Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Construction or agricultural-type vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-16
2001-04-10
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Construction or agricultural-type vehicle
C702S005000, C340S988000, C056S001000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06216071
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to an apparatus and method for monitoring and coordinating the harvesting and transporting operations of an agricultural crop by multiple agricultural machines on a field and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for determining an expected time at which the harvested crop will reach a predetermined desired level on a first agricultural machine.
BACKGROUND ART
Currently, there has been a large effort to increase the efficiency and productivity of agricultural operations. For example, an agricultural machine, such as a harvester, utilizes a header or other implement to perform various operations, such as harvesting a crop. As the crop is harvested, it is collected in a storage bin or hopper located on the harvester. When the hopper becomes full, the harvested crop is discharged into a grain cart, or truck for transportation to market or other destination.
Traditionally, unloading of the harvested crop in the hopper requires that the harvester be driven to a location outside of the area being harvested, such as to the location of a truck parked on a road near the field, or otherwise the harvester must await the arrival of a transport device such as a grain cart towed by a tractor. In the latter instance, the harvester must cease harvesting when the hopper is full, since more crop cannot be harvested until means are available for unloading the hopper. In either case, harvesting is interrupted when the hopper is full, and resumed once the hopper has been emptied.
It is desirable to provide continuous harvesting, and avoid nonproductive time in which the harvester is idle while waiting to unload the harvested crop in the hopper. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,104,850, Harris discloses a portable grain storage bin which may be located in a field during harvesting of the grain from the field. Harris teaches locating the storage bin in a central location on the field, or nearby the field, thus allowing the harvester and grain carts to discharge the grain into the storage bin if a truck is not available for transporting the grain to the elevator. The storage bin increases the speed of the harvesting since neither the harvester nor tractor pulling a grain cart has to wait for an available truck in order to unload the grain. However, Harris does not disclose providing continuous, uninterrupted harvesting, in which the harvester does not have to deviate from its natural course to unload the harvested crop.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention an apparatus for monitoring and coordinating the harvesting and transporting operations of an agricultural crop by multiple agricultural machines on a field is provided. The apparatus includes a first position determining system, a site database, a harvest volume indicating system, and a control system adapted for determining an expected time at which the harvested crop will reach a predetermined desired level on the first agricultural machine.
In another aspect of the present invention a method for monitoring and coordinating the harvesting and transporting operations of an agricultural crop by multiple agricultural machines on a field is provided. The method includes the steps of determining a level of crop harvested by a first agricultural machine, determining position data associated with the first agricultural machine, updating a site database as a function of the position data, and determining an expected time at which the level of harvested crop on the first agricultural machine will reach a predetermined desired level.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5282389 (1994-02-01), Faivre et al.
patent: 5471391 (1995-11-01), Gudat et al.
patent: 5529537 (1996-06-01), Johnson
patent: 5575316 (1996-11-01), Pollklas
patent: 5646844 (1997-07-01), Gudat et al.
patent: 5666793 (1997-09-01), Bottinger
patent: 5684476 (1997-11-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 5712782 (1998-01-01), Weigelt et al.
patent: 5902343 (1999-05-01), Hale et al.
patent: 197 05 842 (1998-08-01), None
patent: 0821296 (1998-01-01), None
Caterpillar Inc.
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Donnelly Arthur D.
Howard & Howard
Hudson Marla L.
LandOfFree
Apparatus and method for monitoring and coordinating the... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Apparatus and method for monitoring and coordinating the..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Apparatus and method for monitoring and coordinating the... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2446714