JPH0437687B2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Technical Field The present invention relates to a combine harvester equipped with a threshing device and traveling in farmland to reap grain, and in particular, the present invention relates to a combine harvester that is equipped with a threshing device and travels in farmland to reap grain, and in particular transmits engine rotation to a traveling device via a stepped transmission. This invention relates to a combine engine control mechanism.

(b) Summary of the invention The engine control mechanism of the combine harvester of this invention is as follows:
In order to improve the processing accuracy, work accuracy and work efficiency of the threshing equipment, and to simplify the work, we provide a means for operating the fuel supply means so that the engine speed reaches the set speed, and display the engine load status. By providing means for controlling the engine, the engine is controlled so as to maintain the set rotational speed and produce maximum output.

(c) Prior art and its disadvantages The threshing device mounted on a combine rotates a threshing barrel equipped with a large number of threshing teeth on the outer periphery in a threshing chamber, and separates the cut culms into grains and culm waste. do. The rotation speed of the plow barrel has a large effect on the quality of separation and the processing accuracy for damage to the grains, and must be determined based on the crop variety, the dryness and wetness of the grain culms, and other reaping conditions. Further, the amount of culms introduced into the husking chamber is approximately proportional to the traveling speed of the combine harvester during reaping work, and becomes a load on the engine. Furthermore, in a combine harvester, a traveling device and a threshing device are generally driven by a single engine. For these reasons, in order to thresh the harvested culms with high precision, the rotational speed of the engine and the vehicle speed must be set appropriately.

For this reason, in the past, the reaping operation was started with the amount of fuel supplied fixed so that the maximum output could be obtained at a predetermined set rotation speed. However, it has not been possible to deal with the case where the reaping conditions change during the reaping operation and the load on the engine changes. That is, when the load is small, the engine speed increases, while when the load increases, the engine speed decreases. For this reason, there was a drawback that the rotational speed of the threshing barrel of the threshing device changed and the processing accuracy decreased. To compensate for this, it is necessary to appropriately change the fuel supply amount and vehicle speed, but this operation is a complicated task that requires a high level of skill gained through experience, and an operator with ordinary skill cannot accurately change the amount of fuel supplied and the vehicle speed. In some cases, the machine could not be operated, resulting in decreased work efficiency and wasted fuel.

In particular, in combine harvesters that transmit engine rotation to the traveling gear via a stepped transmission, the load adjustment is done in stages, making it impossible to accurately control the engine speed and output value. However, it is only possible to select the gear ratio that is closest to the maximum output, and it is not possible to improve processing accuracy and work efficiency. Furthermore, selecting an appropriate gear ratio based on the reaping conditions and engine condition requires advanced know-how and cannot be easily performed, making the task complicated and difficult.

(d) Purpose of the Invention In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks of the conventional technology, the purpose of the present invention is to correct discontinuous changes in output caused by stepwise changes in gear ratio by a stepped transmission, and to maintain a set rotation speed. An object of the present invention is to provide an engine control mechanism for a combine harvester, which can control the engine so as to exert maximum output while improving the processing accuracy and work efficiency of a threshing device, and which can easily realize the simplification of the work. .

(e) Structure and effect of the invention The engine control mechanism of the combine of this invention is as follows:
a rotation speed control means for determining the operation of the fuel supply means so that the engine rotation speed becomes the set rotation speed based on the current rotation speed of the engine and a set rotation speed determined by the reaping conditions; load display means for determining and displaying the load state of the engine from the amount by which the rotational speed is reduced from the set rotational speed or the relationship between the current supply amount and the fuel supply amount for obtaining the maximum output at the set rotational speed; It is characterized by

According to the present invention, with the above configuration, the fuel supply means can be operated by the rotation speed control means so that the rotation speed of the engine becomes the set rotation speed,
The load display means can display the load state of the engine.

When the reaping operation is started after the rotation speed is controlled to the set rotation speed in a no-load state, a load is applied to the engine from the traveling device and the threshing device. As a result, the engine rotation speed decreases, but the rotation speed control means operates the fuel supply means to increase the amount of fuel supplied so as to maintain the set rotation speed. Thereafter, the operator operates the stepped transmission to increase the vehicle speed so that the load approaches the maximum output at the set rotation speed, and the rotation speed control means repeatedly controls the operation of the fuel supply means. Therefore, even when the vehicle speed and load change step by step with the stepped transmission, the rotation speed of the engine is continuously changed by the rotation speed control means to compensate for discontinuous portions of the rotation speed and output. I can do it.
Furthermore, since the load state can be confirmed by the load display means, vehicle speed control can be easily performed by operating the stepped transmission.

