Method of determining vibration modes in a crop handling section of an agricultural harvester

Abstract

A method for determining vibration patterns in a crop handling section (110) of an agricultural harvester (10) is provided. The method may begin by placing the crop handling section (110) into a predetermined pseudo-operating configuration. When in the predetermined pseudo-operating configuration, a reference vibration pattern is established using a plurality of vibration sensors (121-126). The established reference vibration pattern is then stored in a memory. Analysis of the obtained vibration pattern may provide useful information about the current mechanical state of moving parts as well as stationary parts. The vibration patterns of many agricultural harvesters may be collected in the cloud and processed using AI tools.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method of determining vibration patterns in a crop handling section of an agricultural harvester and a computer readable medium storing instructions of a computer program for executing the method. Background Art

[0002] Agricultural machinery comprises many moving parts which cause and are subject to a lot of vibrations during use. Vibrations lead to wear of, for example, the bearings supporting the moving parts. Bearing wear may cause imbalances in the moving parts, which may lead to a further increase in vibrations. If the bearings are not lubricated, aligned or replaced in time, this may lead to serious damage to the agricultural machine. Such damage may affect not only the moving parts themselves, but also the chassis supporting them.

[0003] The damaging effects of such vibrations are even more prominent in the crop handling section of agricultural machinery. The crop handling section must handle high torques and loads and a generally uneven crop supply. The immediate workload on the different components of the crop handling section is highly variable and is generally different for different parts of the same moving part. Depending on the type of crop, weather conditions, and geographic location, the volume and consistency of the processed crops vary greatly between and within different harvesting time periods. In addition, for example, stones and other non-crop materials, uneven crop supply, or the tilted position of the agricultural machine result in an uneven load distribution throughout the crop handling unit.

[0004] In order to avoid unexpected damage to the agricultural machine and to ensure timely maintenance of its bearings and other vibration-sensitive parts, regular inspection and maintenance of the agricultural machine and its moving parts is very important to increase the life of the machine and to ensure that the machine operates properly when it is needed in the field. In order to monitor the vibrations occurring during the use of the agricultural machine and to enable the user to take action in the event of abnormal vibrations, it is known to equip the moving parts and / or their supporting structures with one or more vibration sensors.

[0005] For example, the German patent application published as DE 10 2013 222 154 A1 discloses a combination of a tractor and an implement. The implement is connected to and driven by a power take-off (PTO) of the tractor. A vibration sensor is mounted on the PTO housing and detects vibrations of the tractor and the implement. When a vibration threshold is exceeded during use, a warning signal may be provided, or operation may be interrupted. Different thresholds are stored in a memory and are associated with different types of implements and different PTO output speeds.

[0006] While this approach may solve some vibration-related problems to a certain extent, it does have several problems. One of these problems is that it is almost impossible to define appropriate thresholds that allow the monitoring system to distinguish between acceptable vibrations and excessive vibrations. Differences in ground surface, drive speed, weather, field inclination, grain box fill level, crop type, crop density, and many other external factors may have a large impact on the measured vibrations. A vibration pattern that may be considered very normal today may indicate a serious mechanical problem tomorrow, and vice versa. In order to avoid false alarms, the thresholds need to be set at relatively high levels, which may result in serious problems being detected too late.

[0007] In a combine harvester, for example, which has a large number of rotating and reciprocating parts, different thresholds need to be determined for a large number of vibration sensors. With many moving parts that can be controlled to move at different speeds and frequencies, different thresholds may be required not only for different crops and harvesting conditions but also for different combinations of operating settings. To ensure that there are not too many false alarms or undetected problems, all the individual vibration sensors would require a very large number of different thresholds that are difficult to accurately determine.

[0008] It is an object of the present invention to address one or more disadvantages associated with the prior art. Summary of the invention

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, a method of determining a vibration pattern in a crop processing section of an agricultural harvester is provided. The method may begin by placing the crop processing section into a predetermined pseudo-operating configuration. While in the predetermined pseudo-operating configuration, a reference vibration pattern is established using a plurality of vibration sensors. The established reference vibration pattern is then stored in a memory.

