Patents Assigned to CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
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Patent number: 11116132Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine for harvesting a crop field has a ground drive including multiple working units, a control system and a sensor system. The sensor system periodically emits transmitted pulses of electromagnetic transmission beams in at least one transmission direction onto the crop field and the transmitted pulses are reflected on the crop field and are received as echo pulses by the sensor system. For at least one portion of the transmitted pulses, different partial beams of a single transmission beam are reflected by plants of the crop field lying one behind the other with a time offset, so the particular resultant echo pulse is composed of time-offset partial echo pulses. The control system determines a value for the crop density on the basis of a time correlation within the resultant echo pulse, and controls the ground drive and/or the working units on the basis of the determined crop density.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 14, 2021Assignee: CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBHInventors: Thilo Krause, Jannik Redenius
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Patent number: 11109529Abstract: A height control system for a front harvesting attachment, comprising a frame, at least one crop pick-up device, and a ground-conforming cutterbar which is situated on a plurality of supporting arms that can pivot about a horizontal axis and are articulated on the frame. The supporting arms can be pivoted, originating from a desired position to be set before the start of a harvesting operation, between an upper end position, which delimits a deflection of the supporting arms in the direction of the crop pick-up device, and a lower end position, wherein the upper end position has a first clearance and the lower end position has a second clearance from the desired position, wherein the desired position can be adapted, during the harvesting operation, to changing harvesting conditions and/or operating conditions depending on a deflection of the cutterbar, in order to minimize the first clearance and maximize the second clearance.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2019Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Christian Fuechtling, Andreas Wielenberg, Udo Beschorn, Thomas Hinz
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Patent number: 11109537Abstract: A forage harvester comprising an edge sharpness detection device for detecting a degree of edge sharpness of a cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism comminutes a stream of harvested material, with a material inflow area being defined where the cutting blades interact with the shear bar to comminute the harvested material. The edge sharpness detection device excites one or more magnetic circuits, with the respective magnetic circuit being closed by the respective cutting blade during rotation of the cutter drum once one of the cutting blades passes the magnetic assembly. The edge sharpness detection device detects the magnetic flux in the respective magnetic circuit and, based on a detected change, determines a degree of edge sharpness of the respective cutting blade. Further, the magnetic flux of the magnetic circuit may be guided lengthwise in the cutting blade at least along a longitudinal section of the respective cutting blade.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: September 7, 2021Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Dennis Neitemeier, Christoph Heitmann, Jochen Huster, Markus Brune, Boris Kettelhoit
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Patent number: 11083135Abstract: A combine harvester has at least one header for cutting plants to be harvested with the aid of the combine harvester, a feeder for conveying the cut plants in the direction of a threshing mechanism, and a threshing mechanism, with the aid of which fruits can be removed from the cut plants in such a way that the fruits are then present separately from plant residue of the plants. The feeder comprises a revolvingly driveable conveying unit and a conveyor channel within which the cut plants can be conveyed with the conveying unit. The feeder interacts with a measuring unit in the form of a sensor unit that contactlessly detects material feed height of plants conveyed with the aid of the feeder in the conveyor channel.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2019Date of Patent: August 10, 2021Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Dennis Neitemeier, Frédéric Fischer, Daniel Sprigade, Markus Brune, Boris Kettelhoit, Andreas Arnold, Philipp Grossegesse
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Publication number: 20210235622Abstract: An agricultural harvester is disclosed. The agricultural harvester includes a cutting unit that has a cutting table adjustable in its cutting table length, a reel adjustable to a reel vertical position and reel longitudinal position, an inclined conveyor downstream from the cutting unit, and a driver assistance system. The driver assistance system autonomously determines, using at least one input variable, at least one machine parameter and specifies the machine parameter to the cutting unit. The machine parameter can include one or more of the cutting table length, the reel vertical position, or the reel longitudinal position. In particular, the driver assistance system may determine a harvested material throughput and a vibration coefficient describing the fluctuation in the harvested material throughput in a region lying in front of the threshing system and adapt or modify the cutting table length based on the determined vibration coefficient.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2021Publication date: August 5, 2021Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Joachim Baumgarten, Andreas Wilken, Dennis Neitemeier, Bastian Bormann, Sebastian Spiekermann, Daniel Irmer
