Equipment Protection Using a Grain Tank Level Sensor

• Main Authors: McCully William M, Banks, Jr. Clayton E, Conrad Michael A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 06.10.2016
• Subjects: AGRICULTURE; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; CHECKS FOR WINGS; DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTO OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION; DEVICES FOR STORING AGRICULTURAL OR HORTICULTURAL PRODUCE; FISHING; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; FORESTRY; HARVESTING; HAY OR STRAW PRESSES; HUMAN NECESSITIES; HUNTING; INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO HINGES OR OTHER SUSPENSION DEVICESFOR DOORS, WINDOWS OR WINGS AND DEVICES FOR MOVING WINGS INTOOPEN OR CLOSED POSITION, CHECKS FOR WINGS AND WING FITTINGS NOTOTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTIONING OF THEWING; KEYS; LOCKS; MEASURING; MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUIDLEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME; MOWING; PHYSICS; PROCESSING OF HARVESTED PRODUCE; SAFES; TESTING; TRAPPING; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS; WING FITTINGS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, CONCERNED WITH THEFUNCTIONING OF THE WING

A grain tank level sensing system for a combine which harvests grain. The combine includes an upwardly open grain tank fillable with harvested grain and a cover that is displaceable for closing off the open grain tank. An actuator displaces the cover between an open and close position and either single or dual ultrasonic sensors continuously detect the level of grain in the tank and generate a signal proportional to the level of grain in the grain tank. A control system receives the signal from the ultrasonic sensors and generates an indication of the level in the tank to a monitor and/or disables the actuator to initiate the closing function when the grain tank is full.