[0010] The pseudo-operating configuration simulates the operating state of the agricultural harvester and its crop handling section during an actual harvesting operation. The rotatable and reciprocating elements of the crop handling section operate at a predetermined frequency, which is comparable to their operating frequency when used in a field. The adjustable elements of the crop handling section can be brought into positions and / or orientations that also represent normal use. An important difference between the pseudo-operating state and the actual operating state is that no crops are harvested or processed. The functional units of the agricultural harvester, in particular those of the crop handling section, operate as if an actual harvesting process were taking place, while the harvester remains on a preferably horizontal surface.

[0011] By eliminating the variability of any conditions that are difficult or impossible to control, such as uneven ground surfaces, varying drive speeds, weather, field tilt, crop type, and crop density, an accurate reference vibration pattern can be determined under known and standardized conditions. When such a reference vibration pattern is determined for a new agricultural harvester, such a reference vibration pattern can be compared with previously determined reference vibration patterns of similar agricultural harvesters to detect any mechanical problems or defects in the agricultural harvester being tested. Thereafter, the reference vibration pattern can be used to detect when and where maintenance may be required on the crop processing section.

[0012] In a combine harvester, for example, the pseudo-operating state may involve operating the feed section, threshing section, cleaning section, and residue handling section at a predetermined frequency, which is equal to or similar to the frequency normally used when harvesting crops at high capacity. The screen holes, concave plate gaps, and opposing knife positions may be set to predetermined values ​​representing such harvesting operations. If a harvesting table is attached, the harvesting table may be operated at a similar predetermined cutting frequency. In a forage harvester, the pseudo-operating state may involve starting the harvesting table, feed rollers, cutter drum, crop processor, and / or blower. For a baler, the pseudo-operating state may, for example, involve running the pickup rotor, crop cutter, stuffer, and plunger at frequencies similar to those used in normal baling operations.

[0013] Preferably, the method according to the invention further comprises causing the crop treatment section to re-enter the predetermined pseudo-operational configuration, and when in the predetermined pseudo-operational configuration, using the plurality of vibration sensors to establish a current vibration pattern. The current vibration pattern so established can be used in several different ways. For example, it can be used to compare the established current vibration pattern with a stored reference vibration pattern, and based on the comparison, provide an output signal representing a change in the vibration pattern of the crop treatment section. For example, when the vibration amplitude of one of the vibration sensors exceeds the vibration amplitude stored in the reference vibration pattern by a predetermined percentage, an alarm signal indicating which sensor has recorded excessive vibration can be communicated to the user. The user can then choose to inspect the components of the crop treatment section associated with the vibration sensor and perform the required maintenance operations. This allows the user to learn about component wear early and before serious damage or even collateral damage occurs, without having to constantly visually inspect these components. Thus, the present invention forms a highly reliable and effective way of monitoring the condition of bearings, gearboxes and other moving parts in the crop treatment section.

[0014] By repeatedly measuring vibration patterns with the crop handling section under the same predetermined pseudo-operating conditions, trends and changes in the vibration patterns can be reliably and accurately determined, allowing for timely detection of possible wear of bearings, gearboxes and other moving parts of the crop handling section. While a gradual increase in vibration amplitude may be an acceptable result of a normal aging process, an unexpectedly large increase or an increase exceeding a predetermined threshold may trigger an alarm and indicate the need for some technical maintenance. Such analysis may, for example, use vibration patterns obtained from multiple agricultural harvesters, as well as advanced AI tools to better distinguish between acceptable vibrations and vibrations that may indicate minor or major mechanical problems.

[0015] The exemplary method according to the present invention further includes updating the reference vibration pattern by storing at least a portion of the established current vibration pattern as the reference vibration pattern. During the life of the combine harvester, components of the crop processing section may be repaired or replaced. Such modifications and other substantial maintenance operations to the crop processing section or other components of the agricultural harvester will change the overall vibration pattern of the machine. Similarly, vibration sensors may be added, removed or replaced during the life of the agricultural harvester. In such a case, it is desirable to replace at least the relevant portion of the reference vibration pattern with updated data from the current vibration pattern. In order to ensure that the reference vibration pattern does not contain any excessive vibration values ​​caused by worn or broken components, the reference vibration pattern (or portion thereof) is preferably replaced only after major repair and maintenance operations.

