Abstract:
An agricultural harvester residue handling selection method having the steps of: selecting a chop/swath residue handling mode resulting in a mode selection; setting a chopper speed range for a chopper in a residue handling section dependent upon the mode selection; and positioning a windrow door dependent upon the mode selection.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/874,833, entitled “METHOD OF REMOTELY CONFIGURING A RESIDUE SYSTEM OF AN AGRICULTURAL HARVESTER”, filed May 1, 2013, which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to agricultural harvesters such as combines, and, more particularly, to residue systems used in such combines. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    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 onto 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. A cleaning fan blows air through the sieves 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 residue system, which may utilize a straw chopper to process the non-grain material and direct it out 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. 
         [0006]    More particularly, a rotary threshing or separating system includes one or more rotors which can extend axially (front to rear) or transversely within the body of the combine, and which are partially or fully surrounded by a perforated concave. The crop material is threshed and separated by the rotation of the rotor within the concave. Coarser non-grain crop material such as stalks and leaves are transported to the rear of the combine and discharged back to the field. The separated grain, together with some finer non-grain crop material such as chaff, dust, straw, and other crop residue are discharged through the concaves and fall onto a grain pan where they are transported to a cleaning system. Alternatively, the grain and finer non-grain crop material may also fall directly onto the cleaning system itself. 
         [0007]    A cleaning system further separates the grain from non-grain crop material, and typically includes a fan directing an airflow stream upwardly and rearwardly through vertically arranged sieves which oscillate in a fore and aft manner. The airflow stream lifts and carries the lighter non-grain crop material towards the rear end of the combine for discharge to the field. Clean grain, being heavier, and larger pieces of non-grain crop material, which are not carried away by the airflow stream, fall onto a surface of an upper sieve (also known as a chaffer sieve) where some or all of the clean grain passes through to a lower sieve (also known as a cleaning sieve). Grain and non-grain crop material remaining on the upper and lower sieves are physically separated by the reciprocating action of the sieves as the material moves rearwardly. Any grain and/or non-grain crop material remaining on the top surface of the upper sieve are discharged at the rear of the combine. Grain falling through the lower sieve lands on a bottom pan of the cleaning system, where it is conveyed forwardly toward a clean grain auger. 
         [0008]    The residue system is configurable between a chopping and spreading mode and a windrowing mode, by stopping the combine and going to the rear of the combine and configuring the residue system to distribute the non-grain material in a chopping and spreading mode or in a windrowing and spreading chaff mode. Each time it is desired to change the mode the operator has to repeat this process. 
         [0009]    What is needed in the art is a residue handling system for an agricultural combine which can be reliably changeable between residue handling modes from the cab of the combine. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0010]    The present invention provides a method of selecting modes for a residue handling system of an agricultural harvester. 
         [0011]    The invention in one form is directed to an agricultural harvester residue handling selection method having the steps of: selecting a chop/swath residue handling mode resulting in a mode selection; setting a chopper speed range for a chopper in a residue handling section dependent upon the mode selection; and positioning a windrow door dependent upon the mode selection. 
         [0012]    The invention in another form is directed to An agricultural harvester including a chassis, a residue handling system carried by the chassis; and a controller configured to carry out a residue handling system selection method including the steps of: residue handling selection method having the steps of: selecting a chop/swath residue handling mode resulting in a mode selection; setting a chopper speed range for a chopper in a residue handling section dependent upon the mode selection; and positioning a windrow door dependent upon the mode selection. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]    The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become more apparent and the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0014]      FIG. 1  is a side view of an embodiment of an agricultural harvester in the form of a combine which includes an embodiment of a residue system of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematical representation of a field to illustrate when shifting residue modes may be undertaken with the residue system contained in the combine of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a partially sectioned view of an inline shaft shifting system used by an embodiment of a shifting method of the present invention used in the combine of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is another partially sectioned view of the inline shaft shifting system of  FIG. 3  with a shifting collar moved to a position different than that illustrated in  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a schematical representation of an embodiment of a residue control system used with the shifting system of  FIGS. 3 and 4  in the combine of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  illustrates an embodiment of a shifting method of the present invention used with the shifting system of  FIGS. 3 and 4  in the combine of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is an illustration of a display on the operator interface used with the residue system of the present invention; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is an illustration of another display on the operator interface used with the residue system of the present invention. 
       
