Deere & Company

Folker Beck

Lutz Bischoff

Bruce Alan Coers

Sebastian Blank

Marcus Bitter

Karl-Heinz Otto Mertins

Frank Kneip

Klaus Adam Braunhardt

Johannes Josef Zametzer

Martin Schäfer

Britta Stankewitz

Peter Ehinger

Xinghan Ma

A system for deriving the operating state of a machine comprises one or more sensors for making available in each case an output value relating to a current parameter of a component of the machine, and a processing unit which is connected to the sensors and is programmed to derive information about the operating state of machine using a model and on the basis of the measured values of the sensors and/or values derived therefrom. The processing unit can be supplied with a state transition matrix, elements of an emission probability matrix for the probability that an observation is conditioned by a certain state, and a vector for describing an input state, in order to derive the operating states of the machine therefrom. The processing unit is programmed to derive elements of the emission probability matrix from the measured values of the sensors.

System for detecting the operating state of a machine

An arrangement for the automatic transfer of agricultural crops from a harvesting machine to a transport vehicle has an image capture device, which optically detects one or more features of the transport vehicle. A computer controls an actuator to adjust a transfer device relative to the harvesting machine and/or to change the position of the loading container relative to the harvesting machine based on signals of the image capture device. The computer continually sets up, with the aid of the signals of the image capture device, a virtual movement model of the loading container and controls the actuator with the aid of extrapolated data for an expected position of the loading container derived from the movement model, if the signals of the image capture device are no longer sufficient to recognize the transport vehicle because of an impairment of the visibility conditions.

Arrangement and method for the automatic transfer of crops from a harvesting machine to a transport vehicle

The invention relates to a monitoring device and to a method for monitoring the function of the components of an agricultural implement, with a vibration sensor for providing signal values containing information on mechanical vibrations generated by moving components of the implement, an operating state detecting device for providing a signal containing information on the operating state of components of the implement, and a calculating device for generating state information on the basis of the state of the components of the implement. The calculating device can be operated to divide the signal values of the vibration sensor on the basis of the corresponding signals of the operating state detecting device into different classes, which correspond to different combinations of the operating states of the components in the detection of the signal values, and to compare the signal values divided into classes or data derived from these signal values with comparison values for generating state information.

Vibration control with operating state measurement

An arrangement for detection of the sharpness of chopper knives that can be moved relative to a shear bar includes a sensor that detects the effective cutting forces directly or indirectly and an evaluation arrangement connected to the sensor. The evaluation arrangement integrates the measured values of the sensor over time in order to generate information concerning the sharpness of the chopper knives.

Arrangement and process for the detection of the sharpness of chopper knives

A loading machine is disclosed with at least one drive train, with at least one overload protection device for the drive train and with sensors for determining an overload state in the drive train. Critical operating conditions of the loading machine can be determined based on signals from the sensors, such that the load application on the drive train can be influenced in terms of power. The determination of critical operating conditions is implemented by means of a control unit which evaluates the signals from the sensors. When preset threshold values have been attained, the control unit generates control signals for a fuel injection pump, upon which a preventive limitation of the power is initiated.

Loading machine

A system for automatically steering a utility vehicle having an operating implement. The system comprises a controller that is in communication with a scanning sensor. The controller receives an output signal from the scanning sensor and generates a steering signal that is directed to a steering controller for automatically steering the vehicle along a boundary of operation detected by the scanning sensor. The controller is supplied with information on which side of the operating implement the boundary of operation is located. The controller controls the scanning region of the scanning sensor as a function of this information.

System for automatically steering a utility vehicle

A rotary conveyor comprises a rotatable drum-shaped shell, an eccentric axle located in the drum-shaped shell, finger supports mounted to the eccentric axle, and a plurality of fingers mounted to the finger supports that extend outwardly through openings in the drum-shaped shell. The finger supports are rotatively mounted to and spaced radially outward from the eccentric axle by annular bearings. The finger supports are parallel to the eccentric axle and are provided with a plurality of fingers, such that several fingers arranged next to one another in the axial direction are attached to finger supports. The finger supports are distributed around the circumference of the eccentric axle.