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Patent number: 11002841Abstract: A method for the evaluation of signals of a rangefinder having at least one sensor point involves carrying out measurements cyclically, wherein the rangefinder emits a plurality of measurement points that indicate a distance from the sensor point. The rangefinder measures distances in a plurality of directions, and a horizontal angle is associated with each measurement point. The measurement points are differentiated into useful signals and interfering signals based on the distance. Measurement points with a distance below a first limiting value are identified as interfering signals, and measurement points above the first limiting value are identified as useful signals. Useful signals are associated with a first measurement area when they satisfy a predetermined condition for distance and horizontal angle. The quantity of useful signals in the first measurement area is determined, and a warning signal is emitted when the quantity of useful signals lies below a first threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2020Date of Patent: May 11, 2021Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: René Middelberg, Sven Carsten Belau, Daniel Irmer, Sebastian Spiekermann
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Publication number: 20210084818Abstract: A method and an apparatus for separating a crop flow on at least one conveying and cleaning unit, particularly a top sieve, of a combine harvester, wherein the conveying and cleaning unit is excited to a longitudinal oscillation and a transverse oscillation. The transverse oscillation is controlled depending on at least one state, wherein least one state for controlling the transverse oscillation is the inclination of the combine harvester, wherein at least one further state for controlling the transverse oscillation is the grain purity, particularly the grain purity of a main crop flow. The transverse oscillation is pre-controlled depending on the inclination of the combine harvester and fine-tuned depending on the grain purity.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 22, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Benedikt POELLING, Norbert STRIEKER, Dennis LUTTERBECK, Joachim BAUMGARTEN
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Publication number: 20210084816Abstract: A driver assistance system for a combine harvester that has a processing stage with an input for a crop flow, a first output for a useful flow and has abundant threshed grains, and a second output for a residual flow with scarce grains. At least one operating parameter of the processing stage is adjustable. The driver assistance system has an actuatable rethreshing device arranged at the second output of the processing stage, a residual grain sensor for detecting a proportion of threshed out grain in the residual flow downstream of the rethreshing device, and an evaluating device that turns the rethreshing device on and off, compares the proportions of threshed out grains in the residual flow when the rethreshing device is turned on and when the rethreshing device is turned off, and to adapt the at least one operating parameter of the processing stage based on the comparison.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 9, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventor: Jens BUSSMANN
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Publication number: 20210084817Abstract: A self-propelled combine harvester has at least one tilting mechanism for the uniform distribution of a harvested material on an oscillating conveying and cleaning unit, in particular a top sieve. The tilting mechanism has elements for defining a swiveling direction of the conveying and cleaning unit which are arranged between the conveying and cleaning unit and a machine housing. The tilting mechanism has an actuator for continuous adjustment of at least one component part of the elements from an initial position to an adjusting position. The position of the at least one component part decisively defines the swiveling direction. An electric control unit controls the actuator depending on a state of the combine harvester and/or harvested material and the initial position of the at least one component part of the tilting mechanism.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 21, 2020Publication date: March 25, 2021Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Benedikt POELLING, Dennis LUTTERBECK, George DANATZIS, Norbert STRIEKER, Michael KUEHN
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Publication number: 20210081618Abstract: A method and a data processing device are disclosed for at least partially automatically transferring a word sequence composed in a source language into a word sequence in a target language with corresponding substantive content. By analyzing the word sequence and identifying terms with lexical ambiguity in the word sequence by comparing with a terminology database comprising terms with lexical ambiguity in the source language which are assigned a plurality of term identifiers depending on their number of meanings, an unambiguous term definition is provided for translating the word sequence into the target language by assigning a term identifier to the term with lexical ambiguity in the source language. This may render a machine translation less susceptible to errors.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2017Publication date: March 18, 2021Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventor: Ute Rummel
