Sensor Unit for Measuring the Mass Flow of the Solid Phase of Biogenic Multi-Phase Flows and Fluidic Parameters of the Gaseous Phase

Abstract

A sensor unit for use in the multiphase flow of a harvesting machine, wherein the sensor unit exhibits sensors for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic radiation. In addition, the sensor unit has at least one device for acquiring flow parameters of the multiphase flow. The measuring values of the sensor unit can advantageously be used for controlling the operating mode of the harvesting machine.

Claims

1. A sensor unit (200) for use in a multiphase flow of air and plant parts of a harvesting machine, wherein the sensor unit (200) exhibits at least one device for transmitting (2001) and/or at least one device for receiving (2001) or reflecting electromagnetic radiation (2002), characterized in that the sensor unit (200) exhibits at least one device for acquiring flow parameters, and the devices for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic radiation (2001, 2002) in order to detect usable plant parts as well as the device for acquiring flow parameters are together arranged in a housing, and incorporated into the multiphase flow in such a way that the leading edge (201) of the housing is rounded, curvedly runs away from the surface of the fastening plane of the sensor unit (200), and is directed against the airflow, and the longitudinal extension of the housing is directed parallel to the direction of airflow, and the sensor unit (200) is configured in such a way that no regions of slowed flow rates arise in the area of the sensors, and that no flow separation takes place, or only does so outside of the measuring range, wherein a turbulent boundary layer is generated between the housing exterior of the sensor unit (200) and the multiphase flow.

2. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (2001) for transmitting electromagnetic radiation exhibits at least one light-emitting diode or laser diode or at least one gas discharge pipe or at least one halogen lamp.

3. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for receiving (2001) electromagnetic radiation exhibits at least one photodiode or a phototransistor or a CCD arrangement.

4. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device for acquiring flow parameters exhibits at least one hot film sensor (202) for acquiring the flow rate and/or an absolute pressure sensor.

5. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor unit (200) exhibits electronic means for recording, processing and/or transmitting the measured sensor values.

6. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor unit (200) is equipped with components for generating electrical power from the oscillatory motion of the sensor unit, and thereby supplied with energy via “energy harvesting”.

7. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the housing is keel-shaped in design, with a leading edge (201) that faces the direction of flow of the multiphase flow.

8. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 7, characterized in that the leading edge of the housing exhibits a sensor tip directed against the multiphase flow.

9. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 8, characterized in that the one or several sensors, preferably hot film anemometers, are located in or on the surface of the sensor tip or in the front area of the sensor tip.

10. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 7, characterized in that the leading edge (201) of the sensor unit (200) exhibits one or several tripwires for generating the turbulent boundary layer between the housing exterior and airflow.

11. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor unit (200) exhibits a console (205), with which it can be detachably secured in a fastening device (207).

12. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 11, characterized in that fastening the sensor unit (200) in the fastening unit (207) establishes the energy and data connection.

13. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 11, characterized in that the fastening device (207) exhibits two or several recesses for accommodating sensor units (200), wherein the distance between the sensor units (200) can be set.

14. The sensor unit (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor unit (200) exchanges electromagnetic radiation for detecting usable plant parts with a device (2001) for transmitting and/or receiving electromagnetic radiation in a wall of the channel in which the multiphase flow runs.

15. Use of sensor units (200) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sensor units (200) are located underneath the rotor (304), the straw walker (305), the upper sieve (301) and/or the lower sieve (302) in such a way that the perpendicular on the lateral walls of the housing of the sensor units (200) runs at least approximately perpendicular to the directions of movement of the gaseous and solid phases.

16. The use of sensor units (200) according to claim 15, characterized in that at least two sensor units (200) are located underneath the straw walker (305) and/or the rotor (304), and are staggered in the direction of movement of the solid phase, also called the material transport direction.

17. The use of sensor units (200) according to claim 15, characterized in that the upper sieve (301) and/or lower sieve (302) are divided into segments parallel to the direction of movement of the gaseous phase, wherein opposing sensor units (200) monitor one segment and/or several segments.

