US6101795A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Automatic steering mechanism and method for harvesting machine
Assignee: Claas KGaA mbH
•
Filing: 1998-05-12
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Granted: 2000-08-15
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Expires: 2018-05-12
Abstract
Abstract A harvesting machine with an automatic steering mechanism consists of a self-propelled machine with a cutterbar mounted in the driving direction. The harvesting machine also has generally-known locating devices to scan the crop edge, in particular, the border between the mowed and unmowed crops. The location devices produce signals that are processed by a controller and, via devices well-known in the art, are utilized by the automatic steering mechanism. The crop edge is scanned in at least two variable distances in front of the cutterbar. The controller processes at least two locating signals received in variable scanning distances in front of the cutterbar. The locating signals are used by devices well-known in the art for the automatic steering mechanism.
Inventors
- 👤 Norbert Diekhans
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 02:45
CPC Classifications
A; A01; A01D; A01D41/00; A01D41/12; A01D41/127; A01D41/1278; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S56/00; Y10S56/15
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
In a self-propelled harvesting machine for harvesting agricultural crops and including steerable wheels, a cutterbar, a locating device which determines the crop edge and produces locating signals, a controller for receiving the locating signals, and a steering mechanism for the steerable wheels; the improvement comprising that the locating device is constructed and arranged to sense the standing crop edge in two separate distances in front of the cutterbar and produces two separate locating signals; and the controller processes the received two locating signals together to determine the path of travel and controls the steering mechanism accordingly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
In a self-propelled harvesting machine for harvesting agricultural crops and including steerable wheels, a cutterbar, a locating device which determines the crop edge and produces locating signals, a controller for receiving the locating signals, and a steering mechanism for the steerable wheels; the improvement comprising that the locating device is constructed and arranged to sense the standing crop edge in two separate distances in front of the cutterbar and produces two separate locating signals; and the controller processes the received two locating signals together to determine the path of travel and controls the steering mechanism accordingly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 1, wherein from the at least two locating signals operating at variable scanning distances in front of the cutterbar, the controller determines the direction angles between the harvesting machine's longitudinal axis and the crop edge and controls the steering mechanism.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
44 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 1, wherein from the at least two locating signals operating at variable scanning distances in front of the cutterbar, the controller determines the distance between the cutterbar's border edge and the crop edge and controls the steering mechanism.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 1, including at least a first and a second locating device to sense the crop edge at separate distances.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein said locating devices scan the crop edge in one variable distance each in front of the cutterbar.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein said first locating device is designed as a non-contact reflex locating device mounted above the crops with locating beams that face forward in a tilted position towards the ground.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 6, wherein said locating beams oscillate across the crop edge to be scanned.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein said locating device scans the crop edge at a distance approximately 10 to 50 feet in front of the cutterbar.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein said locating device scans the crop edge in a distance approximately 26 to 33 feet in front of the cutterbar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4 wherein said first locating device is a laser scanner having means for sending and receiving laser-beams.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 10, including means for periodically swivelling the laser scanner so that the laser beams cover a certain angle area.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein said first locating device is an ultrasonic sensor having an ultrasonic sending and receiving device.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein said first locating device is mounted on the cutterbar.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 13, wherein said first locating device is mounted directly on the cutterbar's left border edge.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 13, wherein said first locating device is mounted directly on the cutterbar's right border edge.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein said first locating device is mounted on the machine away from the cutterbar.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein said second locating device senses the crop edge in the catchment area of the cutterbar.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein said second locating device is arranged to sense the distance between the cutterbar border edge and the crop edge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 18, wherein said second locating device is designed as an ultrasonic sensor with an ultrasonic sending and receiving device.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
28 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 18, wherein said second locating device is designed as a mechanical sensing head, which is moved in place by the crop edge.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 18, wherein said second locating device provides an additional signal for the cutterbar utilization.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein said first locating device is pivotal around an axis.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
28 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 22, wherein, depending on the pivoting angle, said locating device scans the crop edge in variable distances in front of the cutterbar.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 22, wherein said first locating device is adjustable to two pivoting angles for the distant range scanning area and the short range scanning area of the crop edge.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 22, wherein said first locating device is infinitely pivotal so that the crop edge is infinitely scannable between the short and distant ranges.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 1, wherein said locating device is in the form of a digital camera which is positioned above the crops and tilted forwards towards the field.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
29 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 26, wherein said digital camera's surveying area in front of the cutterbar to scan the crop edge is evaluated via digital image processing.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 26, wherein the crop edge is determined at one spot in said digital camera's surveying area and the position of this spot is used as a locating signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 26, wherein the course of the crop edge in said digital camera's surveying area are determined at several spots and these spots are used as locating signals.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
41 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 4, wherein the positions of the crop edge, while driving, are scanned by at least one said locating device and are continuously stored in storage rings to produce a picture of the crop edge course.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
22 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 30, wherein said crop edge course is processed by the controller for the automatic steering mechanism.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
30 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 30, wherein said controller computes the mean of the scanned crop edge course by forming the sliding mean value over a certain time window.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
23 words
A harvesting machine according to claim 32, wherein said mean crop edge course is processed by the controller to control the steering mechanism.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for automatically steering a self-propelled harvesting machine which has a cutter bar, steerable wheels, and a steering mechanism for the steerable wheels; the method including the steps of: sensing the crop edge in front of the cutterbar in at least two separate distances and producing at least two separate locating signals; receiving and processing the two locating signals together to determine a path of travel for the machine; and controlling the steering mechanism accordingly.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
76 words
A method for automatically steering a self-propelled harvesting machine which has a cutter bar, steerable wheels, and a steering mechanism for the steerable wheels; the method including the steps of: sensing the crop edge in front of the cutterbar in at least two separate distances and producing at least two separate locating signals; receiving and processing the two locating signals together to determine a path of travel for the machine; and controlling the steering mechanism accordingly.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-08-15 | 2004-02-14 | 2004-08-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-08-15 | 2008-02-14 | 2008-08-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-08-15 | 2012-02-14 | 2012-08-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |