Data processing: vehicles – navigation – and relative location – Vehicle control – guidance – operation – or indication – Construction or agricultural-type vehicle
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-07
2004-08-17
Cuchlinski, Jr., William A. (Department: 3661)
Data processing: vehicles, navigation, and relative location
Vehicle control, guidance, operation, or indication
Construction or agricultural-type vehicle
C701S029000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06778894
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a monitoring device for monitoring the performance of an agricultural working machine. The monitoring device contains at least one sensor that is designed for generating a signal containing information on the noise caused by at least one movable element of the working machine.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Agricultural machines are increasingly equipped with elaborate soundproof cabs in order to protect the operator from environmental influences. In such instances, it is attempted to provide the operator with information on the machine status in different ways, for example, in the form of warning indicators for rotational speeds and the hydraulic fluid pressure. Due to the sound insulation of the cab, the operator cannot perform the monitoring and control functions of the machine as well as with machines that have an open workstation, since the ability of the operator to perceive the source of noise caused by incorrectly operating parts of the machine is diminished.
DE 42 232 161 A describes a device for determining the parameters that cause natural vibrations. This device is intended as an aid in the design of rotating working members, for example, threshing or chopping drums. The drum to be examined is mounted in a rotary or translational vibrator and set in motion. Here, since the vibrational behavior of the drum is examined outside of the machine, the machine operator is not provided with any assistance in evaluating the performance of the machine.
BG 33 743 describes a device for physically/mechanically examining working elements of a grape picking machine. The vibrations of the device are detected and displayed on an oscilloscope.
It is also known to provide combine harvesters with vibration sensors that measure lost grain. The signals of the vibration sensors are evaluated and used for displaying the loss portion. However, this does not make it possible to monitor movable elements of the combine harvester.
SUMMARY
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved device for monitoring the performance of an agricultural harvesting machine that makes it possible to detect defects in timely fashion.
An agricultural working machine is provided with a computer that receives a signal from at least one sensor containing information on the noise caused by the movement or vibration of an element of the working machine. The computer uses this signal and a comparative value in order to generate a signal value that contains information regarding whether or not the working machine is operating correctly.
Although damage in the early stages does not impair the performance of the components and consequently cannot be detected by conventionally provided sensor arrangements, damage of this type can frequently be recognized in the form of unusual noise. A sensitive ear can discriminate scratching, cracking, pinging, whistling, humming or droning noises from the normal noise spectrum of the machine. These noises are caused by the improper guidance of the damaged parts or even their deviation from their moving paths. This can lead to undesirable vibrations of the components, wherein various subassemblies may also disadvantageously rub against one another or impact one another, causing the components and subassemblies to vibrate. It is also possible that components which are not directly mechanically connected to the damaged part may have sympathetic vibrations.
The monitoring device replaces the ear of the operator located in the soundproof cab. It is possible to gain information on wear or cracks, insufficient lubrication of bearings, defective bearings, fractures or deformations of components, lost or fractured screw connections, welding connections or similar connections, as well as imbalances in the moving elements of the working machine, at a very early stage. Loosening connections, e.g., nuts and bolts, result in changes in the vibrational behavior, wherein corresponding measures can be initiated based on the signal value generated by the computer before severe damage occurs.
It would be conceivable to utilize the signal of the sensor and the comparative value for generating a signal value; however, it is preferred to reduce the required computing capacity of computer by deriving a parameter from the sensor signal that serves for generating the signal value together with the comparative value. It is preferred to carry out a comparison between the signal (or a parameter derived therefrom) and the comparative value. However, other mathematical operations may also be used for generating the signal value.
The sensor is preferably arranged in such a way that it senses the noise produced by the movement and/or vibration of a driven element of the working machine. The sensor consequently may directly cooperate with the driven element and sense its noise in any given fashion, for example, mechanically, optically or inductively. The driven element preferably consists of a material conveying element and/or a material processing element, e.g., a chopping drum or threshing cylinder. This sensor or another sensor may alternatively or additionally sense the noise produced by a driven or non-driven element, e.g., the cleaning shoe, a side wall of the combine harvester or a supporting element. In case of a defect, such an element produces different noise than in the normal operating mode, wherein said noise can be detected by the sensor.
Since the transmission of acoustic vibrations is closely related to mechanical vibrations, any type of sensor or sensors may be used for directly or indirectly recording the signal and that is able to sense sound conducted through solids, sound transmitted by air, mechanical vibrations or any other physical variables that are directly or indirectly associated with these vibrations, for example, one-dimensional or multi-dimensional acceleration sensors, acoustic microphones for sound conducted through solids and/or acoustic microphones for sounds transmitted by air. Consequently, it is preferred to utilize an acoustic sensor (microphone) or a motion sensor (vibration sensor, e.g., acoustic sensor for sounds conducted through solids) which delivers information on the acceleration acting upon the sensor or its speed or position. However, all types of sensors for compressive stresses and/or tensile stresses and/or vibrations may be utilized.
In order to monitor the individual moving parts of the machine, it would be appropriate to equip all these elements with suitable sensors and control devices. Although this would be possible, it would certainly represent a quite significant technical expenditure. The best results can be achieved if a series of sensors are arranged in the vicinity of bearing points of the most critical and/or most important subassemblies. However, the number of sensors should be kept to a minimum in order to reduce the expenditure. Favorable positions for arranging these sensors are nodal points at which the forces of as many movable subassemblies to be monitored as possible converge, for example, nodes in the support system of the frame. An acoustic microphone for sounds transmitted by air may also be arranged in a central region. Several microphones could also be distributed over the machine (e.g., front left, front right, rear left, rear right). The precise positioning of the sensors or the sensor cannot be generally specified because it depends on the respective structure of the machine and must be individually determined for each machine type.
Consequently, the sensor can be arranged on the working machine such that it is separated from the element to be monitored, wherein the acoustic vibration of the element is acoustically or mechanically transmitted to the sensor, for example, by the chassis or other parts of the working machine that support the element to be monitored or are directly or indirectly mechanically connected thereto.
The computer is preferably designed such that it delivers a defect message if the sensor signal indicates a defect in the working machine. A d
Beck Folker
Bischoff Lutz
Cuchlinski Jr. William A.
Deere & Company
Gibson Eric M.
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