MERGER CONTROL UNIT AND MERGER

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a merger control unit and a merger.

[0002] From EP 2 979 529 B1, an agricultural harvesting device designed as a merger is known. Mergers are also referred to as pickup rakes. According to this prior art, the harvesting device designed as a merger has a support frame and a chassis. Furthermore, the harvesting device designed as a merger has pickup elements for collecting the harvested crop and transverse conveyor elements designed as belt conveyors for conveying the collected crop laterally. The agricultural harvesting device designed as a merger can be coupled to a towing vehicle via a drawbar attached to the support frame.

[0003] When a merger is operated while turning, the quality of the swath formed by the merger is compromised. This is particularly true when the conveying direction of the cross conveyors is directed towards the center of the turn, with swath formation becoming increasingly problematic the tighter the turn or the smaller the turning radius. In this case, a large amount of harvested crop is deposited locally in a clump within the swath during the turn, negatively impacting not only the swath shape but also the efficiency of any subsequent agricultural machinery that picks up the swath. It is essential to avoid these problems.

[0004] From EP 2 936 969 A1, a combination of a towing vehicle and an agricultural harvesting machine towed by it, such as a baler or a loading wagon, is known, wherein a control device is provided which, if a certain steering angle is exceeded for a certain minimum duration, deduces that the harvesting machine is in a field-end situation.

[0005] EP 2 517 543 A2 discloses an agricultural machine with a mounting device for attaching various implements for crop and / or soil cultivation, with a soil detection device for non-contact detection of a soil and / or crop contour, and a control device for controlling the agricultural machine and / or the implement depending on the detected soil and / or crop contour, wherein the soil detection device comprises at least a laser measuring device whose laser beam can be guided over a scanning area to scan the soil and / or crop contour, and wherein a detection device is provided for detecting the implement attached to the mounting device and the scanning area of ​​the laser measuring device can be adjusted by an adjustment device depending on the implement (3) detected.

[0006] Based on this, the present invention aims to create a novel merger control unit and a merger with such a merger control unit.

[0007] This task is solved by a merger control unit for controlling the operation of a merger or a pickup rake according to claim 1.

[0008] The merger control unit according to the invention is configured to receive a steering angle as an input variable from a steering angle sensor.

[0009] Furthermore, the merger control unit according to the invention is configured to generate, depending on the received steering angle of a curve as an output variable, at least one control signal for transverse conveying devices of the merger designed as belt conveyors and / or at least one control signal for receiving elements of the merger designed as pickups, to output to the transverse conveying devices and / or receiving elements and to automatically adjust their operation depending on the steering angle of the curve.

[0010] The present invention proposes for the first time an automatic adjustment of the operation of the cross-conveyor devices and / or the intake elements of a merger or pickup rake when cornering, depending on the steering angle. If the steering angle corresponds to straight-ahead driving, the merger control unit does not adjust the operation of the cross-conveyor devices and / or intake elements. However, if the steering angle corresponds to cornering, the merger control unit automatically adjusts the operation of the cross-conveyor devices and / or the operation of the intake elements. This ensures a uniform swath formation even when cornering. A good swath shape can be achieved even when cornering. This prevents problems for agricultural machinery used to pick up the swath.

[0011] In an advantageous further development, the merger control unit generates the at least one control signal for the pickup elements designed as pickups such that, during cornering, the inner pickup elements can be operated more slowly than the outer pickup elements. The merger control unit preferably selects a greater speed difference between the inner and outer pickup elements as the steering angle of the corner increases. This is particularly preferred for producing a uniform swath shape when the merger is cornering.

[0012] According to the invention, the merger control unit generates at least one control signal for the transverse conveying devices, which are designed as belt conveyors, such that the transverse conveying devices operate at a slower speed the larger the steering angle of the curve, provided the conveying direction of the transverse conveying devices is directed towards the center of the curve. This serves to form a uniform swath shape when the merger is turning. For this purpose, the speed of the transverse conveying devices can be reduced to a standstill, while the receiving elements simultaneously continue to collect the crop lying on the ground and convey it onto the transverse conveying devices.

[0013] The merger according to the invention is defined in claim 4.

[0014] Preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims and the following description. Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail with reference to the drawing, without being limited thereto. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a perspective view from above of a train consisting of a merger and a tractor unit, in a curve.

