Mass flow grain monitor and method

Abstract

A mass flow grain monitor is located adjacent the upper end of the clean grain elevator assembly of a harvester and includes a load cell having a member that is subject to slight deformation under loads for use in generating an output signal that is proportional to the load. As the grain flow reaches the top of the elevator assembly, its direction is changed such that a centrifugal force is exerted by the moving flow that is proportional to the mass of the grain flow at that instant. Such centrifugal force is directed vertically against the deformable member of the load cell which is itself generally horizontally disposed when the harvester is on level ground so that the entire weight of the deformable member can be treated as tare and zeroed out of the system when it is calibrated with the harvester on level ground. Having the member generally horizontally disposed and measuring the force of the grain vertically causes a significant reduction in the amount of error introduced into the output from the monitor when the harvester encounters upsloping or downsloping hillside conditions.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] This invention relates to harvesting equipment, and more particularly, to grain monitors used on combine harvesters and the like for continuously monitoring the clean grain throughput of the machine. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY [0002] Grain monitors for combine harvesters are known in the art. It is also known in the art to utilize a load cell as part of such a monitor wherein a Wheatstone bridge or the like is utilized to detect minute deformations of a member of the cell that occur when clean grain from an elevator of the harvester impacts or otherwise exerts a load on the member. [0003] In installations that use load cells, the load member's own weight tends to deform the member to a slight extent, introducing errors into the output data unless the weight (tare) of the member is “zeroed out” during initial calibration of the unit. While such calibration is effective so long as the harvester remains on a level surface, problems arise when the harvest encounters u...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides a better way to measure the force of grain flow in a combine harvester. Rather than measuring the force horizontally, the invention measures it vertically as the grain moves around the upper end of the elevator. This change in force is much smaller than in conventional arrangements, resulting in more accurate data. The invention is simple and cost-effective, and can be used on both level and uneven surfaces.

Problems solved by technology

In installations that use load cells, the load member's own weight tends to deform the member to a slight extent, introducing errors into the output data unless the weight (tare) of the member is “zeroed out” during initial calibration of the unit.

While such calibration is effective so long as the harvester remains on a level surface, problems arise when the harvest encounters up slopes or downslopes during hillside operations.

Some machines have included inclinometers which detect inclination of the harvester and provide appropriate input to computers that process the information to deal with the hillside, but systems of that type can be fairly complex and costly.

Prior art devices which essentially measure the flow force horizontally introduce an error that is proportional to the change of the sine of the hillside angle.

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