A crop residue harvesting system for a harvesting machine is provided. The crop residue harvesting system includes a blower and a transition member having a first position and a second position. In a first position the transition member directs at least a portion of the crop residue to the blower for harvesting of the crop residue. In a second position the transition member allows for spreading at least a portion of the crop residue. A lever or actuator may be operatively connected to the transition member for selecting between the first position and the second position or selecting an intermediate position to control the proportions of the crop residue harvested and the crop residue spread.
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38. A harvesting machine adapted for selectively collecting and spreading crop residue, comprising:
a vehicle adapted for separating grain from crop residue;
an exit conduit;
a transition member having at least a first position and a second position;
wherein in a first position the transition member directs at least a portion of crop residue towards the exit conduit for collection within a collection container;
wherein in a second position the transition member allows for spreading at least a portion of the crop residue on ground; and
at least one actuator operatively connected to the transition member for adjusting position of the transition member.
1. A crop residue harvesting system for a harvesting machine having a crop residue chopper, the crop residue harvesting system comprising:
an accelerator to assist in conveying crop residue up an exit conduit operatively connected to the accelerator;
a transition member having a first position and a second position;
wherein in a first position the transition member directs at least a portion of the crop residue to the accelerator and subsequently up the exit conduit and into a collection container for harvesting of the crop residue;
wherein in a second position the transition member allows for spreading at least a portion of the crop residue onto ground.
32. A crop residue harvesting system for a harvesting machine having a residue chopper, the crop residue harvesting system comprising;
an exit conduit;
an accelerator operatively connected to conduit for crop residue up the exit conduit;
a transition member operatively connected between the residue chopper and the accelerator, wherein relative position of the transition member to the accelerator or the chopper controls relative amounts of the crop residue (a) conveyed to the accelerator and through the exit conduit for harvest in a collection container and (b) spread to ground;
at least one actuator for adjusting the relative position of the transition member; and
an intelligent control operatively connected to the at least one actuator for controlling the relative position of the transition member to thereby control the relative amounts of the crop residue harvested and spread.
13. A harvesting machine, comprising:
a self-propelled vehicle adapted for separating grain from crop residue;
a residue chopper operatively connected to the vehicle and adapted for receiving the crop residue acid chopping the crop residue to form chopped crop residue;
an exit conduit;
an accelerator operatively connected to the exit conduit for conveying the chopped crop residue up the exit conduit;
a transition member having a first position and a second position operatively connected between the residue chopper and the accelerator;
wherein in a first position the transition member directs at least a portion of the chopped crop residue to the accelerator and subsequently through the exit conduit and into a collection container for harvesting of the chopped crop residue;
wherein in a second position the transition member allows for spreading at least a portion of the chopped crop residue onto ground.
22. A method for harvesting a crop using a harvesting machine, comprising:
providing the harvesting machine with a crop residue harvesting system comprising:
an accelerator to assist in conveying crop residue up an exit conduit operatively connected to the accelerator;
a transition member having a first position and a second position;
wherein in a first position the transition member directs at least a portion of the crop residue to the accelerator and subsequently up the exit conduit and into a collection container for harvesting of the crop residue;
wherein in a second position the transition member allows for spreading at least a portion of the crop residue onto ground;
selecting a setting on the harvesting machine to control relative proportions of (a) crop residue spreading onto ground and (b) crop residue harvesting into a collection container;
separating grain from crop residue using the harvesting machine;
collecting the grain using the harvesting machine;
chopping the crop residue using a chopper of the harvesting machine; and
wherein selecting the setting on the harvesting machine controls the transition member to be positioned at the first position, the second position, or at least one intermediate position between the first position and the second position, corresponding to the relative proportions.
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This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to provisional application Ser. No. 60/910,250 filed Apr. 5, 2007 and Ser. No. 60/998,984 filed Oct. 15, 2007, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.
