Header Grain Loss Sensing by Impact Detection at Crop Flowpaths
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for monitoring grain loss in agricultural machines, particularly at the header of a combine harvester, are inaccurate due to the need for calibration to account for pre-harvested grain on the ground and fail to distinguish between grain and other material effectively.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a sensing unit positioned downstream of the crop-engaging components, such as augers or belts, to measure impact parameters like force and frequency of material on a detection surface, distinguishing grain from other materials and providing real-time feedback for operational adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If cameras are used to image grain on the ground to monitor header grain loss, then grain loss can be monitored, but pre-harvested grain on the ground is also detected requiring calibration and reducing measurement accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the sensing function from the ground-level camera approach and relocates it to the header itself, positioning the sensing unit within the header to detect grain only where it should be captured. This eliminates detection of pre-harvested grain on the ground and removes the need for calibration to distinguish harvested from unharvested grain.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensing unit acts as an intermediary between the crop-engaging components and the grain loss measurement system. By placing sensors within the header that detect grain impacting specific surfaces, it provides direct measurement of grain loss without the intermediate step of imaging the ground and distinguishing between different grain sources.
2Measurement precision
If impact sensors are used to measure grain loss, then grain can be distinguished from other material through signal analysis, but the sensors must be positioned to avoid detecting pre-harvested grain on the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing unit is pre-positioned within the header structure at locations where only grain that should be harvested will impact it. This preliminary positioning ensures that the sensor only detects relevant grain loss events without requiring operational adjustments to avoid detecting ground grain.
3Productivity
If the sensing unit is positioned downstream of crop-engaging components, then real-time grain loss measurement is achieved, but the sensor must distinguish between grain and other material in the material flow
Solution Approach 1:
The sensing unit detects impacts at specific locations within the header where grain and other material separate or where grain impact characteristics are distinct. By positioning sensors to detect grain impacting specific surfaces downstream of crop-engaging components, the system exploits local variations in material flow and impact characteristics to differentiate grain from other material.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Accurately measures grain loss by distinguishing grain from other materials and provides real-time operational adjustments to reduce grain loss, improving harvesting efficiency and reducing grain loss.
Implementation Method 1
the sensing unit is configured, in use, to measure an impact parameter indicative of a force and/or frequency of material incident on a detection surface of the sensing unit
Data Source
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AI summary
A header for a harvesting machine which includes one or more crop-engaging components and a sensing unit positioned within a flowpath of material and downstream of at least one of the one or more crop-engaging components. The sensing unit is configured, in use, to measure an impact parameter indicative of a force and/or frequency of material incident on a detection surface of the sensing unit in order to determine a measure of grain loss associated with the header.