KR20240030770A - Sensor structure for combine and system for monitoring grain yield using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a grain yield monitoring system. More specifically, the present invention relates to a structure of a sensor and a grain yield monitoring system using the same, wherein the sensor is installed in a grain tank of a combine to perform a procedure from cutting to threshing when harvesting grain to detect a flow rate of grain. According to an embodiment of the present invention, when a grain cut by a combine is transferred to a grain tank through a transfer auger, a flow rate is measured through a sensor structure having a shock plate installed to be adjacent to an inlet portion of the grain tank, thereby minimizing restriction of grain transfer.

Description

Sensor structure for combines and grain yield monitoring system using the same {SENSOR STRUCTURE FOR COMBINE AND SYSTEM FOR MONITORING GRAIN YIELD USING THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a grain yield monitoring system, and in particular, to a structure of a sensor that is installed in the grain tank of a combine that performs the procedure from harvesting to threshing when harvesting grain stems and detects the flow rate of grains, and to a grain yield monitoring system using the same. .

A combine is a device for harvesting crops such as rice, barley, or soybeans. In general, the combine provides the entire harvested grain shaft to the inside of the threshing device and processes the grains inside the threshing device. ) is configured to obtain

In particular, combines are widely used as automated machines for harvesting in fields, harvesting and threshing of grain stems, and recovering grains.

Such a combine travels the field with a crawler, reaps grain stems with a reaping blade while traveling, and conveys and threshes the harvested grain stems. In addition, it is common to have a structure in which straw and grains separated from the grain stem are sorted in a sorting unit located below, and the sorted grains are discharged from the sorting unit and recovered into a grain tank through a transfer auger.

Figure 1 shows a portion of the internal space of a grain tank installed in a conventional combine. Referring to Figure 1, the conventional combine is equipped with a grain tank (7) for storing the transferred grain, and the entrance of the grain tank (7) Part 8 is formed to correspond to the front end of the transfer auger through which the harvested and threshed grains are transferred.

In addition, a blade is installed to be rotatable inside the front end of the transfer auger, and the grains transferred to the front end by rotation of the blade are introduced into the inside through the inlet 8 of the grain tank.

According to this structure, a shock plate 11 coupled to a predetermined detection sensor 12 for detecting the flow rate of the grains is disposed at the inlet 8 of the grain tank 7, and the shock plate 11 The frame 13 on which the detection sensor 12 connected to is installed is fixedly coupled to the grain tank 7.

The above-mentioned detection sensor 12 is equipped with a piezoelectric element, and detects the grain flow rate in response to the pressure when the grain introduced by the blade collides with the shock plate 11.

However, in this conventional combine, the detection sensor 12 is installed on the frame 13 fixed to the inlet portion 8, so that the frame 13, including the shock plate 11, is on the path through which the grain is directly transported. It is located in

Therefore, the structure and position of the above-described shock plate 11, detection sensor 12, and frame 13 are elements that interfere with the flow when transferring grains, causing errors in the measured value of grain flow rate and smooth transport. If it is not done properly, it may cause the grain to be damaged.

Public Patent Publication No. 10-2022-0031993 (Publication Date: 2022.03.15.)

The present invention was devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and the present invention improves the installation structure of the grain flow detection sensor mounted on the combine, which is an agricultural machinery device for harvesting, threshing, and grain recovery operations, thereby preventing interference with grain transport. There is a challenge in providing a sensor structure for combines that can be applied to combines with various specifications while minimizing the problem.

In addition, the present invention, in addition to the sensor structure for the combine including a sensor, further includes one or more sensors installed on the lower surface of the grain tank to measure the weight, and by correcting using the results measured from each sensor, more accurate There is a challenge in providing a system that can calculate grain weight.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention is a sensor structure installed in a grain tank with an inlet formed on one side corresponding to the front end of the transfer auger of the combine, and is located at a predetermined distance from the inlet. An impact plate arranged to face and spaced apart and generating an impact force by collision with grains discharged from the blade of the tip, a flow sensor coupled to the back of the impact plate and outputting an electric signal corresponding to the applied impact force, and , one end is screwed to the inner surface of the grain tank, and the other end may include a first frame supported by being coupled to the back of the flow sensor in the first direction.

The first frame may be formed as a bar structure bent into an 'ㄱ' shape.

The sensor structure for the combine is screwed to the inner ceiling surface of the grain tank, intersects the first frame in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and may further include a second frame coupled to the flow sensor. You can.

The first and second frames may be respectively detachably coupled to the inner side of the grain tank.

