Wireless harvesting header connection

An agricultural machine and attachment combination has a wireless attachment connection for transmitting electronic information, commands, and electric power between the agricultural machine and attachment. An agricultural machine side control system having a wireless interface is connected to the agricultural machine and an attachment side control system having a wireless interface is connected to the attachment. Each interface has at least one inductively coupled communication receiver and at least one inductively coupled communication transmitter. The transmitters and receivers cooperate to transmit electronic information and commands between the agricultural machine side control system and the attachment side control system. A primary coil is connected to the agricultural machine for transmitting power to the attachment. A secondary coil is connected to the attachment for receiving power from the agricultural machine. The primary coil and the secondary coil cooperate to transmit power from the agricultural machine to the attachment using inductance.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to agricultural machines such as combines, forage harvesters, windrowers, harvesting machines, crop preparation machines, tractors, and implements, and, more particularly, to an agricultural machine and attachment combination having a wireless connection between the agricultural machine and the attachment allowing for transmission of both electronic communication and electric power.

2. Description of the Related Art

An agricultural harvester known as a “combine” is historically termed such because it combines multiple harvesting functions with a single harvesting unit, such as picking, threshing, separating and cleaning. A combine includes a header which removes the crop from a field, and a feeder housing which transports the crop matter into a threshing rotor. The threshing rotor rotates within a perforated housing, which may be in the form of adjustable concaves, and performs a threshing operation on the crop to remove the grain. Once the grain is threshed it falls through perforations in the concaves and is transported to a grain pan. From the grain pan the grain is cleaned using a cleaning system, and is then transported to a grain tank onboard the combine. The cleaning system includes a cleaning fan which blows air through oscillating sieves in order to discharge chaff and other debris toward the rear of the combine. Non-grain crop material such as straw from the threshing section proceeds through a straw chopper and out of the rear of the combine. When the grain tank becomes full, the combine is positioned adjacent a vehicle into which the grain is to be unloaded, such as a semi-trailer, gravity box, straight truck, or the like, and an unloading system on the combine is actuated to transfer the grain into the vehicle.

Combines use various types of headers for various types of crops, and the header is often detached from the combine, either to change header types, or simply to allow the combine to travel on road. These headers have various actuators, motors, sensors, and/or controllers used to perform the functions of the header. In order to provide electrical communication between the combine and the header, it is known to use a connector arrangement between the two, which provides electrical contact in order to transmit electronic information and/or electrical power. Such connector arrangements tend to be susceptible to breakage, wear, and failure due to contamination. Particularly, it is common for the connector arrangement to be forgotten by an operator when the header is detached from the combine, so that the components of the connector arrangement are damaged when the combine is moved away from the header. Repair and/or replacement of these components can be time consuming and costly, both in terms of repair costs and in terms of downtime.

Other agricultural machines such as forage harvesters, windrowers, harvesting machines, and crop preparation machines also have connector arrangements between the agricultural machine and attachments such as headers, which connector arrangements are also susceptible to breakage, wear, and failure due to contamination or due to being forgotten when the attachment is removed from the agricultural machine. Furthermore, agricultural tractors and towed agricultural implements have connector arrangements with similar vulnerabilities.

It is further known to provide wireless communication between an agricultural machine and its attachment, such as between a combine and its header. However, such wireless connections typically use electromagnetic communication, such as radio, which are susceptible to interference or cross-talk. These known forms of wireless communication between an agricultural machine and its attachment are particularly unsuitable for conditions in which more than one agricultural machine is used in a given area. Under these circumstances, the agricultural machines may communicate with an attachment connected to another agricultural machine, so that incorrect information is communicated between the agricultural machines and attachments.

What is needed is a way to provide electrical communication for the transmission of electronic information and/or electrical power between a combine and its header, or between any agricultural machine and its attachment, or between agricultural tractors and towed agricultural implements, without the attendant susceptibility to breakage, wear, and failure due to contamination associated with known connector arrangements, and without the attendant susceptibility to interference and cross-talk associated with known wireless connections between agricultural machines and attachments.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide such electronic communication for the transmission of electronic information and commands, and/or communication of electrical power between an agricultural machine and its attachment, such as between a combine and its header, or between an agricultural tractor and towed agricultural implements, without the susceptibility to breakage, wear, and failure due to contamination, using a wireless header connection. The wireless attachment connection has an interface that uses an inductively coupled form of communication, such as Near Field Communication (NFC) protocol, as a non-limiting example, to exchange electronic information and commands between an agricultural machine side control system and an attachment side control system regarding, for example in the embodiment of a combine and header combination, header height, row guidance, reel position, flotation pressure, and header type, as non-limiting examples. Additionally, the attachment side control system may provide the agricultural machine side control system with software drivers for operating coils, actuators, or motors used in the attachment.

