Grain mass flow rate determination

{
  "publication_number": "US9826683B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Grain mass flow rate determination",
  "abstract": "A harvester includes an auger tube having a first portion and a second portion adjacent the first portion, an auger flight within the first portion of the tube and terminating prior to the second portion to move grain to the second portion, a window along the second portion of the tube and a camera to capture images of grain within the second portion of the tube. A computing device determines grain mass flow based upon the captured images, a dimension of the second portion of the tube and a grain density factor.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A harvester comprising: an auger tube having a first portion and a second portion adjacent the first portion; an auger flight within the first portion of the tube and terminating prior to the second portion to move grain to the second portion; a window along the second portion of the tube; a camera to capture images of grain within the second portion of the tube; and a computing device to determine grain mass flow rate based upon the captured images, a dimension of the second portion of the tube and a grain density factor.",
    "2. The harvester of claim 1 further comprising a baffle radially projecting along an interior of the second portion of the tube.",
    "3. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the second portion is adjacent a discharge outlet of the auger tube.",
    "4. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the auger tube comprises a third portion adjacent the second portion opposite the first portion and wherein the harvester further comprises a second auger flight within and along the third portion and terminating prior to the second portion.",
    "5. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the computing device is to detect grain relaxation within the second portion due to auger pulsing and wherein the determine grain mass flow rate is additionally based on the detected grain relaxation.",
    "6. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the computing device is to determine a partial fill state of the second portion of the auger tube and wherein the determination of grain mass flow is additionally based on the determined partial fill state.",
    "7. The harvester of claim 6, wherein the determination of the partial fill state is based on the captured images.",
    "8. The harvester of claim 6, wherein the determination of the partial fill state is based upon a sensor of the harvester remote from the second portion of the auger tube.",
    "9. The harvester of claim 8, wherein the sensor comprises one or more sensors selected from a group of sensors consisting of: a crop engagement sensor; a threshing cylinder auger drive sensor; and a clean grain handling system power sensor.",
    "10. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the computing device is to detect a grain type based on the captured images and wherein the grain mass flow rate is determined based on the determined grain type.",
    "11. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the auger tube is inclined.",
    "12. The harvester of claim 1, wherein the second portion has a length of at least 6 inches.",
    "13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions to direct a processor to: receive images of grain movement in a portion of an auger tube omitting auger flights; detect grain relaxation within the portion due to grain pulsing by the auger flights; determine a grain mass flow rate based on the received images of grain movement, a dimension of the portion, a grain density within the portion and the detected grain relaxation; and providing an output based on the determined grain mass flow rate.",
    "14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions are configured to direct the processor to determine a partial fill state of the second portion of the auger tube and wherein the determination of grain mass flow is additionally based on the determined partial fill state.",
    "15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the determination of the partial fill state is based on the captured images.",
    "16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the determination of the partial fill state is based upon a sensor of the harvester remote from the second portion of the auger tube.",
    "17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the sensor comprises one or more sensors selected from a group of sensors consisting of: a crop engagement sensor; a threshing cylinder auger drive sensor; and a clean grain handling system power sensor.",
    "18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions are configured to direct the processor to detect a grain type based on the captured images and wherein the grain mass flow is determined based on the determined grain type.",
    "19. A method comprising: receiving images of grain movement in a portion of an auger tube omitting auger flights; detecting and identifying a partial fill state of the portion of the auger tube; and determining a grain mass flow based on the images of grain movement, a dimension of the portion, a grain density within the portion and the detected partial fill state, wherein the grain mass flow is determined in a first manner in response to a detected an identified partial fill state and in a second manner, different than the first manner, in response to absence of the partial fill state.",
    "20. The method of claim 19, wherein the instructions are configured to further direct the processor to detect grain relaxation within the portion due to grain pulsing, wherein the determine grain mass flow is additionally based upon the detected grain relaxation.",
    "21. The method of claim 19, wherein the determination of the grain mass flow additionally comprises subtracting a portion of the grain mass flow in response to the identification of the partial fill state.",
    "22. The method of claim 19 comprising determining a yield estimate based upon the mass flow rate, wherein a portion of the yield estimate is subtracted for a portion of the monitoring time determined to be in a partial fill state.",
    "23. The method of claim 19, wherein the determination of the grain mass flow excludes any detected grain movement for those periods of time identified as being in a partial fill state."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Determining or estimating grain mass flow rate assists in the harvesting of the grain as well as crop management. The determination or estimation of grain mass flow rate using cameras has been prone to inaccuracies.\n\nFIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an example harvester that estimates grain mass flow rate using a camera.\n\nFIG. 2 is a flow diagram of an example method that may be carried out by the harvester of FIG. 1.\n\nFIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of another example harvester that estimates grain mass flow rate using a camera.\n\nFIG. 4 is a sectional view of the harvester of FIG. 3 take along line 4 - 4.\n\nFIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating grain relaxation or retraction caused by rotation of an auger.\n\nFIG. 6 is a flow diagram of an example method that may be carried out by harvester 20 or harvester 220 to accommodate such grain relaxation.\n\nFIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of another example harvester that estimates grain mass flow rate using a camera.\n\nFIG. 8 is a flow diagram of an example method that may be carried out by the harvester of FIG. 1, the harvester of FIG. 3 and/or the harvester of FIG. 7 to determine grain mass flow rate at least partially based upon a detected fill state of an auger tube.\n\nFIG. 9 is a sectional view of a portion of another example harvester that estimates grain mass flow rate using a camera.\n\nFIG. 10 is a diagram of an example combine harvester that estimates grain mass flow rate using a camera.\n\nFIG. 11 is a perspective view of an example grain tank and yield estimation system of the combine harvester FIG. 10.",
  "cpc": [
    "A01D 41/1272",
    "A01B 76/00",
    "A01D 90/10"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A01B 76/00",
    "A01D 41/127",
    "A01D 90/10",
    "A01D 41/00"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Deere and Co",
    "Iowa State University Research Foundation Inc ISURF"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Aaron J. Bruns",
    "Matthew J. Darr"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-11-04",
  "publication_date": "2017-11-28",
  "grant_date": "2017-11-28",
  "priority_date": "2015-11-04",
  "application_number": "US-201514931932-A",
  "family_id": "58637142",
  "cited_by_count": 6,
  "citations": [
    "US5318475A",
    "US6257072B1",
    "US6526120B1",
    "US7340967B2",
    "JP2008145117A",
    "US20140076217A1"
  ]
}