| 摘要 |
An apparatus and method for measuring the real-time volumetric flow rate of grain in a field harvester, comprising: a transmitting acoustical transducer for transmitting acoustic signals at a selected frequency, the transmitting acoustical transducer being disposed in the harvester with respect to a flow path of an airborne stream of grain during operation of the harvester so as to transmit the acoustic signals through the airborne stream of grain, whereby the transmitted acoustic signals are attenuated or scattered when passing through the airborne stream of grain; a receiving acoustical transducer for receiving the attenuated or scattered acoustic signals after passing through the flow path of the airborne stream of grain; and a computer in communication with the transmitting acoustical transducer and the receiving acoustical transducer for measuring the real-time volumetric flow rate of the airborne stream of grain as a function of the attenuation or scattering of the transmitted acoustic signals and a flow rate calibration characteristic dependent upon the moisture content of the airborne stream of grain; in an alternative embodiment, the transmitting and receiving acoustical transducers being located on the same side relative to the airborne stream of grain, and an acoustical reflector being disposed opposite the transducers to reflect transmitted acoustical signals from the transmitting acoustical transducer back to the receiving acoustical transducer.
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