Combine Harvester Engine Power Control via Subsystem Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current engine power management systems for combine harvesters often result in either over-powering or under-powering of subsystems due to reliance on header identity, subsystem engagement status, or actual power usage measurements, leading to inefficiencies, mechanical stress, and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
An automatic control system that adjusts maximum engine power based on the configuration and operational status of engaged subsystems, using predefined power levels and sensors to ensure adequate but not excessive power delivery, independent of power measurement means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If maximum engine power is increased to meet all possible subsystem configurations, then power availability for all modes is improved, but subsystem overload and mechanical damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The engine control system dynamically adjusts the maximum available power based on the detected configuration of crop processing subsystems. When subsystems are disengaged or configured for lower power modes, the controller reduces the maximum power limit accordingly. This dynamic adaptation prevents subsystem overload while maintaining high power availability when needed, resolving the contradiction between power availability and overload protection.
2Reliability
If engine power is limited to protect subsystems, then subsystem safety is improved, but harvesting performance and throughput suffer
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of subsystem configurations (header type, chopper status, spreader engagement) before power delivery begins. Based on this pre-detection, the controller pre-establishes appropriate power limits that protect subsystems while maximizing productivity for the detected configuration. This eliminates the need for conservative power limiting that would reduce throughput, as power is optimized in advance for the specific operational mode.
3Measurement precision
If power management relies on actual power usage measurements, then precise power matching is improved, but system complexity and measurement requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the power management control logic from complex power measurement systems and relocates it to the engine control unit. Instead of measuring actual power consumption of subsystems and reacting to it, the system uses the existing engine operating parameters and detected subsystem configurations to directly determine appropriate power limits. This eliminates the need for complex power measurement infrastructure while achieving precise power matching.
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method of controlling maximum available engine power of a combine harvester (20) wherein the engine (126) drives the harvester and additionally powers a threshing mechanism (38, 48 52) for separating harvested crop into grain and crop residue and at least one further crop processing subsystem that may be selectively configured and disengaged, including a straw chopper (84) engageable for chopping the crop residue and propelling the chopped residue from the harvester, structure (94, 96) configurable for directing the crop residue into the chopper (84) or to bypass the chopper (84), utilising a controller (148) for automatically reducing the maximum available engine power as a function of the status of the engagement of the subsystems, particularly the chopper (84) and the configuration of the associated structure (94, 96).