The attachment side control system may further provide the agricultural machine side control system with specific identifying information regarding the attachment, such as attachment type, model, and serial number, thereby allowing the use of various attachments without requiring the operator to manually reconfigure the attachment type in the agricultural machine side control system when changing attachments. The attachment side control system may also be provided with an attachment hour meter, accumulated hour information from which may also be provided to the agricultural machine side control system using the wireless attachment connection, thereby allowing for more accurate tracking of accumulated operating hours on the attachment.

Embodiments of the present invention may further provide the ability to transmit power wirelessly between the agricultural machine and the attachment using a primary coil and secondary coil arranged to transmit electrical power inductively, or using other arrangements bringing inductive coils into close proximity, thereby transmitting electrical power using inductance. Such embodiments may include a paddle and port arrangement, wherein the primary coil is contained within a paddle that fits into a port containing the secondary coil, in order to provide close and secure proximity between the coils for effective inductive power transfer. Alternately, the primary coil may be contained within the port and the secondary coil contained within the paddle. Such embodiments may alternately include flat plates containing the primary and secondary coils, which abut when the attachment is attached to the agricultural machine, thereby facilitating effective inductive power transfer between the coils. A direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) converter converts agricultural machine DC power, such as 12 or 24 volts DC, to AC suitable to operate the primary coil, which then transmits that power to the secondary coil through inductance. The AC power from the secondary coil is then converted back to DC by an attachment AC to DC rectifier converter, which may further include a voltage regulator, for use by the attachment side control system and other electrical systems of the attachment.

The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural machine and attachment combination having a wireless attachment connection for transmitting electronic information, commands, and electric power between the agricultural machine and the attachment. The wireless attachment connection has an agricultural machine side control system connected to the agricultural machine and an attachment side control system connected to the attachment. An agricultural machine side interface is connected to the agricultural machine side control system, and has at least one agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication receiver and at least one agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication transmitter. An attachment side interface is connected to the attachment side control system, and has at least one attachment side inductively coupled communication receiver and at least one attachment side inductively coupled communication transmitter. The agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication transmitter and the attachment side inductively coupled communication receiver cooperate to transmit electronic information and commands from the agricultural machine side control system to the attachment side control system. The attachment side inductively coupled communication transmitter and the agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication receiver cooperate to transmit electronic information from the attachment side control system to the agricultural machine side control system. A primary coil is connected to the agricultural machine for transmitting power to the attachment. A secondary coil is connected to the attachment for receiving power from the agricultural machine. The primary coil and the secondary coil cooperate to transmit power from the agricultural machine to the attachment using inductance.

The invention in another form is directed to a wireless attachment connection for transmitting electronic information, commands, and power between an agricultural machine and an attachment. The wireless attachment connection has an agricultural machine side control system connected to the agricultural machine and an attachment side control system connected to the attachment. An agricultural machine side interface is connected to the agricultural machine side control system, and has at least one agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication receiver and at least one agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication transmitter. An attachment side interface is connected to the attachment side control system, and has at least one attachment side inductively coupled communication receiver and at least one attachment side inductively coupled communication transmitter. The agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication transmitter and the attachment side inductively coupled communication receiver cooperate to transmit electronic information and commands from the agricultural machine side control system to the attachment side control system. The attachment side inductively coupled communication transmitter and the agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication receiver cooperate to transmit electronic information from the attachment side control system to the agricultural machine side control system. A primary coil is connected to the agricultural machine for transmitting power to the attachment. A secondary coil is connected to the attachment for receiving power from the agricultural machine. The primary coil and the secondary coil cooperate to transmit power from the agricultural machine to the attachment using inductance.

