Harvesters – Motorized harvester – With condition-responsive operation
Reexamination Certificate
2002-08-09
2003-11-25
Pezzuto, Robert E. (Department: 3671)
Harvesters
Motorized harvester
With condition-responsive operation
C056S01020A, C056S221000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06651411
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a control system for moving a reel on a harvesting platform fore and aft.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Agricultural combines are provided with harvesting platforms. These harvesting platforms typically comprise a transversely extending frame having a transversely extending auger and reel. The frame is provided with a front edge having a cutter bar for cutting a standing crop. The central rear portion of the frame is provided with a central opening through which harvested crop is directed to the feeder house of the combine.
The fore/aft position of the reel relative to the frame is controlled by an operator located in the operator's station of the combine. As the combine moves through a field, crop conditions change, requiring the operator to change the fore/aft position of the reel relative to the frame to maintain optimal harvesting performance. For example, if the operator encounters downed crop (standing crop that has blown over) he would want to move the reel forwardly and downwardly to better engage the downed crop. Similarly for crop standing upright the operator would want the reel moved rearwardly from the forward most position.
Combines have been provided with fore/aft control systems for harvesting reels. In these systems the harvesting platform is provided with a fore/aft reel position sensor that generates a fore/aft position signal that is directed to a controller. The controller in turn controls the extension and retraction of hydraulic cylinders that move the reel fore and aft by signaling an electrohydraulic circuit control hydraulic valves. The controller is typically provided with additional inputs for manually controlling the fore/aft position of the reel and for placing the reel in a preselected fore/aft position relative to the frame.
The fore/aft position sensors used on these systems have used a potentiometer to generate the fore/aft position signal. The signaling potentiometer is coupled to the reel and/or saddles by linkages that may need adjustment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and robust fore/aft position sensor for a harvesting reel.
The harvesting reel is rotatably mounted on saddles that are slidably positioned on fore/aft extending arms. The fore/aft position of the saddles is controlled by hydraulic cylinders. The fore/aft position sensor is located between one of the fore/aft extending arms and the respective saddle. The fore/aft extending arm is provided with a slot that extends along the arm at a vertical angle. A sensing finger engages the slot and is coupled to a signal generator by a sensing arm. The signal generator comprising a potentiometer. As the fore/aft position of the reel changes, the vertical position of the sensing finger changes creating an electrical output from the potentiometer. The resulting potentiometer voltage represents a fore/aft position signal that is directed to a controller.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3599410 (1971-08-01), de Coene et al.
patent: 3722193 (1973-03-01), Strubbe
patent: 4124970 (1978-11-01), Bernhardt
patent: 4776153 (1988-10-01), DePauw et al.
patent: 5261216 (1993-11-01), Schumacher et al.
patent: 5524424 (1996-06-01), Halgrimson et al.
patent: 6138447 (2000-10-01), Stivers et al.
patent: 6195972 (2001-03-01), Talbot et al.
patent: 19711045 (1998-09-01), None
900 Series Flex Platforms, From www.dakotalandeq.com web site, late updated Sep. 21, 2001.
Gathering Soybeans is Challenging, From www.uaex.edu web site, © 1999, 2000 University of Arkansas.
Becker Klaus Ernst
Christensen Timothy Franklin
Deere & Company
Torres Alicia
LandOfFree
Fore/aft position sensor for a harvesting reel does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Fore/aft position sensor for a harvesting reel, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Fore/aft position sensor for a harvesting reel will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3128129