Abstract:
The present invention is directed to a constituent sensing system including a container for holding a flowable product. A moveable member is positioned within the container for moving the flowable product within the container in a manner which simulates a flow of the flowable product. A probe is positioned proximate to the moving flowable product for analyzing the moving flowable product.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     It has been long recognized that the value of agricultural products such as cereal grains and the like are affected by the quality of their inherent constituent components. Examples of such agricultural products are wheat, corn, rye, oats, barley, rice, soybeans, amaranth, triticale, grasses and forage materials. Cereal grains with desirable protein, oil, starch, fiber and moisture content and desirable levels of carbohydrates and other constituents can command a premium price. Favorable markets for these grains and their processed commodities have, therefore, created the need for knowing content and also various other physical characteristics such as hardness. 
     To meet market expectations, numerous analysis systems have been developed. Some of these analysis systems are installed within equipment such as a combine harvester, grain elevator or other grain processing equipment for determining percentage concentration of constituents in a flowing stream of grain while the grain is harvested, stored or processed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a grain sample sensing system which can be used by itself for analyzing constituent components of grain or in conjunction with analysis systems incorporated within combine harvesters, grain elevators, or other grain processing equipment. When used in conjunction with such equipment, the grain sample sensing system can be used to calibrate analysis systems already contained within or for later installation in the equipment. The grain sample sensing system can also be used to merely verify the accuracy of the analysis systems. The present invention system includes a container for holding grain. A moveable member is positioned within the container for moving the grain within the container in a manner which simulates a flow of grain. A probe is positioned proximate to the moving grain for analyzing the moving grain. 
     In preferred embodiments, the container is stationary and has a round side wall. The moveable member rotates within the container to move the grain in a circular manner inside the container. The moveable member is driven by a variable speed motor which allows the rotational speed of the moveable member to be varied. The probe analyzes the moving grain in real time where different constituent components of the moving grain are measured at the same moment of time from the same fraction of grain. A thermocouple is also positioned within the container for sensing grain temperature. The container is covered by a lid which includes a grain loading door for loading the container with grain. The container also includes a grain discharge door on a lower surface of the container to allow grain to be removed from the container. 
     The present invention grain sample sensing system is suitable for calibrating analysis systems already contained within or for later installation in grain processing equipment because the rotation of the grain within the container simulates the flow of grain in a chute or conduit of such equipment. As a result, the present invention system makes analysis readings under approximately the same conditions of such equipment. 
     The present invention also provides a constituent sensing system for analyzing constituent components of a flowable product. The constituent sensing system includes a container for holding the flowable product. A moveable member is positioned within the container for moving the flowable product within the container in a manner which simulates a flow of the flowable product. A probe is positioned proximate to the moving flowable product for analyzing the moving flowable product. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention grain sample sensing system. 
     FIG. 2 is a front view of the present invention grain sample sensing system with the grain bowl in section to show the interior. 
     FIG. 3 is a top view of the grain bowl with the top removed. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2  and  3 , grain sample sensing system  10  is capable of analyzing constituent components or elements of agricultural products such as grain, for example, protein, oil, starch, fiber, moisture and carbohydrate content as well as physical characteristics such as hardness. Grain sample sensing system  10  includes a grain bowl  12  with a circular side wall  12   a  for holding a sample of grain  56  (FIG. 3) to be analyzed. Grain bowl  12  has a grain loading door  26   a  on the top  26  of grain bowl  12  for loading grain  56  into grain bowl  12  for analysis and a grain discharge door  28   a  on the bottom  28  of grain bowl  12  for removing grain  56  from grain bowl  12  after analysis. Grain bowl  12  is supported by a support frame  14 . Support frame  14  has a bottom plate  24 , two opposed side walls  14   a  extending upwardly from bottom plate  24 , and a top plate  22  extending between side walls  14   a.  Grain bowl  12  is supported between the side walls  14   a  of support frame  14  above bottom plate  24 . A variable speed drive motor  16  is mounted above grain bowl  12  to the upper surface of top plate  22 . A power supply  42  provides power to drive motor  16  via power lines  36 . Power supply  42  has a variable speed dial  44  for controlling the speed of drive motor  16 . Drive motor  16  has a rotatable drive shaft  16   a  for rotating a moveable member or paddle  50  within grain bowl  12  (FIGS.  2  and  3 ). Drive shaft  16   a  extends downwardly from drive motor  16  and is coupled by a coupling  46  to a paddle shaft  48  extending upwardly from paddle  50 . Rotation of the paddle  50  within grain bowl  12  moves the grain  56  in a circular direction within grain bowl  12  to simulate flowing grain. 
