IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,302,790
Granted Patent B2
US 12,302,790 · App. 17/761,763 · Granted May 20, 2025

Cutting unit having sensors for height control

Inventors: Jochen Scharmann (Warendorf, DE); Raphael Stückmann (Drensteinfurt, DE); Dirk Webermann (Senden, DE); Steffen Sudhues (Ahlen, DE)
Assignee: Carl Geringhoff GmbH & Co. KG
A01D41/141A01D41/127
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,302,790
App. No.
17/761,763
Granted
May 20, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention related to a cutting unit for attachment to the height-adjustable intake duct of a harvester. In order to improve the sensor-supported height guidance of cutting units it is proposed to provide at least one additional load sensor which measures the load with which the cutting unit loads the intake duct, in order to calculate a height-control-relevant signal from the transmitted sensor values of the distance sensor and the load sensor via an evaluation device which the signal is transmitted to the interface.

Claims (43)

1. A method for height guidance of a cutting unit attached to a height-adjustable intake duct of a harvesting machine, the method comprising:

determining a distance of the cutting unit to the ground by a distance sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the distance determined by the distance sensor, a first sensor value and transmitting the first sensor value to an evaluation device;

measuring a load with which the cutting unit loads the intake duct by a load sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the load measured by the load sensor, a second sensor value and transmitting the second sensor value to the evaluation device;

computing a height control-relevant signal from the first sensor value of the distance sensor and from the second sensor value of the load sensor with a program provided in the evaluation device by a suitable programming of the program and transmitting the height control-relevant signal to an interface configured to transmit the height control-relevant signal to a control or regulating device of the harvesting machine;

averaging in the evaluation device the first sensor value and the second sensor value transmitted within a time interval to the evaluation device.

2. A method for height guidance of a cutting unit attached to a height-adjustable intake duct of a harvesting machine, the method comprising:

determining a distance of the cutting unit to the ground by a distance sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the distance determined by the distance sensor, a first sensor value and transmitting the first sensor value to an evaluation device;

measuring a load with which the cutting unit loads the intake duct by a load sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the load measured by the load sensor, a second sensor value and transmitting the second sensor value to the evaluation device;

computing a height control-relevant signal from the first sensor value of the distance sensor and from the second sensor value of the load sensor with a program provided in the evaluation device by a suitable programming of the program and transmitting the height control-relevant signal to an interface configured to transmit the height control-relevant signal to a control or regulating device of the harvesting machine;

increasing or decreasing the first sensor value of the distance sensor transmitted within a time interval to the evaluation device by a correction factor when the second sensor value of the load sensor signals a full load of the intake duct.

3. A method for height guidance of a cutting unit attached to a height-adjustable intake duct of a harvesting machine, the method comprising:

determining a distance of the cutting unit to the ground by a distance sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the distance determined by the distance sensor, a first sensor value and transmitting the first sensor value to an evaluation device;

measuring a load with which the cutting unit loads the intake duct by a load sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the load measured by the load sensor, a second sensor value and transmitting the second sensor value to the evaluation device;

computing a height control-relevant signal from the first sensor value of the distance sensor and from the second sensor value of the load sensor with a program provided in the evaluation device by a suitable programming of the program and transmitting the height control-relevant signal to an interface configured to transmit the height control-relevant signal to a control or regulating device of the harvesting machine;

increasing or decreasing the second sensor value of the load sensor transmitted within a time interval to the evaluation device by a correction factor when the first sensor value of the distance sensor signals no distance of the cutting unit to the ground.

4. A method for height guidance of a cutting unit attached to a height-adjustable intake duct of a harvesting machine, the method comprising:

determining a distance of the cutting unit to the ground by a distance sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the distance determined by the distance sensor, a first sensor value and transmitting the first sensor value to an evaluation device;

measuring a load with which the cutting unit loads the intake duct by a load sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the load measured by the load sensor, a second sensor value and transmitting the second sensor value to the evaluation device;

computing a height control-relevant signal from the first sensor value of the distance sensor and from the second sensor value of the load sensor with a program provided in the evaluation device by a suitable programming of the program and transmitting the height control-relevant signal to an interface configured to transmit the height control-relevant signal to a control or regulating device of the harvesting machine;

increasing or decreasing the first sensor value of the distance sensor transmitted within a time interval to the evaluation device by a correction factor when the second sensor value of the load sensor signals a full load of the intake duct; and

increasing or decreasing the second sensor value of the load sensor transmitted within a time interval to the evaluation device by a correction factor when the first sensor value of the distance sensor signals no distance of the cutting unit to the ground.

5. A method for height guidance of a cutting unit attached to a height-adjustable intake duct of a harvesting machine, the method comprising:

determining a distance of the cutting unit to the ground by a distance sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the distance determined by the distance sensor, a first sensor value and transmitting the first sensor value to an evaluation device;

measuring a load with which the cutting unit loads the intake duct by a load sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the load measured by the load sensor, a second sensor value and transmitting the second sensor value to the evaluation device;

computing a height control-relevant signal from the first sensor value of the distance sensor and from the second sensor value of the load sensor with a program provided in the evaluation device by a suitable programming of the program and transmitting the height control-relevant signal to an interface configured to transmit the height control-relevant signal to a control or regulating device of the harvesting machine;

wherein the first sensor value and the second sensor value are transmitted, respectively, as a percentage value between a respective minimum value and a respective maximum value to the evaluation device.

6. A method for height guidance of a cutting unit attached to a height-adjustable intake duct of a harvesting machine, the method comprising:

determining a distance of the cutting unit to the ground by a distance sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the distance determined by the distance sensor, a first sensor value and transmitting the first sensor value to an evaluation device;

measuring a load with which the cutting unit loads the intake duct by a load sensor arranged at the cutting unit;

generating, based on the load measured by the load sensor, a second sensor value and transmitting the second sensor value to the evaluation device;

computing a height control-relevant signal from the first sensor value of the distance sensor and from the second sensor value of the load sensor with a program provided in the evaluation device by a suitable programming of the program and transmitting the height control-relevant signal to an interface configured to transmit the height control-relevant signal to a control or regulating device of the harvesting machine;

converting the first sensor value and the second sensor value in the evaluation device into a percentage value, respectively, between a respective minimum value and a respective maximum value.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2022
From: SCHARMANN, JOCHEN; STÜCKMANN, RAPHAEL; WEBERMANN, DIRK; SUDHUES, STEFFEN
To: CARL GERINGHOFF GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 060038/0801 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 27, 2022
From: LIPSMEIER, FLORIAN; SIMILLION, CEDRIC ANDRÉ MARIE VINCENT GEOFFREY
To: F. HOFFMANN-LA ROCHE AG
Reel/Frame 060039/0360 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2019 125 280.6 · Sep 19, 2019 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220369558A1 · Nov 24, 2022
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