JPH06233614A - Controller for combine harvester - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve the maintainability of a multiple communication line connecting respective controlling parts in dividing each of plural functional parts loaded onto a combine harvester and controlling the respective divided parts. CONSTITUTION:A multiple communication line 6 connecting a central unit (CU) installed in an operating part 2 to a reaping part 3 and local units (LU1) to (LU3) installed in a threshing part 4 is wired so as to be separated from a usual integrated signal line 5 connecting the central unit (CU) to actuators (A1) to (A3).

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a combine that travels in a farmland to mow a crop, separates and harvests a grain from a grain culm of the crop, and particularly, a control device for controlling each functional part of the combine. Regarding

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A combine harvester that travels in a farmland to harvest crops is used for harvesting work, harvesting equipment for removing grain, and transporting crop culms cut by the harvesting equipment to the threshing equipment. It is equipped with a plurality of devices such as a device, a sorting device for sorting grains that have separated from the culm, and a traveling device configured by an engine and a transmission. Each of these devices has its own function. For example, in a mowing device, automatic depth control of raising and lowering a mowing unit according to the length of a grain culm is performed. For this reason, each device is equipped with a sensor such as a tip sensor that detects data for automatic control, and an actuator such as a lifting motor that raises and lowers the cutting unit, and the detection data from the sensor is input to the control device. At the same time, the control device outputs drive data to a motor or the like. In a conventional combine, each device is controlled in a decentralized manner by individual control devices, and each control device supplies display data to the control unit and the operator's setting input on the operation panel of the control unit. The setting data representing the contents is supplied to each control device. Therefore, a large number of signal lines are connected between the control unit and each device in the combine, and these are routed in the combine as a harness in which a plurality of signal lines are integrated considering the ease of wiring. Has been done.

[0003]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional combine, since a large number of signal lines are all integrated and wired, if a disconnection or a contact failure of the signal line occurs, the occurrence location is to be determined. There is a problem in that the work to discover is complicated, it takes a long time, and smooth repair work cannot be performed.

An object of the present invention is to control each signal input / output in each functional portion of a combine by a corresponding partial control section, and to integrally control these plural partial control sections by a main control section. In addition, by separating and wiring the multiplex communication line that connects the partial control unit and the main control unit from other signal lines, the distance for integrally wiring a plurality of signal lines is shortened as much as possible, and disconnection occurs. An object of the present invention is to provide a combine control device capable of easily finding a location.

[0005]

A combine control device according to the present invention is a control device for controlling a plurality of functional parts mounted on a combine, and controls signals input / output in each of the plurality of functional parts. And a main control unit that integrally controls the plurality of partial control units, and the main control unit includes a communication control unit, and the main control unit and the partial control are provided via the communication control unit. All of the parts,
It is characterized in that it is connected by a multiplex communication line separated from a signal line directly input / output to / from the control unit.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the signals input / output by the individual part controllers are controlled in each of the functional parts. A plurality of partial control units provided in each functional unit,
It is connected to the main controller via a multiplex communication line, and is centrally controlled by this main controller. The multiplex communication line is provided separately from the signal line directly input / output to / from the control unit. Therefore, a large number of input / output signal lines exist only between the input / output device and the partial control section in each functional section, and generally two lines are provided between each functional section and the main control section which have a relatively long distance. It is connected by multiple communication lines consisting of two single wires or twisted pair wires, and many signal lines do not get complicated in a long distance, and it is easy to find disconnection in each of the multiple communication lines or signal lines. You can

[0007]

1 is a schematic plan view of a combine with a control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The combine 1 can be formally separated into a control section 2, a mowing section 3 and a threshing section 4. The control unit 2 is provided with a central unit CU which is the main control unit of the present invention. The reaping unit 3 is provided with a local unit LU1 which is a partial control unit for controlling the reaping unit. The threshing unit 4 is provided with local units LU2 and LU3 that are partial control units that control the threshing unit. Local unit L in the reaper 3
The detection data of the sensors S1 to S3 are input to U1.
In the threshing unit 4, the detection data of the sensors S4 and S5 is input to the local unit LU2, and the detection data of the sensors S6 to S8 is input to the local unit LU3.

These local units LU1 to LU3
May output drive data to an actuator such as a motor or a solenoid.