[0016] In an embodiment of the method according to the invention, the crop treatment section comprises at least one rotatable element, and bringing the crop treatment section into the predetermined pseudo-operating configuration comprises rotating the rotatable element at a reference frequency. Alternatively, but preferably additionally, the crop treatment section comprises at least one reciprocatable element, and bringing the crop treatment section into the predetermined pseudo-operating configuration comprises reciprocating the reciprocatable element at a reference frequency.

[0017] In order to obtain the best results, the pseudo-operational configuration resembles the actual crop harvesting process as much as possible. The different predetermined reference frequencies for different movable parts can, for example, be similar to the normal frequencies of the harvesting process at normal harvesting capacity, so as to be highly similar to the normal use of the crop processing section. Alternatively, the reference frequency used can be closer to the maximum possible frequency, which is usually used when harvesting at very high harvesting capacity or close to the maximum harvesting capacity (where the highest vibration amplitudes are expected). In a more advanced method according to the invention, vibrations can be monitored at multiple different reference frequencies. This brings the advantage of, for example, reducing the possibility of missing the detection of undesirable vibrations that mainly occur at specific resonant frequencies.

[0018] In addition to continuously moving the rotatable and reciprocating components of the crop treatment section, bringing the crop treatment section into the pseudo-operating state may include setting adjustable elements of the crop treatment section to a reference position and / or reference orientation. Such adjustable elements may, for example, include opposing knife positions, screen apertures, or concave plate gaps.

[0019] In an exemplary method according to the present invention, the agricultural harvester is a combine harvester, and the crop processing section includes at least one of the following units:

[0020] - a feed section comprising a conveyor belt or an auger bed;

[0021] - a threshing section, comprising at least one threshing drum and / or a threshing rotor;

[0022] - a cleaning section comprising at least one reciprocating screen;

[0023] - Grain elevators;

[0024] - A residue handling section comprising a picker and / or a straw chopper.

[0025] When used with such a combine harvester, the pseudo-operating configuration may, for example, include causing the reciprocating screen to reciprocate at a reference frequency, setting the screen holes of the reciprocating screen to reference screen holes, causing the threshing drum and / or threshing rotor to rotate at a reference threshing frequency, or setting the concave plate gap of the concave plate associated with the threshing drum and / or threshing rotor to a reference concave plate gap.

[0026] According to another aspect of the present invention, a computer readable medium is provided, which stores instructions of a computer program, and when the instructions are executed by a computer, the computer is caused to perform the method as described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0028] Figure 1 A combine harvester is shown in which the method according to the invention can be advantageously used.

[0029] Figure 2 A block diagram of a system is shown in which the method according to the invention can be implemented.

[0030] Figure 3 A flow chart showing an exemplary method according to the present invention is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0031] Figure 1 An agricultural harvester is shown in the form of a combine harvester 10 that generally includes front and rear circular engagement wheels 14, 16, a header 18, a feeder 20, a cab 22, a threshing and separation system 24, a cleaning system 26, a grain tank 28, and an unloading tube 30. It should be understood that while the agricultural harvester is shown as a combine harvester 10, the agricultural harvester according to the present invention may be embodied in any configuration that allows for harvesting crop material, such as a conventional combine harvester (which does not have a rotor), a rotary combine harvester, a hybrid combine harvester, a chopper-type harvester, and the like.

[0032] The header 18 is mounted to the front of the combine 10 and includes a cutter bar 34 for cutting crops from the field during the forward motion of the combine. A rotatable reel 36 feeds crops into the header 18, and dual augers 38 feed the cut crops laterally from each side toward the feeder 20. The feeder 20 delivers the cut crops to the threshing and separation system 24.

[0033] The threshing and separation system 24 is axial flow and includes a threshing rotor 40, which is at least partially located in a threshing concave 42 and can rotate in the threshing concave 42. The threshing concave can be in the form of a perforated concave. The grain from the cut crop is threshed and separated from the MOG by the action of the threshing rotor 40 in the threshing concave 42. Larger elements in the MOG (such as stems and leaves) do not pass through the perforations in the threshing concave 42 and are discharged from the rear of the combine harvester 10. Smaller elements in the grain and MOG (hereinafter referred to as small MOG) such as husks, dust and straw are small enough to pass through the perforations in the threshing concave 42 and are therefore discharged from the threshing and separation system 24.