[0015] The invention relates to a merger control unit and a merger comprising such a merger control unit. Mergers are also referred to as pickup rakes.

[0016] Fig. 1 shows a representation of a train consisting of a tractor unit 10 and a merger 11 during a curve, with the curve being visualized by an arrow 20. Fig. 1 The train is shown, on the one hand, in a state before the

[0017] Entering the curve and, on the other hand, in a state after exiting the curve.

[0018] Merger 11 forms a swath 19, namely in Fig. 1 With regard to cornering, the vehicle is positioned on the inside, pointing towards the center point of the curve.

[0019] The merger 11 is coupled to the towing vehicle 10 via a drawbar 12. The drawbar 12 engages a support frame 14 of the merger 11 and is arranged as an extension of a longitudinal beam 15 of the support frame 14. The longitudinal beam 15 extends in the direction of travel of the towing vehicle 10 and merger 11.

[0020] The support frame 14 of the merger 11 also has crossbeams 16. The crossbeams 16 extend transversely or perpendicularly to the direction of travel of the merger 11. On the crossbeams 16, receiving elements 17 and transverse conveying devices 18 are mounted on the one hand.

[0021] The receiving elements 17 of the merger 11 are designed as so-called pickups and serve to pick up harvested material from the subsoil to be worked. At least one receiving element 17 is arranged on a first side of the longitudinal beam 15 and at least one receiving element 17 is arranged on an opposite second side of the longitudinal beam 15. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 1 As shown, two receiving elements 17 are arranged on each side of the longitudinal beam 15. The receiving elements 17 have receiving tines which are driven around an axis extending transversely to the direction of travel to pick up the crop from the ground to be worked.

[0022] As already explained, the Merger 11 has transverse conveying devices 18 in addition to the intake elements 17. The transverse conveying devices 18 of the Merger 11 are designed as belt conveyors. The crop material picked up from the subsoil to be processed by the intake elements 17 can be transported via the transverse conveying devices 18 in a direction extending transversely to the direction of travel. As already explained, the material is conveyed in Fig. 1 The merger 11, namely the transverse conveying devices 18 thereof, moves the harvested crop inwards towards a center point of the curve. To a first side of the longitudinal beam 15 of the

[0023] At least one transverse conveyor 18 is arranged on the support frame 14, and at least one further transverse conveyor 18 is arranged on an opposite second side of the longitudinal beam 15. Each of these transverse conveyors 18 is designed as a belt conveyor. Preferably, as shown in Fig. 1As shown, a single transverse conveyor 18 is arranged on each side of the longitudinal beam 15. However, it is also possible to arrange two transverse conveyors on each side – e.g., split belt units that transfer the harvested crop to each other. Preferably, however, the same number of transverse conveyors are arranged symmetrically on both sides of the longitudinal beam 15.

[0024] The Merger 11 also has a chassis, with wheels 13 of the Merger 11 chassis shown. The Merger 11 rests on the surface to be worked on via these wheels 13. Although in Fig. 1 Not visible, each of the receiving elements 17 is supported on the surface to be processed via guide wheels. Alternatively or additionally, other guide elements, such as skids, sliding plates, etc., can also be provided.

[0025] A merger 11 has a merger control unit 21 to control and / or regulate the operation of the merger 11. The invention relates to controlling the operation of the merger 11 via the merger control unit 21 during cornering in order to ensure the most uniform swath formation possible.

[0026] The merger control unit 21 according to the invention is configured to receive a steering angle as an input variable from a steering angle sensor 22, 23.

[0027] Fig. 1Figure 1 shows two steering angle sensors 22, 23. One steering angle sensor 22 is assigned to the towing vehicle 10 and, depending on steering wheel input on the towing vehicle 10, determines the steering angle and, when cornering, the curve radius. The merger control unit 21 is preferably also configured to receive a speed signal from a speed sensor located on the towing vehicle 10 or on the merger 11. Based on this, the merger control unit 21 calculates the actual curve radius using the steering angle and the speed.

[0028] The other steering angle sensor 23 is assigned to the merger 11 and is installed, in particular, in the area of ​​the drawbar 12. This steering angle sensor 23 can also detect a steering angle. The steering angle sensor 23 assigned to the merger 11 is preferably designed as a drawbar sensor that detects the angle that forms between the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle 10 and the longitudinal axis of the merger 11 when cornering. The current turning radius can be directly inferred from this angle. Therefore, when the steering angle sensor 23 is installed in the area of ​​the merger 11, data transmission from the towing vehicle 10 to the merger control unit 21 is not required.

