Abstract:
A data generation and transmission system in agricultural working machines for exchanging data between mobile working units and/or stationary working units, and actuators includes data generation and transmission elements assignable to at least a portion of the working units, at least a portion of the data generation and transmission elements enabling wireless exchange of data, and an energy required for dealing with generating the data and/or transmitting the data, is associated with the data generation and transmission system so as to produce the data in the data generation and transmission system and/or transmit the data by the data generation and transmission system.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119(a)-(d) to German Patent Application Number DE 10 2004 061 439.3, filed Dec. 17, 2004. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a data generation and transmission system in agricultural working machines. 
   An agricultural working machine designed as a combine harvester to which a remote-controlled system for switching, operating and controlling working units and actuators is assigned is made known in publication DE 196 18 033. To enable uncomplicated signal transmission between the various elements of the switching and control device, wireless data transmission was selected instead of wire-based signal transmission. So that the signals transmitted to the most diverse actuators can now also trigger control and regulating processes, it is provided that the energy supply to the data exchange system be provided by centralized or decentralized energy accumulators, such as batteries. Embodiments of this type have the disadvantage, in particular, that a large number of smaller battery units must be assigned directly to the particular sensor elements, resulting in data exchange systems that are complex in design and expensive. On the other hand, the assignment of a centralized energy source has the disadvantage that long transmission paths require high transmission efficiencies that often cannot be easily transmitted across the distances to be covered in an agricultural working machine. 
   In contrast, systems with wire-based data transmission, such as that disclosed in DE 41 33 976, are widespread. Data exchange systems of this type have a high level of functional reliability, so that a loss of information due to the data exchange system is nearly negligible due to transmission of electrical energy that is easy to realize. This type of data transmission has various disadvantages, however, due to the fact that it must be connected to wire systems. For instance, the wiring networks require installation space, which is that much larger in size the more elements there are connected to the data exchange system. On the other hand, agricultural working machines have a large number of working units, so that the lines that ensure data exchange are exposed to a great deal of wear when the sensor elements are located directly next to movable components. To counteract this wear, the wiring systems have connecting elements for the mobile sensors that are complex in design and often very expensive, the elasticity of which reduces the risk of breakage. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a data generation and transmission system in agricultural working machines that prevents the disadvantages of the related art described, has a great deal of flexibility, in particular, in adapting to geometric circumstances, and that is largely independent of separate energy accumulators. 
   In keeping with these objects and with others which will become apparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a a data generation and transmission system in agricultural working machines for exchanging data between working units selected from the group consisting of mobile working units, stationary working units, and both, and actuators, the data generation and transmission system comprising data generation and transmission elements assignable to at least a portion of the working units, at least a portion of said data generation and transmission elements enabling wireless exchange of data, and an energy required for dealing with the data selected from the group consisting of generating the data, transmitting the data, and both, being associated with the data generation and transmission system in a manner selected from the group consisting of producing the data in the data generation and transmission system, transmitting the data by the data generation and transmission system, and both. 
   Due to the fact that at least a portion of the data generation and transmission elements realizes wireless data exchange and the energy for generating data and/or for transmitting data is produced in the data generation and transmission system and/or is transmitted by the same, it is ensured that the data transmission can be adapted flexibly to geometric circumstances and functions largely independently of separate energy sources. 
   A cost-effective structure for the data generation and transmission system having a high level of functional reliability results when the information-gathering sensors are assigned to the working units and/or the actuators of the agricultural working machine that enable, via “transponders”, communication of the sensors with at least one transceiver mounted on the frame. In this manner it is ensured that only the devices that are absolutely required to generate the particular data signals are located on the movable working units or actuators, by way of which the energy required directly at the movable working units and actuators to generate data or to realize an actuating procedure is limited. 
   In an advantageous further development of the present invention, the sensor(s) and the transponders assigned to them, and the at least one transceiver mounted on the frame are designed such that the signals generated by the sensors are transmitted to the particular transceiver without loss of data and, conversely, that data to be transmitted from the transceiver to the sensors are transmittable without loss. 
   An embodiment of the present invention that is cost-effective and that further reduces the installation space required results when a transponder is directly assigned to each sensor and a plurality of sensor-transponder systems communicate with the same transceiver. 
   To keep the susceptibility of the data generation and transmission system minimal, in an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the sensor and the transponder assigned to it are combined in one sensor unit. 
   In an advantageous further embodiment of the present invention, a large number of sensors and the transponders assigned to them can be combined into groups of data generation and transmission elements, each group communicating with a separate transceiver. This has the advantage that the data transmission can be limited to distances that do not result in a loss of information. It is also thereby ensured that the energy requirement within these groups of data generation and transmission elements remains low. 