[0034] The grain and small MOG that have successfully passed through the threshing and separation system 24 fall onto the preparation tray 44 and are transported toward the cleaning system 26. The cleaning system includes a series of screens and a cleaning fan 52. The series of screens includes a pre-cleaning screen 46, an upper (or husk) screen 48, and a lower (or boot) screen 50. The cleaning fan 52 generates an airflow through the screens 46, 48, 50, and the airflow impacts the grain and small MOG on the screens 46, 48, 50. Small MOG is usually lighter than grain and is therefore separated from the grain when it enters the air. Subsequently, the small MOG is discharged from the combine harvester 10 via a straw cover 54.

[0035] The preparation pan 44 and the pre-cleaning screen 46 swing back and forth to convey the grains and small MOGs to the upper surface of the upper screen 48. The upper screen 48 is arranged vertically above the lower screen 50 and swings back and forth to spread the grains and small MOGs on the two screens 48, 50 while also allowing the cleaned grains to pass through the openings in the screens 48, 50 under the action of gravity.

[0036] The cleaned grain falls to the cleaned grain auger 56, which is positioned below and in front of the lower screen 50 and across the width of the combine harvester 10. The cleaned grain auger 56 conveys the cleaned grain laterally to a vertical grain elevator 60, which is arranged to convey the cleaned grain to the grain bin 28. Once in the grain bin 28, a grain bin auger 68 at the bottom of the grain bin conveys the cleaned grain laterally within the grain bin 28 to the unloading tube 30 for discharge from the combine harvester 10.

[0037] Figure 2 A block diagram of a system in which the method according to the present invention can be implemented is shown. An agricultural harvester is indicated here by a rectangle with a plurality of interconnected features. For the exemplary embodiments discussed here, it is assumed that the agricultural harvester is a combine harvester 10. However, as previously mentioned, the present invention is equally applicable to other agricultural harvesters having a crop handling section, such as forage harvesters, round and straight bale balers, grape harvesters, coffee harvesters, etc.

[0038] The combine harvester 10 includes a crop handling section 110 having a plurality of crop handling features 111-114 and a further plurality of vibration sensors 121-126. A controller or processor 100 configured to perform the method according to the present invention is coupled to the crop handling features 111-114 and the vibration sensors 121-126 for communication therewith. The coupling with the crop handling features 111-114 allows control of the operation, movement and adjustment of all relevant aspects thereof. In addition, information regarding, for example, the operating status of the crop handling features 111-114 and the amount or composition of the crop being processed may be sent from the crop handling section 110 to the controller 100. The coupling with the vibration sensors 121-126 allows the controller 100 to monitor the detected vibrations and store reference vibration patterns and current vibration patterns used in the present invention.

[0039] exist Figure 1 Examples of movable and / or adjustable crop handling features 111-114 found in the combine harvester 10 are the reel 36, cutter bar 34, and dual augers 38 of the header 18, a crop conveyor in the feeder 20, a threshing rotor 40 and concave plates 42 of the threshing section 24, a preparation pan 44, a pre-cleaning screen 46 and upper and lower screens 48, 50 of the cleaning section 26, a clean grain auger 56 positioned below the lower screen 48, a clean grain elevator 60 that transports cleaned grain to the grain bin 28, a grain bin auger 68 in the grain bin, an auger or conveyor belt in the unloading tube 30, a straw chopper, and a straw or chaff spreader. When the crop treating section 110 is placed in the pseudo-operating configuration, all or some of the crop treating features 111 - 114 may be moved and / or adjusted.

