Sperry Corporation

New Holland North America, Inc.

Ford New Holland, Inc.

Gilbert J Strubbe

Frans J Decoene

Russell William Strong

Robert R Todd

Cyriel R De Busscher

Marc R Jonckheere

Willy C Hollevoet

Dirk Georges Leupe

Bart M Missotten

Cyriel R DeBusscher

Jasper Clarisse

In the field of mass flow measuring apparatuses, there is a need for greater accuracy of known devices. The invention concerns an impeller for projecting bulk material that otherwise might fail to contact a mass flow measuring apparatus during normal use. The impeller includes a surface inclined relative to a locus of its travel, whereby centrifugal forces cause granular material engaged by the surface to rise to a peripheral zone for projection towards a sensor member. The invention also relates to a radar doppler speed measuring apparatus for use in mass flow senors; to methods and apparatuses for compensating for longitudinal inclination of mass flow sensor members; and to methods and apparatuses for calibrating such devices.

Mass flow measurement

A forage harvester is equipped with a device for measuring the mass flow rate of the crop material processed by the machine. The device comprises a sensor member having a curved surface which is mounted for pivotment in an aperture in the spout of the harvester. The moment resulting from the mass flow is measured by a transducer. A resilient sealing is provided between the sensor member and the spout.

Mass flow measurement in forage harvesters

In the field of mass flow measuring apparatuses, it is known to provide a sensor member for the establishment thereon of streamline flow of bulk material, in which the sensor member design is optimised in order to minimise the effects of changes in the coefficient of friction between the bulk material and the sensor member. The invention relates to improvements in the construction of the measuring apparatus, whereby two mechanical quantities (such as a pair of forces; or a pair of moments) may be measured to provide additional data on the flow process. In particular, it is possible to determine an exit velocity value v.sub.e that is indicative of the momentum of bulk material in the sensor member.

Relating to mass flow measuring apparatuses

The disclosure relates to improved methods of designing surfaces whereby to minimize the effects of changes in the coefficients of friction between so-called bulk fluids and the surfaces. The disclosure also relates to surfaces designed in accordance with the methods. A device embodying the invention, for metering the mass flow of bulk material, such as grain or other crop material, comprises a sensor member with a curved surface installed adjacent the outlet of a conveyor. The sensor member is mounted for pivoting about a transverse axis and is subject to a moment resulting from the material flow along its surface. A spring means is provided to keep the sensor member in zero load position. The displacement of the sensor member is proportional to the mass flow rate. Changing friction coefficients .mu. between the bulk material and the surface will affect the flow pattern therealong, but an array of length and/or inlet orientation angles can be found relative to which the measured moments remain substantially insensitive to these flow changes. Such metering devices may be used in grain and forage harvesters, wherein they need less recalibration under varying harvesting conditions.

Method and device for measuring the flow of bulk materials

The invention relates to a sensor member of a mass flow measuring apparatus on a combine harvester, in which the surface of the sensor member includes both curved and straight portions. The lengths (.theta..sub.m,L) of the curved and straight portions are optimised to minimise the effects of changes in coefficient of friction (.mu.) on measured mass flow rate values of bulk materials on the sensor member.

Friction-independent mass flow meter

A device (21) for metering the mass flow of bulk material, such as grain or other crop material, comprises a sensor member (51) with a curved surface (53) installed adjacent the outlet of a conveyor (12). The sensor member (51) is mounted for pivotment about a transverse axis (P) and is subject to the moment (M) resulting from the material flow along its surface (53). A spring means (66) is provided to keep the sensor member (51) in zero load position. The displacement of the sensor member (51) is proportional to the mass flow rate. Changing friction coefficients .mu. between the bulk material and the surface (53) will affect the flow pattern therealong, but an array (70) of pivot points can be found about which the measured moments (M) remain substantially insensitive to these flow changes. Alternatively a force component may be sensed of the material flow on the sensor surface (53) in a particular direction. A direction can be found wherein the force component is equally insensitive to flow changes caused by friction coefficient changes. Such metering devices may be used in grain and forage harvesters, wherein they need less recalibration under varying harvesting conditions.

Mass flow metering device

An adjustable sieve mechanism for an agricultural harvesting machine comprising louvres positioned behind one another and being movable through a range of positions between a fully closed and a fully opened position. Consecutive louvres define an opening when in an opened position. An adjustment mechanism is provided for changing the opening. Also provided is an opening indicator including a movable part which is unitarily moved with one of the louvres when the opening is adjusted. The indicator permits verification of the sieve opening even when the louvres are not accessible for measurement with gauges, and a direct link between the louvres and the movable part avoids the inaccuracies which are conceivable when the indicator is sensing the movement of further, intermediate components of the adjustment mechanism.