   Due to the fact that the transceiver(s) communicate with at least one control and evaluation unit and/or a bus system of the agricultural working machine, a more reliable and faster exchange of data with the further communication devices of the agricultural working machine is also ensured. 
   A particularly compact embodiment of the present invention that takes up little installation space and is minimally susceptible results when the energy source for the data exchange is the sensor-transponder system and/or the at least one transceiver. 
   A particularly small design of the sensor-transponder system is attained by obtaining the energy required to operate the sensor-transponder system from the transceiver signal. 
   In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the energy required to operate the data generation and transmission system can also be generated using external magnetic fields. 
   A low energy loss and, therefore, prevention of interferences in the data generation and transmission system become possible when the sensor-transponder system (and/or the transceiver) is movably located, and a pendulum-inductance coil system is located in the sensor-transponder system (and/or the transceiver) to produce energy. 
   In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the transceiver(s) are located in a fixed position on the machine frame of the agricultural working machine, while one or more sensor-transponder systems are fixed directly to the movable working units and/or actuators of the agricultural working machine. This has the advantage that the masses moved in the data generation and transmission system and the energies to be transmitted are low. 
   A high level of flexibility with regard for the information that can be exchanged using the data generation and transmission system is obtained when the sensors can generate measured signals and actuating signals. 
   Due to the fact that the agricultural working machine is designed as a combine harvester and the sensors are designed as grain sensors known per se and are assigned to the tray-type shaker and/or the cleaning device of a combine harvester, a data generation and transmission system for a combine harvester is provided that enables convenient data generation in areas that are difficult to access and are moved during operation. The same applies when the sensors are designed as actuating elements for the adjusting device of the sieve of the cleaning device. 
   In an advantageous further embodiment of the present invention, a large number of sensors, e.g., sensors known per se for determining wind speeds, crop moisture and temperatures, position sensors, grain-quantity sensors and rotational speed and torque sensors can be assigned to one or more working units of the agricultural working machine, so that the data generation and transmission within an agricultural working machine becomes largely independent of wire-based data transmission systems and separate energy sources. 
   The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the present invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  shows a side view of an agricultural working machine designed as a combine harvester 
       FIG. 2  shows a detailed view of the combine harvester in  FIG. 1   
       FIG. 3  shows a schematic depiction of the data generation and transmission system according to the present invention 
       FIG. 4  shows a detailed view of a sensor according to the present invention 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   An agricultural working machine  1  designed as a combine harvester  2  is shown in  FIG. 1 , in the case of which a cutting mechanism  4  is assigned to feed rake  3  located on the front side. In a manner known per se, feed rake  3  transfers crop flow  5 , harvested by cutting mechanism  4 , to threshing parts  6  in its rear region, where a first partial crop flow  7  consisting substantially of grain, non-threshed ears, short straw and chaff is discharged. In the rear region of threshing parts  6 , the remaining crop flow  5  reaches a separating device  9  designed as a tray-type shaker  8 , in the underside region of which a further partial crop flow  10  also consisting substantially of grain, non-threshed out ears, short straw and chaff is discharged. While partial crop flow  10  discharged at tray-type shaker  8  is directed via a return pan  11  to grain pan  12 , first partial crop flow  7  discharged at threshing parts  6  reaches grain pan  12  directly. In the rear region of tray-type shaker  8 , crop flow  5  composed essentially of straw and a small portion of residual grain—the losses due to separation  13 —are discharged out of combine harvester  2 . 
   Partial crop flows  7 ,  10  that reach grain pan  12  are transferred as combined crop flow  14  to cleaning device  15  located downstream of grain pan  12 . In a manner known per se, cleaning device  15  is composed of cleaning sieves located such that they extend vertically and are spaced relative to each other, upper sieve  16  and lower sieve  17 , and at least one cleaning fan  18  that moves a stream of air through the sieve systems  16 ,  17 . Sieve system  16 ,  17 , which is usually moved in a swinging manner and through which air flows, separates crop flow  14  transferred to it via grain pan  12  into substantially grain and non-grain components. In the rear region of cleaning device  15 , a stream of material  20  consisting mainly of short straw and chaff and a small portion of grain—the losses due to cleaning  19 —are discharged out of combine harvester  2 . 
   A further grain flow  21  passing through sieve systems  16 ,  17  that is composed substantially of grain and, to a small extent, of admixtures of grain flow  21  is directed in a manner known per se using a feed auger system  22  and a grain elevator  23  to a grain tank  24  for storage of grain flow  21 . 