18. The use of sensor units (200) according to claim 15, characterized in that at least two opposing sensor unit pairs (200) are located one after the other under the upper sieve (301) and/or lower sieve (302), staggered in the direction of movement of the gaseous phase, making them suitable for acquiring the change in grain separation in relation to the longitudinal direction of the sieves.

19. The use of sensor units (200) according to claim 15, characterized in that the signals of the sensor units (200) are used to control or regulate the harvesting machine or machine settings, for example the blower speed, the sieve width and the like.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] FIG. 1 shows the sensor arrangements (circled areas) in a combine harvester according to prior art. Sensors are here located in the discharge areas of the crop separator, and are intended to acquire the loss.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows the principle arrangement of sensor units (transmitter and receiver) and their positioning relative to the directions of movement for the solid 101 and gaseous 100 phases. The particles 105 are illuminated in the laser field 104 of the transmitting sensor unit 102, and detected in the receiving sensor unit 103.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows the principle design of the sensor unit 200 according to the invention. Readily visible is the keel-shaped configuration of the sensor unit 200 with the leading edge 201, which faces the movement of the gaseous phase. The depicted sensor unit 200 further exhibits a hot film sensor 202 for determining the flow rate, and a pressure sensor 203 for ascertaining the static pressure. The optical sensor 204 has a strip-shaped design.

[0043] FIG. 4a to FIG. 4c schematically depict the sensor unit 200 in three views—a side view (FIG. 4a), a front view (leading edge—FIG. 4b), and a top view (assembly side—FIG. 4c). This embodiment exhibits a fastening console 205, which can be used to place the sensor unit 200 in a fastening device 207 and latch it in place therein.

[0044] FIG. 5a to FIG. 5c schematically depict a preferred embodiment of the sensor unit 200 in three views—a 3D view (FIG. 5a), a side view (FIG. 5b) and a front view (leading edge—FIG. 5c). By comparison to the embodiment on FIG. 4, the present embodiment exhibits a sensor tip 209, wherein the front area is composed of very readily heat conducting material, and carries the hot film sensor 202 in the interior or on its surface.

[0045] FIG. 6a to FIG. 6d schematically depict the arrangement of two sensor units 200 in a shared fastening device 207. The figures show the arrangement in a front view (FIG. 6a), a side view (FIG. 6b), a top view (assembly side—FIG. 6c) as well as a perspective view (FIG. 6d). The beam path 208 between the optical sensors (transmitter 2001 and receiver 2002) of the two sensor units 200 is schematically depicted on FIG. 6c and FIG. 6d.

[0046] FIG. 7 schematically depicts variants for the arrangement of sensor units 200 according to the invention underneath a sieve unit 106 in a side view (a) and from below (b). For example, the latter monitor one half the sieve width—arrangement (a), or just one segment 107 as in arrangement (b). The segments arise when the sieve is divided into strip-shaped sections running parallel to the direction of airflow. In arrangements (a) and (b), a respective sensor unit operates as a transmitter/receiver 2001 or as a receiver/reflector 2002. Arrangement (c) shows the use of sensor units 2001 that operate as a transmitter and receiver 2001 in the middle of the sieve width, but the latter only acquire the backscattered electromagnetic radiation, and do not monitor an area between two sensor units 200. Arrangement (d) makes it possible to monitor the changes in flux densities in a segment with pairs of sensor units 2001, 2002 situated one after the other in the direction of flow of the gaseous phase. The segments 107 are separated by webs 109, underneath which the sensor units 2001, 2002 are preferably located. If only the basket loss is to be acquired, it most often suffices to provide a pair of sensor units per machine side. However, it is advantageous to select an arrangement according to (d) for differentiated control of grain separation.

[0047] FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 show the preferred positions of sensor units 200 in combine harvesters with a straw walker 305 (FIG. 8) or rotor 304 (FIG. 9). At least two, preferably three or more sensor units 200 are here preferably situated underneath the straw walker 305 or rotor 304. At least two, preferably three or more sensor units 200 are preferably also situated underneath the upper sieve 301 and/or the lower sieve 302.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0048] The following exemplary embodiment explains the structural design and use of the sensor unit, but without limiting the invention to this example.

