Agricultural working machine

p0001The invention relates to an agricultural working machine according to the preamble of claim 1.

p0002Agricultural machinery, such as tractors, forage harvesters, combines, cotton pickers and the like can be operated normally to work on a field and for transport on a road. Many of these machines (see. Operating Instructions Self-propelled forage harvester 6650, 6750, 6850 and 6950, John Deere Werke Zweibrücken OMZ92565 output K7 © 1997) have operator input devices, which are typically carried out as so-called field / road operation switch or road safety switch. This operator input devices make it possible to select an operating mode. Only if the work mode is selected, certain, required on the field in the working operation means the machine can be put into operation, with a combine, for example, the discharge conveyor in rotation and swung the unloading auger. On the other hand, it allows the operator input device to select a road mode. As the road mode in turn can be turned on others, only needed in road maintenance equipment, such as certain lights. In the road mode, only needed in working operation devices can not be turned on while at work mode, only when driving on a road required facilities of the work machine can not be put into operation. In this way, operating errors are avoided.

p0003Will the operator after the completion of work on going on a field in the road mode, it has many kinds of machines before spending a working device from the operating position into an inoperative position by operating a corresponding switch, whereupon an actuator moves the working device in the inoperative position , For example, in a combine harvester, the discharge pipe to bring in the position in which it extends along one side of the combine. A ride on a road is now safe to do so, while they would not be allowed at swiveled out discharge pipe.

p0004Since most machines a large number of working facilities must spend in the inoperative position, especially an inexperienced operator often has difficulty all working facilities identify and bring into the correct position before proceeding to the operator input device to move in the road mode. He may need to draw a Product manual which is relatively time consuming. In addition, there is a danger that he forgets one of the working equipment, and they can accidentally stand in the operating position.

p0005In the <patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="US5884204A"><text>US 5884204 A</text></patcit> is described with an implement that can be raised by an actuator to an agricultural machine. The actuator is connected to a controller, which in turn is connected to an input device. The input device can be changed via the controller and the actuator, the vertical position of the implement. To avoid undesirable vibrations of the implement when driving at higher speeds, the controller can check whether the implement is in a form suitable for driving on the road, raised position. If these conditions are met and the rate is greater than a minimum value, a transition is made in a so-called road mode, it is checked whether the undesirable vibrations of the implement actually occur and, if the actuator is actuated for lowering of the implement to prevent the vibrations ,

p0006The object of the invention is based is seen in avoiding the disadvantages mentioned.

p0007This object is achieved by the teaching of claim 1, wherein in the further patent claims cite characteristics that further develop the solution in an advantageous manner.

p0008A controller is connected to the operator input device. The controller is also supplied information about the position of the working device. Tells the operator by pressing the operator input device makes a transition from work mode to road mode, the controller checks whether the working device is in the inoperative position. Depending on the result of the comparison, a signal value is generated.

p0009it is possible to automatically drive the for moving the working device provided actuator and to arrange to spend the working device in the inoperative position, if it is selected with the operator input device, a transition from road mode to the work mode and the working device is not in the basis of the signal value inoperative position. Alternatively or additionally, the operator will be given the appropriate information, so that it can initiate a return of the working device.

p0010In this way, the working device passes automatically or by operator action in the line to take in the road trip inoperative position. The operator work is made much easier, the probability of error is reduced and the safety on the road is ensured.

p0011The invention can be applied particularly in self-propelled harvesting machines such as combine harvesters, forage harvesters and balers. In these machines, the working element is preferably for handling crops, ie set for receiving, transporting or processing of the crop, that it then these are not means for propelling the work machine.

p0012In a combine harvester can be driven with the operator input device, an actuator that moves the discharge pipe, the grain tank cover, a wheel assembly which is adjustable to work on a slope, and / or the movable into an inoperative position elements of a harvesting header. One or more of the working devices are thus automatically or manually adjusted to the inoperative position once the operator with the operator input device selects the road mode.

p0013Analog can be moved in a forage harvester that about the vertical axis rotatable and adjustable in inclination, downstream of the chopping arranged discharge and / or for road transport movable into an inoperative position elements of a harvesting header.

