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A control system, and the method of use thereof, for controlling the positioning of an adjustable deflector employed to transition or redirect a flow of crop residue from an axially arranged threshing or separating system of an agricultural combine to and through a chopper assembly and into a crop r

A control system, and the method of use thereof, for controlling the positioning of an adjustable deflector employed to transition or redirect a flow of crop residue from an axially arranged threshing or separating system of an agricultural combine to and through a chopper assembly and into a crop residue distribution system for distributing the residue onto a field, and more particularly, to a control system that is responsive to changes in the amounts of crop residue being distributed by side-by-side spreader assemblies of the crop residue distribution system to alter the positioning of the adjustable deflector to change the flow of crop residue and to more closely balance and equalize the amounts of crop residue being distributed by the side-by-side spreader assemblies of the crop residue distribution system.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A control system for automatedly controlling the positioning of an adjustable deflector plate employed in a harvesting combine to adjust and better balance the side-to-side flow of crop residue to a spreader associated with the combine and the distribution thereby, the deflec

What is claimed is: 1. A control system for automatedly controlling the positioning of an adjustable deflector plate employed in a harvesting combine to adjust and better balance the side-to-side flow of crop residue to a spreader associated with the combine and the distribution thereby, the deflector plate operably extendable into the flow of crop residue to redirect crop residue impinging the deflector plate, comprising: a plurality of sensors positionable to monitor conditions at given locations, said sensors producing sensor output signals corresponding to detected conditions at said given locations, information representative of crop residue flow at certain positions across the width of the crop residue flow determinable from said sensor output signals; an actuator operatively connectable to the deflector plate and operable to effect the extension of the deflector plate into the flow of crop residue; and a controller having a data input interface and a control output interface, said data input interface coupled to said sensors to receive at said data input interface data input signals corresponding to said sensor output signals, said controller responsive to said data input signals to produce positioning control signals at said control output interface, said control output interface coupled to said actuator to provide to said actuator deflector plate positioning signals corresponding to said positioning control signals; the actuator responsive to said deflector plate positioning signals coupled thereto from said controller to effect adjustments in the degree of extension of the deflector plate into the flow of crop residue, whereby the degree of extension of said deflector plate into the flow of crop residue is controllable over time to automatedly adjust the side-to-side flow of crop residue to the spreader; wherein the spreader includes a pair of side-by-side spreader head assemblies operable to distribute crop residue being provided thereto, wherein said sensors include sensors associated with the spreader head assemblies, wherein the spreader head assemblies are driven by respective drive motors, and further wherein said sensors associated with the spreader head assemblies are positionable to monitor conditions of the respective drive motors. 2. The control system of claim 1 wherein the drive motors are hydraulic motors and wherein said sensors monitor the operating conditions of the hydraulic motors. 3. The control system of claim 2 wherein said sensors monitor hydraulic pressures associated with the drive motors. 4. The control system of claim 3 wherein said sensors include a first set of sensors connectable to monitor the hydraulic pressures at the input and output sides of one of the drive motors and a second set of sensors to monitor the hydraulic pressures at the input and output sides of the other of the drive motors. 5. The control system of claim 4 wherein said controller is operable to determine from data input signals the respective pressures across the respective drive motors, said respective pressures across the respective drive motors being representative of the loadings of the respective drive motors and of the respective amounts of crop residue then being provided to the respective drive motors. 6. The control system of claim 5 wherein said controller is responsive to said respective pressures across the respective drive motors to produce a positioning control signal when the differential between said respective pressures across the respective drive motors exceeds some predetermined value. 7. The control system of claim 6 wherein said actuator is responsive to said deflector plate positioning signal coupled to said actuator from said controller to effect a repositioning of the deflector plate into the flow of crop residue to redirect the flow of crop residue to the spreader to better balance the loadings of the drive motors. 8. The control system of claim 6 wherein said predetermined value is settable by an operator. 9. The control system of claim 8 wherein said controller includes a user input interface through which the operator can provide user input establishing said predetermined value. 10. The control system of claim 1 including a coupling mechanism coupling said sensor output signals to said data input interface of said controller and coupling said positioning control signals produced at said control output interface of said controller to said actuator. 11. The control system of claim 10 wherein said coupling mechanism includes a first wired-bus connection operatively connecting said sensors to said data input interface of said controller and a second wired-bus connection operatively connecting said output control interface of said controller to said actuator. 12. The control system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes a user input interface for receiving thereat information provided by a user to establish certain operating conditions of said controller, said user provided information including the minimum time delay between deflector plate repositionings, said controller operable after the production of a positioning control signal to delay the production of another positioning control signal until after said minimum time delay. 13. The control system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes a discrete circuit construction. 14. The control system of claim 1 wherein said controller includes an electrical processor. 15. The control system of claim 14 wherein said electrical processor is a programmed microprocessor. 