US 12,203,479 B2
System and method for monitoring an extractor fan of an agricultural harvester
João Augusto Marcolin Lucca, Piracicaba-SP (BR)
Assigned to CNH Industrial Brasil Ltda., Nova Lima (BR)
Filed by CNH Industrial Brasil Ltda., Nova Lima (BR)
Filed on Nov. 20, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/514,257.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2022 024072 8 (BR), filed on Nov. 25, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0175440 A1, May 30, 2024
Int. Cl. F04D 27/00 (2006.01); A01D 17/10 (2006.01); A01D 34/125 (2006.01); A01D 34/16 (2006.01); A01D 34/83 (2006.01); A01D 34/835 (2006.01); A01D 45/10 (2006.01); A01D 57/10 (2006.01); H04Q 9/00 (2006.01)
CPC F04D 27/001 (2013.01) [A01D 45/10 (2013.01); H04Q 9/00 (2013.01); A01D 17/10 (2013.01); A01D 17/101 (2013.01); A01D 34/125 (2013.01); A01D 34/16 (2013.01); A01D 34/83 (2013.01); A01D 34/833 (2013.01); A01D 34/8355 (2013.01); A01D 57/10 (2013.01); H04Q 2209/40 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for monitoring an extractor fan of an agricultural harvester, the system comprising:
an extractor fan comprising:
a shaft extending along a rotational axis between an upper shaft end and a lower shaft end, the upper shaft end configured to be coupled to a rotational drive source for rotationally driving the shaft about the rotational axis;
a fan hub coupled to the lower shaft end of the shaft such that rotation of the shaft rotationally drives the fan hub about a fan hub axis, the fan hub extending between an upstream side and a downstream side along the fan hub axis; and
a plurality of fan blades coupled to and extending radially outwardly from the fan hub;
a sensor configured to generate data indicative of acceleration of the extractor fan; and
a computing system communicatively coupled to the sensor, the computing system being configured to:
receive the data generated by the sensor;
determine an acceleration of the extractor fan based at least in part on the data; and
determine whether the extractor fan is imbalanced based at least in part on the acceleration of the extractor fan.
 
10. A method for monitoring an extractor fan of an agricultural harvester, the extractor fan including a shaft coupled between a rotational drive source and a fan hub such that rotation of the shaft by the rotational drive source rotationally drives the fan hub about a fan hub axis, the fan hub extending between an upstream side and a downstream side along the fan hub axis, the extractor fan additionally including a plurality of fan blades coupled to and extending radially outwardly from the fan hub, the method comprising:
controlling the rotational drive source to rotationally drive the fan hub;
receiving, with a computing system, data generated by a sensor, the data being indicative of acceleration of the extractor fan;
determining, with the computing system, an acceleration of the extractor fan based at least in part on the data; and
determining, with the computing system, whether the extractor fan is imbalanced based at least in part on the acceleration of the extractor fan.