FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to harvesters, and in particular, relates to harvesters
including a control system for safe and effective operation of a harvester.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002] Harvesting operations in a large field typically involve unloading grains from a harvester,
such as a combine, to a receiving container, such as a tractor pulled a grain cart, bin, or the like.
Relevant information that should be considered during the unloading process includes, but is not
limited to, crop type; weather conditions; topographical conditions; relative positions of the receiving
container, the combine, and a discharge nozzle of the unloading system; a grain level in a container
from which the grains are being transferred, e.g., a grain tank of the harvester; and fill status of the
receiving container. During the unloading process, operators of the harvester and the tractor work
together to fill the receiving container to capacity while minimizing loss of the grains. In some
instances, the receiving container is stationary and the harvester operator approaches the receiving
container several times during harvesting of a field and positions the harvester and the discharge nozzle
relative to the receiving container to unload the grains into the receiving container and achieve a
generally even fill without spillage.
[003] In some instances, the tractor pulling the grain cart is moved alongside the harvester during
unloading of the grains. Movement of the harvester and the tractor pulling the grain cart is independent
of each other. Therefore, the operators of the harvester and the tractor pulling the grain cart rely on
their own judgements and manual coordination with each other for maintaining a suitable distance
between a header of the harvester and the tractor to prevent a collision and to ensure correct unloading
of the grains.
[004] Currently, the operator of the harvester relies on visual information obtained from a camera
installed on the harvester for monitoring position of the tractor. In several situations, the camera is not
able to provide views of good quality, for example during night time, during foggy weather, and when
a lens of the camera is covered with dust. During such situations, the suitable distance between the
harvester and the tractor may not be maintained.
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[005] In one scenario, a harvester 100 may move away alongside a grain cart 102 carried by a
tractor 104, as illustrated in Fig. 1. Specifically, the grain cart 102 may not be present beneath a spout
106 of the harvester 100. In such scenario, the grains dispensed from the spout 106 are spilled over
ground. In another scenario, the tractor 104 may move excessively closer to a header 108 extending
from a body of the harvester 100. In such scenario, the tractor 104 may collide with the header 108
during operation, causing damage to itself and the header 108.
[006] For the above-described reasons, there is a need of a system and a method for maintaining
a suitable distance between a harvester and a tractor pulling a grain cart.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
[007] An object of the present invention is to provide a system for maintaining a safe distance
between a harvester and a tractor pulling a grain cart.
[008] Another object of the present invention is to alert an operator of the harvester and/or an
operator of the tractor about an imminent collision between the harvester and the tractor.
[009] Another object of the present invention is to ensure presence of the grain cart beneath a
spout of the harvester for preventing spillage of grains outside the grain cart.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to alert the operator of the harvester and/or the
operator of the about absence of the grain cart beneath the spout.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to move the harvester away from the tractor to
avoid a collision between the tractor and a header of the harvester.
[0012] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the
following description, which is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
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[0013] Before the present methods, systems, and hardware enablement are described, it is to be
understood that this invention in not limited to the particular systems, and methodologies described, as
there can be multiple possible embodiments of the present invention which are not expressly illustrated
in the present disclosure. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for
the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the
scope of the present invention which will be limited only by the appended claims.
[0014] This summary is provided to introduce aspects related to a system and a method for
operating a harvester, and the aspects are further described below in the detailed description. This
summary is not intended to identify essential features of the claimed subject matter nor is it intended
for use in determining or limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0015] In one embodiment, a harvester comprises a body including a machinery. The harvester
further comprises a header carried by the body. The header severs a crop from a field and transfers the
crop to the machinery for threshing of grains. The harvester further comprises an unloading arm
attached to the body for transferring the grains to a grain cart external to the harvester and movable
alongside the harvester during severing of the crop. The harvester further comprises a control system
including a sensor mounted on at least one side of the header for determining a distance between the
header and a vehicle moving the grain cart. The harvester further comprises a processing element for
comparing the distance between the header and vehicle with multiple threshold distances to determine
a suitable mode of operation of the harvester and implementing the suitable mode of operation of the
harvester.
