IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,638,398
Granted Patent B2
US 11,638,398 · App. 17/015,304 · Granted May 2, 2023

Combine harvester and driver assistance system therefor

Inventor: Jens Bussmann (Ostercappeln, DE)
Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
A01D41/127A01F12/18A01D75/282A01F12/448A01F12/52A01F2012/188
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,638,398
App. No.
17/015,304
Granted
May 2, 2023
Kind
B2
Abstract

A driver assistance system for a combine harvester that has a processing stage with an input for a crop flow, a first output for a useful flow and has abundant threshed grains, and a second output for a residual flow with scarce grains. At least one operating parameter of the processing stage is adjustable. The driver assistance system has an actuatable rethreshing device arranged at the second output of the processing stage, a residual grain sensor for detecting a proportion of threshed out grain in the residual flow downstream of the rethreshing device, and an evaluating device that turns the rethreshing device on and off, compares the proportions of threshed out grains in the residual flow when the rethreshing device is turned on and when the rethreshing device is turned off, and to adapt the at least one operating parameter of the processing stage based on the comparison.

Claims (17)

1. A driver assistance system for a combine harvester that has a processing stage with an input for a crop flow, a first output for a useful flow which is obtained from the crop flow and has abundant threshed grains, and a second output for a residual flow with scarce grains, wherein at least one operating parameter of the processing stage is adjustable, wherein the driver assistance system comprises:

an actuatable rethreshing device configured to be arranged at the second output of the processing stage, wherein the rethreshing device comprises a separating rotor, and a separating grate having a plurality of fixed segments and at least one movable segment, the at least one movable segment being equipped with friction strips and arranged opposite to a threshing bar situated at the separating rotor, wherein the at least one movable segment is movable between an active position configured for threshing grain, and an inactive position,

a residual grain sensor configured for detecting a proportion of threshed out grain in the residual flow downstream of the rethreshing device, and

an evaluating device which is adapted to turn the rethreshing device on and off by moving the at least one movable segment between the active position and the inactive position, to compare the proportions of threshed out grains in the residual flow when the rethreshing device is turned on and when the rethreshing device is turned off, and to adapt the at least one operating parameter of the processing stage based on the comparison.

2. The driver assistance system according to claim 1 , wherein the evaluating device is adapted to change the at least one operating parameter when the difference in proportions of threshed grains in the residual flow when the actuatable rethreshing device is turned on compared to when the actuatable rethreshing device is turned off exceeds a threshold.

3. The driver assistance system according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one movable segment is radially adjustable.

4. The driver assistance system according to claim 3 , wherein the radially adjustable segment is adjustable by swiveling around an axis.

5. The driver assistance system according to claim 4 , wherein the axis extends adjacent to an edge of the adjustable segment.

6. The driver assistance system according to claim 4 , wherein the adjustable segment extends in a circumferential direction of the separating rotor over a portion of a circumference thereof, and wherein the axis extends adjacent to a front edge of the adjustable segment in relation to a rotating direction of the separating rotor.

7. The driver assistance system according to claim 1 , wherein the processing stage comprises a threshing stage and a separating stage, and wherein the at least one operating parameter is an operating parameter of the threshing stage or of the separating stage.

8. The driver assistance system according to claim 7 , wherein an input of the separating stage and the second output are located at opposite ends of the separating stage.

9. The driver assistance system according to claim 8 , wherein, with reference to a conveying direction of the crop from the input of the separating stage to the second output, the separating stage has an upstream portion in which the first output is located and a downstream portion in which the rethreshing device is located.

10. The driver assistance system according to claim 8 , wherein the first output is elongated with reference to a conveying direction of the crop from the input of the separating stage to the second output, and wherein a portion of the separating stage in which the actuatable rethreshing device is located overlaps in the conveying direction with a downstream end of the first output.

11. The driver assistance system according to claim 6 , wherein the separating rotor is outfitted with a first type of tool in an upstream portion with reference to the conveying direction and with a second type of tool in a downstream portion with reference to the conveying direction, wherein the second type of tool is absent in the upstream portion.

12. The driver assistance system according to claim 11 , wherein the tools of the second type overlap with the actuatable rethreshing device in the conveying direction.

13. A combine harvester having the driver assistance system according to claim 1 .

14. The driver assistance system according to claim 1 , wherein in the active position of the at least movable segment, a gap between a rear edge of the at least one movable segment and the threshing bar is smaller than a gap between a rear edge of the fixed segments and the threshing bar, as the threshing bar moves past the fixed and movable segments.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 11, 2020
From: BUSSMANN, JENS
To: CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
Reel/Frame 053742/0401 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 125 645.3 · Sep 24, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20210084816A1 · Mar 25, 2021