Patents by Inventor Norbert Diekhans

Norbert Diekhans has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9795082
    Abstract: An agricultural working machine embodying a combine harvester for processing crop includes an intake conveyor mechanism for picking up the crop, a moisture content sensor arrangement for measuring a moisture content of the picked-up crop and generating a crop moisture signal based on the measured moisture content. A throughput sensor arrangement, preferably a layer thickness sensor arrangement, determines a throughput quantity of the picked-up crop. The crop moisture content signal is corrected on a basis of the throughput quantity that is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Rene Middelberg, Markus Brune, Frank Claussen, Norbert Diekhans
  • Publication number: 20150245560
    Abstract: An agricultural working machine embodying a combine harvester for processing crop includes an intake conveyor mechanism for picking up the crop, a moisture content sensor arrangement for measuring a moisture content of the picked-up crop and generating a crop moisture signal based on the measured moisture content. A throughput sensor arrangement, preferably a layer thickness sensor arrangement, determines a throughput quantity of the picked-up crop. The crop moisture content signal is corrected on a basis of the throughput quantity that is determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Publication date: September 3, 2015
    Inventors: RENE MIDDELBERG, MARKUS BRUNE, FRANK CLAUSSEN, NORBERT DIEKHANS
  • Patent number: 9089092
    Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine includes an intake assembly configured to pick up crop from a field and conveying the crop, a processing assembly for receiving the conveyed by the intake assembly and a sensor for estimating the crop throughput of the intake assembly and a ground drive. The forward speed (V) of the ground drive and a drive speed (C) of the intake assembly can vary depending on the crop throughput.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Diekhans, Bastian Kriebel
  • Patent number: 8814640
    Abstract: A harvesting system includes a self-propelled harvesting machine and a drivable collecting container equipped with a drive unit, which can be positioned relative to the harvesting machine and moved in parallel therewith. Crop is fed directly or indirectly to the collecting container during harvesting operation from the harvesting machine using a feed pipe equipped with an outlet chute. The collecting container is equipped with a device for loading it with crop in a uniform manner. The collecting container is moved in a constant position relative to the harvesting machine by way of a control device while the crop is being conveyed. The collecting container is preferably a filling device, by way of which uniform distribution of the crop in the collecting container (8) can be attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Willi Behnke, Norbert Diekhans, Jochen Huster, Thilo Krause, Bastian Kriebel, Frank Claussen, Markus Brune
  • Publication number: 20140059988
    Abstract: A self-propelled harvesting machine includes an intake assembly configured to pick up crop from a field and conveying the crop, a processing assembly for receiving the conveyed by the intake assembly, means for estimating the crop throughput of the intake assembly and a ground drive. The forward speed (V) of the ground drive and a drive speed (C) of the intake assembly can vary depending on the crop throughput.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
    Inventors: Norbert Diekhans, Bastian Kriebel
  • Patent number: 8662972
    Abstract: A method for unloading crop stored in a grain tank of a self-propelled combine harvester into a drivable collecting container equipped with a drive unit includes positioning the collecting container relative to the combine harvester and moving the collecting container parallel thereto while the crop is fed to the collecting container directly or indirectly by way of a grain tank discharge pipe equipped with an outlet chute, simultaneously with the harvesting operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Willi Behnke, Norbert Diekhans, Jochen Huster, Thilo Krause, Bastian Kriebel, Frank Claussen, Markus Brune
  • Patent number: 8610445
    Abstract: A measuring device for measuring components of a crop material is installed on an agricultural machine and includes at least one conductance sensor, determining the component “moisture content”, which is determined via the temperature-compensated detection of conductance. In this manner it is ensured that the measuring device delivers reliable measurement results for determining the components of a crop material even under fluctuating measuring conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Diekhans, Bastian Kriebel, Frank Claussen
  • Publication number: 20130243562
    Abstract: A method for unloading crop stored in a grain tank of a self-propelled combine harvester into a drivable collecting container equipped with a drive unit includes positioning the collecting container relative to the combine harvester and moving the collecting container parallel thereto while the crop is fed to the collecting container directly or indirectly by way of a grain tank discharge pipe equipped with an outlet chute, simultaneously with the harvesting operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Willi Behnke, Norbert Diekhans, Jochen Huster, Thilo Krause, Bastian Kriebel, Frank Claussen, Markus Brune