This invention was made with government support under Grant No. 68-3A75-4-137 awarded by USDA/NRCS and DOE. The Government has certain rights in this invention.
Agricultural combine harvesters are typically designed to cut off crops at ground-level, separate non-grain plant matter from the crop portions of the plant, save the crop portions to a holding tank or reservoir, and discard the non-grain plant matter at the rear of the vehicle.
Often, the non-grain plant matter, includes, without limitation, stems, cobs, stalks, leaves, and branches. The term crop residue may be used to describe this generally non-grain plant material. This term is indicative of the historical relative value of grain and non-grain material. The crop residue is chopped at the rear of the combine harvester and distributed over the ground where it is broken down by microbes in the soil and provides fertilizer for the next growing season's crops.
In recent years, however, there has been a growing movement to recover this non-grain plant matter and to use it for secondary processes, such as for a biomass material for ethanol production. Thus, this non-grain plant matter has value beyond its traditional usage. The collection of the material can either occur simultaneously with grain harvest in a single pass operation, or collected after grain harvest, in a multiple pass operation. In a single pass operation, the non-grain plant material can be collected after it is chopped at the rear of the vehicle and is directed into a “stover” cart or similar wheeled container that is towed behind the combine harvester to receive the non-grain plant matter, while the grain is collected in the combine grain tank. In a multi-pass operation, the non-grain material can be left on the field during grain harvest and collected during subsequent field operations, using a baler, forage harvester or similar machinery
What is needed, therefore, is an apparatus for varying the amount of chopped non-grain plant material that is distributed over the ground while the vehicle is underway. What is also needed is a way of automatically varying the amount of chopped non-grain plant material that is deposited on the ground based upon soil parameters, crop parameters, terrain parameters or other environmental or regulatory factors.
It is an object of this invention to provide such an apparatus.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a crop residue harvesting system for a harvesting machine having a crop residue chopper is provided. The crop residue harvesting system includes an accelerator to assist in conveying crop residue and a transition member, the transition member having a first position and a second position. In a first position the transition member directs at least a portion of the crop residue to the accelerator for harvesting of the crop residue. In a second position the transition member allows for spreading at least a portion of the crop residue.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a harvesting machine is provided. The harvesting machine includes a self-propelled vehicle adapted for separating grain from crop residue, a residue chopper operatively connected to the vehicle and adapted for receiving the crop residue and chopping the crop residue to form chopped crop residue, an accelerator for conveying the chopped crop residue, and a transition member having a first position and a second position operatively connected between the residue chopper and the accelerator. In a first position the transition member directs at least a portion of the chopped crop residue to the accelerator for harvesting of the chopped crop residue. In a second position the transition member allows for spreading at least a portion of the chopped crop residue.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a method for harvesting a crop using a harvesting machine is provided. The method includes selecting a setting on the harvesting machine to control relative proportions of crop residue spreading and crop residue harvesting, separating grain from crop residue using the harvesting machine, collecting the grain using the harvesting machine, and chopping the crop residue using a chopper of the harvesting machine.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a harvesting machine is adapted for selectively collecting and spreading crop residue. The harvesting machine includes a vehicle adapted for separating grain from crop residue and a transition member having at least a first position and a second position. In a first position the transition member directs at least a portion of crop residue for collection. In a second position the transition member allows for spreading at least a portion of the chopped crop residue. There is at least one actuator operatively connected to the transition member for adjusting position of the transition member.
The device combines two separate functions and can be switched to perform either of the functions at a given time. The transition/residue spreader can be set to either funnel crop residue from the outlet of the residue chopper at the back of a combine harvester to a blower for residue harvest purposes, or it can be set to deflect the residue away from the blower and uniformly distribute it on the ground. The transition component funnels the crop residue from the chopper to the blower being used for stover collection purposes. Thus, the flexibility of performing either operation is provided with minimal effort required to switch between the two. Moreover, the present invention provides for controlling relative amounts of crop residue which is collected and spread and this control may be provided electronically either by an operator or based on geographic position within a field or other factors such as, but not limited to, soil parameters such as soil moisture, soil pH, soil clay content, soil sand content; terrain parameters such as inclination of the field; and plant parameters such as the moisture content of the non-grain plant material, quality of material and the volume of the non-grain plant material, and other environmental or regulatory parameters such as residue removal rates for conservation compliance.