   To determine grain-loss flows  13 ,  19 , grain-loss sensors  25 ,  26  are assigned to separating device  9  designed as tray-type shaker  8  and cleaning device  15 , in the rear region in each case, in a manner to be described in greater detail. In addition, grain elevator  23  that conveys grain flow  21  into grain tank  24  has a grain-quantity sensor  27  for determining grain quantity  21  that is harvested. It should also be mentioned here that a large number of additional sensors, such as sensors  28  for determining the rotational speed of cylinders  29  that are threshing parts  6 , or sensors for determining a torque on cylinders  29  that corresponds to crop-material throughput  5  can be assigned to combine harvester  2 . 
   In the exemplary embodiment shown, threshing parts  6 , separating device  9  and cleaning device  15  simultaneously represent working units  31  of combine harvester  2 . In addition, combine harvester  2  has a large number of actuators  32 , although only adjusting drive  33  for sieve system  16 ,  17  of cleaning device  15  is described in the context of the present invention. In a manner known per se, adjusting drive  33  of cleaning device  15  is driven by at least one electrically driven adjusting motor  34 , which brings about—via mechanical interface elements  35 —an adjustment of opening width  36  of sieve lamella  37  of sieve system  16 ,  17 , position sensors  38  known per se monitoring the position of adjusting drive  33 . As a measure of the sieve opening width  36  to be set, either the position of sieve lamella  37 , the position of spindle  39  of linear motor  34  and/or the position of one or more interface elements  35  of adjusting drive  33  can be sensed directly by position sensors  38 . 
   Furthermore, agricultural working machine  1  designed as combine harvester  2  has a bus system  40 —indicated schematically in  FIG. 1  and to be described in greater detail, below—in which, in addition to sensors  25 - 28 ,  30 ,  38  described, a control and regulating unit  41  can be integrated, which can be edited by the operator  44  using a display and input unit  43  located in driver&#39;s cab  42  of combine harvester  2  and which displays information to the operator. 
     FIG. 2  shows, for sensors  25 - 28 ,  30 ,  38  described as an example, their attachment to various working units  31  or actuators  32 . Grain-loss sensors  25  that sense loss due to separation  13  are detachably connected to individual trays  45  of tray-type shaker  8  using retaining brackets  46 . Due to the fact that individual trays  45  move in a manner such that they are offset from each other, it is advantageous to assign a separate grain-loss sensor  25  to each straw walker rack  45 . A plurality of grain-loss sensors  25  can also be assigned to each straw walker rack to improve the measuring accuracy of each straw walker rack. In a similar manner, in the exemplary embodiment shown, in a first embodiment, separate grain-loss sensors  26  for determining losses due to cleaning  19  are assigned to upper sieve  16  and lower sieve  17  of cleaning device  15 . 
   Grain-loss sensors  26  are also attached via retaining brackets  47  to particular sieve  16 ,  17  and therefore also perform the swinging motion  48  of particular cleaning sieve  16 ,  17 . To improve the sensing accuracy, a large number of grain-loss sensors  26  can be assigned to each cleaning sieve  16 ,  17  across the width of cleaning sieve  16 ,  17 . In a second embodiment, a single grain-loss sensor system  49  can be assigned to cleaning device  15 , which accommodates a large number of grain-loss sensors  26 ′ and is coupled either via an adapting device  50  with a swing frame  51  of sieve system  16 ,  17  and therefore reproduces swing motion  48  of cleaning sieves  16 ,  17  or is fixed directly to the frame in combine harvester  2 . Since sieve opening width  36  is usually adjustable for upper sieve  16  and lower sieve  17  independently of each other, a separate adjusting drive  33  is mounted to each cleaning sieve  16 ,  17  to change sieve opening width  36 . 
   In the exemplary embodiment shown, grain elevator  23  also has a grain-quantity sensor  27  known per se, which is either moved together with corn-lifting paddle  52  of grain elevator  23  or is located in a fixed position in a siding region  53  of grain elevator  23 . 
   As indicated previously, rotational speed sensors  28  and torque sensors  30  known per se are assigned to cylinders  29  of threshing part  6 . To realize data generation and transmission system  54  according to the present invention and described below, rotational-speed sensors  28  and torque sensors  30  can be connected either in a non-rotatable manner with rotating cylinders  29  or fixed to the frame of combine harvester  2 . 