The central unit CU provided in the control section 2 outputs drive data to the actuator A1 provided in the cutting section 3 and the actuators A2 and A3 provided in the threshing section 4. The central unit CU is connected to the local units LU1 to LU3 via the multiplex communication line 6. The multiplex communication line 6 is composed of two single wires or twisted pair wires. Further, the central unit CU is connected to the actuators A1 to A3 via a drive signal line 5.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the control device. Central unit CU is control CPU1
1 and the communication CPU 12. Data is input / output between the control CPU 11 and the communication CPU 12 via an internal bus.

A meter panel 21 and local units LU1 to LU3 are connected to the communication CPU 12 via an interface such as RS485. Further, actuators A1 to A3 are connected to the control CPU 11 via a processing circuit 14. Each of the local units LU1 to LU3 includes a control CPU 31 and a communication CPU 32, like the central unit CU,
The communication CPU 32 is connected to the multiplex communication line 6 via the RS485 interface 33. Also, control CP
Detection data of each sensor is input to U31.

With the above configuration, the detection data of each sensor is input to the control CPU 31 included in each of the local units LU1 to LU3. The control CPU 31 converts this detection data into communication data, and the communication CPU 32
Supply to. The communication CPU 32 transmits the communication data to the central unit CU via the multiplex communication line 6 according to a predetermined protocol. The central unit CU transmits a data request to the local units LU1 to LU3 by the communication CPU 12 according to a predetermined protocol. The local units LU1 to LU3 transmit the detection data of each sensor in response to this data request.

Communication C in the central unit CU
The PU 12 sends the received transmission data to the control unit 11
Supply to. The control CPU 11 reads the detection data from the communication data and creates drive data for the actuators A1 to A3. In addition, the display data for the meter panel 21 is created, and this is converted into transmission data to be used for communication C.
Supply to PU12. The communication CPU 12 transmits data to the meter panel 21 according to a predetermined protocol. The CPU 41 provided on the meter panel 21 drives and controls each display device according to the received data.

As described above, by providing the multiplex communication line 6 for connecting the local units LU1 to LU3 in a multipoint manner separately from the general signal line 5 used for inputting / outputting drive data or detection data. It is possible to easily find the location where the wire breakage occurs. For example,
At the time of disconnection check, the central unit CU sends a response request to each local unit LU1 to LU3, and the response is sent to each local unit LU.
The disconnection position in the multiplex communication line 6 can be easily found depending on whether or not the data is properly transmitted from 1 to LU3. Further, when an appropriate response is transmitted from each of the local units LU1 to LU3, the connection state between each local unit and the sensor can be checked by requesting the detection data of each sensor.

Further, as compared with the case where a general signal line and a multiplex communication line are integrally wired, there is an advantage that only a defective portion can be partially replaced. Further, only the multiplex communication line 6 which plays an important role in the control of each device is provided with high reliability without causing a significant increase in cost by strictly controlling harness protection such as rust prevention and waterproofing of connector pins. Can be realized.

FIG. 3 is a side view and a front sectional view showing a wiring state of the multiplex communication line in the combine. As shown in the figure, a general signal line harness 5 in which a plurality of signal lines are integrated is fixed to a structure 51 of the combine 1 via a mounting bracket 52, and overlaps with the general signal line harness 5. In the wiring portion, the harness 6 of the multiplex communication line is wired to the harness 5 by using the resin clamp 8. By doing so, it is possible to easily wire the general signal line and the multiplex communication line in a separated state, and it is possible to facilitate maintenance and the like.

[0017]

According to the present invention, the multiple communication lines connecting a plurality of control units are wired in a state of being separated from a general signal line in which a plurality of integrated units are wired, thereby checking disconnection and the like. There is an advantage that the damaged part can be easily replaced and the communication line can be made highly reliable without significantly increasing the cost.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a combine with a control device that is an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control device.

FIG. 3 is a side view and a front sectional view showing a wiring state of multiplex communication lines in the combine.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1-combine 5-signal line 6-multiplex communication line CU-central unit (main control unit) LU1 to LU3-local unit (partial control unit)

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A control device for controlling a plurality of functional parts mounted on a combine, comprising: a plurality of partial control parts for controlling signals input / output in each of the plurality of functional parts; and a plurality of partial control parts. The main control unit is provided with a communication control unit, and the main control unit and all of the partial control units are directly connected to the control unit via the communication control unit. A combine control device connected by a multiplex communication line separated from an output signal line.