[0016] In an aspect, the vehicle is a tractor, a Utility Vehicle (UTV), or an All-Terrain Vehicle
(ATV).
[0017] In an aspect, the suitable mode of operation includes activating an alarm unit and
deactivating an unloading auger installed on the unloading arm when the distance between the header
and the vehicle is greater than a first threshold distance of the multiple threshold distances. The first
threshold distance is a distance between one side of the header and a spout present on the unloading
arm.
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[0018] In an aspect, the control system continues an existing operation of the harvester when the
distance between the header and the vehicle is lesser than the first threshold distance and greater than
a second threshold distance of the multiple threshold distances.
[0019] In an aspect, the suitable mode of operation includes activating an alarm unit when the
distance between the header and the vehicle is lesser than a second threshold distance of the multiple
threshold distances and greater than a third threshold distance of the multiple threshold distances. The
third threshold distance is a closest distance from the header.
[0020] In an aspect, the suitable mode of operation includes deactivating an unloading auger
installed on the unloading arm and moving the harvester apart from the grain cart when the distance
between the header and the vehicle is lesser than a third threshold distance. The third threshold distance
is a closest distance from the header.
[0021] In an aspect, the control system raises an alarm as an audio indication and/or a visual
indication produced by an alarm unit provided on the body of the harvester.
[0022] In one embodiment, a method of operating a harvester is described. The method comprises
determining, by a sensor, a distance between a header of the harvester and a vehicle moving a grain
cart alongside the harvester during severing of a crop, wherein the sensor is mounted on at least one
side of the header. The method further includes comparing, by a processing element, the distance
between the header and the vehicle with multiple threshold distances to determine a suitable mode of
operation of the harvester. The method further includes implementing the suitable mode of operation
of the harvester.
[0023] In an aspect, the suitable mode of operation includes activating an alarm unit and
deactivating an unloading auger installed on the unloading arm when the distance between the header
and the vehicle is greater than a first threshold distance of the multiple threshold distances. The first
threshold distance is a distance between one side of the header and a spout present on the unloading
arm.
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[0024] In an aspect, an operation of the harvester is continued when the distance between the
header and the vehicle is lesser than the first threshold distance and greater than a second threshold
distance of the multiple threshold distances.
[0025] In an aspect, the suitable mode of operation includes activating an alarm unit when the
distance between the header and the vehicle is lesser than a second threshold distance of the multiple
threshold distances and greater than a third threshold distance of the multiple threshold distances. The
third threshold distance is a closest distance from the header.
[0026] In an aspect, the suitable mode of operation includes deactivating an unloading auger
installed on the unloading arm and moving the harvester apart from the vehicle when the distance
between the header and the vehicle is lesser than a third threshold distance. The third threshold distance
is a closest distance from the header.
[0027] Other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following
description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example the
principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0028] The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present
disclosure, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate
exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain
the principles of the present disclosure.
[0029] In the figures, similar components and/or features may have the same reference label.
Further, various components of the same type may be distinguished by following the reference label
with a second label that distinguishes among the similar components. If only the first reference label
is used in the specification, the description is applicable to any one of the similar components having
the same first reference label irrespective of the second reference label.
[0030] Fig. 1 illustrates a top view of a harvester and a tractor pulling a grain cart, in accordance
with prior art.
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[0031] Fig. 2 illustrates a front view of a harvester unloading grains into a grain cart carried by a
vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0032] Fig. 3 illustrates a block diagram of a control system of the harvester, in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0033] Fig. 4 illustrates a front view of the harvester and a tractor pulling the grain cart during
absence of the grain cart beneath a spout of the harvester, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention.