[0049] In this exemplary embodiment, the sensor units according to the invention are used in pairs, with the first and second sensor units spaced a defined distance apart from each other. To this end, the sensor units exhibit consoles, which hold them in the recesses of the fastening device. Placing the sensor unit consoles into the fastening device also establishes contact with the plug connector located in the fastening devices or its counter-pieces in the consoles for purposes of electrical power supply and data exchange. The sensor units are 258 mm long (greatest expansion), and have a height of 60 mm. The thickness measures at most 25 mm. The sensor units are fabricated out of the injection moldable plastic Ultramid A3X2G5sw23187. The translucent material comprising the disk of the optical sensor is Makrolon 550115. The dimensions of the disk measure approx. 100 mm×30 mm. The disk is rounded to prevent stress at the corners. The leading edge of the sensor unit exhibits a radius of curvature of 60 mm from the baseline (edge on which the sensor unit rests) to the keel line (edge of the sensor unit running parallel to the baseline). The shaping of the leading edge was determined via computer-aided mathematical simulation.

[0050] The two keel lines of the sensor units run parallel to each other, are spaced 250 mm apart.

[0051] The sensors arranged in the first sensor unit are a transmitter for electromagnetic radiation, a hot film sensor for measuring the flow rate, as well as a pressure sensor for measuring the static pressure.

[0052] The second sensor unit exhibits a receiver for electromagnetic radiation, in particular the radiation emitted by the first sensor unit. In addition, a hot film sensor for measuring the flow rate along with a pressure sensor for measuring the static pressure are also provided.

[0053] Pairs of the sensor unit according to the invention are incorporated into the harvesting machine at the following locations: [0054] Assembly 1: Several sensor unit pairs along the lower sieve of the cleaning device serve to acquire the separating curve (indirect loss determination). [0055] Assembly 2: Several sensor unit pairs along the upper sieve of the cleaning device also acquire the separating curve for indirect loss determination. [0056] Assembly 3: A sensor unit pair measures over the width of the lower sieve of the cleaning device, and thereby serves to determine the transverse distribution (e.g., correct the sloping influence, regulate the uniform transverse distribution). [0057] Assembly 4: A sensor unit pair measures over the width of the upper sieve of the cleaning device, and thereby serves to determine the transverse distribution (e.g., correct for the sloping influence, regulate the uniform transverse distribution). [0058] Assembly 5: Several sensor unit pairs measure the transverse distribution along the separating device (shaker/rotor) (e.g., to correct for sloping influence, regulate the uniform transverse distribution). [0059] Assembly 6: Several sensor unit pairs measure behind the upper sieve (transition to cleaning), and thereby enable a direct loss determination.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0060] 1 Cutting mechanism [0061] 2 Inclined conveyor [0062] 3 Slope compensation [0063] 4 Cross-flow blower [0064] 5 Preparation floor [0065] 6 Rotary elevator, tailings [0066] 7 Sieve box [0067] 8 Returns floor [0068] 9 Shaker [0069] 10 Shredder [0070] 11 Motor [0071] 12 Separator drum [0072] 13 Straw guide drum [0073] 14 Threshing drum [0074] 15 Driver cabin

[0075] Circled details on FIG. 1: Areas in which grain loss sensors are positioned in prior art. [0076] 100 Conveying direction of gaseous phase [0077] 101 Conveying direction of solid phase [0078] 102 Transmitting sensor unit [0079] 103 Receiving sensor unit [0080] 104 Laser field [0081] 105 Grains [0082] 106 Separating plane (sieve) [0083] 107 Segment [0084] 108 Middle of cleaning (cleaning device) [0085] 109 Web between the segments [0086] 200 Sensor unit [0087] 2001 Transmitter/receiver [0088] 2002 Receiver/reflector [0089] 201 Specially shaped leading edge [0090] 202 Hot film sensor [0091] 203 Pressure sensor [0092] 204 Optical sensor [0093] 205 Fastening console [0094] 206 Energy supply/data line [0095] 207 Fastening device for sensor pair [0096] 208 Beam path between two sensor units [0097] 209 Sensor tip [0098] 301 Upper sieve [0099] 303 Lower sieve [0100] 304 Rotor [0101] 305 Straw walker [0102] (a) . . . (d) Preferred sensor positions [0103] G Blower [0104] L Left machine side [0105] R Right machine side