The invention in another form is directed to a method of transmitting electronic information, commands, and electric power between an agricultural machine and an attachment. The method includes several steps. The first step is providing an agricultural machine side control system connected to the agricultural machine and an attachment side control system connected to the attachment. The second step is providing a wireless attachment connection having an agricultural machine side interface connected to the agricultural machine side control system. The agricultural machine side interface has at least one agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication receiver and at least one agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication transmitter. The wireless attachment connection further has an attachment side interface connected to the attachment side control system. The attachment side interface has at least one attachment side inductively coupled communication receiver and at least one attachment side inductively coupled communication transmitter. The third step is using the agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication transmitter and the attachment side inductively coupled communication receiver to transmit electronic information and commands from the agricultural machine side control system to the attachment side control system. The fourth step is using the attachment side inductively coupled communication transmitter and the agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication receiver to transmit electronic information from the attachment side control system to the agricultural machine side control system. The electronic information and commands include at least one of a commanded attachment height, a current attachment height, row guidance, a commanded reel position, a current reel position, a commanded flotation pressure, a current flotation pressure, an attachment type, an attachment model, an attachment serial number, current attachment hours, and software drivers. The fifth step is providing a primary coil connected to the agricultural machine. The sixth step is providing a secondary coil connected to the attachment. The seventh step is using the primary coil and the secondary coil to transmit power between the agricultural machine and the attachment by way of inductance.

One advantage of the present invention is that it allows for the transmission of electronic information, commands, and/or electrical power between an agricultural machine and its attachment, such as between a combine, forage harvester, windrower, harvesting machine, or crop preparation machine and a header, or such as between an agricultural tractor and towed agricultural implement, without the susceptibility to breakage, wear, and failure due to contamination associated with known connector arrangements.

Another advantage is that the present invention eliminates costly repairs and downtime that occur when an operator forgets to disconnect a known connector arrangement, resulting in breakage of the connector and/or its wire harnesses.

Still another advantage is that the present invention allows for reliable transmission of electronic information, commands, and/or electrical power between an agricultural machine and its attachment, without losses or interruption due to poor connections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The terms “forward”, “rearward”, “left” and “right”, when used in connection with the agricultural machine and/or components thereof are usually determined with reference to the direction of forward operative travel of the agricultural machine, but again, they should not be construed as limiting. The terms “longitudinal” and “transverse” are determined with reference to the fore-and-aft direction of the agricultural machine and are equally not to be construed as limiting.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly toFIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown an agricultural machine in the form of a combine10, which generally includes a chassis12, ground engaging wheels14and16, an attachment in the form of a header18, a feeder housing20, an operator cab22, a threshing and separating system24, a cleaning system26, a grain tank28, and an unloading conveyance30. Unloading conveyor30is illustrated as an unloading auger, but can also be configured as a belt conveyor, chain elevator, etc.

Front wheels14are larger flotation type wheels, and rear wheels16are smaller steerable wheels. Motive force is selectively applied to front wheels14through a power plant in the form of a diesel engine32and a transmission (not shown). Although combine10is shown as including wheels, is also to be understood that combine10may include tracks, such as full tracks or half-tracks.

Header18is removably mounted to the front of the combine10and includes a cutter bar34for severing crops from a field during forward motion of combine10. A rotatable reel36feeds the crop into header18, and a double auger38feeds the severed crop laterally inwardly from each side toward feeder housing20. Feeder housing20conveys the cut crop to threshing and separating system24, and is selectively vertically movable using appropriate actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders (not shown).

Threshing and separating system24is of the axial-flow type, and generally includes a rotor40at least partially enclosed by and rotatable within a corresponding perforated concave42. The cut crops are threshed and separated by the rotation of rotor40within concave42, and larger elements, such as stalks, leaves and the like are discharged from the rear of combine10. Smaller elements of crop material including grain and non-grain crop material, including particles lighter than grain, such as chaff, dust and straw, are discharged through perforations of concave42.

Grain that has been separated by the threshing and separating assembly24falls onto a grain pan44and is conveyed toward cleaning system26. Cleaning system26may include an optional pre-cleaning sieve46, an upper sieve48(also known as a chaffer sieve), a lower sieve50(also known as a cleaning sieve), and a cleaning fan52. Grain on sieves46,48and50is subjected to a cleaning action by fan52, which provides an airflow through the sieves, to remove chaff and other impurities such as dust from the grain by making this material airborne for discharge from straw hood54of residue handling system70of combine10. Grain pan44and pre-cleaning sieve46oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner to transport the grain and finer non-grain crop material to the upper surface of upper sieve48. Upper sieve48and lower sieve50are vertically arranged relative to each other, and likewise oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner to spread the grain across sieves48,50, while permitting the passage of cleaned grain by gravity through the openings of sieves48,50.

Clean grain falls to a clean grain auger56positioned crosswise below and in front of lower sieve50. Clean grain auger56receives clean grain from each sieve48,50and from bottom pan58of cleaning system26. Clean grain auger56conveys the clean grain laterally to a generally vertically arranged grain elevator60for transport to grain tank28. Tailings from cleaning system26fall to a tailings auger trough62. The tailings are transported via tailings auger64and return auger66to the upstream end of cleaning system26for repeated cleaning action. Cross augers68at the bottom of grain tank28convey the clean grain within grain tank28to unloading auger30for discharge from combine10.

