Drop pan system and sample separator for grain loss measurement or other sample collection and assessment

Abstract

A drop pan system for collecting a sample of crop material discharged by a harvester while harvesting crops. The drop pan is magnetically coupled to a support structure disposed on the harvester by at least one electro-permanent magnet having a default de-energized state and an energized state. In the default de-energized state, the at least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically isolated from an electric power source. In the energized state, the least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically coupled with the electric power source. As the harvester advances through the field harvesting the crop, the drop pan is released from the support structure by switching the electro-permanent magnet from the default de-energized state to the energized state such that the drop pan drops to the ground surface. The open top end of the drop pan on the ground surface captures a sample of the crop material discharged by the advancing harvester.

1 . A drop pan system for a harvester, comprising:
 a support structure disposed on the harvester above a ground surface;   an electric power source;   at least one electro-permanent magnet, the at least one electro-permanent magnet having a default de-energized state and an energized state, wherein in the default de-energized state, the at least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically isolated from the electric power source and wherein in the energized state, the least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically coupled with the electric power source;   a drop pan having a bottom floor and perimeter sidewalls defining an interior pan space with an open top end, the drop pan magnetically coupled to the support structure by the at least electro-permanent magnet when in the default de-energized state;   a remotely controllable switch operable between a holding state and a release state, wherein in the holding state, the electro-permanent magnet is in the default de-energized state, and wherein in the release state, the electro-permanent magnet is switched from the default de-energized state to the energized state such that the drop pan is decoupled from the support structure and drops to the ground surface with the open top end oriented away from the ground surface.   
     
     
         2 . The drop pan system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electro-permanent magnet is secured to the support structure. 
     
     
         3 . The drop pan system of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is supported on the harvester above the ground surface by permanent magnets. 
     
     
         4 . The drop pan system of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is supported on an axle of the harvester. 
     
     
         5 . The drop pan system of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure is supported on a header of the harvester. 
     
     
         6 . The drop pan system of  claim 1 , wherein the electric power source is a battery power source. 
     
     
         7 . The drop pan system of  claim 1 , wherein the drop pan is any one of: (i) a structure made entirely of ferromagnetic material; (ii) a structure which includes portions made of ferromagnetic material in alignment with the electro-permanent magnet when the drop pan is magnetically coupled to the support structure; (iii) a structure that is made substantially of non-ferromagnetic material, but having a ferromagnetic part secured to a top side of the bottom floor that aligns with the electro-permanent magnet when the drop pan is magnetically coupled to the support structure. 
     
     
         8 . The drop pan system of  claim 1 , wherein the support structure includes peripheral walls defining an open bottom end oriented toward the ground surface. 
     
     
         9 . The drop pan system of  claim 8 , wherein the open top end of the drop pan is received within in the open bottom end of the support structure when the drop pan is magnetically coupled to the support structure with the at least one electro-permanent magnet in the default de-energized state. 
     
     
         10 . The drop pan system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 alignment guides configured to align the drop pan with the support structure.   
     
     
         11 . The drop pan system of  claim 10 , wherein the alignment guides comprise convergently sloped guide surfaces that converge in a downward direction toward the ground surface, and wherein an opposing pair of the perimeter walls of the drop pan convergently slope downward from the open top end to the bottom floor end to mateably receive the convergently sloped guide surfaces of the alignment guides. 
     
     
         12 . A method of collecting a sample of crop material discharged by a harvester while harvesting a crop in a field, the method comprising:
 magnetically coupling a drop pan to a support structure disposed on a harvester above a ground surface with at least one electro-permanent magnet, the at least one electro-permanent magnet having a default de-energized state and an energized state, wherein in the default de-energized state, the at least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically isolated from an electric power source and wherein in the energized state, the least one electro-permanent magnet is electrically coupled with the electric power source, the drop pan having a bottom floor and perimeter sidewalls defining an interior pan space with an open top end;   as the harvester travels through the field in a forward direction of travel harvesting the crop, releasing the drop pan from the support structure by switching the electro-permanent magnet from the default de-energized state to the energized state such that the drop pan drops to the ground surface with the open top end oriented upward away from the ground surface;   as the harvester continues to advance through the field in the forward direction of travel, the open top end of the drop pan on the ground surface capturing a sample of the crop material discharged by the advancing harvester.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one electro-permanent magnet is secured to the support structure. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the support structure is supported on the harvester above the ground surface by permanent magnets. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the support structure is supported on an axle of the harvester. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the support structure is supported on a header of the harvester. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the electric power source is a battery power source. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the drop pan is any one of: (i) a structure made entirely of ferromagnetic material; (ii) a structure which includes portions made of ferromagnetic material in alignment with the electro-permanent magnet when the drop pan is magnetically coupled to the support housing; (iii) a structure that is made substantially of non-ferromagnetic material, but having a ferromagnetic part secured to a top side of the bottom floor that aligns with the electro-permanent magnet when the drop pan is magnetically coupled to the support housing. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the support structure includes peripheral walls defining an open bottom end oriented toward the ground surface. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the open top end of the drop pan is received within in the open bottom end of the support structure when the drop pan is magnetically coupled to the support structure with the at least one electro-permanent magnet in the default de-energized state. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 alignment guides configured to align the drop pan with the support structure.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the alignment guides comprise convergently sloped guide surfaces that converge in a downward direction toward the ground surface, and wherein an opposing pair of the perimeter walls of the drop pan convergently slope downward from the open top end to the bottom floor end to mateably receive the convergently sloped guide surfaces of the alignment guides. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the sample of crop material captured within the drop pan includes grain kernels and crop debris, the method further comprising:
 separating the grain kernels from the crop debris.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the step of separating the grain kernels from the crop debris includes transferring the sample of crop material from the drop pan to a container and directing an air flow across the sample of crop material within the container, the air flow separating the crop debris from the grain kernels. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the container includes:
 a peripheral wall defining an interior space with an open upper end;   a mesh screen disposed within the interior space a distance below the open upper end, the mesh screen dividing the interior space of the container into an upper sample-receiving compartment and a lower compartment, the upper sample-receiving compartment receiving the sample of crop material transferred from the drop pan, the lower compartment housing a fan, the fan generating the air flow upwardly through the mesh screen across the sample of crop material within the upper-sample receiving compartment, the generated air flow being sufficient to blow the crop debris out of the upper-sample receiving compartment through the open upper end without blowing the grain kernels out the open upper end, such that the grain kernels remain within the interior space.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the container further includes:
 a battery power source disposed within the lower compartment for powering the fan.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the fan is a variable speed fan.