[0040] The vibration sensors 121-126 may have a wired connection to the controller 100, but are preferably wireless sensors that can communicate with the controller 100, for example, via local Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or other suitable technologies. The vibration sensors 121-126 may be powered, for example, by a central battery of the combine harvester 10, or by a separate battery included in the vibration sensor unit 121-126 itself. When the vibration sensor 121-126 provides its own power supply and communicates wirelessly with the controller 100, this has the advantage that the vibration sensor 121-126 can be easily added, removed or repositioned when needed. Even more advanced vibration sensors 121-126 may use, for example, piezoelectric materials to convert the vibration energy of the crop handling section 110 into electricity that can be powered by the internal battery of the vibration sensor 121-126. Such sensors can be completely wireless without having to be replaced or replace batteries at any time.

[0041] The controller 100 is preferably connected to a wireless transceiver 130, which connects the control system of the combine harvester to a larger network 200 of the combine harvesters 220, 230. The larger network 200 can be, for example, a part of the Internet or a more localized proprietary network. The connection to the larger network 200 allows the combine harvester 10 to store backup data separated from the data from other combine harvesters 220, 230 and to share and compare its data with other combine harvesters 220, 230. The software running at the remote server 250 can collect and analyze the data from multiple agricultural harvesters 10, 220, 230. This analysis can, for example, use advanced AI tools to find the connection between a specific vibration mode and a specific mechanical problem or solution. When the data from other combine harvesters 220, 230 suggest that adding or relocating one or more vibration sensors 121-126 can improve the performance of the vibration monitoring system, the remote server can further suggest that the user of the combine harvester 10 add or relocate one or more vibration sensors 121-126. Alternatively, the network connection may allow a dealer or service technician 240 to be automatically contacted to order new parts or to arrange for someone to come and perform a personal visual inspection of the combine harvester 10. Alternatively, the wireless transceiver 130 of the combine harvester 10 establishes contact with the dealer or service technician 240 directly.

[0042] Figure 3 A flow chart of an exemplary method according to the present invention is shown. In a first step 310, the crop handling section 110 of the combine harvester 10 is brought into a predetermined pseudo-operating configuration.

[0043] The pseudo-operating configuration simulates the operating state of the combine harvester 10 and its crop handling section 110 during an actual harvesting operation. The rotatable and reciprocating elements of the crop handling section operate at a predetermined frequency, which is comparable to their operating frequency when used in the field. The adjustable elements of the crop handling section can be brought into positions and / or orientations that also represent normal use. An important difference between the pseudo-operating state and the actual operating state is that no crops are harvested or processed. The functional units of the combine harvester 10, particularly those of the crop handling section 110, operate as if an actual harvesting process is taking place, while the combine harvester 10 is still on a preferably horizontal surface.

[0044] As described above, bringing the crop handling section 110 into a predetermined pseudo-operating configuration may involve rotating rotatable elements such as the reel 36 and auger 38 of the header 18, the conveyor belt or auger bed in the feeder 20, the threshing rotor 40, the cleaning fan 52, the cleaning grain auger 56, the grain elevator 60, the grain box auger 68, the auger or conveyor belt in the unloading pipe 30, the straw breaker, the straw chopper, and / or the straw and chaff spreader. Each of these elements will rotate at a frequency that is typical of its use during actual harvesting operations in the field. In addition, reciprocating elements such as the cutter bar 34, the preparation disk 44 of the header 18, and the pre-cleaning, upper and lower screens 46, 48, 50 of the cleaning section 26 will begin to move at their predetermined pseudo-operating frequencies.

[0045] In order to obtain the best results, the pseudo-operation configuration resembles the actual crop harvesting process as much as possible. The different predetermined reference frequencies for different movable parts can, for example, be similar to the normal frequencies of the harvesting process at normal harvesting capacity, so as to be highly similar to the normal use of the crop handling section 110. Alternatively, the reference frequency used can be closer to the maximum possible frequency, which is usually used when harvesting at very high harvesting capacity or close to the maximum harvesting capacity (where the highest vibration amplitudes are expected). In a more advanced method according to the invention, vibrations can be monitored at multiple different reference frequencies. This brings the advantage of, for example, reducing the possibility of missing the detection of undesirable vibrations that mainly occur at a specific resonant frequency.

[0046] In order to closely resemble the actual harvesting operation, some elements adjustable in position or orientation may also be put into a pseudo-operation configuration. For example, the header 18 may be lifted from the ground, the concave gap between the threshing rotor 40 and the threshing concave 42 may be adjusted, and the screen holes may be opened.