Because of these factors, it is extremely easy to achieve maximum output while maintaining the set rotation speed determined by the reaping conditions, making it possible to improve the processing accuracy and work efficiency of the threshing device and simplify the work. .

(f) Embodiment i Structural Description FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a control section of a combine harvester in which an engine control mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is used.

The CPU 21 is connected to an operation panel driver 25, an accelerator motor drive relay 26, a timer/counter 27, and an A/D via an I/O interface 24.
A converter 28 and a switch section 17 are connected. The operation panel driver 25 is connected to a load lamp 11 provided on the operation panel. This load lamp 11 is a load display means of the present invention, and displays the load state of the engine in five stages. When the engine load is light, a lamp with a lower number is lit, and when the load exceeds the engine output, a lamp with a higher number is lit. Display value 1
-3 are shown in green, and display values 4 and 5 are shown in red.

An electromagnetic pickup 5 is provided facing a flywheel 4 fixed to the crankshaft of an engine 1. This electromagnetic pickup 5 detects the rotation of the flywheel 4 and outputs an output signal to the timer/counter 27. In addition, engine rotation is controlled from the crankshaft to gear transmission 2.
has been communicated to. A vehicle speed sensor 6 is provided on the first shaft of the gear transmission 2.
The output signal of this vehicle speed sensor 6 is output to a timer/counter 27.

The accelerator motor 10 is connected to the accelerator motor drive relay 26 . The accelerator 9 is attached with the rotation axis of the accelerator motor 10 as a fulcrum. The operation of the accelerator 9 is transmitted to the governor 1a, which is a fuel supply device, via a link 9a. Also, the accelerator 9 has a potentiometer 9b.
is provided, and an output voltage corresponding to the position of the accelerator 9 is output to the A/D converter 28. Switch part 1
7 is a threshing switch 1 that detects whether or not the driving force of the engine 1 is being transmitted to the threshing barrel of the threshing device.
3, and variety switches 14 to 16 for selecting the crop variety to be harvested.

The ROM 22 connected to the CPU 21 stores the rotational speed of the engine 1 specified by each crop variety, the output characteristics of the engine 1 shown in FIG. The relationship with rotation speed, etc. are stored. Also RAM
23 temporarily stores input and output data.

DESCRIPTION OF OPERATION FIGS. 1A and 1B are flowcharts showing the operation of the engine control mechanism of the combine harvester.

After the engine is started, when the automatic control mode of the engine is set by operating the threshing switch 13 or the like, the timer/counter 27 starts counting down a predetermined period of time. Step n1 (hereinafter referred to as “Step n”)
” is simply referred to as “n”), when the time Ta has elapsed, the process advances to n2, reads out which switch is being operated among the variety switches 14 to 16 of the switch section 17, and sets the rotation speed according to the selected crop variety. Rs is retrieved from the ROM 22 and stored in the memory area M1 of the RAM 23 shown in FIG.
Next, in n3, the current vehicle speed is determined from the output value of the vehicle speed sensor 6.
Sa is calculated and stored in memory area M2. Furthermore, in n4, the current rotation speed Ra is calculated from the output value of the electromagnetic pickup 5 and stored in the memory area M3.
At n5, the output value of potentiometer 9b is A/D converted and the current position of the accelerator is stored in memory area 4.
to be memorized.

When the time Tb elapses at n6, the engine speed difference Rd is calculated at n7. This rotational speed difference Rd is the difference between the set rotational speed Rs and the current rotational speed Ra. Next, in n8, it is determined whether the rotational speed difference Rd is positive or negative. n8
If the rotational speed difference Rd is a positive number in
n10 sets the contents of flag B, and if the rotation speed difference Rd is a negative number, n9 sets the contents of flag A by 1.
and proceed to n11. At n11, the absolute value of the rotation speed difference Rd is compared with the tolerance k of the set number of meeting points Rs. The engine control mechanism of the present invention basically controls the engine rotation speed to match the set number Rs suitable for each crop variety, but it is difficult to make the two match strictly. Moreover, such a control operation lacks stability. Therefore, a dead zone as a permissible error is provided in the set rotation speed Rs within a range of ±k, and the engine speed is controlled so as to fall within the range of this dead zone.

