Abstract: The control system allows selecting from multiple speed ranges for the ground drive of a work machine without a mechanical transmission. The system does this by controlling a variable displacement fluid pump supplying fluid to variable displacement fluid motors driving ground wheels of the machine. When a speed range is selected, the system automatically controls displacement of the pump and motors to provide operability within the range by movement of a speed input device. When another range is selected, the system provides a seamless transition, including to and from reverse, as no disengaging and engaging of mechanical gears, or change in the speed input position, is required. The system can also automatically adjust ground speed for the new speed range for the current speed input position.

Abstract: The control system allows selecting from multiple speed ranges for the ground drive of a work machine without a mechanical transmission. The system does this by controlling a variable displacement fluid pump supplying fluid to variable displacement fluid motors driving ground wheels of the machine. When a speed range is selected, the system automatically controls displacement of the pump and motors to provide operability within the range by movement of a speed input device. When another range is selected, the system provides a seamless transition, including to and from reverse, as no disengaging and engaging of mechanical gears, or change in the speed input position, is required. The system can also automatically adjust ground speed for the new speed range for the current speed input position.

Abstract: A system to sense incipient slugging of a rotor by sensing a rotor speed signal, an engine speed signal and a first hydraulic motor speed signal, combining the rotor speed signal and the engine speed signal to provide a second hydraulic motor speed signal, and determining incipient slugging based upon the first and second speed signals, and thereby preventing potential damage to threshing components.

Abstract: A deslugging method and system for an agricultural combine, providing several semi- and fully automated operating modes or routines for removing or dislodging a slug of crop and/or other material from the threshing system and/or a feeder of the combine for conveying crop material to the threshing system. The routines can include reciprocating, agitating and jogging routines, which can be automatically altered during execution responsive to sensed or changing conditions, as processed by a suitable filter such as a simplified Kalman type signal filter, for generating a real time estimation and prediction of the various states of the threshing system.

Abstract: A deslugging method and system for an agricultural combine, providing several semi- and fully automated operating modes or routines for removing or dislodging a slug of crop and/or other material from the threshing system and/or a feeder of the combine for conveying crop material to the threshing system. The routines can include reciprocating, agitating and jogging routines, which can be automatically altered during execution responsive to sensed or changing conditions, as processed by a suitable filter such as a simplified Kalman type signal filter, for generating a real time estimation and prediction of the various states of the threshing system.

Abstract: A deslugging method and system for an agricultural combine, providing several semi- and fully automated operating modes or routines for removing or dislodging a slug of crop and/or other material from the threshing system and/or a feeder of the combine for conveying crop material to the threshing system. The routines can include reciprocating, agitating and jogging routines, which can be automatically altered during execution responsive to sensed or changing conditions, as processed by a suitable filter such as a simplified Kalman type signal filter, for generating a real time estimation and prediction of the various states of the threshing system.

Abstract: A deslugging method and system for an agricultural combine, providing several semi- and fully automated operating modes or routines for removing or dislodging a slug of crop and/or other material from the threshing system and/or a feeder of the combine for conveying crop material to the threshing system. The routines can include reciprocating, agitating and jogging routines, which can be automatically altered during execution responsive to sensed or changing conditions, as processed by a suitable filter such as a simplified Kalman type signal filter, for generating a real time estimation and prediction of the various states of the threshing system.

Abstract: A motor control system of a combine having a rotor that is simultaneously driven by an engine and a hydraulic motor is configured to determine at overspeed condition of the motor and to disengage the motor from the engine when the overspeed condition exists.

Abstract: A system and method for actively decelerating a combine rotor is provided. The system includes an electronic control system configured to disengage the combine rotor from an engine, to brake the combine rotor at a first deceleration rate for a first time interval, and to subsequently brake the combine rotor at another deceleration rate until the rotor is stopped.

Abstract: A system and method for actively decelerating a combine rotor is provided. The system includes an electronic control system configured to disengage the combine rotor from an engine, to brake the combine rotor at a first deceleration rate for a first time interval, and to subsequently brake the combine rotor at another deceleration rate until the rotor is stopped.

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.