The combine10shown inFIG. 1shows a known connector arrangement between the combine10and the header18, wherein the combine10is provided with a male combine side connector82with sockets (not shown) that is linked to the combine10by a combine wire harness88. The header18is provided with a female header side connector80with pins (not shown) that is linked to the header18by a header wire harness86, and which mates to the male combine side connector82. The female header side connector80is fixedly mounted to the header18by way of a connector mounting84, whereas the male combine side connector82is not fixedly mounted but is located at the end of the combine wire harness88which remains loose so that the connection can be made manually by inserting the male combine side connector82into the female header side connector80. The male combine side connector82and the female header side connector80may be a 31 pin Deutsch brand connector, in which the connection is made manually by aligning a key tab (not shown) on both connector bodies and then turning a locking ring (not shown) while simultaneously pushing the male combine side connector82into the female header side connector80.

Such connector arrangements as shown inFIG. 1tend to be susceptible to breakage, wear, and failure due to contamination. Frequently, when the header18is detached from combine10, the operator forgets to detach the male combine side connector82from the female header side connector80, so that when the combine10is backed away from the header18, the female header side connector80, the connector mounting84, the header wire harness86, the male combine side connector82, and/or the combine wire harness88gets damaged. Repair and/or replacement of these components can be time consuming and costly, both in terms of repair costs and in terms of downtime. Additionally, as the male combine side connector82is installed and removed normally, the contacts of both male combine side connector82and female header side connector80wear and eventually the pin contacts (not shown) of the male combine side connector82bend over and short out against other pins, or break off entirely. Furthermore, the environment at the rear of the header18and at the front of the feeder housing20where the connector arrangement is located is not conducive to keeping a connector clean and dry. As a result, dirt, chaff, oil, and moisture frequently contaminate the male combine side connector82and female header side connector80, resulting in poor connections and requiring the connection to be cleaned out at regular intervals.

The agricultural machine in the form of a combine10shown inFIG. 2shows an embodiment of the present invention, a wireless attachment connection98. The wireless attachment connection98includes an agricultural machine interface100and an agricultural machine primary coil118, which may be in the form of a paddle, a port, or a flat plate, as non-limiting examples. The agricultural machine primary coil118is fixedly or resiliently attached to the agricultural machine10, in this case to the feeder housing20of the combine10, such as by use of a bracket, rubber mount, spring, or other rigid or semi-rigid arrangement. The wireless attachment connection98further includes an attachment interface150and an attachment secondary coil168, which may be in the form of a port, a paddle, or a flat plate, as non-limiting examples. The attachment secondary coil168is fixedly or resiliently attached to the attachment, in this case in the form of header18, such as by use of a bracket, rubber mount, spring, or other rigid or semi-rigid arrangement. The agricultural machine interface100and the attachment interface150are brought into close proximity, preferably 10 centimeters or less, even more preferably 4 centimeters or less, when the attachment is attached to the agricultural machine, in this case when the header18is attached to the feeder housing20. The agricultural machine interface100and the attachment interface150, upon being brought into close proximity, together function to provide a communication interface using an inductively coupled form of communication, such as Near Field Communication (NFC) protocol, as a non-limiting example, between the agricultural machine and the attachment, in this case between the combine10and the header18.

The agricultural machine primary coil118and the attachment secondary coil168cooperate to provide wireless transmission of electrical power between the agricultural machine and the attachment, in this case between the fecombine10and the header18, using inductance. In the embodiment shown, the agricultural machine primary coil118is in the form of a paddle, and the attachment secondary coil168is in the form of a port. However, it is contemplated that the agricultural machine primary coil118may be in the form of a port, and the attachment secondary coil168may be in the form of a paddle. Still alternately, each of the agricultural machine primary coil118and the attachment secondary coil168may be in the form of flat plates, which face each other when the attachment is attached to the agricultural machine, in this case when the header18is attached to the feeder housing20, thereby providing wireless inductive transmission of electrical power between the combine10and the header18. In this way, the function of the connector arrangement shown inFIG. 1is fulfilled by the wireless attachment connection98according to an embodiment of the present invention as shown inFIG. 2, without the susceptibility to breakage, wear, and failure due to contamination.

