Patent Application
20130096782
The present disclosure is generally related to combine harvesters and, more particularly, is related to crop dispensing mechanisms from a combine harvester.
Combine harvesters harvest crop and then unload the harvested crop, such as grain, from storage bins residing on the combine harvester to the bed of a receiving vehicle, such as a truck bed. A common mechanism for performing this function is by way of an auger discharging the grain from the storage bins through an auger tube that encompasses the auger. Pivoting grain unloading spouts (herein, also referred to as pivoting auger spouts) are available today for use with combine harvesters, and are generally located at the distal end of the auger tube. Such pivoting auger spouts allow operators to more finely control the placement of grain as it flows out of the auger, as well as serve as a grain spill saver when the unloading clutch is switched off. Unfortunately, the control method for these pivoting auger spouts is generally quite cumbersome.
Many aspects of the disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
In one embodiment, a method for controlling a pivoting auger spout of an auger tube from an operator console in a cab of a combine harvester, the auger tube at least partially encompassing an auger, the method comprising receiving a first signal corresponding to user activation of a first interface element of the operator console to a first state; and if the auger is engaged, causing the pivoting auger spout to pivot about a first axis responsive to receiving the first signal, otherwise, if the auger is disengaged, causing the auger tube to swing toward a first position responsive to the first signal.
Certain embodiments of a pivoting auger spout control system for a combine harvester are disclosed that provides a simple control method for a pivoting grain unloading spout that requires no additional buttons, levers, pedals, etc. other than those presently existing to control a grain unloading auger. Previous control methods for pivoting the unloading auger spout have required additional manual-input controls, beyond the standard unloading auger controls, to be used by the operator. In contrast, one or more embodiments of a pivoting auger spout control system incorporate an operator control for the swiveling unloading auger spout into the existing set of controls that the operator is accustomed to utilizing to control the unloading auger. Some benefits of the pivoting auger spout control system include, among others, keeping the number of controls (also, referred to herein as interface elements) an operator uses to a minimum level, and allowing the controls for the pivoting unloading auger spout to be in a position that the operator is familiar with using on a regular basis. For instance, in one embodiment, the integration of this control to the unloading auger swing in and swing out control helps to make the control of the spout's position more intuitive to the operator.
Having summarized certain features of a pivoting auger spout control system of the present disclosure, reference will now be made in detail to the description of the disclosure as illustrated in the drawings. While the disclosure is described in connection with these drawings, there is no intent to limit it to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed herein. Further, although the description identifies or describes specifics of one or more embodiments, such specifics are not necessarily part of every embodiment. On the contrary, the intent is to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalents included within the spirit and scope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. Further, it should be appreciated in the context of the present disclosure that the claims are not necessarily limited to the particular embodiments set out in the description.
Referring now to
Signals from a cab 112 of the combine harvester 100 travel through one or more wires for controlling plural devices 114 and 116. For instance, devices 114 and 116 may be actuators (e.g., electrical, pneumatic, or hydraulic) that couple to the pivoting auger spout 106 and auger tube 102, respectively, to control (e.g., cause) movement of the respective pivoting auger spout 106 (e.g., pivoting movement about axis 110) and auger tube 102 (swing movement about axis 118). In other words, the cab 112 includes an operator console that in one embodiment makes up at least a portion of a pivoting auger spout control system, the console comprising operator controls (e.g., interface elements, such as buttons, levers, etc.) enabling an operator to control movement of the pivoting auger spout 106 and the auger tube 102.
In one embodiment, as noted above, movement of the pivoting auger spout 106 is about the axis 110 of the auger tube 102. For instance, in an unloading position, the opening of the pivoting auger spout 106 enables grain to spill directly (or substantially so) downward to the bed of the truck 108. This position may be a default position responsive to engagement of an auger clutch (not shown), which may be actuated from cab signals via a device (e.g., actuator) 120. In other words, the device 120 receives signals from the cab 112 that either causes engagement or disengagement (e.g., shut-off) of the auger clutch with an auger contained in the auger tube 102. In some embodiments, a different default position than the one described above may be used, including positions that enable release of grain at an angle other than straight down. The pivoting action of the pivoting auger spout 106 enables the grain to be evenly distributed along the truck bed. In other words, the pivoting auger spout 106 may release grain forward and backward from the default position, among other pivoting movements in some embodiments as indicated above.