p0014The invention may also be interested in tractors with attached tillage tools or devices for dispensing material such as find seeders, fertilizer spreaders and sprayers use, which are optionally brought into the inoperative position.

p0015In some cases, it does not make sense to spend the working device into the inoperative position. So it is not possible in a completely filled grain tank to close the grain tank cover, because then the actuator, the grain tank cover or the grain tank itself is damaged. It is therefore advisable to provide a corresponding sensor which is adapted to detect a condition in which a movement of the working device is in the inoperative position is not appropriate or not possible. Such a sensor may be a sufficiently a known level sensor in the case of the grain tank. The sensor is connected to a controller, which is also connected to the actuator and the operator input device. The sensor sends a corresponding signal to the controller, that indicates that operation of the actuator is not useful if necessary. The controller prevents, unless it receives a signal from the operator input device instructing it to move the actuator towards the non-operating position, an actuation of the actuator, if the sensor outputs a signal indicative of the occurrence of the condition. Instead of operating the actuator control is preferably a notice to the operator so that he can remove the obstacle first, z. B. empty the grain tank.

p0016In the event that an operator input element for driving the actuator is in a position corresponding to one located in the operating position working element, and the operator caused by the operator input device that the actor spends the working member to the inoperative position, it makes sense, even the to spend operator input element automatically into a position corresponding to an inoperative position of the working element. This can prevent the working element automatically and unintentionally gets into the operating position as soon as the operator with the operator input device again selects the work mode.

p0017In the drawings is a detail hereinafter described Ausführungsbeispiel the invention. It shows:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>an inventive agricultural working machine,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>a diagram of the control electronics of some work items of the work machine from <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref>,</dd></dl>

p0018one in <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> self-propelled working machine 10 shown in the form of a combine is supported on front driven and rear steerable devices 12 and 14 to advance in the form of wheels and has an operator's cab 16 from which it can be operated by a driver. Adjoining the cab 16 rearwardly a grain tank 18, which may deliver emitted in him a good Korntankentleerrohr 20 outwards. The grain tank 18 supported on a frame 22, in the supplied good by way of a threshing drum 24, a concave 26 and a beater 28 is broken down into its large and small components. On subsequent shakers 30, and on a grain pan 32 and seven 34 further separation of the harvested crop is conducted, where finally the threshed Gutanteil is conveyed into the grain tank 18, the major harvested crop is stored on the shaker 30 to the ground and light components also be blown by a blower 36 of the wires 34 to the ground. On the floor lying or standing rigging is an inclined conveyor 38 and a stone trap 40 of the threshing cylinder 24 supplied after it has been taken up by a crop gathering not shown from the bottom.

p0019The Korntankentleerrohr 20 is rotatably supported by a first actuator 42 in the form of a hydraulic motor about the vertical axis, so that it is in between the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> Inoperative position shown in which it extends along the side of the working machine 10, and an operating position in which it is with respect to the <figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> extends perpendicularly to the drawing plane, is movable. In the operating position the Korntankentleerrohr 20 can be used to dispense the stored in the grain tank 18 grain into a trailer or into another container. For this purpose there is a screw conveyor within the Korntankentleerrohrs 20th

p0020is located at the top of the grain tank 18, a grain tank cover 44 in the form of pivotable cover elements. The grain tank cover 44, by an associated, second actuator 46 in the form of a hydraulic cylinder which is connected by a suitable mechanism with the grain tank cover 44 between an operating position, as in the<figref idrefs="f0001">figure 1</figref> is shown and in the grain tank cover 44 is opened to increase the capacity of the grain tank 18, and an inoperative position to be moved, in the grain tank cover closed 44 and the interior of the grain tank 18 is protected against environmental influences. Moreover, the height of the machine is then reduced to 10 for the permitted use on the road level. Within the grain tank is a sensor 50 for the level.

p0021The Korntankentleerrohr 20 and the grain tank cover 44 thus form working devices which are movable by the associated actuators 42, 46 between an operating position to work in a field and an inoperative position for driving on a road.

