IN-GRAIN CONDITION SENSING SYSTEM
A condition sensing system for a grain drying system can include a cable assembly and at least one sensor. The cable assembly can include a support cable and a data-conveying member. The sensor can detect in-grain humidity and/or temperature. The sensor can be coupled to the cable assembly between first and second ends of the assembly. A protective enclosure can enclose the sensor and a respective portion of the cable assembly. Further, in-grain humidity and/or temperature data can be transmitted from the condition sensing system to the grain drying system.
1 . A condition sensing system for a grain drying system, the condition sensing system comprising:
a cable assembly comprising a support cable and a data-conveying member extending continuously along a length of the assembly;
a protective tubing member extending around the cable and the data-conveying member;
a plurality of sensors positioned along and coupled to the cable between first and second ends of the cable; and
a plurality of protective enclosures that each enclose a respective sensor and a respective portion of the cable, the data-conveying member, and the protective tubing;
wherein the data-conveying member is configured to permit each of the sensors to transmit data representative of a condition of the grain to the grain drying system.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the sensors are coupled to the cable in a spaced apart relationship.
3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the cable and the data-conveying member pass through the protective tubing member and the protective enclosure to extend from opposing ends of the protective tubing member and the protective enclosure.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each protective enclosure rigidly supports the respective sensor for protecting the respective sensor from exposure to shear forces applied to the cable assembly.
5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the protective enclosure further comprises a rigid member extending adjacent to the respective sensor.
6 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the support member is disposed in a substantially vertical orientation, extending parallel to the cable.
7 . The system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the protective enclosures includes at least one opening therethrough, adjacent to a respective sensor to facilitate a humidity determination from the given sensor.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one sensor that detects humidity and temperature.
9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one sensor that detects humidity and at least one sensor that detects temperature.
10 . The system of claim 9 , further comprising a rigid support member for supporting the temperature sensor and a protective covering extending around the cable, the data-conveying member, the support member, and the temperature sensor.
11 . A grain drying system for a grain bin, the system comprising:
a control unit for controlling a fan for the bin;
a condition sensing cable assembly being suspendable in the bin, the assembly comprising a support cable, at least one data-conveying member extending along the length of the assembly, and a plurality of sensors mounted on the cable and data-conveying member, each of the sensors being secured within a tubular enclosure surrounding the sensor, the cable, and the data-conveying member, the cable and the data-conveying member extending continuously through the tubular enclosure to extend from each end thereof, the sensors being in electrical communication with the data-conveying member and being configured to detect in-grain temperature or relative humidity of air surrounding the respective sensor when the respective sensor is surrounded by grain, the in-grain temperature or relative humidity data being transmitted to the control unit via the data-conveying member;
an external condition sensing assembly, mounted outside of the bin, for determining an ambient air temperature and an ambient relative humidity of air outside of the bin;
wherein, in response to the in-grain temperature or relative humidity data, the ambient relative humidity value, and the ambient air temperature, the control unit is configured to activate or deactivate the fan when one of a selected set of conditions are met.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the plurality of sensors detects in-grain temperature and relative humidity.
13 . The system of claim 11 , wherein each sensor is mounted on a circuit board and the data-conveying member is communicatively coupled to the circuit board.
14 . The system of claim 11 , wherein each tubular enclosure rigidly supports the respective sensor for protecting the respective sensor from exposure to shear forces applied to the cable assembly.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the tubular enclosure further comprises a rigid member extending adjacent to the respective sensor.
16 . A condition sensing system for a grain drying system, the condition sensing system comprising:
a cable assembly comprising a data-conveying component extending continuously along a length of the cable assembly;
a plurality of sensors positioned along and coupled to the assembly between first and second ends of the assembly, the plurality of sensors being configured to detect in-gran humidity or temperature data of air surrounding the plurality of sensors when positioned within grain, the in-grain data being transmitted to the grain drying system via the data-conveying component; and
a plurality of protective enclosures that each enclose a respective sensor and a respective portion of the cable assembly.
17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the assembly comprises the data-conveying component and a support cable, separate from the data-conveying component, the data-conveying component and the support cable extending continuously along the length of the assembly.
18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein each protective enclosure rigidly supports the respective sensor from exposure to shear forces applied to the cable assembly.
19 . The system of claim 16 , further comprising a protective covering extending around the cable assembly, wherein each protective enclosure surrounds a respective portion of the protective covering.
20 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of sensors comprises at least one sensor that detects in-grain temperature and relative humidity.