Patents Assigned to CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
  • Publication number: 20190174680
    Abstract: A forage harvester comprising an edge sharpness detection device for detecting a degree of edge sharpness of a cutting mechanism is disclosed. 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 (positioned outside of the material inflow area). 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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Publication date: June 13, 2019
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Neitemeier, Christoph Heitmann, Jochen Huster, Markus Brune, Boris Kettelhoit
  • Publication number: 20190152321
    Abstract: 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 assigned to the particular control element can be activated with the aid of the display unit, and/or the ground speed control lever, and/or the control element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: May 23, 2019
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: MICHAEL LOSCH, SEBASTIAN NEU, CHRISTIAN GIESGUTH, CARSTEN GROVE, ALEXANDER KIRCHBECK, CHRISTOPH DIERKES, DIRK LAHMANN
  • Patent number: 10292321
    Abstract: An agricultural work machine configured to avoid anomalies is disclosed. Agricultural work machines may encounter anomalies, such as obstacles (e.g., tires) or irregularities in the crop (e.g., weeds), which can reduce the quality of the harvested crop. Manually steering the agricultural work machine requires the constant attention of the vehicle operator. Thus, the agricultural work machine is configured to include sensors to generate one or more images (such as images of various regions of the agricultural work machine), an image processing system to process the images and a control unit to avoid the anomalies (e.g., avoid the identified anomalies, to drive in tracks, and/or to stop the agricultural work machine).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Dennis Neitemeier, Thilo Krause, Timo Korthals, Andreas Skiba, Boris Kettelhoit
  • Patent number: 10285329
    Abstract: A method for determining calibration data for a grain-loss sensor on a combine harvester includes measuring grain-loss quantities, which were left behind by the combine harvester during a harvesting operation, and measuring sensor grain-loss values by the grain-loss sensor during the harvesting operation. Reference marks are assigned to the measured grain-loss quantities and the measured sensor grain-loss values and the calibration data for the grain-loss sensor are determined on the basis of a reconciliation of the measured grain-loss quantities with the measured sensor grain-loss values according to the reference marks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Baumgarten, Christoph Heitmann, Sebastian Neu, Benedikt Feldotto
  • Publication number: 20190090423
    Abstract: A working machine, in particular a combine harvester, having multiple working elements for carrying out or assisting work, and a driver assistance system for controlling the working elements according to at least one processing strategy which can be specified by the operator and directed to the fulfillment of at least one quality criterion. The driver assistance system has a memory for storing data characterizing the processing strategy, a computing device for processing the data stored in the memory, and a graphical user interface. Competing quality criteria, weighted with respect to each other according to a weighting variable, are incorporated into the processing strategy. The weighting variable is visualized via a virtual control element of the graphical user interface and can be specified by the operator. The driver assistance system registers the strategy selection of the operator, predicts an optimization goal, and presents an optimization proposal for this predicted optimization goal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: MATHIAS ESCHER, JOACHIM BAUMGARTEN, SEBASTIAN NEU, ARTHUR BERGER, SASCHA DIECKMEYER
  • Patent number: 10231380
    Abstract: A combine harvester includes a threshing unit for threshing picked-up crop to obtain grain, a driver assistance system, with a memory for storing data, for controlling the threshing unit, and a computing unit for processing at least the data stored in the memory. A sensor system ascertains at least a portion of the current harvesting-process state. A sensor configuration assigned to the sensor system is defined by the type and scope of operational sensors is stored or can be stored in the memory. A functional system model for at least a portion of the combine harvester is stored in the memory. The computing unit is designed to carry out an autonomous determination of a threshing-unit parameter based on the system model, and defines the system model forming a basis of the control of the threshing unit depending on the sensor configuration stored in the memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Heitmann, Andreas Wilken, Joachim Baumgarten, Sebastian Neu, Christoph Bussmann, Henner Voecking
  • Publication number: 20190077331
    Abstract: An agricultural working machine with a seat for an operator of the agricultural working machine, with a monitor for displaying data, such as operating data of the agricultural working machine, and/or an attachment of the agricultural working machine, and with an adjustable holding device that holds the monitor. The adjustable holding device enables adjustment of the height, tilt, and distance of the monitor relative to the seat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Tepper, Bernd Kleffmann, Udo Heidecker
  • Publication number: 20190069487