[0029] The steering angle provided by the steering angle sensor 22, 23 indicates whether the Merger 11 is being operated in a straight-ahead driving mode or in a curve driving mode.

[0030] When cornering, the steering angle provided by the respective steering angle sensor 22, 23 gives information about the radius of the cornering, i.e. whether it is a tight cornering or a wide cornering of the merger 11 or the train consisting of merger 11 or towing vehicle 10.

[0031] The merger control unit 21 according to the invention is further configured to generate, depending on the received steering angle of a curve as an output variable, at least one control signal for the transverse conveyor devices 18 of the merger 11 designed as belt conveyors and / or at least one control signal for the receiving elements 17 of the merger 11 designed as pick-ups, to output the at least one control signal to the transverse conveyor devices 18 and / or the receiving elements 17 and to automatically adjust the operation of the transverse conveyor devices 18 and / or the receiving elements 17 via the at least one control signal depending on the steering angle of the curve.

[0032] Preferably, the merger control unit 21 generates the at least one control signal for the pickup elements 17 such that, when cornering, the inner pickup elements 17 operate more slowly than the outer pickup elements 17. This allows the outer pickup elements 17 to cover a larger area of ​​the ground to be worked and therefore pick up more crop than the inner pickup elements 17. Thus, to improve crop pickup from the ground during cornering, the invention proposes that the merger control unit 21 generates the at least one control signal for the pickup elements 17 such that the inner pickup elements operate more slowly than the outer pickup elements.The outer pickup elements can be operated faster during cornering than the inner pickup elements. For this purpose, the rotational speed of the pickup elements 17, which are designed as pickups, is automatically adjusted via the respective control signal. The speed difference or rotational speed difference for the operation of the inner and outer pickup elements 17 during cornering is selected by the merger control unit 21 to be greater the larger the steering angle.

[0033] In addition to or alternatively to the at least one control signal for the receiving elements 17 designed as pickups, the merger control unit 21 generates at least one control signal for the transverse conveying devices 18 designed as belt conveyors. In the Fig. 1In the illustrated embodiment, in which the conveying direction of the transverse conveying devices 18 is aligned towards the center of the curve, and thus the swath 19 is formed on the inside of the curve, the merger control unit 21 generates at least one control signal for the transverse conveying devices 18 such that the transverse conveying devices 18 can be operated more slowly the larger the steering angle. The transverse conveying devices 18 located on the inside of the curve and those located on the outside of the curve are driven at the same speed. To prevent clumping, the speed of the transverse conveying devices 18 can be reduced to a standstill, while the receiving elements 17 simultaneously continue to collect the crop lying on the ground and convey it onto the transverse conveying devices 18.

[0034] Then, when a conveying direction of the transverse conveying devices 18 is directed outwards, i.e. away from the center of the curve, in order to form a swath on the outside, adjacent to the one in Fig. 1 In the dashed line shown, the merger control unit 21 generates at least one control signal for the transverse conveyor devices 18 designed as belt conveyors such that the speed of the transverse conveyor devices 18 either remains unchanged or is faster the larger the steering angle.

[0035] When the merger 11 is operated in a straight-ahead direction, the pickup elements 17 and the transverse conveyor elements 18, designed as belt conveyors, are each operated at a setpoint speed via the merger control unit 21. When entering a curve, these setpoint speeds are automatically adjusted. During cornering with a constant steering angle, the adjusted setpoint speeds remain unchanged. Upon exiting the curve, the corresponding setpoint speeds are changed again to match the setpoint speeds for straight-ahead driving.

[0036] The speed of the pickup elements 17 and the speed of the transverse conveying devices 18 can be adjusted independently. This means that if the speeds of both the pickup elements 17 and the transverse conveying devices 18 need to be adjusted, the adjustments do not have to be made simultaneously. For example, it is possible to first adjust only the speed of the pickup elements 17 and then the speed of the transverse conveying devices 18 to the curve. Alternatively, the speed of the transverse conveying devices 18 can be adjusted to the curve first, followed by the speed of the pickup elements 17. This can also be done depending on the steering angle. For relatively small steering angles, it is possible to automatically adjust either only the transverse conveying devices 18 or only the pickup elements 17 with regard to their operation depending on the steering angle.At relatively large steering angles, it is possible to automatically adjust both the transverse conveying devices 18 and the receiving elements 17 with regard to their operation depending on the steering angle.