p0022There is a light 48, which is used only in the public roads in operation at the front of the cab 16th

p0023The <figref idrefs="f0002">figure 2</figref> schematically shows a part of the control electronics of the working machine 10. It comprises a controller 52 in the form of a microprocessor o. ä., which is connected via non-illustrated electromagnetic control valves connected to the actuators 42, 46. Further, the controller 52 is connected to the sensor 50 for the filling level of the grain tank 18 and the lighting 48th An operator input device 54, a switch 56 for pivoting the Korntankentleerrohrs 20, a switch 58 for opening and closing the grain tank cover 44 and a switch 60 for lighting 48 are also connected to the control 52nd The compounds mentioned are preferably carried out on a non-registered bus recorded.

p0024The operator input device 54 is a switch, which, like the other switches 56 - 60 is arranged in the driver's cab 16 in the grip region of an operator. The operator input device can be moved manually by the operator in a road mode position and alternatively in a work mode position. Instead of a manually actuated switch may be any other form of user input means are chosen, such as a keyboard, a touch-sensitive screen, or a voice input device.

p0025The controller 52 is programmed so that the lighting 48 can be turned on only by the switch 60 when the operator input device 54 is located in the road mode position. There may be several other bodies of work machine 10, which in an operating mode are by respective switches only verbringbar when the operator input device 54 is located in the road mode position, such as indicators and the like. Located at the operator input device 54 in the working mode position, the illumination is 48 off regardless of the position of the switch 60th

p0026Analog causes the controller 52 only to actuation of the switch 56 a pivoting of Korntankentleerrohrs 20 by the actuator 42 when the operator input device 54 is in the operating mode position. Located at the operator input device 54 in the road mode position, the actuator 42 is turned off, regardless of the position of the switch 60th

p0027The controller 52 causes further only to actuation of the switch 58 pivoting the grain tank cover 44 by the actuator 46 when the operator input device 54 is in the operating mode position. Located at the operator input device 54 in the road mode position, the actuator 46 is turned off, regardless of the position of the switch 58th As a rule, a number of other working facilities available that are settable only in operation when the operator input device 54 is in the working mode position, such as the threshing cylinder 24 and the shaker 30th

p0028The controller 52 is configured such that it checks for a switching of the operator input device 54 from the working mode position in the road mode position, whether the Korntankentleerrohr 20 is in its inoperative position. This is not the case, the actuator 42 is automatically aktivert until he has spent the Korntankentleerrohr 20 in the inoperative position. For this purpose, a corresponding sensor 66 is connected for the position of the Korntankentleerrohrs 20 with the control 52nd In addition, an electromechanical actuator 62 is provided, then spends the switch 56 in the position corresponding to the rest position of Korntankentleerrohrs 20th The position of Korntankentleerrohrs 20 can be displayed alternatively or additionally on a screen, wherein an operator time to time be available for selection with input elements adjustment display.

p0029In addition, the controller 52 checks 54 for a switching of the operator input device from the operating mode position to the road mode position, if the grain tank cover 44 is in its inoperative position. If this is not the case, the sensor 50 is interrogated. Instructs its signal indicates that the grain tank 18 is too far filled to 44 close the grain tank cover can easily, the operator will be given the appropriate information, for example by a pilot light or a written or oral text information. The operator can optionally first perform an emptying of the grain tank 18th Does the signal of the sensor 50 on the other hand suggests that the grain tank 18 is not in a closing of the grain tank cover is filled 44 disabling measure, causes the controller 52 to the actuator 46, the grain tank cover closed 44th An actuator 64 also spends the switch 58 in the position corresponding to the inoperative position of the grain tank cover 44th Again, a suitable sensor 68 is provided for detecting the position of the grain tank cover 44 and connected to the controller 52nd The position of the grain tank cover 44 can be displayed alternatively or additionally on a screen, wherein an operator with input elements currently available range of adjustment options are displayed

p0030The invention allows a result an automatic resetting of the working bodies in the form of Korntankentleerrohrs 20 and the grain tank cover 44 in the inoperative position, when transitioning from work mode to road mode. Thus, the operator of the working machine 10 is simplified and the security in the road mode increases because no working devices may remain in the operating position accidentally.