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.

Abstract: An electronic control system includes two speed sensors connected to a microcontroller that is configured to read the sensors and perform the process of determining the gear ratio of a vehicle gearbox. The process includes calculating (several times) which of at least two gear ratios the gearbox is engaged in, then adding up the number of times each of the gear ratios was calculated, and then selecting the gear ratio that was calculated the most times as the true gear ratio.

Abstract: A dual power path drive and method for controllably decelerating the rotor or rotors of an agricultural combine in reduced time, without causing undesirable wear, shock and energy transfer to other aspects of the power system of the combine. The drive and method use a planetary gear arrangement having an output connected to the rotor or rotors, an input connected to an output of a first power source or path which can be a fluid power source such as a fluid motor of a hydro-static drive or a variable speed electrical motor, the first power source or path being controllable within speed limits thereof for decelerating the rotor from several operating states.

Abstract: A hydro-mechanical control system for an agricultural combine threshing rotor is operable 1) to transfer torque to the rotor so as to maintain rotor velocity within an acceptable range of a commanded velocity despite small fluctuations in rotor load and engine speed, 2) to reduce wear on mechanical components of the rotor drive system during rotor acceleration, 3) to employ the most efficient combination of mechanical and hydrostatic rotor drive characteristics during steady state operation of the rotor and 4) to reduce the likelihood of engine stall. The system includes a mechanical motor such as an engine, a hydrostatic motor, and a gearset disposed between both motors and the rotor. A clutch is operable to selectively couple the mechanical motor to the gearset, and a brake is selective operable to selectively arrest a driven gear of the gearset from rotation.

Abstract: A method of calibrating the control current startup threshold in a proportionally controlled drive system for a work vehicle is disclosed. To determine a current threshold value for use in the system a control current exhibiting a relatively low value is first applied to the system. Subsequently, the steps of repetitively increasing the control current to a control current start value at which system motion starts and decreasing the control current to a control current stop value at which system motion substantially stops are repetitively conducted. The resultant control current start values and control current stop values are stored in a memory. The stored control current start values and control current stop values are is then averaged to determine a control current threshold value for use in controlling the system.

Abstract: An agricultural combine is provided that estimates a hydraulic pressure of a rotor drive system based upon the speeds of the pump (or engine) and motor that drive the rotor. The pressure is estimated by generating a pump displacement control signal in a convention feedback control algorithm and using that signal together with a sensed motor speed signal and a sensed pump speed (proportional to engine speed) to estimate the hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: An agricultural combine is provided with a controller that estimates a hydraulic pressure of a rotor drive system based upon the speeds of the pump (or engine) and motor that drive the rotor. The pressure is estimated by generating a pump displacement control signal in a convention feedback control algorithm and using that signal together with a sensed motor speed signal and a sensed pump speed (proportional to engine speed) to estimate the hydraulic pressure.

Abstract: A method of calibrating the control current startup threshold in a proportionally controlled drive system for a work vehicle is disclosed. To determine a current threshold value for use in the system a control current exhibiting a relatively low value is first applied to the system. Subsequently, the steps of repetitively increasing the control current to a control current start value at which system motion starts and decreasing the control current to a control current stop value at which system motion substantially stops are repetitively conducted. The resultant control current start values and control current stop values are stored in a memory. The stored control current start values and control current stop values are is then averaged to determine a control current threshold value for use in controlling the system.

Abstract: A hydro-mechanical control system for an agricultural combine threshing rotor is operable 1) to transfer torque to the rotor so as to maintain rotor velocity within an acceptable range of a commanded velocity despite small fluctuations in rotor load and engine speed, 2) to reduce wear on mechanical components of the rotor drive system during rotor acceleration, 3) to employ the most efficient combination of mechanical and hydrostatic rotor drive characteristics during steady state operation of the rotor and 4) to reduce the likelihood of engine stall. The system includes a mechanical motor such as an engine, a hydrostatic motor, and a gearset disposed between both motors and the rotor. A clutch is operable to selectively couple the mechanical motor to the gearset, and a brake is selective operable to selectively arrest a driven gear of the gearset from rotation.