In order to solve the above-described problem, the grain yield monitoring system using a sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes one or more low-pass filters electrically connected to a flow sensor mounted on the sensor structure, and the flow sensor A filter unit that removes noise from the first output value output from, calculates the rotation speed of the blade based on the second output value output from the inspection sensor installed on the blade of the combine, and calculates the rotation speed of the blade based on the rotation speed to the first output value. It may include a peak value calculator that calculates the peak value for each cycle, and a flow rate conversion unit that converts the peak value into the flow rate of the grain.

The filter unit is electrically connected to one or more weight sensors installed at the bottom of the grain tank of the combine, and the yield monitoring system uses the total weight value of the transferred grains output from the weight sensor to provide the first output value. It may further include a calibration unit that corrects through calibration.

The flow rate conversion unit may further include an integrator that converts the flow rate into a cumulative yield according to elapsed time.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, when the grain stem harvested by the combine is transferred to the grain tank through the transfer auger, the flow rate is measured through a sensor structure having a shock plate installed adjacent to the inlet of the grain tank, thereby measuring the grain transport. It has the effect of minimizing restrictions.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the flow rate sensor included in the sensor structure in the combine, additional sensors such as an inspection sensor and a weight sensor are used to adjust the peak value and calibrate the detection value, thereby changing the grain flow rate detection result. It has the effect of improving accuracy.

Figure 1 is a diagram showing part of the internal space of a grain tank mounted on a conventional combine.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a combine on which a sensor structure for a combine is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 3 is a side view showing the overall structure of a combine on which a sensor structure for a combine is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a combine on which a yield monitoring system using a sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the interior of the grain tank of the combine on which the sensor structure for the combine is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of a yield monitoring system using the sensor structure for the combine of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a diagram illustrating the output value of a sensor installed in a combine equipped with a sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the measured value of grain flow rate by a yield monitoring system using a sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating an installation form of a sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the installation form of the weight sensor of the combine in which the sensor structure for the combine is installed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

The present invention as described above will be described in detail through the attached drawings and examples.

It should be noted that the technical terms used in the present invention are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present invention. In addition, the technical terms used in the present invention, unless specifically defined in a different sense in the present invention, should be interpreted as meanings generally understood by those skilled in the art in the technical field to which the present invention pertains, and are not overly comprehensive. It should not be interpreted in a literal or excessively reduced sense. Additionally, if the technical term used in the present invention is an incorrect technical term that does not accurately express the idea of the present invention, it should be replaced with a technical term that can be correctly understood by a person skilled in the art. In addition, general terms used in the present invention should be interpreted according to the definition in the dictionary or according to the context, and should not be interpreted in an excessively reduced sense.

Additionally, as used in the present invention, singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In the present invention, terms such as “consists of” or “comprises” should not be construed as necessarily including all of the various components or steps described in the invention, and some of the components or steps are included. It may not be possible, or it should be interpreted as including additional components or steps.

Additionally, terms including ordinal numbers, such as first, second, etc., used in the present invention may be used to describe components, but the components should not be limited by the terms. Terms are used only to distinguish one component from another. For example, a first component may be referred to as a second component, and similarly, the second component may also be referred to as a first component without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. However, identical or similar components will be assigned the same reference numbers regardless of the reference numerals, and duplicate descriptions thereof will be omitted.

In describing the present invention, if it is determined that a detailed description of related known technologies may obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description will be omitted. In addition, it should be noted that the attached drawings are only intended to facilitate easy understanding of the spirit of the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the spirit of the present invention by the attached drawings.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the overall structure of a combine on which a sensor structure for a combine is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 3 shows the overall structure of a combine on which a sensor structure for a combine is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a side view, and Figure 4 is a block diagram showing the structure of a combine on which a yield monitoring system using a sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

2 to 4, the combine 100, on which the sensor structure for the combine and the grain yield monitoring system using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention are installed, is a self-contained combine, and is known to be driven to harvest rice. refers to a mechanical device.

The components of this combine 100 are largely comprised of a reaping unit 110, a transfer unit 120, a threshing unit 130, a sorting unit 140, a horizontal transfer auger 150, a vertical transfer auger 160, and a grain tank ( 170), sensor structure 200, yield monitoring system 300, and weight sensor 250. Figure 3 shows the structure according to the transfer path of rice or grains and the flow of signals generated accordingly. there is.