    
    
       [0022]    Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplification set out herein illustrates an embodiment of the invention, in one form, and such exemplification is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0023]    The terms “grain”, “straw” and “tailings” are used principally throughout this specification for convenience but it is to be understood that these terms are not intended to be limiting. Thus “grain” refers to that part of the crop material which is threshed and separated from the discardable part of the crop material, which is referred to as non-grain crop material, MOG or straw. Incompletely threshed crop material is referred to as “tailings”. Also the terms “forward”, “rearward”, “left” and “right”, when used in connection with the agricultural harvester and/or components thereof are usually determined with reference to the direction of forward operative travel of the harvester, 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 harvester and are equally not to be construed as limiting. 
         [0024]    Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an agricultural harvester in the form of a combine  10 , which generally includes a chassis  12 , ground engaging wheels  14  and  16 , a header  18 , a feeder housing  20 , an operator cab  22 , a threshing and separating system  24 , a cleaning system  26 , a grain tank  28 , and an unloading auger  30 . 
         [0025]    Front wheels  14  are larger flotation type wheels, and rear wheels  16  are smaller steerable wheels. Motive force is selectively applied to front wheels  14  through a power plant in the form of a diesel engine  32  and a transmission (not shown). Although combine  10  is shown as including wheels, is also to be understood that combine  10  may include tracks, such as full tracks or half tracks. 
         [0026]    Header  18  is mounted to the front of combine  10  and includes a cutter bar  34  for severing crops from a field during forward motion of combine  10 . A rotatable reel  36  feeds the crop into header  18 , and a double auger  38  feeds the severed crop laterally inwardly from each side toward feeder housing  20 . Feeder housing  20  conveys the cut crop to threshing and separating system  24 , and is selectively vertically movable using appropriate actuators, such as hydraulic cylinders (not shown). 
         [0027]    Threshing and separating system  24  is of the axial-flow type, and generally includes a rotor  40  at least partially enclosed by and rotatable within a corresponding perforated concave  42 . The cut crops are threshed and separated by the rotation of rotor  40  within concave  42 , and larger elements, such as stalks, leaves and the like are discharged from the rear of combine  10 . 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 concave  42 . 
         [0028]    Grain which has been separated by the threshing and separating assembly  24  falls onto a grain pan  44  and is conveyed toward cleaning system  26 . Cleaning system  26  may include an optional pre-cleaning sieve  46 , an upper sieve  48  (also known as a chaffer sieve), a lower sieve  50  (also known as a cleaning sieve), and a cleaning fan  52 . Grain on sieves  46 ,  48  and  50  is subjected to a cleaning action by fan  52  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 hood  54  of combine  10 . Grain pan  44  and pre-cleaning sieve  46  oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner to transport the grain and finer non-grain crop material to the upper surface of upper sieve  48 . Upper sieve  48  and lower sieve  50  are vertically arranged relative to each other, and likewise oscillate in a fore-to-aft manner to spread the grain across sieves  48 ,  50 , while permitting the passage of cleaned grain by gravity through the openings of sieves  48 ,  50 . 
         [0029]    Clean grain falls to a clean grain auger  56  positioned crosswise below and in front of lower sieve  50 . Clean grain auger  56  receives clean grain from each sieve  48 ,  50  and from bottom pan  58  of cleaning system  26 . Clean grain auger  56  conveys the clean grain laterally to a generally vertically arranged grain elevator  60  for transport to grain tank  28 . Tailings from cleaning system  26  fall to a tailings auger trough  62 . The tailings are transported via tailings auger  64  and return auger  66  to the upstream end of cleaning system  26  for repeated cleaning action. A pair of grain tank augers  68  at the bottom of grain tank  28  convey the clean grain laterally within grain tank  28  to unloading auger  30  for discharge from combine  10 . 
         [0030]    The non-grain crop material proceeds through a residue handling system  70 . Residue handling system  70  includes a chopper, counter knives, a windrow door and a residue spreader. When combine  10  is in the chopping and spreading mode, the chopper is set to a high speed (3,000 RPM), the counter knives may be engaged, the windrow door is closed and the residue spreader is running. This causes the non-grain crop material to be chopped in to pieces of approximately 6 inches or less and spread on the ground. When combine  10  is in the windrow mode the chopper is at a low speed (800 RPM), the counter knives are disengaged and the windrow door is open. The residue spreader may continue operation to spread only the chaff, with the crop material passing through the passageway created by the open windrow door. 