16. A method of automatedly controlling the positioning of an adjustable deflector plate of a harvesting combine, such combine having an associated spreader for distributing therefrom crop residue provided thereto, to adjust and better balance the side-to-side flow of crop residue to the spreader and the distribution thereby, the deflector plate being operably extendable into the flow of crop residue to redirect crop residue impinging the deflector plate, the method comprising providing a control system including a plurality of sensors positioned to monitor conditions at given locations, said sensors producing sensor output signals corresponding to detected conditions at said given locations, information representative of crop residue flow at certain positions across the width of the crop residue flow determinable from said sensor output signals, an actuator operatively connected to the deflector plate and operable to effect the extension of the deflector plate into the flow of crop residue, a controller having a data input interface and a control output interface, said data input interface coupled to said sensors to receive at said data input interface data input signals corresponding to said sensor output signals, said controller responsive to said data input signals to produce positioning control signals at said control output interface, said control output interface coupled to said actuator to provide to said actuator deflector plate positioning signals corresponding to said positioning control signals, said actuator responsive to said deflector plate positioning signals coupled thereto from said controller to effect adjustments in the degree of extension of the deflector plate into the flow of crop residue, activating said control system, whereby said control system automatedly controls the positioning of the adjustable deflector plate to adjust and better balance the side-to-side flow of crop residue to the spreader associated and the distribution thereby, wherein the spreader further includes a pair of side-by-side spreader head assemblies operable to distribute crop residue being provided thereto, wherein said sensors include sensors associated with the spreader head assemblies, wherein the spreader head assemblies are driven by respective hydraulic drive motors, and further wherein said sensors associated with the spreader head assemblies are positioned to monitor hydraulic pressures associated with the respective hydraulic drive motors. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein said controller is responsive to said determinable information representative of crop residue flow at said certain positions across the width of the crop residue flow to produce a positioning control signal when the differential between the crop residue flow at said certain positions exceeds some predetermined value, wherein said controller of said control system includes a user input interface through which the operator can provide user input establishing said predetermined value, and wherein said method includes the step of entry by a user of said predetermined value. 18. The method of claims 16 wherein said sensors include a first set of sensors connected to monitor the hydraulic pressures at the input and output sides of one of the hydraulic drive motors and a second set of sensors to monitor the hydraulic pressures at the input and output sides of the other of the hydraulic drive motors, wherein said controller is operable to determine from data input signals the respective pressures across the respective drive motors, said respective pressures across the respective drive motors being representative of the loadings of the respective drive motors and of the respective amounts of crop residue then being provided to the respective drive motors, and wherein said controller is responsive to said respective pressures across the respective hydraulic drive motors to produce a positioning control signal when the differential between said respective pressures across the respective hydraulic drive motors exceeds some predetermined value. 19. The method of claim 16 wherein said control system includes a first wired-bus connection operatively connecting said sensors to said data input interface of said controller and a second wired-bus connection operatively connecting said output control interface of said controller to said actuator. 20. The method of claim 16 wherein said controller of said control system includes a processing system operable to determine from said data input signals the comparative status of crop residue flow at said certain positions and to produce positioning control signals at said control output interface of said controller dependent at least in part upon said comparative status. 21. A method of configuring a harvesting combine, such combine employing an adjustable deflector plate for adjusting the side-to-side flow of crop residue through the combine to a spreader, the deflector plate being operably extendable into the flow of crop residue to redirect crop residue impinging the deflector plate, to provide the combine with the capability of automatedly controlling the positioning of the adjustable deflector plate to adjust and better balance the side-to-side flow of crop residue to a spreader associated with the combine and the distribution thereby, the method comprising providing a control system including a plurality of sensors positionable to monitor conditions at given locations, said sensors producing sensor output signals corresponding to detected conditions at said given locations, information representative of crop residue flow at certain positions across the width of the crop residue flow determinable from said sensor output signals, an actuator operatively connectable to the deflector plate and operable to effect the extension of the deflector plate into the flow of crop residue, a controller having a data input interface and a control output interface, said data input interface couplable to said sensors to receive at said data input interface data input signals corresponding to said sensor output signals, said controller responsive to said data input signals to produce positioning control signals at said control output interface, said control output interface couplable to said actuator to provide to said actuator deflector plate positioning signals corresponding to said positioning control signals, said actuator responsive to said deflector plate positioning signals coupled thereto from said controller to effect adjustments in the degree of extension of the deflector plate into the flow of crop residue, positioning said sensors at desired locations to monitor conditions at such locations, connecting said actuator to control the operation of the deflector plate, coupling said sensors to the data input interface of said controller, coupling the output control interface of said controller to said actuator, whereby said control system is installed for use in automatedly controlling the positioning of the adjustable deflector plate to adjust and better balance the side-to-side flow of crop residue to the spreader associated and the distribution thereby, wherein the spreader further includes a pair of side-by-side spreader head assemblies operable to distribute crop residue being provided thereto, wherein said sensors include sensors associated with the spreader head assemblies, wherein the spreader head assemblies are driven by respective hydraulic drive motors, and further wherein said sensors associated with the spreader head assemblies are positioned to monitor hydraulic pressures associated with the respective hydraulic drive motors.