The harvesting unit 110 is installed at the tip of the combine 100 to cut the rice standing in the rice field. The driving unit 113 is driven according to the operation of the user riding in the cab 112 to cut the combine 100. This moves forward, and the rice cut by the harvesting unit 110 enters the inside of the device as the combine 100 advances.

The transfer unit 120 can transfer the cut rice entering the device to the threshing unit 130, and the threshing unit 130 allows the grains to be removed from the rice through the threshing process. The threshed grains are sorted and sorted through the sorting unit 140, and the grains are mounted on the base frame 115 by the horizontal transfer auger 150 and the vertical transfer auger 160. The grain tank 170 It is moved to and saved.

At this time, the tip 161 of the vertical transfer auger 160 is disposed corresponding to the inlet 171 of the grain tank 170, and is transported by the blade 165 rotatably installed inside the tip 161. The grain is hit and transported to the inside of the grain tank 170.

In particular, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the inner space of the grain tank 170 is adjacent to the inlet 171 and is struck by the blade 165 so that the grains entering the inside of the grain tank 170 collide. A sensor structure 200 including a shock plate may be further disposed, the flow rate of the grain is detected by a flow sensor included in the sensor structure 200, and the detection result is electrically connected to the sensor structure 200. It is characterized in that it is transmitted to the yield monitoring system 300.

In addition, a weight sensor 250 installed on the base frame 115 may be further placed on the lower surface of the grain tank 170, and this weight sensor 250 is electrically connected to the yield monitoring system 300. In addition to the sensor structure 200, the weight change of the grain tank 170 can be detected and transmitted to the yield monitoring system 300.

Here, the sensor structure 200 is a structure that measures grains that have already entered the inside of the grain tank 170 as it is located inside the grain tank 170, not the tip 161, and the frame has an inner surface and a screw. As installed through combination, the user can change the arrangement of the shock plate and frame of the sensor structure 200 so as to avoid the grain transfer path and not interfere with transfer, enabling accurate flow measurement without missing amounts.

The harvest yield monitoring system 300 can collect the detection results transmitted from the sensor structure 200 and calculate the grain flow rate stored in the grain tank 170 in real time. In addition, the harvest yield monitoring system 300 calculates a more accurate grain flow rate by correcting the grain flow rate calculated by the detection result of the sensor structure 200 based on the change in weight of the grain tank 170 detected from the weight sensor 250. Allows you to provide a value.

According to the above-described structure, the sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention and the yield monitoring system using the same can provide accurate grain flow rate detection results compared to the prior art through the sensor structure installed inside the grain tank. , the accuracy can be further improved by correcting the detection results through a weight sensor.

Hereinafter, the structure of the sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the interior of the grain tank of the combine on which the sensor structure for the combine is mounted according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 5, the grain tank 170 of the combine on which the sensor structure for the combine according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted has the inlet portion 171 facing the distal end 161 of the external vertical transfer auger 160. Arranged, the grains transferred from the distal end 161 are introduced into the interior of the grain tank 170 through the inlet 171.

In particular, in this structure, the sensor structure 200 may be installed adjacent to the inlet 171 and spaced a predetermined distance apart.

In detail, the sensor structure 200 is arranged to face the inlet 171 at a predetermined distance apart, and includes an impact plate 210 that generates an impact force by collision with grains discharged from the blade of the tip 161, A flow sensor 220 that is coupled to the back of the shock plate 210 and outputs an electrical signal corresponding to the applied impact force, and one end is screwed to the inner surface 172 of the grain tank 170, and the other end is It may include a first frame 230 that is coupled to and supports the rear surface of the flow sensor 220 in one direction.

The shock plate 210 is in the form of a square plate made of metal, the front of which faces the inlet 171, and the flow sensor 220 can be coupled to the rear. According to this structure, the shock plate 210 is struck by a grain passing through the inlet 171 and transmits the shock to the flow sensor 220, so that the flow sensor 220 detects the impact force.

The flow sensor 220 may be arranged in a longitudinal direction parallel to the shock plate 210, and is coupled to the back of the shock plate 210 to generate an electrical signal corresponding to the impact force generated on the shock plate 210. It can be transmitted to an electrically connected yield monitoring system. As this flow sensor 220, a known sensor such as a load cell may be used.

The first frame 230 may be coupled to the back of the flow sensor 220, and the other end may be fixed through screw coupling with the inner surface 172 of the grain tank 170. In particular, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the first frame extends in the vertical direction and is formed as a bar structure bent in an 'ㄱ' shape, so it can be placed at a position adjacent to the entrance portion 171, but has a bar structure. As it is somewhat spaced apart from the inlet portion 171, it is substantially away from the path along which the grain travels, so the frame has little influence on the grain, and the impact plate 210 is simply positioned to face the inlet portion 171. It plays a role.