         [0031]    Now, additionally referring to  FIG. 2  there is shown a field  72 , combine  10  enters field  72  at the upper left and is in an assumed chopping and spreading mode. Combine  10  starts harvesting by turning right and proceeding along a pathway in the chopping and spreading mode  74  to create a headland that is generally two header widths wide. The headland is a harvested section that permits combine  10  to turn around when harvesting the rest of the field without driving on unharvested crop. To chop and spread the crop residue in the headlands at each end of field  72  allows combine  10  to not have to cross windrows that can potentially drag beneath combine  10 . The additional residue left in the headlands helps to prevent field erosion. It is also possible to have an entire border around field  72  where the crop residue is spread. At chop-to-windrow change point  78  residue handling system  70  is changed to a windrow mode and combine  10  proceeds along a pathway in a windrow mode  76  until getting to windrow-to-chop change point  80 . At change point  80  residue handling system  70  is changed to a chopping and spreading mode and travels along another pathway in chopping and spreading mode  74  until reaching change point  78 . At change point  78  residue handling system  70  is again changed to windrow mode  76  and the rest of field  72  is completed. The mode may be changed at the conclusion of the field in anticipation of the next field. 
         [0032]    A problem, that is solved by the present invention, can be encountered when shifting the chopper between high and low speeds. Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there can be seen a clutch system  82  having pulley splines  84 , pulley splines  86 , hub spines  88 , a collar  90 , an actuator  92  and a collar fork  94 . Collar  88  is shown in  FIG. 3  engaging drive hub splines  88  with pulley splines  86  placing inline shaft  96  into a high speed mode for driving the chopper. As seen in  FIG. 4  actuator  92  has moved collar fork  94  causing collar  90  to be shifted to thereby couple pulley splines  84  with hub splines  88  to place clutch system  82  into a low speed mode. The problem alluded to above occurs when the internal splines of collar  90  hit the end of either pulley splines  84  or pulley splines  86  (depending on the direction of the shift) and do not properly engage, which can be referred to as a mid-stroke stall. 
         [0033]    Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , there is shown a controller  98  coupled to actuator  92 , a shift sensor  100  and an operator interface  102 . Controller  98  carries out the steps of method  150 . Operator interface  102  is located in cab  22  and can be either a standalone system or integrated into an existing interface. Shift sensor  100  is a position sensor associated with clutch system  82  to detect the position of collar  90  directly or indirectly. Sensor  100  may be integrated with actuator  92 . Controller  98  may be a standalone controller or integrated with a system controller of combine  10 . An operator selects a new residue mode at step  152  on operator interface  102  and controller  98  receives the command. Controller  98  causes actuator  92  to attempt to shift collar  90  at step  154 . If sensor  100  detects a successful shift then method  150  proceeds to step  172  and controller  98  sends a message to operator interface  102  causing a display to indicate the new mode of residue handling system  70 . 
         [0034]    When the problem discussed herein is encountered sensor  100  detects that the attempted shift was not successful at step  156  and it is determined at step  158  that collar  90  is in an uncommanded position. Collar  90  is then returned to the previous position at step  160  and if the number of attempts to engage collar  90  is less than X as determined in step  162 , where X is anticipated to be 3, although other numbers are contemplated, then method  150  proceeds to step  164 . At step  164  the chopper drive is temporarily engaged for a short period of time, perhaps less than 2 seconds, just enough to change the spline misalignment that led to the mid-stroke stall. The chopper speed is monitored at step  166  until the chopper speed is approximately equal to zero, or until it is absolutely zero and then the chopper shift is attempted again at step  154 . 
         [0035]    If at step  162 , it is determined that the number of sequential attempts to shift collar  90  is greater than X, then the operator is alerted by way of a message sent at step  168  to operator interface  102 . The message alerts the operator that the shift was not successful and a manual inspection of clutch system  82  is required as illustrated at step  170 . 
         [0036]    Additionally, prior to the engagement of the chopper at step  164 , the operator may be requested to initiate the engagement to thereby preserve vehicle safety interlocks. It is also contemplated that a sensor system may be in place to detect if anyone is proximate to combine  10  so that an automated engagement can occur without the operator commanding it. 
         [0037]    The following table denotes mode selections and the resulting selection for the chopper speed, the counter knife position, the position of the windrow door and the spreader position. 
       Chop/Swath Residue Handling Modes 
       [0038]      
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                   
                   