     An analysis probe  18  extends through a side wall  14   a  of support frame  14  and through side wall  12   a  of grain bowl  12  for analyzing different constituent components of rotating grain  56  as the grain  56  (FIG. 3) moves past probe  18 . Probe  18  contains a light source for irradiating the grain  56  simultaneously with multiple radiation wavelengths and a light pickup for receiving radiation diffusely reflected from a discrete portion of the grain  56 . A processing module  34  is connected to probe  18  by a line  32  for receiving the reflected light from the light pickup (FIG.  1 ). Line  32  contains a fiber optic cable  32   a  for transmitting the reflected light as well as power and signal lines  32   b  for the light source (FIG.  2 ). Processing module  34  processes the light and converts the light with spectroscopy techniques into data regarding different constituent components of grain  56 . A computer  40  electrically connected to processing module  34  by line  38  allows the constituent component data to be viewed. 
     The thermocouple  20  for sensing the temperature of grain  56  within grain bowl  12  extends through the top  26  of grain bowl  12  (FIG.  1 ). Thermocouple  20  is electrically connected to computer  40  by line  42 . A grain discharge drawer  70  is slidably positioned on the bottom plate  24  of frame  14  between side walls  14   a  and under grain bowl  12  for catching grain  56  discharged from grain bowl  12  after analysis through discharge door  28   a.  Grain discharge drawer  70  includes angled upper surfaces  70   a  for deflecting falling grain  56  into grain discharge drawer  70 . 
     A more detailed description of grain sample sensing system  10  now follows. Top plate  22  has an opening  22   a  therethrough which allows drive shaft  16   a  of drive motor  16  to extend through top plate  22  (FIG.  2 ). A bearing  30  assembly mounted to the top  26  of grain bowl  12  supports paddle shaft  48  as paddle shaft  48  extends through a hole in the top  26  of grain bowl  12 . Paddle  50  is flat in shape with a trapezoidal outer perimeter. Paddle  50  is positioned within grain bowl  12  such that the top  58 , bottom  60  and side  62  edges of paddle  50  are spaced apart from the inner surfaces of the top  26 , bottom  28  and side wall  12   a  of grain bowl  12  to form gaps therebetween. Side edges  62  of paddle  50  angle away from side wall  12   a,  thereby reducing the possibility of interfering with the operation of probe  18  by reflecting light. Grain loading door  26   a  is pivotably secured to the top  26  of grain bowl  12  by two hinges  26   b  (FIG.  1 ). The grain discharge door  28   a  of grain bowl  12  is pivotably secured to the bottom  28  of grain bowl  12  by two hinges  28   b.    
     Probe  18  is mounted to a probe mount  52   a  on grain bowl  12  and extends into side wall  12   a  of grain bowl  12  through a probe opening or window  52  to be about 0.1 inches away from the grain  56  when the grain  56  moves past the probe  18  during use (FIGS.  2  and  3 ). Probe  18  is preferably a near infrared analysis probe which includes a broad bandwidth light source for irradiating the grain  56  simultaneously with multiple radiation wavelengths from about 570 to 1120 nm. The light source of probe  18  generates light having all the wavelengths necessary for detecting the desired constituent components of grain  56 . 
     Probe  18  includes a fiber optic light pickup for receiving radiation reflected from the moving grain  56 . The fiber optic cable  32   a  within line  32  transmits the received light to processing module  34  which processes the light with spectroscopy techniques to determine the desired constituent components of the grain  56  based on the processed light (FIG.  1 ). The processing module  34  is electrically connected to computer  40  so that the data regarding the constituent components of grain  56  can be viewed on the screen of computer  40  or printed out. Alternatively, the data can be sent to a display screen of a combine harvester. Probe  18  and processing module  34 , along with the associated hardware and software, are similar to that disclosed in U. S. patent application Ser. No. 09/019,667, filed Feb. 6, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,100,526, entitled “Grain Quality Monitor”, the entire teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Grain sample sensing system  10  measures all the desired constituent components of grain  56  from the reflected light at the same moment in time (real time) from the same fraction of the grain sample  56  within grain bowl  12 . This differs from analysis systems which measure different constituent components at different points in time so that when measuring flowing grain, each constituent component is measured from a different fraction or segment of the grain sample. 
     In one preferred embodiment, drive motor  16  is a variable speed 24 amp DC motor capable of generating 55 inch pounds of torque. Drive motor  16  rotates paddle  50  in a clockwise direction, thereby causing the grain  56  to flow in a clockwise direction. The speed of drive motor  16  can be adjusted to move the grain  56  within grain bowl  12  at speeds between about 1 inch/sec to 80 inches/sec. Grain bowl  12  has an outer diameter of about 4.5 inches, an inner diameter of about 4 inches and a height of about 2.75 inches. 