If the absolute value of the rotational speed difference Rd is larger than the error k at n11, it is determined that the current rotational speed Ra is not within the dead zone, and the drive output value T of the accelerator motor 10 is calculated at n12. This output value T is determined according to the magnitude of the absolute value of the rotation speed difference Rd.
The memory area M5 is allocated to a counter C for driving the accelerator motor, and at n13, the contents of this counter C are set to the output value T obtained by calculation. Next, the accelerator motor 10 is driven at n14. At this time, memory areas M7 and M8
The driving direction is determined by referring to the contents of flag A and flag B. That is, when the content of flag A is 1, the accelerator motor drive relay 26
The reversing relay is turned on, and the accelerator motor 10 is rotated in a direction to decrease the supply amount. On the other hand, when the content of flag B is 1, the reversing relay is turned off and driven in the direction of increasing the amount of fuel supplied.

When time Tc elapses at n17, proceed to n18 and again,
It is determined whether the rotation speed difference Rd is positive or negative. Rotation speed difference
If Rd is a negative number, proceed to n19 and calculate the display value D according to the formula D=3+(Rd/50). Rotation speed difference
When Rd is a positive number, proceed to n20 and calculate the display value D according to the formula D=(L2/L1)×4. The above calculation formula was obtained through experiments; for example, if the rotation speed drops by 50 rpm from the set rotation speed, D = 4,
If the speed decreases by 100 rpm or more, D=5. Next, at n21, the load lamp 11 corresponding to the display value D calculated at n19 and n20 is turned on. Here, L1 is the set rotation speed Rs in the no-load state, as shown in Figure 3.
Achieves the maximum output at the accelerator position 9d corresponding to the accelerator position 9d and the set rotation speed Rs.Achieves the fuel supply amount that achieves the maximum output at the accelerator position corresponding to the no-load rotation speed Rm of the output line CUm, that is, at the set rotation speed Rs. This is the difference from the accelerator position 9c,
L2 is accelerator position 9c and current accelerator position 9e
This is the difference between In addition, this accelerator position 9c-9
As mentioned above, d is expressed by the output voltage of the potentiometer 9b, and represents the amount of fuel supplied from the governor 1a to the engine,
The voltage value of the output voltage is input to the CPU 21 as digital data obtained by A/D conversion. n21
When the display process is completed, the process returns to n1, and the main routine from n1 to n21 is repeated while the engine speed is being controlled.

During the operation of this main routine, the current engine speed Ra and the current vehicle speed Sa are determined by counting the number of pulses detected within a predetermined time period from the electromagnetic pickup 5 and the vehicle speed sensor 6, respectively, by the timer/counter 27. At n1, time Ta is measured as a reference time for counting the number of pulses. If the time Ta has not elapsed at n1, the process advances to n6. Further, if the time Tb has not elapsed in n6, the process advances to n17. To determine the passage of time Tb and Tc at n6 and n17 is
This is to reduce the load on the CPU. If the absolute value of the rotational speed difference Rd is smaller than the tolerance k at n11, the process goes to n15 and the contents of the counter C are set to 0.
and stop the motor drive with n16.

A timer 29 is connected to the CPU 21,
The time is approximately 1/100 of the main routine operation time. When the timer 29 times up, a signal is output to the CPU 21, which causes
The CPU 21 executes a timer interrupt routine. That is, it is determined in n22 whether the contents of counter C in memory area M5 is 0 or not, and if it is not 0,
At n23, the contents of counter C are decremented by 1. Alternatively, if the content of the counter C is 0, the drive of the accelerator motor 10 is stopped at n24 and the process returns to the main routine. At n11, the output value T of the drive of the accelerator motor 10 is the rotation amount of the motor during the time measured by the timer 29 (timer interrupt time).
Calculated as a unit. Therefore, each time the timer 29 times up, the accelerator motor can be rotated by the required amount by decrementing the contents of the counter C by 1 in steps n22→n23.

The above operation will be specifically explained using the diagram shown in FIG. 3 showing the output characteristics of the engine. Now set rotation speed
When Rs is 3000 rpm, accelerator 9 is in an unloaded state before the combine starts traveling.
It is located at position 9d with a supply amount that can achieve 3000 rpm. When the combine starts running and begins reaping work, the load increases due to road resistance and threshing work, and the engine speed decreases, progressing from n7 → n8 → n10.
When the engine speed decreases further and exceeds the dead zone range, it progresses from n11 to n14, and by n8 to n10, n14 and n21, the accelerator 9 moves from the 9d position to the arrow
direction to the position corresponding to the no-load rotation speed of the output curve that satisfies the current output value at 3000 rpm. For example, as the load increases, the output decreases.
When it rises to P1, the set rotation speed Rs is 3000rpm.
The output line CU1 that satisfies the output value P1 is used. No-load rotation speed of this output line CU1
The accelerator motor 10 is driven to move the accelerator 9 to a position 9e corresponding to 3050 rpm. This maintains the engine speed at 3000 rpm.