    Abstract: A combine harvester is disclosed with an infeed arrangement for receiving the harvested material, with a threshing device for degraining the harvested material, and with a cleaning device that is downstream from the threshing device for segregating the harvested material, and thereby a separating the grain from the non-grain components. The cleaning device includes has a sieve device that can rotate about a rotational axis with an at least sectionally sieve-shaped sieve jacket that extends in a peripheral direction around the rotational axis. Separating the grain from the non-grain components is performed by the cleaning device by superimposing a rotary movement and oscillating movement of the sieve jacket such that the oscillating movement is directed transverse to the rotational axis of the sieve device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20190069490
    Abstract: A combine harvester is disclosed with an infeed arrangement for receiving the harvested material, with a threshing device for degraining the harvested material, and with a cleaning device that is downstream from the threshing device for segregating the harvested material, and thereby separating the grain from the non-grain components. The cleaning device has a sieve device that can rotate about a rotational axis with an at least sectionally sieve-shaped sieve jacket that extends in a peripheral direction around the rotational axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: March 7, 2019
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Michael Schwarz
  • Publication number: 20190059229
    Abstract: A forage harvester configured to chop harvested material and including at least one conditioning unit for conditioning the chopped harvested material is disclosed. 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: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Jochen Rathjens
  • Patent number: 10212883
    Abstract: A harvester includes a measuring device for detecting a grain number of a crop flow, in which a sensor of the measuring device detects via a measuring signal kernels impacting an impact surface of the measuring device, and a processing unit of the measuring device is arranged to detect and calculate the grain number by using the measuring signal, wherein the rising edges of the measuring signal are recorded and form a measurement for the grain number. Furthermore, the measuring device for detecting a grain number and method for detecting a grain number are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Gunnar Quincke
  • Publication number: 20190055993
    Abstract: A drive train for driving a working unit of a self-propelled harvester is disclosed. The drive train includes a selectable belt drive with a drive belt, which operationally combines a drive belt pulley and an output belt pulley. The output belt pulley of the belt drive is operationally connected to the working unit via a drive shaft. The drive train comprises a clutch system, combining the functions of a belt clutch and an overload clutch into a single construction unit, with the response characteristic of the overload clutch system being hydraulically adjustable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 12, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Peter Pautz
  • Publication number: 20190045713
    Abstract: A driver unit for a conveyor is disclosed. The driver unit includes a drive finger, driving conveyed material, and a holding body for positioning the drive finger on the rotary conveyor. The holding body has a socket into which an end section of the drive finger can be inserted. Furthermore, a securing element is used to secure the drive finger to the socket, whereby the securing element includes a section arranged eccentric to an axis of the securing element to hold the drive finger in the socket.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2018
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Christian Dahlke, Stefan Liedmeier, Michael Bergmann, Lukas Eidhoff
  • Publication number: 20190009827
    Abstract: A cab for an agricultural working vehicle has a cab base and a cab roof, between which a windshield and side windows are situated in a frame structure, and a driver's seat situated on the cab base. There is at least one air treatment device for cooling and heating an inlet air flow which is supplied to the cab through an intake duct. The air treatment device has at least one first air distribution duct having at least one first air outlet opening, and at least one second air distribution duct having at least one second air outlet opening. The first air outlet opening outputs a first air flow substantially along the windshield and the second air outlet opening outputs a second air flow directed in the direction of the driver's seat. The first air flow has a higher temperature than the second air flow.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventors: ALEXANDER BEHNKE, MARKUS DEPPE, FLORIAN DANNIGKEIT
  • Publication number: 20190009826
    Abstract: A cab for an agricultural working vehicle has a cab base, a cab body situated thereon and consisting of a frame structure, and a cab roof which comprises at least two shells. The cab roof is designed as a prefabricated module which can be placed onto the cab body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: ALEXANDER BEHNKE, MARKUS DEPPE, FLORIAN DANNIGKEIT
  • Publication number: 20180332772
