester 80 according to an embodiment of this invention. As in the previous Figures, rasps 94 are attached to the rotating drum 82 and interact with the protrusions 96 mounted on the bottom 86 of the housing to allow threshed ears on their way back to the upstream end of the cleaning system 26 (not displayed). But also now, the rasps 94 pass within a radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 relative to the bottom 86 of the housing when the rotating drum 82 returns, the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 being readjustable by the actuators 92a and 92b that adjust the mechanisms 98a and 98b by turn the lever arms 100. The adjustment mechanisms 98a and 98b again operate to raise or lower the bottom 86 of the housing by rotating the bottom by means of the cams 104a and 104b or other motion transmitting mechanism, thereby adjusting the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88.

As shown in Figure 5, when the sensor or grain camera 90b is attached to the cylindrical housing 84 of the combine harvester 80, the sensor or grain camera 90b points toward the inside of the cylindrical housing 84 of the combine harvester 80 to enhance the effectiveness of the determine the threshing of the threshed ears. When the sensor or grain camera 90a attached to the outlet of the grain elevator 60 is used, it similarly points to the inside of the outlet of the grain elevator 60 to determine the effectiveness of the post-threshing spikes by the combine harvester 80. This information is used to adjust the aggressor of the post-harvester 80 to optimize the post-threshing spikes as previously described. But again, an indicator or indicators 102 may be connected to one or each adjustment mechanism 98 to provide visual feedback about the current magnitude of the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88 to an operator performing a visual inspection. As

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52762 alternatively, feedback can be given to the operator in the operator's cabin 22 of the combine 10 through a pressure gauge or other optical or acoustic device (not shown), or by means of an electronic efficiency control device (not shown).

Returning now to Figure 7, an embodiment of the sensor or grain camera 90a or 90b is shown. The sensor or grain camera 90a or 90b is capable and works to make an image of grain that has been post-harvested by the post-harvester 80. Independently or in conjunction with the control system or controller 106 (not shown), the sensor or grain camera 90a or 90b operates to identify 200 non-threshed grain pods, ears and culms in the grain sample, and the grain sample 200 broken grain grain 204, as shown in Figures 8A, 8B and 8C. The controller or control system 106 uses this information to increase or decrease the radial clearance or threshing clearance 88, to increase or decrease the aggressiveness of closed loop mode harvester 80 and in real time, respectively, as described above.

It is noted here that, for the sake of simplicity of representation, the sensor or grain camera 90a or 90b have hitherto been shown and described as located respectively on the output of the grain elevator 60 or on the cylindrical housing 84 of the post-harvester 80. The however, it is considered within the scope of the invention that the sensor or grain camera 90a or 90b may be located anywhere within the cleaning system 26, the grain elevator, grain tank or even on the transport system 30, provided that at least a portion of the grain sample 200 has previously passed through the post-harvester 80 as threshed ears. Other such locations where a sensor or grain camera 90a or 90b according to an embodiment of the invention may be located include the front or rear of the post-harvester 80, attached to the return auger, attached to the bottom shell 58 of the cleaning system 26, or attached to the clean grain auger 56, as non-limiting examples.

While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, this invention may be further modified within the scope of this disclosure. Accordingly, this patent application is intended to cover all variations and uses or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Furthermore, this patent application is intended to cover deviations from this disclosure which are possible within known or conventional prior art practices to which this invention pertains and which

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Claims (12)

CONCLUSIONS: A post-harvester (80) for use in an agricultural harvester (10) with a threshing and separating system (24), a grain cleaning system (26), an auger trough (64) for threshing ears and a return auger (66), a clean grain auger (56), a grain elevator (60) with an outlet and a grain tank (28), the post-combine (80): includes a housing (84) with a rotating threshing spike (82) for threshing spikes, the threshing spike (82) being configured to receive the threshing spikes from the threshing spike auger trough (64) and to feeding post-threshed spindle ears to the return auger (66); characterized in that: the post-harvester (80) is further equipped with a system to automatically adjust the aggressor of the post-harvester (80), which includes at least one imaging device (90) aimed to create an image of a grain sample (200), whereby at least a portion of the grain sample (200) has passed through the post-harvester (80) at least once; the system is further equipped with a controller (106) connected to the imaging device (90); the post-harvester (80) is equipped with an arrangement (108) to automatically adjust the aggressiveness of the post-harvester (80), the arrangement (108) being connected to and controlled by the controller (106); and the controller (106) is configured to automatically adjust the aggressor of the post-harvester (80) using the arrangement (108) based on information provided by the at least one imaging device (90). The system of claim 1, wherein the post-harvester aggressivity arrangement (108) is configured to have a radial clearance or threshing clearance (88) between the rotating threshing device (82) and a section (86) of the housing (84). The system of claim 2, wherein the controller (106) is configured to control the arrangement (108) to reduce the radial clearance or threshing clearance (88) to increase the aggressiveness of the post-harvester (80) when the information is provided by the at least one imaging device (90) indicates that there is an excess of elements B E2017 / 5000 52762 (202) unthreshed grain passes through the post-harvester (80). The system of claim 2, wherein the controller (106) is configured to control the arrangement (108) to increase the radial clearance or threshing clearance (88) to decrease the aggressor of the post-harvester (80) when the information provided by the at least one imaging device (90) indicates that an excess of crushed grain (204) passes through the post-harvester (80). System according to claims 2 to 4, wherein: the arrangement (108) to automatically adjust the aggressor of the post-harvester (80) further includes a movable section (86) of the periphery of the housing (84), the movable section (86) being configured to accommodate the radial clearance or increase or decrease threshing clearance (88) between the rotating threshing device (82) and the movable section (86); the movable section (86) being connected to at least one adjusting mechanism (98); and the at least one adjustment mechanism (98) is connected to and controlled by the controller (106). The system of claim 5, wherein: the rotary threshing device (82) further includes a rotating drum (82) on which is mounted at least one grater (94); and the movable section (86) further includes a bottom (86) of the housing (84), wherein at least one protrusion (96) is attached to the bottom (86) of the housing (84); and the radial or threshing clearance (88) further includes a clearance (88) between an end of the at least one grater (94) located furthest from the rotating drum (82) and the bottom (86) of the housing (84). is. Control system according to claims 5-6, wherein the at least one adjusting mechanism (98) further comprises at least one cam (104), at least one lever arm (100) and at least one actuator (92). The system of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one imaging device (90) is at least one of the following: a digital BE2017 / 5000 52Ί & 2 camera, an ultrasonic imaging device, a thermal or infrared imaging device, and a radar imaging device. The system of claims 1 to 8, wherein it is at least one 5 imaging device (90) is attached to at least one of the following elements: the jack threshing auger (64), the return auger (66), the clean grain auger (56), the grain elevator (60), the grain elevator outlet ( 60) and the housing (84) of the post-harvester (80). 10. System according to claims 1 to 8, further comprising at least one device or indicator (102) for giving feedback to an operator about the current setting of the arrangement (108) to automatically adjust the aggressiveness of the post-harvester (80). to suit. 11. Agricultural harvesting machine (10) containing a chassis (12), a 15 threshing and separating system (24) carried by the chassis (12) to separate grain from non-grain, a cleaning system (26) receiving grain from the threshing and separating system (24) to further clean the grain and a post-harvester (80) according to any one of claims 1 to 10. 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