Additionally, the other end of the first frame 230 is screw-coupled with the inner side 172, and its position can be appropriately changed according to the user's intention in consideration of the length.

On the other hand, the first frame 230 is in an 'L' shape, and a situation may occur in which the bent or fixed state is gradually distorted due to continuous impact of the shock plate 210. In the embodiment of the present invention, this problem is minimized. A second frame 235 that serves as an auxiliary support may be further provided.

The second frame 235 may be connected to the first frame 230 and/or the flow sensor 220 in a vertical direction. The second frame 235 may be in the form of a straight bar, one end of which is screwed to the first frame 230, and the other end of which may be screwed to the inner ceiling surface 173 of the grain tank 170 in a vertical direction. . According to this structure, the second frame 235 is cross-coupled with the first frame 230, and as the impact force transmitted from the impact plate accumulates, the arrangement of the first frame 230 may be distorted or deviated from its original position, etc. phenomenon can be minimized.

In particular, the above-described first and second frames 230 and 235 are all coupled to the inside of the grain tank 170 through screws, but each has a structure that is detachable from the inner side of the grain tank, so the user can Depending on the condition of the combine, the positions of the first and second frames 230 and 235 can be determined and installed appropriately.

Hereinafter, a yield monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 6 is a block diagram showing the structure of a yield monitoring system using the sensor structure for the combine of Figure 5.

Referring to FIG. 6, the yield monitoring system 300 using a sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention includes one or more low-pass filters electrically connected to the flow sensor 220 mounted on the sensor structure, A filter unit 310 that removes noise from the first output value output from the flow sensor, calculates the rotational speed of the blade based on the second output value output from the inspection sensor installed on the blade of the combine, and based on the rotational speed A peak value calculator 320 that calculates the peak value for each cycle for the first output value, a flow rate conversion unit 330 that converts the peak value into the flow rate of grains, and the total amount of transported grains output from the weight sensor 250. It may further include a calibration unit 350 that corrects the first output value through calibration using a weight value.

The filter unit 310 may be composed of a plurality of low-pass filters 311. This low-pass filter (losspass filter) serves to remove noise that may be present in the measurement result signal output from each sensor (220 to 250). 7 is a diagram illustrating the output value of a sensor installed on a combine equipped with a sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, the sensor output value measured by the flow sensor 220 for each cycle, and this It shows the filtered result value filtered through the low-pass filter 311.

In addition, the flow rate conversion unit 330 according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include an integrator that accumulates and integrates the grain flow rate output from the flow sensor 220 according to the elapsed time and converts it into a harvest amount. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating the measured value of grain flow rate by a yield monitoring system using a sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to Figure 8, the output value filtered by the flow sensor 220 is calculated as weight per hour. It is converted to flow rate according to (kg/s), and it can be seen that it increases linearly over time.

In particular, the flow rate conversion unit 330 must obtain the peak value for each cycle to apply the output value of the flow sensor 220 to the above equation, which detects the rotation speed of the blade installed at the end of the vertical transfer auger. It can be detected from a separate check sensor 240, and the output value of the flow sensor 220 according to a certain cycle can be obtained by outputting the sensor value at determined intervals corresponding to the output value of the check sensor 240 installed on the blade. You can.

The output unit 340 transmits the accumulated yield (kg) calculated through the flow rate conversion unit 330 to a connected display module, etc. to display it on the screen, or transmits it to an external terminal connected through a network for display. do.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, in addition to the flow sensor 220 and the inspection sensor 240 described above, a weight sensor 250 is installed on the lower surface of the grain tank and detects a change in weight. The yield monitoring system 300 receives the output value through the calibration unit 350 that is electrically connected to the weight sensor 250, and corrects the output value of the flow sensor 220 through calibration to increase the accuracy of the output value. You can.

Hereinafter, the technical idea of the present invention will be described in detail through examples of a combine on which the sensor structure for a combine of the present invention is mounted and its installation structure.

Figure 9 is a diagram illustrating an installation form of a sensor structure for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 9, the sensor structure 200 for a combine according to an embodiment of the present invention is mounted on one side of the combine and installed adjacent to the inlet on the inner side of the grain tank 170 for storing and storing threshed grains. It can be. Here, the inlet portion may be formed at a position corresponding to the distal end 161 of the vertical transfer auger, and as the blade 165 rotates inside the distal end 161, the grain is struck into the inside of the grain tank 170. It can be invested.