[0037] The invention relates not only to the merger control unit 21, but also to the merger 11, which, in addition to the pickup elements 17 and the transverse conveyors 18 designed as belt conveyors, has the merger control unit 21 described above. The operation of the pickup elements 17 and / or transverse conveyors 18 can be automatically adjusted by the merger control unit 21 depending on the steering angle.

[0038] The receiving organs 17 can be individually controlled in order to set different speeds at the different receiving organs 17 depending on the steering angle.

[0039] Preferably, the merger 11 has the steering angle sensor 23 which is installed in the area of ​​the drawbar 12 in order to detect the steering angle directly at the merger 11 and to simplify communication with the merger control unit 21.

[0040] If the steering angle sensor 23 assigned to the merger 11 is designed as a drawbar sensor that detects the angle between the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle 10 and the longitudinal axis of the merger 11 when cornering, the current turning radius can be directly determined from the value of the steering angle sensor 23. In this configuration, the control signals for the transverse conveying devices 18 and / or receiving elements 17 can be output without delay. If the merger control unit 21 uses the steering angle sensor 22 assigned to the towing vehicle 10, the corresponding turning radius is only established after the vehicle combination has traveled a certain distance. In this case, it is possible to output the control signals for the transverse conveying devices 18 and / or receiving elements 17 with a delay.

[0041] The merger control unit 21 according to the invention is not limited to the described towed merger 11, but can also be provided on a self-propelled merger. Reference symbol list

[0042] 10 Tractor unit 11 Merger 12 Drawbar 13 Wheels 14 Support frame 15 Longitudinal beam 16 Crossbeam 17 Receiving element 18 Cross conveyor 19 Swath 20 Cornering 21 Merger control unit 22 Steering angle sensor 23 Steering angle sensor

Claims

1. Merger control device (21) for controlling the operation of a merger or a pick-up header, wherein the merger control device (21) is designed to receive a steering angle from a steering angle sensor (22, 23) as an input variable, wherein the merger control device (21) is designed, as a function of the received cornering steering angle, to generate as an output variable at least one adjusting signal for transverse conveying devices (18) of the merger configured as belt conveyors and / or at least one adjusting signal for receiving members (17) of the merger configured as pick-ups, to output the said adjusting signal to the transverse conveying devices (18) and / or receiving members (17) and to adapt the operation thereof automatically as a function of the cornering steering angle on the control side, characterized in that the merger control device (21) generates the at least one adjusting signal for the transverse conveying devices (18) configured as belt conveyors in such a way that the transverse conveying devices (18) can be operated all the more slowly the larger the cornering steering angle when the conveying direction of the transverse conveying devices (18) is oriented toward a curve centre point of the cornering and / or the merger control device (21) generates the at least one adjusting signal for the transverse conveying devices (18) configured as belt conveyors in such a way that the speed of the transverse conveying devices (18) remains unchanged or the transverse conveying devices (18) can be operated all the more quickly the greater the steering angle of the cornering when the conveying direction of the transverse conveying devices (18) is oriented away from a curve centre point of the cornering.

2. Merger control device according to Claim 1, characterized in that the said merger control device generates the at least one adjusting signal for the receiving members (17) configured as pick-ups in such a way that receiving members (17) situated on the inside during cornering can be operated more slowly than receiving members (17) situated on the outside during cornering.

3. Merger control device according to Claim 2, characterized in that the said merger control device selects a speed difference between the receiving members (17) situated on the inside during cornering and the receiving members (17) situated on the outside during cornering to be all the greater the greater the cornering steering angle.

4. Merger (11) or pick-up header, having receiving members (17) configured as pick-ups for receiving harvested crops, having at least one transverse conveying device (18) configured as a belt conveyor for conveying the received harvested crops in a transverse conveying direction running transversely to a harvesting direction or direction of travel, characterized by a merger control device (21) according to any of Claims 1 to 3.

5. Merger according to Claim 4, characterized by a steering angle sensor (23) for detecting a cornering steering angle which is designed, in particular, as a drawbar sensor which detects an angle which is established between the longitudinal axis of a towing vehicle (10) - towing the merger (11) - and the longitudinal axis of the merger (11) during cornering.