                 Counter 
                 Windrow 
                   
               
               
                   
                 Chopper 
                 Knife 
                 Door 
                 Spreader 
               
               
                 Mode 
                 Speed 
                 Position 
                 Position 
                 Position 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                 Spread chaff 
                 Low 
                 0% 
                 Closed 
                 Down 
               
               
                 and unchopped 
               
               
                 straw 
               
               
                 Windrow unchopped 
                 Low 
                 0% 
                 Closed 
                 Up 
               
               
                 straw and chaff 
               
               
                 Windrow unchopped 
                 Low 
                 0% 
                 Open 
                 Down 
               
               
                 straw and spread 
               
               
                 chaff 
               
               
                 Spread chaff 
                 High 
                 0-100% 
                 Closed 
                 Down 
               
               
                 and chopped 
               
               
                 straw 
               
               
                 Windrow chopped 
                 High 
                 0-100% 
                 Closed 
                 Up 
               
               
                 straw with chaff 
               
               
                 Windrow chopped 
                 High 
                 0-100% 
                 Open 
                 Down 
               
               
                 straw and spread 
               
               
                 chaff 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0039]    Now, additionally referring to  FIGS. 7 and 8  there are shown some possible interface screens for the operator interface. A 4-button matrix is illustrated to allow the operator to select the desired mode. The buttons are created with dual icons representing the primary components being controlled. As shown the chopper speed is shown in columns, high and low, and represented by a rabbit and a turtle inside a chopper icon. The windrow door icon shows the door in an open or closed state according to the row. 
         [0040]    The buttons and underlying control program is configurable to control secondary sub-systems, such as the chopper counter knife position. The system includes control of the chopper counter knife position, in that the counter knives may or may not be engaged (&gt;0%) when the chopper is in high speed, depending on the level of chopping that is desired and the ease with which the crop is chopped. In a dry crop condition, it may not be necessary to engage the counter knives, whereas if the crop is damp and the chopping more difficult, then the counter knives may be engaged. However, to protect the drive system of the combine, certain chopper systems cannot chop with the counter knives engaged if the chopper is at slow speed. This will cause high torque on the chopper drive system, potentially causing damage. Thus, residue handling system  70  will automatically disengage (0%) the counter knives whenever the chopper is selected for slow speed operation. 
         [0041]    As an example, if residue handling system  70  is in the chopping and spreading mode with the counter knives engaged (&gt;0%), and the operator wants to switch to the windrowing mode, first the machine is disengaged, and then the new mode is selected. Then the system will provide the necessary signals to the required actuators to open the windrow door and shift the chopper to low speed and the counter knives are automatically disengaged to 0% because they are not desired in the windrowing mode. The system can remember the last engaged position of the counter knives, such that a subsequent return to the chopping and spreading mode will also reengage the counter knives to the previous position. 
         [0042]    It is further considered that additional sub-systems of residue handling system  70  could be connected to the desired modes, such as spreader impeller speed, deflector positions, and spreader position (operating/storage); the windrow chute position and side deflector angles when in the windrowing mode. 
         [0043]    The threshing system of combine  10  influences the straw quality, so it is also contemplated that controller  98  may control components in other combine systems, especially the threshing system features such as concave clearance, cage vane angle, or rotor speed. It is further contemplated that the chopper counter knives may not be returned to a previous setpoint. 
         [0044]    Advantages of the present invention include utilizing existing clutches and components already on combine  10  and does not require complex and specially designed components. Further, the interface allows the operator to select the desired operating mode without multiple buttons and switches. 
         [0045]    Relative to residue handling system  70 , it is contemplated that controller  98  could automatically engage residue handling system  70  if other sensors were used that would guarantee no bystanders were near the machine, as briefly mentioned above. Sensors, like backup sensors on automotive vehicles, could be used. It is also contemplated that if combine  10  has a chopper which permits chopping crop residue in slow speed, then the integral chopper system can convert on-the-go from the chopping and spreading mode to the windrowing mode by disengaging the counter knives and opening the windrow door, and vice-versa. This type of chopper may be a roto-processor, such as previously patented by Case New Holland in U.S. Pat. No. 7,867,072, and commonly used on balers. It is additionally contemplated that the system will remember the last engaged position of the counter knives, such that a return to the chopping and spreading mode will also engage the counter knives. 
         [0046]    It is further conceived that alternatively it may be unnecessary to engage the chopper drive at step  164  to rotate the chopper. Other methods may be used. For example, an electric motor could be coupled to the input shaft of the chopper to rotate it so that the clutch splines are aligned and the shift collar may slide freely. 
         [0047]    Additionally, relative to operator interface  102 , a 4-square box matrix could also be used instead of the indicated buttons as proposed. The interface may be on the right-hand console in the operators cab instead of on the touch screen display. Yet further, it is contemplated that the interface may be based on voice recognition (audible input from the operator) of the commanded position. 
         [0048]    While this invention has been described with respect to at least one embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.