In particular, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sensor structure 20 has an impact plate 210 disposed so that the front face faces the distal end 161, and a flow sensor 220 is located on the back of the impact plate 210. They are coupled side by side in the longitudinal direction and transmit the impact force transmitted to the impact plate 210 to the yield monitoring system.

In addition, on the back of the flow sensor 220, a bar-shaped or bent first frame 230 is arranged parallel to the longitudinal direction, and the first frame 230 intersects to form a bar-shaped second frame 235. ) are combined.

Here, the flow sensor 220 is coupled to the side of one side of the first frame 230, and is bent on the other side so that the other end of the first frame 230 is the inner side 172 of the grain tank 170. is screwed on. In addition, one side end of the second frame is coupled between the flow sensor 220 and the first frame 230, and the other side end is screwed to the inner ceiling surface 173 of the grain tank 170.

Here, the installation positions of the first and second frames 230 and 235 are adjusted appropriately to the location where the impact occurs so that the impact plate has a distance that does not interfere with the transfer of grains input from the blade 165, depending on the user's intention. It can be.

Figure 10 is a diagram illustrating the installation form of the weight sensor of the combine in which the sensor structure for the combine is installed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 10, the harvest yield monitoring system according to an embodiment of the present invention may be further connected to a weight sensor 250 for correcting the output value by the flow sensor through calibration in addition to the above-described flow sensor. These weight sensors 250 are for measuring the weight change of the grain tank, that is, the weight due to the accumulated grains, and a plurality of them can be installed on the base frame 115 formed on the upper part of the running part 113 of the combine. There is, and a grain tank is mounted on top of the weight sensor 250 to measure the weight change.

Although many details are described in detail in the above description, this should be interpreted as an example of a preferred embodiment rather than limiting the scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention should not be determined by the described embodiments, but by the scope of the patent claims and their equivalents.

100: Combine 110: Harvester
112: Driver's cabin 113: Running unit
115: base frame 120: transfer unit
130: Threshing unit 140: Sorting unit
150: Horizontal transfer auger 160: Vertical transfer auger
161: tip 165: blade
170: Grain tank 171: (Grain tank) entrance part
172: (Grain tank) inner side wall 173: (Grain tank) inner ceiling surface
200: sensor structure 201: sensor
210: shock plate 220: flow sensor
230: first frame 235: second frame
240: inspection sensor 250: weight sensor
300: Yield monitoring system 310: Filter unit
311: low-pass filter 320: peak value calculator
330: Flow conversion unit 340: Output unit
350: Calibration unit

Claims (7)

A sensor structure installed in a grain tank with an inlet formed on one side corresponding to the tip of the combine's transfer auger,
An impact plate disposed to face the inlet at a predetermined distance apart and generate an impact force by collision with grains discharged from the blade at the tip;
A flow sensor coupled to the back of the impact plate and outputting an electrical signal corresponding to the applied impact force; and
A first frame having one end screwed to the inner surface of the grain tank and supporting the other end coupled to the back of the flow sensor in a first direction;
A sensor structure for a combine comprising a. According to claim 1,
The first frame is,
A sensor structure for a combine, which is formed as a bar structure bent into an 'ㄱ' shape. According to claim 2,
The sensor structure for the combine is,
A second frame is screwed to the inner ceiling surface of the grain tank, intersects the first frame in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and is coupled to the flow sensor.
A sensor structure for a combine further comprising: According to claim 3,
The first and second frames are,
A sensor structure for a combine that is detachably coupled to the inner side of each grain tank. A grain yield monitoring system using the sensor structure for a combine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising:
a filter unit including one or more low-pass filters electrically connected to a flow sensor mounted on the sensor structure and removing noise from a first output value output from the flow sensor;
A peak value calculator that calculates the rotational speed of the blade based on the second output value output from the inspection sensor installed on the blade of the combine, and calculates a peak value for each cycle for the first output value based on the rotational speed; and
Flow rate conversion unit that converts the peak value into the flow rate of grains
A grain yield monitoring system comprising a. According to claim 5,
The filter unit is electrically connected to one or more weight sensors installed at the bottom of the grain tank of the combine,
The yield monitoring system is,
A calibration unit that corrects the first output value through calibration using the total weight value of the transferred grains output from the weight sensor.
A grain yield monitoring system further comprising: According to claim 5,
The flow rate conversion unit,
A grain yield monitoring system further comprising an integrator that converts the flow rate into cumulative yield according to elapsed time.

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