A grain saver position, otherwise referred to herein as a home position, refers to a pivot position of the pivoting auger spout 106 that prevents or hinders the release of grain from the pivoting auger spout 106. In one embodiment, the home position may correspond to a position 90° from the default position. In other words, when the auger tube 102 is extended out from the combine harvester 100, the opening of the pivoting auger spout 106 may face directly back (or directly forward in some embodiments) in the longitudinal direction of the combine harvester 100. In other words, at least in one embodiment, the home position corresponds to a given angular position about the axis 110 of the auger tube 102, and this home position functions as a spill saver to prevent grain loss after the auger is turned off. When the combine harvester 100 is not actively unloading grain 104, the pivoting auger spout 106 returns to its home position. In some embodiments, the home position may correspond to a position at another angle relative to the default position, such as 120°, 180°, etc. The prevention of inadvertent grain spillage and/or suitability in maintaining a low-profile in the home position relative to the combine harvester 100 is a few of the considerations in choosing a desired home position. It should be appreciated that one having ordinary skill in the art may select one of a plurality of different pivoting ranges to suit the design needs.
Attention is now directed to
Having described an example environment in which certain embodiments of a pivoting auger spout control system may be implemented, reference is made to
The interface element 130 comprises a multi-state switch that performs different functions depending on whether the upper portion of the interface element 130 is selected by the operator or the lower portion of the interface element 130 is selected. In one embodiment, the interface element 130 comprises a swing in and swing out button as found (with less functionality) in many existing combine harvesters 100 for certain manufacturers, hence providing an operator control and associated position that is familiar to many operators, and avoiding the need for additional controls in the operator console 124. By selecting the interface element 130, the operator may cause both pivotal movement of the pivoting auger spout 106 and swing movement of the auger tube 102, as explained further below. Similar to the interface element 128, other configurations for selection/switching may be used in place of the button as shown for the interface element 130 in some embodiments. Further, though shown residing on the joystick 126, the interface elements 128 and/or 130 may be positioned on other portions of operator consoles for other manufactures, and the positions of those elements are also contemplated to be within the scope of the disclosure.
An example operation of an embodiment of a pivoting auger spout control system through operator interaction with the operator console 124 is illustrated in
When the interface element 128 is selected to cause disengagement of the auger 122 (e.g., from engagement with the auger clutch), the disengage branch 138 of the auger spout control system logic is activated. In the disengage branch 138, the operator may select the upper portion 134 of the interface element 130 to cause the auger tube 102 to pivot about the axis 118 (e.g., to swing out, away from the combine harvester 100), such as to position the auger tube 102 to unload the grain 104 from the combine harvester 100 to the truck 108. The operator may alternatively select the lower portion 136 of the interface element 130 to cause the auger tube 102 to pivot about the axis 118 in a different direction (e.g., to cause the auger tube 102 to swing back toward the combine harvester 100), such as to return the auger tube 102 to its rest position alongside the combine harvester 100.
Having described the operator console 124, auger tube 102, and pivoting auger spout 106, an example operation is described below. When the operator causes the auger tube 102 to swing out and further causes engagement of the auger 122 (with the auger clutch) to commence unloading of the grain 104, the pivoting auger spout 106 automatically pivots to a default unloading position (e.g., directly downward at the bottom center of the auger tube 102, though not limited to directly downward), hence releasing the grain to the truck 108. Once the auger clutch is engaged with the auger 122 and the grain 104 is in the process of unloading, the interface element 130 for controlling the auger tube 102 swinging movement transitions to controlling the angular position of the pivoting auger spout 106 about the axis 110 of the auger tube 102. Activation by the operator (e.g., pressing, such as pressing the upper portion 134) of the interface element 130 (e.g., the swing in and swing out button, which in this branch 132 provides the spout back, spout forward function) causes pivoting of the pivoting auger spout 106 in one direction, and pressing the interface element 130 (e.g., the lower portion 136) causes the pivoting to occur in another direction.