Rotary conveyor with fingers

An on-board computer system for a work vehicle having an actuator. The computer system comprises an electronic control unit that is connected to and controls the actuator, a display unit and an input unit. The display unit displays operating parameters of the work vehicle. Through the input unit the operator inputs operating parameters of the work vehicle. The control unit transmits control signals to the actuator and can be operated selectively in a first operating mode and in a second operating mode. In the first operating mode the control unit displays a greater number of operating parameters that can be changed by the input unit than in the second operating mode.

On-board computer system having two operating modes

A monitoring device for a harvesting machine comprises at least one sensor that is designed for generating a signal containing information on the noises caused by harvested crop material as it passes through a crop processing assembly. The sensor is spaced apart from and outside the flow of harvested crop material through the crop processing assembly.

Monitoring device for a harvesting machine

A monitoring device for monitoring the function of an agricultural working machine comprises at least one sensor that is designed for generating a sensed signal containing information on noise caused by at least one movable element of the working machine. A computer receives the sensed signal of the sensor and generates an output signal value based on the sensed signal delivered by the sensor and a comparative value. Defect messages can be generated to alert the operator of a defect condition.

Monitoring device for a working vehicle

A system for locating an agricultural vehicle in a field using two position sensors. A first position sensor is a GPS sensor using satellite signals to locate the vehicle. The second position sensor is a crop edge sensor for locating the vehicle relative to a crop being harvested. A controller receives the first and second position signals and calculates the position of the vehicle based on these two position signals. Both position signals contain signal quality information that is evaluated by the controller and weights the position calculation accordingly. The system can be used in conjunction with a steering controller to automatically guide the vehicle through a field.

System for determining the position of an agricultural vehicle

An automatic steering system is provided with a first position sensor for generating a first position signal and a second position sensor for generating a second position signal. Both position signals are communicated to a controller having a memory. The controller is also supplied signal quality information about the quality of the position signals. The controller evaluates the position signals based on the signal quality information and weights the position signals accordingly to calculate the position of the vehicle and select the vehicle's target path. The target path is selected from several target paths and is the best that corresponds to the position of the vehicle. The controller then generates a steering signal that is communicated to a steering controller for steering the vehicle.

Automatic steering system using signal quality information

A system for harvester header height and tilt control includes a sensor, such as a crop edge detector, mounted on the harvester for predicting ground contour of an area a substantial distance in front of the header for generally the entire width of the header. An on-board processor calculates the desired header height and tilt for that area in advance of the harvester reaching the area. The early ground contour measurements enable faster and smoother header height adjustments requiring reduced hydraulic power. The predicted contour also facilitates early compensation for the effects of abrupt header attitude changes resulting from harvester ground wheels or tracks riding on that contour. The system can be used to maintain header height a preselected distance below the crop heads to reduce harvester throughput.

Header position control with forward contour prediction

A system for measuring the amount of crop material located on a field to be harvested uses a scanning laser device. The scanning laser device has a transmitter for emitting electromagnetic radiation, a receiver for receiving reflected radiation from the crop material and providing resolution in terms of location and/or angle from which the reflected radiation was received. The receiver also generates an intensity signal indicating the intensity of the reflected electromagnetic radiation. A controller is in communication with the scanning laser device and determines the amount of the crop material located on the field on the basis of the crop material location signals and the intensity signals received from the receiver.

System for measuring the amount of crop to be harvested

A control system for a harvester or similar implement includes a supervisory controller, a set of low-level controllers and a neuro-fuzzy inference system. The supervisory controller employs human expert knowledge and fuzzy logic. The controller monitors the quality of the harvesting process, such as gain loss, dockage, grain damage and the like. Based on the measurements, setpoints for all critical functional elements of the implement are determined. The neuro-fuzzy inference system determines machine settings according to operating conditions and learns from harvester experience. The parameters of the neuro-fuzzy inference system are stored in on-board memory. The neuro-fuzzy system can be used for harvester set-up and as one of the knowledge sources for repeated adjustments during the harvest.

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Bettendorf, IA, United States of America

Folker Beck