Harvester sieve opening indicator

A combine harvester (1) having a threshing and separating mechanism (8), a cleaning mechanism (9) disposed to receive threshed and separated crop material from the threshing and separating mechanism (8) and operable to separate tailings therefrom. Tailings rethresher means (44) are associated with the cleaning mechanism (9) for rethreshing the tailings separated therein, and tailings conveyor means (52) are provided for recycling rethreshed tailings from the rethresher means (44) to the cleaning mechanism (9). Above the cleaning mechanism (9) at a location offset from a discharge aperture (62) of the tailings conveyor means (52) a resilient screen (86) is provided which, in use, intersects the tailings flow and is operable to absorb the kinetic energy thereof which is imparted thereto by the tailings conveyor means (52). A deflector (72) is operatively associated with a forwardly inclined outlet portion (70) of the tailings conveyor means (52) to evenly spread and project the tailings against the screen (86).

Tailings return system for combine harvester

A grain loss monitor for a harvesting machine is provided with detector mechanism including a sensor plate and a transducer associated with the sensor plate. The detector mechanism is disposed for detecting grain loss through the impact of grain kernals on the sensor plate and the transducer has a resonant frequency in the range of 8 to 25 KHz. The grain loss monitor also includes a circuit operable to process the output signals from the transducer.

Grain loss monitors for harvesting machines

An apparatus is provided for measuring grain loss in a harvesting machine in substantially absolute terms. This apparatus comprises one or more first detectors operable to detect one or more operating condition parameters and to produce a first electrical output signal representative thereof, a plurality of second detectors operable to detect grain separation at a plurality of locations within the machine and to produce second electrical output signals representative thereof, processor means to which the first and second output signals are applied and operable to derive therefrom a substantially absolute indication of grain loss at a given instant, and display means for displaying the grain loss indication.

Method and apparatus for measuring combine grain loss

Method and apparatus for measuring grain loss in harvesting machines

A combine harvester having an engine, a traction drive transmission, a header, a threshing and separating mechanism and a machine throughput control system is disclosed wherein a grain loss control loop is operable to produce a signal representative of grain loss and including a grain loss controller to which the grain loss signal and a reference grain loss signal are applied. A grain separation control loop is also provided to produce a signal representative of the grain separation in the machine. The grain loss controller is operable continuously to derive a reference grain separation signal from the grain separation signal, the grain loss signal and the reference grain loss signal. Means is also provided for algebraically summing the grain separation signal and the reference grain separation signal to produce a grain separation error signal which is used to control the machine throughput.

Combine ground speed control system

An impact detector for use with a grain loss monitor of a harvesting machine includes a damped detector plate member and a transducer associated with a surface of said detector plate member. The detector plate member is provided with signal damping means only around its periphery, whereby a substantial area of the detector plate member is delimited which is void of any signal damping means.

Impact detectors

In a combine harvester having a clean grain conveyor, a clean grain weight rate metering device is provided generally at the discharge end of said conveyor. The weight rate metering device includes a sensor member disposed to be acted upon by the clean grain flow as it issues from the clean grain conveyor, and a transducer operatively associated with the sensor member to continuously generate a signal proportional to the clean grain weight rate. The sensor member is curved in shape and is operatively disposed generally in the path of the clean grain flow issuing from the conveyor for deflecting the direction of movement of the clean grain flow and for guiding said flow therealong while subjecting the sensor member to a centrifugal force. The inventive concept also may be used in a flow metering device for metering the weight rate of any type of materials flow and generally always comprises conditioning means forwardly of the sensor member for concentrating, in a coherent stream, all the material of the materials flow and for transferring said coherent stream to the sensor member for guiding said coherent stream in permanent contact with the sensor surface as it is moved through the sensor member.

Flow metering device

A combine harvester having an engine, a traction drive transmission, a header, and a threshing and separating mechanism, is disclosed wherein the combine is provided with a machine throughput control system including a machine loading control loop operable to produce a signal representative of machine loading, and a grain loss control loop operable to produce a signal representative of grain loss. A grain loss controller is continuously operable to establish a causal relationship between machine loading and grain loss. The machine loading signal, the causal relationship current with that machine loading signal, and a reference loss signal is applied to the grain loss controller to derive a reference machine loading signal. A machine loading error signal, produced by summing the representative machine loading signal and the reference machine loading signal, is used to control the machine throughput.

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Zedelgem, Belgium

Gilbert J Strubbe