  • Patent number: 8428830
    Abstract: An agricultural working vehicle has a plurality of working assemblies, at least one control unit for influencing the setting parameters of the working assemblies, a memory unit, and at least one display unit, and it is configured such that even an untrained operator may optimize the setting parameters of the working assemblies in a rapid, reliable manner. An expected change in the function and/or the working result of individual working assemblies or a plurality of working assemblies is depicted in the display unit in a manner that depends on how an operator influences individual setting parameters of the working assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Diekhans, Lars Peter Meyer Zu Helligen
  • Patent number: 8428829
    Abstract: Vehicles, in particular self-propelled agricultural harvesting machines such as forage harvesters or combine harvesters designed to pick up and process crops, include transfer devices that transfer all of the harvested crop material to a hauling vehicle or an attached hauling container. The discharge device is equipped with a control device for performing automatic or manual adjustments, and the self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine is equipped with a navigation system for determining the positions of the vehicles involved. To transfer the crop material to the hauling vehicle without loss, the crop discharge flow is directed only to a defined permissible tolerance region on the hauling container. The tolerance region is located within the hauling container contour and is bounded by edge zones, which are “keep-out” zones for the transfer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Brunnert, Lars Meyer Zu Helligen, Gerhard Nienaber, Norbert Diekhans
  • Patent number: 8332135
    Abstract: Generation of one or more reference driving tracks for use in automatic route planning of an agricultural working vehicle includes driving along a starting route of an agricultural field to be worked, recording the starting route in a data processing device, selecting at least one section of the recorded starting route as a reference driving track, investigating the starting route along its entire length for changes in direction, and in the selecting at least one section, selecting a section as the reference driving track only if a change in direction that falls below a limit value is not found anywhere along an entire length of the section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Diekhans, Lars Meyer Zu Helligen, Gerhard Nienaber
  • Publication number: 20120302299
    Abstract: A harvesting system includes a self-propelled harvesting machine and a drivable collecting container equipped with a drive unit, which can be positioned relative to the harvesting machine and moved in parallel therewith. Crop is fed directly or indirectly to the collecting container during harvesting operation from the harvesting machine using a feed pipe equipped with an outlet chute. The collecting container is equipped with a device for loading it with crop in a uniform manner. The collecting container is moved in a constant position relative to the harvesting machine by way of a control device while the crop is being conveyed. The collecting container is preferably a filling device, by way of which uniform distribution of the crop in the collecting container (8) can be attained.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Willi Behnke, Norbert Diekhans, Jochen Huster, Thilo Krause, Bastian Kriebel, Frank Claussen, Markus Brune
  • Publication number: 20120263560
    Abstract: A system for controlling crop transfer from a self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine into the loading container of a hauling vehicle includes a transfer device assigned to the harvesting machine from which the crop emerges in the form of a crop discharge flow and a detection device which detects the position of the loading container relative to the harvesting machine and transmits it to a control unit. The control unit actuates at least one actuator assigned to the transfer device in such a way that the crop discharge flow lands within the loading container in order to fill it with crop. The control unit generates a control signal (S) for the hauling vehicle that specifies a position of the hauling vehicle relative to the harvesting machine that is suitable for transfer into the loading container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Norbert Diekhans, Jochen Huster, Frank Claussen
  • Publication number: 20120265412
    Abstract: An agricultural hauling vehicle for receiving material from a traveling original vehicle during travel adjacent to the original vehicle is provided with a hauling container that is fillable from above for receiving the material. A sensor detects the distribution of the material in the hauling container and a control unit varies the position of the hauling vehicle relative to the traveling original vehicle on the basis of the distribution of material detected by the sensor. Preferably the sensor is a camera.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 26, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Inventors: Norbert Diekhans, Jochen Huster, Frank Claussen, Max Reinecke
