Acoustic material flow sensor

US9631964B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Intelligent Agricultural Solutions LLC · US

Inventors

• Joshua N. Gelinske · Fargo, US
• Barry D. Batcheller · Fargo, US
• Paul A. Nystuen · West Fargo, US
• Adam A. Reich · Fargo, US
• Bradley R. Thurow · Fargo, US
• Bradley K. Schleusner · Fargo, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 14, 2015
• Grant date: Apr 25, 2017
• Expiry date: Sep 14, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC A): Human Necessities
• CPC primary: A01D41/1277
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A material flow sensor for a harvesting machine comprising an acoustic chamber comprising an impact plate and a housing, microphone, a pneumatic impulse line connecting the housing and the microphone, and an electronics module, wherein the housing is shaped so as to direct sound waves created by crop matter striking the impact plate into the pneumatic impulse line, wherein the sound waves move through the pneumatic impulse line into the microphone, which detects the sound waves and converts them into an electrical signal that is a representation of the sound power derived from the sound waves, which in turn is a representation of the mass of the crop matter striking the material flow sensor.