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Publication number: 20210068340Abstract: A knife blade for a cutting apparatus has two cutting edges which are arranged at a substantially triangular cutting portion extending longitudinal to a fastening portion, wherein the cutting edges have areas with different tooth pitches from tooth pitches in other areas.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 22, 2020Publication date: March 11, 2021Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Felix HERTER, Norbert KIFFMEIER
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Publication number: 20210063547Abstract: A method for the evaluation of signals of a rangefinder having at least one sensor point involves carrying out measurements cyclically, wherein the rangefinder emits a plurality of measurement points that indicate a distance from the sensor point. The rangefinder measures distances in a plurality of directions, and a horizontal angle is associated with each measurement point. The measurement points are differentiated into useful signals and interfering signals based on the distance. Measurement points with a distance below a first limiting value are identified as interfering signals, and measurement points above the first limiting value are identified as useful signals. Useful signals are associated with a first measurement area when they satisfy a predetermined condition for distance and horizontal angle. The quantity of useful signals in the first measurement area is determined, and a warning signal is emitted when the quantity of useful signals lies below a first threshold value.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 21, 2020Publication date: March 4, 2021Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: René MIDDELBERG, Sven Carsten BELAU, Daniel IRMER, Sebastian SPIEKERMANN
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Patent number: 10926636Abstract: A control system for an agricultural working machine has a control device which is connected, in terms of signals, to a display unit, a ground speed control lever, and a control panel, wherein at least the ground speed control lever comprises multiple control elements. The display unit is designed as a touch-sensitive screen including one or multiple visualization panes and several virtual control elements. A preferred quick-select function—from a plurality of different quick-select functions for adjusting a performance parameter of the working machine—is assigned to one of the control elements of the display unit, of the ground speed control lever, and of the control panel, the performance parameter being depictable with the aid of the display unit upon activation. The quick-select function can be activated with the aid of the display unit, and/or the ground speed control lever, and/or the control element.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2018Date of Patent: February 23, 2021Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Michael Losch, Sebastian Neu, Christian Giesguth, Carsten Grove, Alexander Kirchbeck, Christoph Dierkes, Dirk Lahmann
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Patent number: 10897847Abstract: A forage harvester is configured to chop harvested material and includes at least one conditioning unit for conditioning the chopped harvested material. The conditioning unit may transfer from its active position (in which operatively connected with other working units) to its passive position (in which the conditioning unit is released from the operational connection). In the passive position, the condition unit may be removed from the entirety of the forage harvester. The forage harvester further includes at least two track drives arranged on opposing ends of a front axle of the forage harvester. The forage harvester includes a free cross-section positioned on a removal side of the forage harvester through which the conditioning unit, in its passive position, can be removed laterally from the rest of the forage harvester, as well as removed above the track drive assigned to the removal side.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2018Date of Patent: January 26, 2021Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventor: Jochen Rathjens
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Publication number: 20210015040Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine has a cutting apparatus formed as a header for cutting and picking up crop of a crop stand, an inclined conveyor downstream of the cutting apparatus and in which a temporal layer height flow is adjusted, and a driver assistance system for controlling the cutting apparatus. The driver assistance system has a computing device and a sensor arrangement with a crop sensor system for generating crop parameters of the crop stand and a layer height sensor for generating the temporal layer height flow. The computing device simultaneously generates the cutting apparatus parameters of the cutting table length, horizontal reel position and vertical reel position so as to be adapted to one another and conveys them to the cutting apparatus to implement a harvesting process strategy in ongoing harvesting operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 29, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Dennis NEITEMEIER, Joachim BAUMGARTEN, Andreas WILKEN, Bastian BORMANN, Sebastian SPIEKERMANN, Daniel IRMER
