Patent · US Expired

Combine harvester rotor load control

US6036597A · kind A · utility

26Cited by
3References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 11, 1998
Grant dateMar 14, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 11, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S56/15
  • WIPO fieldOther special machines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The threshing cylinder or rotor of a combine harvester is driven by a rotor hydraulic motor. A rotor pump, driven by an internal combustion engine supplies hydraulic fluid to the rotor hydraulic motor to drive the rotor. A variable speed traction drive propels the harvester over the surface of a field to harvest crops. A control system varies the ground speed of the harvester based upon the pressure of hydraulic fluid supplied to the rotor hydraulic motor to maintain a substantially constant crop material feed rate through the threshing cylinder or rotor. The control system can be an electronic system that measures the pressure of hydraulic fluid on the inlet side of the rotor hydraulic motor and varies the ground speed to keep the measured hydraulic fluid pressure substantially constant. A control system can also include a pressure control valve that varies the ground speed to maintain a constant rotor motor inlet hydraulic pressure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.