Patent ID: 8126620
Filing Date: 2012-02-28
Classification: A01B

Abstract:
1. A grain transfer control system for automatedly controlling the transfer of grain from a mobile transferor vehicle to a grain holding receptacle of a mobile transferee vehicle by varying relative positions and speeds thereof to effect a generally uniform fill of the grain holding receptacle, the transferor vehicle including a grain storage bin with a grain discharge assembly operable for effecting the transfer of grain out of the grain storage bin, such grain discharge assembly including a discharge arm having a discharge spout for directing a flow of grain therethrough and the discharge arm being extendible from such transferor vehicle to position the discharge spout relative to the grain holding receptacle, the grain holding receptacle having opposed ends and sides defining a predetermined length and width, respectively, of the grain holding receptacle, comprising: a positioning system associated with the transferor vehicle and the transferee vehicle configured and operable for automatedly determining and controlling the relative positions and speeds therebetween as the transferor vehicle and the transferee vehicle are moved, said positioning system including a control portion associated with one of the transferor vehicle and the transferee vehicle configured and operable for automatedly initiating and controlling a grain transfer operation in response to a request therefor when the transferee vehicle is positioned at a spaced distance from the transferor vehicle and the discharge spout is positioned to direct a flow of grain therefrom into the grain holding receptacle of the transferee vehicle nearer one of the ends of the grain holding receptacle and for thereafter effecting the grain transfer operation, said control portion including input controls operable by a user to input data prior to or during the grain transfer operation for setting performance parameters including at least some of: a transfer start position, a transfer end position, a duration of an initial dwell time, a duration of a terminal dwell time, a walk profile, position of the discharge arm, and the position and orientation of the discharge spout, that will be used to determine control information, and a processor configured and programmed to use predetermined performance parameters and the inputted data setting the performance parameters to determine control information to automatedly: a) commence the grain transfer operation when the discharge spout is positioned at the transfer start position relative to the length of the grain holding receptacle of the transferee vehicle and to thereafter transfer grain for the duration of the initial dwell time while the discharge spout remains at said transfer start position, then b) effect an ongoing repositioning of the transferee vehicle relative to the transferor vehicle to walk the discharge spout along at least a portion of the length of the grain holding receptacle as grain transfer continues according to a predetermined walk profile selected from a group of walk profiles consisting of at least one of: a uniform rate of speed, uniform steps, variable steps, a sinusoidally varying rate of speed, or a user defined profile of velocity versus position along the length of the grain holding receptacle until the discharge spout reaches the transfer end position relative to the length of the grain holding receptacle of the transferee vehicle, and then c) continue grain transfer for the duration of the terminal dwell time while the discharge spout remains at said transfer end position, and d) terminate the grain transfer operation, whereby, the generally uniform fill of the grain holding receptacle is achieved.