   With reference to  FIG. 3 , data generation and transmission system  54  according to the present invention will now be described schematically using the example of grain-loss sensors  25  of tray-type shaker  8 . One or more grain-loss sensors  25  are assigned to straw walker rack  45 , which are designed as knock sensors in a manner known per se and that generate a voltage signal Z that is proportional to the grain loss as a function of the intensity of contact with grains representing loss due to separation  13 . Voltage signal Z is transmitted to a transponder  55 , which usually compiles voltage signal Z in a data format that can be processed further, and ultimately transfers it as an information signal Y to a transceiver  56  in a wireless manner according to the present invention. While grain-loss sensors  25  and transponders  55  assigned to them are connected with particular straw walker rack  45 , transceiver  56  is connected fixedly to the frame, e.g., with frame  57  of combine harvester  2 . 
   Transceiver  56  is designed such that it transmits information signals Y received via, e.g., a bus system  40  integrated in combine harvester  2  to a control and regulating unit  41  that communicates via bus system  40  with display and input unit  43  described above. Transceiver  56  can also wirelessly transmit control signals X to transponders  55  of various grain-loss sensors  25 . Control signals X can include information X 1  for transponders  55  and grain sensors  25  assigned to them, such as calibration information, and energy components X 2  required to operate grain-loss sensors  25  and transponders  55 . In the simplest case, energy component X 2  transmitted by transceiver  56  can be obtained from an energy source  58  assigned to the combine harvester. 
   Due to the fact that at least the data transmission between transponders  55  of grain-loss sensors  25  and transceiver  56  takes place in a wireless manner, and transceiver  56  simultaneously transmits energy X 2  required to operate grain-loss sensors  25  and transponders  55  assigned to them, a data generation and transmission system  54  is created, with which the data transmission is flexibly adaptable to geometric circumstances and that functions independently of separate energy sources assigned directly to individual grain-loss sensors  25  or transponders  55 . 
   In a similar manner, grain-loss sensors  26  of cleaning device  15  and position sensor(s)  38  of adjusting drives  33  assigned to cleaning sieves  16 ,  17  can communicate wirelessly via transponders  55  with the same or a separate transceiver  56  in the manner described previously, further transceiver  56  also being integrated in bus system  40  of combine harvester  2 . Provided it relates to adjusting drive  33 , transponder  55  ultimately generates an actuating signal W that brings about the above-described adjustment of sieve opening width  36  of sieve system  16 ,  17 . In addition, grain-flow sensor  27  and rotational speed and torque sensors  28 ,  30  are connected via further transponders  55  with an existing or, as shown, a separate transceiver  56  to bus system  40  of combine harvester  2 . 
   In the exemplary embodiment shown, at least various sensors  25 - 28 ,  30 ,  38  and transceiver  56  are the data generation and transmission elements  59  that exchange data in a wireless manner according to the present invention. 
   To realize a less susceptible design, particular sensors  25 - 28 ,  30 ,  38  and transponders  55  assigned to them can be combined in one component to form one sensor unit  60 . 
   Provided various sensors  25 - 28 ,  30 ,  38 , transponders  55  assigned to them, and the transceiver(s) are in motion during their communication, energy sources  61  to be described in greater detail generate—from the particular kinetic energy—the energy X 2  required to operate various data generation and transmission elements  59  can also be assigned to these data generation and transmission elements  59 . For reasons of transparency, this exemplary embodiment is shown in  FIG. 3  only for one sensor-transponder-transceiver system  25 ,  55 ,  56 .  FIG. 4  shows energy source  61  in detail. An inductance coil  62  composed of any number of windings is assigned to the interior of sensor unit  61  which is moved during operation, a slidingly mounted permanent magnet  63  being positioned inside inductance coil  62 , permanent magnet  63  sliding inside inductance coil  62  as a result of the motion of sensor unit  61 , so that a voltage is induced in inductance coil  62  in a manner known per se. At one end, contacts  64  are assigned to inductance coil  62 , via which the induced voltage is tapped and, after transformation, is directed to particular sensor  25 - 28 ,  30 ,  38  and transponder  55  assigned to this, as energy X 2 . It is within the scope of the present invention, in place of permanent magnet  63  located in sensor unit  61  in a sliding manner, for sensor unit  61  itself to be movable within a magnetic field  65  generated externally, thereby greatly simplifying the design of sensor unit  61 . 
   One skilled in the art is capable of transforming data generation and communication system  54  described in a manner not shown or to use it in applications other than those shown here to obtain the effects described, without leaving the scope of the invention. 
   It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of constructions differing from the types described above. 
   While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a data generation and transmission system in agricultural working machines, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 
   Without further analysis, the foregoing will reveal fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the invention. 
   What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.