[0034] Fig. 5 illustrates a front view of the harvester and the tractor pulling the grain cart during
an imminent collision, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0035] Fig. 6 illustrates a flow chart of a method of operating the harvester, in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
[0036] The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is
intended as a description of various embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to
represent the only embodiments in which the present invention may be practiced. Each embodiment
described in this disclosure is provided merely as an example or illustration of the present invention,
and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. The
detailed description includes specific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understanding of
the present invention. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention
may be practiced without these specific details.

We claim:
1. A harvester (200) comprising:
a body (206) including a machinery;
a header (208) carried by the body (206), the header (208) severs a crop from a field and
transfers the crop to the machinery for threshing of grains;
an unloading arm (212) attached to the body (206) for transferring the grains to a grain cart
(202) external to the harvester (200) and movable alongside the harvester (200) during severing of
the crop; and
a control system (300) including:
a sensor (216) mounted on at least one side of the header (208) for determining a distance
between the header (208) and a vehicle moving the grain cart (202); and
a processing element (302) for:
comparing the distance between the header (208) and the vehicle with multiple
threshold distances to determine a suitable mode of operation of the harvester (200); and
implementing the suitable mode of operation of the harvester (200).
2. The harvester (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a tractor (204), a Utility Vehicle
(UTV), or an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV).
3. The harvester (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suitable mode of operation includes
activating an alarm unit (308) and deactivating an unloading auger installed on the unloading arm
(212) when the distance between the header (208) and the vehicle is greater than a first threshold
distance of the multiple threshold distances, and wherein the first threshold distance is a distance
between one side of the header (208) and a spout (214) present on the unloading arm (212).
4. The harvester (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the control system (300) continues an operation
of the harvester (200) when the distance between the header (208) and the vehicle is lesser than the
first threshold distance and greater than a second threshold distance of the multiple threshold
distances.
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5. The harvester (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suitable mode of operation includes
activating an alarm unit (308) when the distance between the header (208) and the vehicle is lesser
than a second threshold distance of the multiple threshold distances and greater than a third
threshold distance of the multiple threshold distances, and wherein the third threshold distance is a
closest distance from the header (208).
6. The harvester (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the suitable mode of operation includes
deactivating an unloading auger installed on the unloading arm (212) and moving the harvester
(200) apart from the vehicle when the distance between the header (208) and the vehicle is lesser
than a third threshold distance, and wherein the third threshold distance is a closest distance from
the header (208).
7. The harvester (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control system (300) raises an alarm as an
audio indication and/or a visual indication produced by an alarm unit (308) provided on the body
(206) of the harvester (200).
8. A method of operating a harvester (200), the method comprising:
determining, by a sensor (216), a distance between a header (208) of the harvester (200) and a
vehicle moving a grain cart (202) alongside the harvester (200) during severing of a crop, wherein
the sensor (216) is mounted on at least one side of the header (208);
comparing, by a processing element (302), the distance between the header (208) and the
vehicle with multiple threshold distances to determine a suitable mode of operation of the harvester
(200); and
implementing the suitable mode of operation of the harvester (200).
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the suitable mode of operation includes activating an
alarm unit and deactivating an unloading auger installed on the unloading arm (212) when the
distance between the header (208) and the vehicle is greater than a first threshold distance of the
multiple threshold distances, and wherein the first threshold distance is a distance between one side
of the header (208) and a spout (214) present on the unloading arm (212).
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10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein an operation of the harvester (200) is continued when
the distance between the header (208) and vehicle is lesser than the first threshold distance and
greater than a second threshold distance of the multiple threshold distances.
11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the suitable mode of operation includes activating an
alarm unit when the distance between the header (208) and the vehicle is lesser than a second
threshold distance of the multiple threshold distances and greater than a third threshold distance of
the multiple threshold distances, and wherein the third threshold distance is a closest distance from
the header (208).
12. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the suitable mode of operation includes deactivating an
unloading auger installed on the unloading arm (212) and moving the harvester (200) apart from
the vehicle when the distance between the header (208) and the vehicle is lesser than a third
threshold distance, and wherein the third threshold distance is a closest distance from the header
(208).