Combine having a system estimator to automatically estimate and dynamically change a target control parameter in a control algorithm

Patent 7062368 Issued on June 13, 2006. Estimated Expiration Date:

June 11, 2022. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Assignee

CNH America LLC

Application

No. 10167310 filed on 06/11/2002

US Classes:

701/50, Construction or agricultural-type vehicle (e.g., crane, forklift)475/72, Fluid pump and motor in one of plural paths to or from planetary gearing700/69, Positional (e.g., velocity, acceleration)475/204, Variable speed or direction is planetary transmission475/210, Nonplanetary transmission is belt or chain gearing56/14.6, With thresher or crop-separator unit460/6, Machine load460/116, DRIVE RELATED FEATURES318/432CONSTANT MOTOR CURRENT, LOAD AND/OR TORQUE CONTROL

Examiners

Primary: Tran, Dalena

Attorney, Agent or Firm

International Classes

G05D 7/00
A01F 12/56

Abstract

An agricultural combine includes a rotor drive system to which sensors are coupled to signal the rotational speed of a hydraulic motor and an engine. An electronic controller that contains a mathematical model of the system reads the sensors and using the model estimates additional parameters of the system. The estimated parameters include a gearbox's gear ratio and a planetary ring gear's speed. These estimated parameters and the sensor readings are used in a PID feedback control loop to control the speed of a planetary ring gear by controlling the speed of a hydraulic motor driving the sun gear. In this manner, the controller can drive the ring gear to a predetermined speed that reduces the difference in the input and output speeds of a hydraulic clutch and thereby engage that clutch while reducing shock to the clutch and other mechanical components of the combine.