Non-grain plant material, such as stems, stalks, leaves, branches, and cobs, is conveyed from the cleaning and separating system 110 to a chopper 118 disposed at the rear of the vehicle 102. Chopper 118 may include a rotating shaft 120 to which a plurality of knife blades 122 are attached. Such blades preferably chop the non-grain plant material into lengths of about 1-2 inches or less.
The chopper 118 imparts considerable momentum to the chopped non-grain plant material, causing it to exit the chopper 118 into a transition member 124. A transition member is a structure located anywhere between the chopper and the accelerator for selectively directing flow of crop residue between crop residue collecting and crop residue spreading. As shown in
Referring now to
A first position 200 is illustrated in
A second position 204 is also illustrated in
A third position 208 of conduit 124 is further illustrated in
While only three positions are illustrated in
In an alternative arrangement, shown in
In another alternative arrangement, shown in
In a further alternative arrangement shown in
Other alternative arrangements for the transition member are contemplated. For example, the transition member may be placed after the accelerator. Thus, the transition member need not be positioned between the chopper and the accelerator as shown.
In each of the foregoing examples, an actuator 212 is provided to move the movable complement to its range of positions in order to provide for the direction of flow either through accelerator 126 or over the ground. Actuator 212 as shown here is a hydraulic cylinder having one end connected to a rigid support and a second end connected to the element that is moved to change the direction of flow of chopped non-grain plant material. Thus, in the arrangements shown, the actuator 212 is operatively connected to the transition member 124 to change paths of crop residue from the chopper 118.
Actuator 212 need not be a hydraulic cylinder, however. It may be a linear actuator that is hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically driven. It may be rotary actuator that is hydraulically, pneumatically, or electrically driven. Other types of actuators may be used as appropriate in a particular application or environment.
In one arrangement, the operator has a control in the operator's cab 214 (
Intelligent control 400 is coupled to the terrain sensor 406 which is responsive to the slope of the ground over which combine harvester 100 is traveling. As the slope changes, terrain sensor 406 sends a signal indicative of the slope of the ground to the intelligent control 400, which receives the signal and adjusts the position of actuator 212 accordingly. In particular, as terrain sensor 406 senses the changing slope, the intelligent control 400 is configured to adjust actuator 212 to increase the amount of chopped non-grain plant material that is distributed over the ground, thereby providing heavier ground cover on portions of the field with greater slope. This additional ground cover retains rain and slows run off thereby reducing soil erosion.
Intelligent control 400 is also coupled to soil sensor 408 which senses the soil surface residue. As surface residue decreases, the intelligent control 400 is configured to adjust actuator 212 to increase the amount of chopped non-grain plant material that is distributed over the ground. In this case, it is assumed that the objective is to maintain place surface plant residue above a certain threshold for conservation management compliance.
The intelligent control 400 is also coupled to soil sensor 410 which senses the organic matter content of the soil. As organic matter increases, the intelligent control 400 is configured to decrease the amount of chopped non-grain plant material that is distributed over the ground. The assumption is that if soil organic matter levels are high greater material removal rates are possible without effecting soil quality. This will allow higher removal rates and increased economic returns.