Turning now toFIG. 3, an embodiment of the wireless attachment connection98is shown in graphical representation in further detail. The wireless attachment connection98includes an agricultural machine side control system102connected to agricultural machine10, which is then connected to an agricultural machine side interface100. The wireless attachment connection98also includes an attachment side control system152connected to the attachment18, which is then connected to an attachment side interface150. The agricultural machine side interface100includes at least one agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication receiver106and at least one agricultural machine side inductively coupled communication transmitter108connected to the agricultural machine side control system102, as well as an agricultural machine primary coil118. Similarly, the attachment side interface150includes at least one attachment side inductively coupled communication receiver156and at least one attachment side inductively coupled communication transmitter158connected to the attachment side control system152, as well as an attachment secondary coil168.

The agricultural machine side control system102is connected to the agricultural machine10by way of agricultural machine side inputs110which may be provided with agricultural machine side analogue to digital converters114. The agricultural machine side control system102is further connected to the agricultural machine10by way of agricultural machine side outputs112which may be provided with agricultural machine side digital to analogue converters116. The attachment side control system152is connected to the attachment18by way of attachment side inputs160which may be provided with attachment side analogue to digital converters164. The attachment side control system152is further connected to the attachment18by way of attachment side outputs162which may be provided with attachment side digital to analogue converters166.

In this way, using the agricultural machine side interface100and attachment side interface150of the wireless attachment connection98, and using inductively coupled communication, electronic information and commands regarding attachment height, row guidance, reel position, flotation pressure, and attachment type, as non-limiting examples, may be exchanged between the agricultural machine side control system102and the attachment side control system152. Additionally, the attachment side control system152may provide the agricultural machine side control system102with software drivers for operating coils, actuators, or motors (not shown) used in the attachment18. One or more of the agricultural machine side analogue to digital converters114may further be provided with load resistors122in order to allow the agricultural machine side control system to detect when the coils, actuators, or motors used in the attachment18should be activated. One or more of the attachment side outputs162of the attachment side control system152may be provided with high power DC circuitry174, in order to operate one or more solenoids, motors, actuators, or lights, as non-limiting examples, associated with the attachment18.

The attachment side control system152may further provide the agricultural machine side control system102with specific identifying information regarding the attachment18, such as attachment type, model, and serial number, thereby allowing the use of various attachments18without requiring the operator to manually reconfigure the attachment type in the agricultural machine side control system102when changing attachments18. This identifying information may be stored in Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) storage (not shown) in the attachment side control system152. The attachment side control system152may also be provided with an attachment hour meter172, accumulated hour information from which may also be provided to the agricultural machine side control system102using the wireless attachment connection98, thereby allowing for more accurate tracking of accumulated operating hours on the attachment18.

In order to transmit power wirelessly between the agricultural machine10and the attachment18, the agricultural machine side interface100of the wireless attachment connection98is provided with an agricultural machine primary coil118. The attachment side interface150of the wireless attachment connection98is provided with an attachment secondary coil168. When the attachment18is attached to the agricultural machine10, for example when a header18is attached to the feeder housing20of the combine10, the agricultural machine primary coil118engages with or is brought into close proximity with the attachment secondary coil168. A direct current (DC) to alternating current (AC) converter120converts the agricultural machine DC power, such as 12 or 24 volts DC, to AC suitable to operate the agricultural machine primary coil118, which then transmits that power to the attachment secondary coil168through inductance. The AC power from the attachment secondary coil168is then converted back to DC by an attachment AC to DC rectifier converter170, which may include a voltage regulator, for use by the attachment side control system152and other electrical systems of the attachment18. Note that the embodiment of the invention illustrated inFIGS. 2 and 3show the agricultural machine primary coil118, in the form of a paddle, connected to the agricultural machine10and the attachment secondary coil168, in the form of a port, connected to the attachment18. However, it is contemplated that embodiments of the invention include a coil paddle connected to the attachment18and a coil socket connected to the agricultural machine10, thereby performing the same function of transmitting electrical power from the agricultural machine10to the attachment18, with the coil socket functioning as the primary coil and the coil paddle functioning as the secondary coil. It is further contemplated that embodiments of the invention include the agricultural machine primary coil118and the attachment secondary coil168in the form of flat plates, as mentioned previously.

The agricultural machine side control system102may be provided with an agricultural machine side network transceiver104, which may be a Closed Area Network (CAN) transceiver, an Ethernet transceiver, a Local Interconnect Network (LIN) transceiver, or a proprietary network transceiver, as non-limiting examples, thereby allowing for communication between the agricultural machine side control system102and other electronic systems (not shown) within the agricultural machine10. Similarly, the attachment side control system152may be provided with an attachment side network transceiver154, allowing for communication between the attachment side control system152and other electronic systems (not shown) within the attachment18.