    Abstract: A header has a middle section disposed on a main frame and at least two side sections disposed adjacent to the middle section, a cutterbar extending substantially across the width of the header, and at least one conveyor device which conveys crop cut by the cutterbar laterally in the direction of the middle section. The conveyor device has a central conveyor including an endlessly circulating, endless conveyor belt which is guided around two rollers disposed on two support elements extending in parallel to the conveyance direction and are each mounted on bearing points provided on the support elements. The support elements each have a guide recess and in which one of the rollers is displaceable so that the conveyor belt can be transferred from an operating position, in which the conveyor belt is tensioned, into a maintenance position, in which the conveyor belt sags, in sections, in the vertical direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2018
    Publication date: November 22, 2018
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: CHRISTIAN FUECHTLING, THOMAS HINZ, MATHIEU KOEHLER
  • Patent number: 10126929
    Abstract: An agricultural work machine for processing an agricultural work process, having numerous working units (1-5) and having a driver assistance system (10) for controlling the working units (1-5) according to at least one user-side specifiable work process strategy (A), which is aimed at fulfilling at least one quality criterion (Q), wherein the driver assistance system (10) comprises a memory (11) for storing data, and a computing device (12) for processing the data stored in the memory (11), wherein the driver assistance system (10) has a graphical user interface (14), via which at least a portion of the work process strategy (A) can be specified by a user. It is proposed that competing quality criteria (Q) that are weighted in relation to one another in accordance with a weighting variable (G) are entered into the work process strategy (A), and that the weighting variable (G) is visualized and can be specified by a user via a virtual operating element (16-19) of the graphical user interface (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Baumgarten, Andreas Wilken, Christoph Heitmann, Bastian Bormann, Sebastian Neu, Christoph Bussmann, Klaus Schäfer, Henner Vöcking, Arthur Berger, Stefan Terörde
  • Publication number: 20180317385
    Abstract: A method for executing an agricultural harvesting process on a field by an integrated system of agricultural harvesting machines, wherein the harvesting machines in the integrated system each comprise crop-processing working units which can be adjusted using machine parameters for adaptation to the particular harvesting conditions, wherein the harvesting machines in the integrated system communicate with each other via a wireless data network. One harvesting machine in the integrated system is designed as a self-optimizing harvesting machine which comprises a driver assistance system for automatically generating machine parameters which have been optimized with respect to the crop processing, and the optimized machine parameters are provided by the self-optimizing harvesting machine via the data network to the other harvesting machines in the integrated system that do not comprise a driver assistance system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2018
    Publication date: November 8, 2018
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: SCOTT WELLENSIEK, JOACHIM BAUMGARTEN
  • Patent number: 10119483
    Abstract: An agricultural work machine, such as a harvester, is disclosed. The agricultural work machine includes an internal combustion engine, at least one working assembly, and a regulating device. The internal combustion engine provides power to the working assembly, with the internal combustion engine being operated in different power settings, with a different performance characteristic in each of the different power settings. The regulating device causes automatic shifting of the internal combustion engine from one power setting to another in response to determining that the power requirements assigned to the working assembly change. The power settings may be assigned to different, pre-selectable power setting ranges, which may differ in terms of the highest respective power setting assigned thereto. Further, the regulating device may only cause shifting of the internal combustion engine between power settings in the respective pre-selected power setting range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2018
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Claudius Altmann, Robert Hohm, Ludger Hugenroth
  • Publication number: 20180303030
    Abstract: A combine harvester having a chopper configured for chopping crop, which comprises a cutting cylinder fitted with chopper knives, a knife carrier fitted with counter knives, and a rasp bar arrangement. The counter knives and/or the rasp bar arrangement can be moved into a partial stream passing by the chopper. The harvester also has a crop spreading device configured for spreading the chopped-material stream emerging from the combine harvester on the ground in the rear region of the combine harvester, and a sensor unit configured for generating sensor data which represent at least one parameter influencing the spreading quality of the chopped-material stream emerging from the combine harvester. There is a control unit that adapts the position of the rasp bar arrangement and/or the counter knives depending on the spreading quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2018
    Publication date: October 25, 2018
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: CHRISTOPH HEITMANN, JOACHIM BAUMGARTEN, CHRISTOPHER VIEREGGE, CHRISTIAN BEULKE, STEFAN TEROERDE, BASTIAN BORMANN