The accelerator position 9c is the fuel supply position that realizes the output line CUm that satisfies the maximum output Pm at 3000 rpm, and corresponds to 3200 rpm in the no-load state. In other words, if more fuel is supplied, the engine speed will be the set rotation speed Rs.
In other words, the position corresponding to the no-load state of the output line CUm
This means the amount of supply that can move Aquel 9 up to 9c. Also, this is the maximum output P at 3000 rpm
This means that the load can be increased up to m. When the rotational speed difference Rd is a positive value, there is an output margin, and it is possible to increase the load by increasing the moving speed of the combine harvester. At this time, n18→n20→n21
Then, the display value D, which is inversely proportional to the magnitude of L2, is lit on the load lamp 11. This display value D is 1 to 3
If the value is low, the gear transmission 2 can be operated to increase the vehicle speed. However, the maximum speed of a combine harvester suitable for threshing is approximately 1.1 m/s, and the vehicle speed is controlled so as not to exceed this value during threshing.

Even if the vehicle speed of the combine is below the maximum speed for threshing, the load may change to the maximum output P depending on the condition of the thick culm.
It may exceed m. In this case, the current rotation speed Ra of the engine is lower than the set rotation speed Rs, and Rd becomes a positive number. At this time, the display value D is lit on the load lamp 11 in accordance with the magnitude of the rotational speed difference Rd as it progresses from n18 to n19 to n21. When the displayed value D is the maximum value 5, the gear transmission 2 is operated to reduce the vehicle speed in order to reduce the load.

When crop conditions change and the load decreases during reaping work, the accelerator 9 is moved by arrow Y to the position corresponding to the rotation speed of the output line in the no-load state, which satisfies the reduced output at 3000 rpm by the operation of n8→n9 and n21.
direction to reduce the amount of fuel supplied.

The above n7 to n14, the accelerator motor 10, and the accelerator motor drive relay 26 correspond to the rotation speed control means of the present invention, and the n18 to n21 and the load lamp 1
1 also corresponds to the load display means.

Effects of the Embodiment As described above, according to this embodiment, the accelerator is operated by the rotation speed control means so that the engine rotation speed always falls within the allowable range of the set rotation speed, and the processing accuracy of the threshing device is improved. can do. Along with the operation of this rotational speed control means, the load condition of the engine is displayed by the load lamp 11, and is used as a guideline for operating the gear transmission 2. As a result, it is possible to easily operate the threshing device to reap as much thick culm as possible while maintaining processing accuracy, and it is possible to improve work efficiency.

Other aspects In this example, the set rotation speed of the engine is determined only by the crop variety, but it is possible to input other reaping conditions such as the wet and dry state of the culm, so that the set rotation speed of the engine can be set based on multiple conditions. It is also possible to determine the number of rotations. Furthermore, when the load lamp displays the maximum value, a warning sound may be sounded to prompt the operator to perform a deceleration operation. Furthermore, even if the form of the load lamp, display format, and calculation formula for the displayed value are other than those used in this example, the current load status can be accurately displayed to the operator, and it can serve as a guideline for the operation of the stepped transmission. Good to have.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1A and 1B are flowcharts showing the operation of the engine control mechanism of a combine harvester according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the control section of the engine control mechanism of the combine, and FIG. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a part of the memory map of the memory included in the control section. 1a... Governor (fuel supply means), 2... Gear transmission (stepped change device), 9... Accelerator (fuel supply means), 10... Accelerator motor (rotation control means), 11... Load lamp (Load display means), 26... Accelerator motor drive relay (rotation speed control means).

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. The driving device and the threshing device are driven by a single engine, and includes a fuel supply means for adjusting the engine rotation speed by changing the fuel supply amount, and the rotation of the engine is variable speed. In the engine control mechanism of the combine, which transmits information to the traveling device via the machine, fuel is supplied so that the engine rotational speed becomes the set rotational speed based on the engine's current rotational speed and the set rotational speed determined by the reaping conditions. The engine load is calculated based on the rotational speed control means that determines the operation of the means, and the amount by which the current rotational speed of the engine decreases from the set rotational speed or the relationship between the current fuel supply amount and the fuel supply amount that obtains the maximum output at the set rotational speed. A combine engine control mechanism comprising a load display means for determining and displaying a state.