[0047] In a second step 320, a reference vibration pattern is established and stored using the vibration sensors 121-126 while in a predetermined pseudo-operating configuration. The reference vibration pattern is then stored locally in a memory of the combine harvester 10 and / or remotely on the server 250. Optionally, the first two steps 310, 320 are repeated to establish a reference vibration pattern in two or more different pseudo-operating configurations. For example, a reference vibration pattern may be determined using a combine harvester 10 and a crop handling section 110 operating in low, medium, and high capacity configurations.

[0048] When determining the reference vibration pattern (one or more) for a new combine harvester 10, it (they) can be compared with the previously determined reference vibration pattern of similar agricultural harvesters 220, 230 in the third step 330 to detect any mechanical problems or defects in the combine harvester 10 being tested. For useful comparisons between the reference vibration patterns of different combine harvesters, it is preferred that the positioning of the vibration sensors 121-126 and the exact settings of the pseudo-operation configurations are standardized. However, with sufficiently advanced, possibly AI-based analysis tools, useful comparisons between different vibration sensor settings and even different types of combine harvesters 10 are also possible. If any repairs or modifications are considered necessary, they will be performed. Preferably, after such modifications, the first three steps 310, 320, 330 are performed again to ensure that the combine harvester 10 leaves the factory in the best condition and leaves the factory with a reference vibration pattern corresponding to the actual condition of the machine.

[0049] The first three steps 310, 320, 330 of bringing the crop handling section 110 into a predetermined pseudo-operating configuration, determining a reference vibration pattern, and comparing the reference vibration pattern with data available from other combines 220, 230 are preferably performed in the factory just after the combine 10 leaves the production line. Thereafter, the combine 10 leaves and goes to a farm where it can be used in the field. During the life of the combine 10, the vibration pattern will change. Such changes may be gradual, due to, for example, worn components and loose belts, screws and bolts, and may be more sudden in the case of mechanical defects. Therefore, preferably periodically, the reference vibration pattern is compared to the reference vibration pattern by the combine 10. Figure 3 In a fourth step 340 of the method represented by the flowchart of FIG. 1 , the combine harvester 10 is returned to the pseudo-operating configuration. This fourth step 340 is preferably performed under conditions as close as possible to the conditions under which the reference vibration mode was previously established. The combine harvester 10 is placed on a horizontal surface with its grain tank empty and all relevant components of the crop processing section 110 are placed in the same position, moving at the same frequency.

[0050] When the combine harvester 10 returns to its pseudo-operation configuration, all vibration sensors 121-126 are read again in step 350 to establish and store the current vibration pattern. Likewise, the storage of the vibration pattern can be done locally as well as remotely. If desired, multiple current vibration patterns can be established using the combine harvester 10 under different predetermined pseudo-operation conditions.

[0051] Then, in the sixth step 360, the newly established current vibration mode is compared with the previously stored reference vibration mode and / or the previously stored current vibration mode. This comparison can be performed by the controller 100 of the combine harvester 10, the remote server 250, or a combination of the two. Based on this comparison, the controller 100 can provide an output signal representing the change of the vibration mode of the crop processing section 110. For example, when the vibration amplitude of one of the vibration sensors 121-126 exceeds the vibration amplitude stored in the reference vibration mode by a predetermined percentage, an alarm signal indicating which sensor 121-126 has recorded excessive vibration can be conveyed to the user. Then, the user can choose to check the components associated with the vibration sensors 121-126 of the crop processing section 100 and perform the required maintenance operations. This allows the user to understand the wear of the components as early as possible and before serious damage occurs, without constantly visually checking these components. Therefore, the present invention forms a highly reliable and effective way to monitor the conditions of the bearings, gear boxes and other moving parts in the crop processing section 110 of the harvester 10.