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Publication number: 20210015041Abstract: A method for executing an agricultural work process on a field by means of a group of agricultural work machines. The work machines each have work assemblies which are adjustable with machine parameters for adapting to the respective agricultural conditions. The work machines of the group communicate with one another via a wireless network. The work machines of the group are configured as self-optimizing work machines which each have a driver assistance system for generating and adjusting machine parameters in an automated manner. These machine parameters are optimized with respect to the agricultural conditions. The work machines of the group cooperate collectively in the manner of a virtual work machine.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2020Publication date: January 21, 2021Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Bastian BORMANN, Joachim BAUMGARTEN, Andreas WILKEN, Dennis NEITEMEIER
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Publication number: 20200367432Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for operating a cutting unit (1) that has a cutter bar (6) that is operated rigidly or flexibly, depending on the harvest conditions, which can be operated in at least two different operating modes, wherein the cutting unit (1) includes a first sensor assembly (1) disposed on the cutting unit (1) that can be deactivated, which is for operating the cutting unit (1) in a first operating mode, and a second sensor assembly (17) for operating the cutting unit (1) in a second operating mode, wherein, when switching between the at least two operating states, the first sensor assembly (13) or the second sensor assembly (17) is activated without interruption in operation, to execute a distance determination, depending on the selected operating mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2020Publication date: November 26, 2020Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Christian Fuchtling, Andreas Wielenberg, Udo Beschorn
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Publication number: 20200359563Abstract: A driver assistance system of an agricultural work machine constructed as forage harvester, wherein the agricultural work machine comprises a header for gathering crop, a chopping device having a chopping drum and chopping knives for comminuting the crop, and a monitoring device operable to generate a signal containing information about the wear status of the respective chopping knife and/or about the distance of the cutting edge of a chopping knife from a shear bar. This information is compared with a reference value, and the agricultural work machine has activation devices for activating and deactivating a knife grinding process and means for change of position of the shear bar. The monitoring device is integrated in the driver assistance system so that the driver assistance system automatically detects when a knife grinding process or a change of position of the shear bar must be activated or deactivated.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 23, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Christoph HEITMANN, Dennis NEITEMEIER, Markus BRUNE, Jochen HUSTER, Bjoern STREMLAU, Frédéric FISCHER
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Publication number: 20200363184Abstract: A detection arrangement for detecting a wear status of a chopping knife arrangement of a chopping device provided for processing a product flow, wherein the chopping device has a revolving chopping drum receiving the chopping knife arrangement and at least one shear bar which cooperates with the chopping knives, with a sensor arrangement which has a magnetic exciter arrangement and a flux conducting device magnetically coupled thereto. The sensor arrangement provides a pole arrangement which forms at least one magnetic pole with a pole surface for conducting magnetic flux, wherein at least a portion of the chopping knife passes the pole arrangement during a rotation of the chopping drum. A voltage induced when a chopping knife arrangement passes the sensor arrangement forms the measured magnetic value, which is used by the evaluation unit to determine the state of wear of the chopping knife arrangement.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Christoph HEITMANN, Dennis NEITEMEIER, Markus BRUNE, Jochen HUSTER, Frédéric FISCHER, Bjoern STREMLAU
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Publication number: 20200364955Abstract: A method and system for determining a cause of error in an agricultural working machine with a faulty component is disclosed. An analysis routine may analyze various types of data, such as operating data of the agricultural working machine, including workload data of the agricultural working machine, and/or design data of the agricultural working machine, such as design data of the faulty component of the agricultural working machine, in order to determine a cause of error, as indicated by cause of error data. Specifically, the analysis routine may analyze one or both of operating data and design data in order to determine whether a workload of the agricultural working machine and/or a design of the agricultural working machine, such as the design of the faulty component of the agricultural working machine, can be excluded and/or identified as the cause of error.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 8, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbHInventors: Christoph Thöle, Patrick Venherm, Thilo Dasenbrock