  • Patent number: 8285459
    Abstract: In a route planning system and method for agricultural working machines, a defined working width is assigned to the agricultural working machines to generate driving routes in a territory, and dynamic adaptation of the planned driving route is carried out thereby ensuring that the driving route to be covered is flexibly adaptable to changing external conditions such as driving around obstacles, thereby largely relieving the operator of the agricultural working machine of the task of performing laborious steering maneuvers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Diekhans, Jochen Huster, Andreas Brunnert
  • Publication number: 20120123650
    Abstract: An agricultural harvesting machine comprising a chopping assembly for fragmenting crop, and a camera situated downstream of the chopping assembly in order to optically detect the fragmented crop and produce images of the fragmented crop, wherein the camera is connected to an image evaluation device which can be operated to detect edges in the generated images in order to deduce properties of the fragmented crop.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Inventors: Norbert Diekhans, Jochen Huster, Frank Claussen
  • Patent number: 8170785
    Abstract: For creating a route plan for a group of agricultural working machine systems for working a territory, the machine systems include route planning data determination devices and they exchange data with each other and, based on exchanged route planning data, one shared route plan is created for the particular territory. For controlling a group of agricultural working machine systems while it works a territory, one shared route plan—which has been created accordingly—is used, and a route planning system is provided for creating a route plan for a group of agricultural working machine systems to be used to work a territory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Diekhans, Jochen Huster, Andreas Brunnert, Lars-Peter Meyer Zu Helligen
  • Patent number: 8046139
    Abstract: For controlling several agricultural machine systems during operation on a territory, based on a reference line, an optimized route for working the territory is determined for the particular machine system, and the particular machine system is driven along this route. The reference line is determined by recording a reference path that was driven along with a first machine system, and the first machine system is controlled based on this reference line with consideration for the working conditions of the first machine system. This reference line is also transmitted by the first machine system to at least one second machine system, which is controlled based on this reference line of the first machine system and with consideration for the working conditions of the second machine system. A corresponding control system for controlling several agricultural machine systems during operation of a territory is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Diekhans, Jochen Huster, Andreas Brunnert, Lars-Peter Meyer Zu Helligen
  • Patent number: 7873617
    Abstract: A device for coordinating a machine fleet includes a memory for storing a large number of data records, an interface for communicating with several users who are capable of making changes to the data records, in the case of which each data record represents a given portion of the working capacity of a machine in the machine fleet, and the changes relate to the assignment of the portion of the working capacity represented by the data record to the users making the change, and an administration unit designed to allow a change to be made to a data record by a user requesting the change if the data record is not assigned to any other user and an urgency of the change indicated by the requesting user reaches a threshold specified for the particular portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: CLAAS Selbsfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventors: Heinz-Hermann Wippersteg, Thilo Steckel, Werner Fitzner, Norbert Diekhans, Kai Oetzel
  • Patent number: 7846013
    Abstract: The invention relates to a combine with a cleaning device (1), having a screening device (2) with at least one screen (2A, 2B) in which the harvested products conveyed to the thresher and to the separation device are cleaned and at least one adjustable blower (3) for exposing the screening device (3) to an air flow. The width of the openings of the sifting device (2) and the revolutions of the blower (3) can be mechanically regulated by at least one regulation organ. According to the invention, at least one sensor (4) is provided whose measuring signal (S/4) directly or indirectly indicates a quantity of harvested products loaded on the combine, especially on the cleaning device. Optimal regulation of the cleaning device, especially the width of the openings of the screen, is performed by an adjusting organ (20A, 20B) depending on the signal (S/4) of the sensor (4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Claas Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH
    Inventor: Norbert Diekhans