Note that advancement of the pivoting auger spout 106 (or auger tube 102) in one direction or the other may occur in one embodiment by repeatedly pressing the interface element 130 (e.g., repeatedly pressing the upper portion 134 or lower portion 136). In some embodiments, the continued advancement in one direction or the other may be achieved by holding down the interface element (e.g., sustained pressing of the upper portion 134 or lower portion 136), and in some embodiments, a single, quick press and release may cause a defined rotation (e.g., full or partial).
Once the auger clutch and auger 122 are disengaged, and the grain 104 is no longer unloading from the combine harvester 100 to the truck 108, the pivoting auger spout 106 automatically returns to its home position, and the interface element 130 for controlling auger swing movement returns to its base (e.g., normal) functionality.
Note that variations in the process above are contemplated to be within the scope of the disclosure. For instance, some embodiments of the pivoting auger spout control system may employ a time delay to move to or from the home position upon a status change of the unloading auger clutch, and/or some embodiments may use preset angular positions (rather than infinite angular control) within the usable range of motion.
Attention is now directed to
The controller 142 further comprises memory 150. The memory 150 may include any one of a combination of volatile memory elements (e.g., random-access memory RAM, such as DRAM, and SRAM, etc.) and nonvolatile memory elements (e.g., ROM, hard drive, tape, CDROM, etc.). The memory 150 may store a native operating system, one or more native applications, emulation systems, or emulated applications for any of a variety of operating systems and/or emulated hardware platforms, emulated operating systems, etc. For example, in some embodiments, control of the devices 114, 116, and 120 may be implemented through software or firmware (e.g., executable instructions) executing on a processor of the control circuitry 148. In some embodiments, the memory 150 may be separate (e.g., a distinct component) from the controller 142, and in some embodiments, such as where control of the devices 114, 116, and 120 is performed purely in hardware, memory 150 may be omitted.
The operator console 124 comprises a plurality of operator controls, including the joystick 126 and interface elements 128, 130, which upon activation, are used to determine the signaling or control path (e.g., engage branch 132, disengage branch 138) of the controller 142 and associated functionality.
The I/O interface devices 144 comprise any number of interfaces for the input and output of data, such as locally or via a network to a remote location. As a non-limiting example, when including a network interface, such an I/O interface device 144 may include a modulator/demodulator (e.g., a modem), wireless (e.g., radio frequency (RF)) transceiver, a telephonic interface, among other network components.
The devices 114, 116, and 120, as indicated above, include mechanical and/or electrical actuators that enable translation (e.g., transduction) of signals from the controller 142 to a mechanical output, such as auger clutch engagement with the auger 122, swing movement about axis 118 of the auger tube 102, and pivoting about axis 110 of the pivoting auger spout 106. In some embodiments, intermediary controllers or devices may be used.
It should be appreciated that other devices may be employed in the operation and/or control of the combine harvester 100 that are not shown for brevity, including global positioning devices (e.g., GPS devices), display devices, among other components.
Where the controller 142 is implemented at least in part in logic configured as software/firmware (e.g., generally, an application), it should be noted that the application can be stored on a variety of non-transitory computer-readable medium for use by, or in connection with, a variety of computer-related systems or methods. In the context of this document, a computer-readable medium may comprise an electronic, magnetic, optical, or other physical device or apparatus that may contain or store a computer program for use by or in connection with a computer-related system or method. The application may be embedded in a variety of computer-readable mediums for use by, or in connection with, an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, or other system that can fetch the instructions from the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructions.
Where the controller 142 is implemented at least in part in logic configured as hardware, the controller 142 may be implemented with any or a combination of the following technologies, which are all well-known in the art: a discrete logic circuit(s) having logic gates for implementing logic functions upon data signals, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) having appropriate combinational logic gates, a programmable gate array(s) (PGA), a field programmable gate array (FPGA), etc.
The controller 142 is implemented using hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software.
Having described some example embodiments of a pivoting auger spout control system 140, it should be appreciated in view of the present disclosure that one embodiment of a method for controlling a pivoting auger spout, the method depicted in
Any process descriptions or blocks in flow charts should be understood as representing modules, segments, or portions of code which include one or more executable instructions for implementing specific logical functions or steps in the process, and alternate implementations are included within the scope of the embodiments in which functions may be executed out of order from that shown or discussed, including substantially concurrently or in reverse order, depending on the functionality involved, as would be understood by those reasonably skilled in the art of the present disclosure.
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) of the disclosure without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.