[0052] When repairs, modifications or other maintenance operations are performed, it may be possible to return thereafter to the fourth step 340 in which the combine harvester 10 is returned to the pseudo-operating configuration so that a new current vibration pattern can be established. By repeatedly measuring the vibration pattern with the crop handling section 110 under the same predetermined pseudo-operating conditions, trends and changes in the vibration pattern can be reliably and accurately determined, thereby allowing for timely detection of possible wear of the bearings, gearboxes and other moving parts of the crop handling section 110. While a gradual increase in vibration amplitude may be an acceptable result of the normal aging process, an unexpectedly large increase or an increase exceeding a predetermined threshold may trigger an alarm and indicate the need for some technical maintenance.

[0053] When the crop processing section and / or vibration sensor setting are changed, the sixth step 360 (wherein processing the current vibration mode) can further involve updating the reference vibration mode by storing at least a portion of the established current vibration mode as the reference vibration mode. During the life of the combine harvester 10, the components of the crop processing section 110 can be repaired or replaced. Such modifications and other substantial maintenance operations to other components of the crop processing section 110 or the combine harvester 10 will change the overall vibration mode of the machine. Similarly, vibration sensors 121-126 can be added, removed or replaced during the life of the combine harvester 10. In such a case, it is desirable to replace at least the relevant part of the reference vibration mode by the updated data from the current vibration mode. In order to ensure that the reference vibration mode does not contain any excessive vibration values ​​caused by worn or broken components, it is preferably only replaced the reference vibration mode (or its part) after the main repair and maintenance operation.

Claims

1. A method of determining vibration modes in a crop handling section (110) of an agricultural harvester (10), the method comprising: - placing the crop handling section (110) into a predetermined pseudo operating configuration in which no crops are harvested or handled, the pseudo operating configuration simulating the operating state of the combine harvester (10) and its crop handling section (110) during an actual harvesting operation, - establishing a reference vibration pattern using a plurality of vibration sensors (121-126) when in said predetermined pseudo-operational configuration, - storing the established reference vibration pattern in a memory, - the combine harvester (10) leaves and goes to a farm where it can be used in the fields, - returning the combine harvester (10) and the crop processing section (110) to the same predetermined pseudo-operating configuration, - while in said predetermined pseudo-operational configuration, using said plurality of vibration sensors (121-126) to establish a current vibration pattern, - comparing the established current vibration pattern with a stored reference vibration pattern, and - Based on the comparison, providing an output signal representative of a change in the vibration pattern of the crop treatment section (110). 2 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising updating the reference vibration pattern by storing at least a portion of the established current vibration pattern as the reference vibration pattern.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The crop treating section (110) includes at least one rotatable element, and wherein causing the crop treating section (110) to enter the predetermined pseudo-operating configuration includes rotating the rotatable element at a reference frequency.

4. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The crop treating section (110) includes at least one reciprocatable element, and wherein causing the crop treating section (110) to enter the predetermined pseudo-operating configuration includes causing the reciprocatable element to reciprocate at a reference frequency.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The crop treatment section (110) comprises at least one adjustable element, and wherein bringing the crop treatment section (110) into the predetermined pseudo-operating configuration comprises setting the adjustable element to a reference position and / or a reference orientation.

6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that The agricultural harvester (10) is a combine harvester, and the crop processing section (110) comprises at least one of the following units: - a feed section (20) comprising a conveyor belt or an auger bed; - a threshing section, comprising at least one threshing drum and / or a threshing rotor (40); - a cleaning section comprising at least one reciprocating screen (46, 48, 50); - grain elevator (60); - A residue handling section comprising a picker and / or a straw chopper.

7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that Placing the crop processing section (110) into the predetermined pseudo-operating configuration includes reciprocating the reciprocating screen (46, 48, 50) at a reference frequency.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: Placing the crop processing section (110) into the predetermined pseudo-operating configuration includes setting the mesh openings of the reciprocating screens (46, 48, 50) to reference mesh openings.

9. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: Placing the crop processing section (110) into the predetermined pseudo-operating configuration includes rotating the threshing drum and / or threshing rotor (40) at a reference threshing frequency.

10. The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that: Placing the crop processing section (110) into the predetermined pseudo-operating configuration includes setting a concave plate gap of a concave plate (42) associated with the threshing drum and / or threshing rotor (40) to a reference concave plate gap.

11. A computer readable medium storing instructions of a computer program, said instructions causing an agricultural harvester (10) to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

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