     In operation, referring to FIG. 1, in order to analyze a sample of grain, the grain loading door  26   a  of grain bowl  12  is opened and grain bowl  12  is filled preferably about ⅔ full with grain  56 . After grain loading door  26   a  is closed, drive motor  16  is then turned on to rotate paddle  50  within grain bowl  12  (FIG.  3 ). The speed of drive motor  16  is controlled by the variable speed dial  44  of power supply  42  to rotate or spin the grain  56  within grain bowl  12  at a desired speed. Often, grain sample sensing system  10  is employed to either calibrate or verify the accuracy of an analysis system contained within another piece of equipment, for example, a combine harvester, a grain elevator or other grain processing equipment. In such situations, the same sample of grain is preferably analyzed by both grain sample sensing system  10  and the desired piece of associated grain processing equipment. The speed of drive motor  16  is adjusted until the speed of the grain  56  rotating within grain bowl  12  matches the speed of the grain flowing in the associated grain processing equipment past the analysis probe contained therein. The movement of the grain  56  within the grain bowl  12  past the side wall  12   a  simulates grain flowing in a chute or conduit of the associated grain processing equipment so that analysis of the grain  56  by grain sample sensing system  10  is performed under approximately the same conditions as within the associated grain processing equipment. This ensures that the readings are accurate. Once the grain  56  is rotating at the proper speed, analysis readings for the desired constituent components are made by grain sample sensing system  10 , for example, protein, oil, starch, fiber, moisture and carbohydrate content as well as hardness. The readings of the measured constituent components of the grain  56  are made simultaneously at a particular instant in time so that the readings are from a particular fraction of the grain  56  sample. In addition, the temperature of grain  56  is sensed by thermocouple  20 . The readings are displayed on the screen of computer  40 . The analysis system in the associated grain processing equipment can then be adjusted so that the readings match those of grain sample sensing system  10  if calibration is desired. If the readings match, the accuracy of the associated analysis system is verified and no calibration is necessary. If grain sample sensing system  10  is employed for calibrating probes  18  which are later installed within a piece of grain processing equipment, probe  18  in grain sample sensing system  10  is adjusted until the readings match those of an analysis system contained within another previously calibrated grain sample sensing system  10  or grain processing equipment. 
     Multiple readings made by grain sample sensing system  10  for a particular grain  56  sample can be used to form an average of the whole sample of grain  56 . A reading that is abnormal relative to the other readings is readily identifiable and can be discarded. In prior art analysis systems where the readings for the measured constituent components are taken over a period of time as a large amount of grain passes by the analysis probe, the readings can be inaccurate if any constituent component measurements are taken from a small abnormal portion of grain flowing past the analysis probe. Although grain sample sensing system  10  is often employed in conjunction with a piece of associated grain processing equipment, alternatively, grain sample sensing system  10  can be employed as a stand alone system for monitoring samples in the field or in the lab. 
     While this invention has been particularly shown and described with references to preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     For example, the size of grain bowl  12  can be varied to suit different requirements. The size of drive motor  16  would be varied depending upon the size of grain bowl  12 . Although thermocouple  20  and probe  18  are depicted as entering within grain bowl  12  through the top  26  and side wall  12   a  respectively, the thermocouple  20  and probe  18  can be inserted into grain bowl  12  at any suitable location or orientation. Thermocouple  20  can also be omitted. In addition, paddle shaft  48  can extend into grain bowl  12  from the bottom  28  or through side wall  12   a  along a horizontal axis. Extending paddle shaft  48  through side wall  12   a  would rotate paddle  50  along the horizontal axis, thereby rotating grain  56  in an upright manner. In such cases, grain bowl  12  would be shaped appropriately and the drive motor  16  would be mounted in a suitable fashion. Drive motor  16  can be mounted directly to grain bowl  12  with support frame  14  being omitted. Also, drive motor  16  can be replaced by a handcrank coupled to paddle shaft  48  for rotating paddle  50  by hand. Furthermore, although probe  18  has been described for use in grain sample sensing system  10 , other suitable analysis probes can be employed. Grain sample sensing system  10  can be employed as a constituent sensing system for analyzing particulate materials other than the previously mentioned agricultural products, such as crushed minerals, crushed ore, ash, soil, manure, etc. Also, other flowable compositions, mixtures or products such as blood or paint can be analyzed with system  10 . It is understood that system  10  can be used either in conjunction with associated processing equipment or as a stand alone unit when sensing non agricultural products.