The intelligent control 400 is also coupled to an electronic position sensor 412 such as a GPS receiver, LORAN receiver, or other ground, satellite-based, or dead reckoning position sensor. The intelligent control 400 is electrically connected to a memory 414 which may be internal and/or external and which stores map data of the field through which combine harvester 100 is traveling and harvesting crop. For each possible harvester position in the field this map indicates a desired position of actuator 212 necessary to deposit an appropriate amount of chopped non-grain plant material on the ground. In one configuration, this map data is derived from one or more soil conditions, such as the amount of nitrogen, phosphorus, or other trace elements in the soil, soil acidity, and amounts of previous herbicide, pesticide, or fertilizer applications. The plant material removal rates may be dictated by any one of these agronomic parameters.
The intelligent control 400 is also coupled to one or more crop sensors 416 which are disposed in combine harvester 100 in a flow path of the cut crop to determine characteristics of the cut crop material.
In one arrangement, a crop sensor 416 is a moisture sensor. The intelligent control 400 is configured to control actuator 212 to vary the amount of chopped non-grain crop material that is deposited on the ground as the crop moisture changes.
In another arrangement a crop sensor 416 is a material quality sensor, such as ethanol conversion potential. The intelligent control 400 is configured to control actuator 212 to increase the amount of chopped non-grain plant material that is deposited on the ground as the crop stover quality decreases.
In another arrangement an operator input device 420 is coupled to the intelligent control 400 to permit the operator to select the type of crop being harvested, such as wheat or corn. The intelligent control 400 is configured to control actuator 212 to vary the amount of chopped non-grain plant material that is deposited on the ground based upon the type of crop that is being harvested.
The intelligent control 400 is also coupled to a material flow rate sensor 418. Depending on the fullness of the crop growth that it harvests, the amount of non-grain plant material may vary significantly. This may require that the system adjusts to the changing flow rate of non-grain plant material by adjusting actuator 212 to maintain constant the amount of non-grain plant material distributed over the ground.
For example, in a parched portion of the field the plants being harvested may be stunted and produce very little non-grain plant material for sending through chopper 118. This will not change the volume of air that is conveyed through chopper 118 and accelerator 126, but it will reduce the density of chopped non-grain plant material entrained in the air—the material flow rate of chopped non-grain plant material through conduit 125, and thus the amount of material deposited on the ground.
To maintain constant the amount of material distributed on the ground, the intelligent control 400 is configured to monitor the mass flow rate of non-grain plant material passing through combine harvester 100 and to control actuator 212 to maintain the material flow rate at the appropriate material flow rate.
For example, the intelligent control 400 is configured to continually determine an appropriate material flow rate to be deposited on the ground based upon the changing signals received from one or all of sensors 406, 408, 412, 416, 418 and the location of the vehicle indicated by map data stored in the memory 414. As the combine harvester travels through the field, the appropriate material flow rate will change. The intelligent control 400 correspondingly changes the position of actuator 212 to maintain this appropriate material flow rate. Similarly, the intelligent control 400 senses when there is a change in the amount of the material entrained in the air and corrects for this as well to maintain the appropriate material flow rate.
The material flow sensor 418 may be disposed in the flow path of the non-grain plant material upstream of chopper 118. It may also be disposed in a flow path downstream of chopper 118. Referring now to
Material flow rate sensors 418A is an optical flow rate sensor which is configured to transmit light between the two sensor elements across a flow path disposed upstream of the inlet of chopper 118.
An identical optical flow rate sensor may be alternatively disposed downstream of the outlet of chopper 118. It is shown in
Material flow rate sensor 418C is a mass impact flow rate sensor responsive to the impact of non-grain plant material against a striker plate. The greater the material flow rate, the greater the material impacts against sensor 418C, and the greater the signal generated by sensor 418C.
An identical mass impact sensor may be disposed downstream of the outlet of the chopper. It is shown in
A combination residue spreader and collector for single pass harvesting systems has now been disclosed. It is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the specific embodiments described here as variations in size, form, structure, and features are contemplated. These and other variations, options, and alternatives are within the spirit and scope of the invention.
Schlesser, Benjamin J., Dilts, Mark D., Birrell, Stuart J.
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