Gate position control of round bale discharge

摘要

An agricultural round baler has an electronic control unit (ECU), a bale diameter sensor, a gate position sensor, and an electro-hydraulic valve that controls the flow to the gate lift cylinder. The ECU determines the height to which the gate must be raised based on the bale diameter. When the gate reaches the desired height, the ECU closes or restricts the electro-hydraulic valve for a brief period of time thereby momentarily slowing or stopping gate the gate. Momentarily trapping the bale between the gate and ground allows the bale to come to rest before the bale is released from the baler. The gate can then be fully opened so that the tractor and baler can be moved clear of the bale before closing the gate.

主权项

1. An agricultural round baler, comprising:
a bale discharge gate; a gate actuator for moving the gate; and a control circuit including an ECU operatively coupled to a bale diameter sensor and a gate position sensor; wherein the ECU is configured to calculate a minimum height that the gate must be raised to allow a completed bale to drop to the ground based upon a bale diameter signal from the bale diameter sensor; wherein the ECU is configured to monitor a gate position based upon a signal from the gate position sensor; and wherein the ECU is configured to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to the gate actuator and momentarily slowing or stopping the flow of hydraulic fluid to the actuator when the gate reaches the minimum height.