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Aplicações

Aplicações para o mundo Máquinas móveis: Combine harvester


A combine harvester is a complex agricultural machine designed to perform cutting, threshing, and grain separation in a single operation.

Thanks to the integration of mechanical, hydraulic, and electronic components, the combine ensures high productivity and excellent harvesting quality, even in demanding field conditions.

Necessidades:

Necessidade:

Header height and cutting bar adjustment

Precise adjustment of the cutting bar position allows the combine harvester to adapt to different ground conditions and crop heights, maintaining a constant distance from the soil. Accurate control of this parameter is essential to optimize cutting quality, reduce product losses, and increase overall productivity.

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To ensure precise, accurate, and reliable regulation of the lift cylinder position that controls the cutting bar height, Gefran offers the RK-5 magnetostrictive linear sensor.
Key features:
  • Installed inside the hydraulic cylinder, with no external encumbrance
  • Contactless magnetostrictive technology ensuring measurement stability and long operational life
  • Designed to withstand shocks, vibrations, and agricultural contaminants
Thanks to these characteristics, the RK-5 magnetostrictive linear position sensor is a robust and reliable solution for adjusting the header height and the cutting bar, ensuring safety, efficiency, and long-term performance.

Necessidade:

Header tilt angle adjustment

The ability to adjust the header tilt allows the cutting angle to be optimized according to the type of crop and the operating conditions. Monitoring the tilt angle through angular position sensors enables precise and continuous control of the header attitude, ensuring better ground following and reduced grain loss.

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For precise regulation of the header’s longitudinal tilt angle, Gefran offers the GR3P rotary sensor with shaft — a reliable and robust solution, ideal for applications in agricultural environments.
Key features:
  • Contactless Hall-effect technology, ensuring long operational life
  • Resin-sealed housing for maximum protection against dust, moisture, and external agents
  • High resistance to shocks, vibrations, and extreme temperatures (up to 125°C)
Thanks to these characteristics, the GR3P rotary sensor with shaft represents a versatile and safe solution for adjusting the header tilt angle, ensuring precise control and reliable management of field operations.

Necessidade:

Driving pedals and command levers position control

In combine harvesters, accurate monitoring of the angular position of control pedals and command levers allows the onboard electronics to correctly interpret the operator’s intent. This ensures smooth and precise machine handling, increases productivity, and reduces fuel consumption across all operating phases.

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For accurate control of the angular position of pedals and command levers, Gefran offers the GRA rotary sensor with shaft — a robust and versatile solution capable of delivering stable performance.
Key features:
  • Contactless Hall-effect technology ensuring long operational life
  • Available with single or redundant output, and with various electrical interfaces, both analog and digital
  • Resistant to shocks, vibrations, and high temperatures
Thanks to these characteristics, the GRA shaft rotary sensor is a reliable and long-lasting choice for applications that require precise control, safety, and consistent operation over time.

Necessidade:

Hydraulic circuit pressure monitoring

Monitoring the pressure within the hydraulic circuit is essential to ensure the correct functioning of the combine harvester and maintain its operational efficiency. An accurate control system allows timely detection of anomalies or out-of-range values, preventing failures that could compromise safety and cause machine downtime. This functionality not only ensures consistent performance but also helps reduce maintenance costs and extend the lifespan of hydraulic system components.

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For precise and safe monitoring of hydraulic circuit pressure, Gefran recommends the KM pressure sensor series.
Key features:
  • Compact dimensions for easy installation even in confined spaces
  • High resistance to shock, vibration, and high temperatures
  • SIL2/PLd certified, ensuring high standards of functional safety
Thanks to these characteristics, the KM pressure sensors represent a practical and robust solution for monitoring hydraulic circuit pressure, combining safety, efficiency, and long-term reliability.

Necessidade:

Hydraulic pump flow rate adjustment

Regulating the hydraulic pump is a key aspect for the proper operation of the machine’s power systems. Accurate control of the valve opening and closing allows optimal modulation of fluid flow, adapting system performance to actual operating needs. This precise management improves the energy efficiency of the hydraulic circuit and reduces component wear, increasing the overall lifespan of the system and ensuring greater reliability and safety during operation.

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To meet the need for precise regulation of the hydraulic pump flow rate, Gefran recommends the GRN shaftless rotary sensor.
Key features:
  • Compact dimensions for easy integration in limited spaces
  • High resistance to vibrations, ensuring stability and long-term durability
  • Available with both analog and digital interfaces
Thanks to these characteristics, the GRN enables precise and continuous control of hydraulic systems, contributing to improved operational efficiency.

Necessidade:

Steering angle control

Accurate monitoring of the steering angle improves the manoeuvrability and safety of the combine harvester under all operating conditions.
During harvesting operations, the machine must maintain a stable and precise trajectory, avoiding abrupt movements that could compromise alignment with crop rows or damage the plants.
A reliable steering angle detection system allows the guidance system to respond optimally, improves directional accuracy, and reduces operator fatigue—especially during long working sessions.
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To ensure precise and reliable steering control, Gefran recommends the GRN non-contact rotary sensor.
Key features:
  • Contactless Hall-effect magnetic technology, ideal for repetitive movements and long operational life
  • Compact dimensions and easy installation
  • High resistance to shocks and vibrations, ensuring consistent performance over time
Thanks to these characteristics, the GRN sensor ensures precise and stable control of the steering angle, improving manoeuvrability and the overall safety of the machine.

Necessidade:

Grain unloading tube position adjustment

During the grain unloading phase, the combine harvester must orient the tube with maximum precision to direct the material into the trailer or collection container.
In addition, continuous monitoring of the unloading tube position enhances operator safety by preventing potential collisions with the trailer or surrounding obstacles during tank emptying operations.
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Gefran offers a complete range of solutions for adjusting the position of the grain unloading tube, combining linear and rotary sensors to meet all measurement requirements.

RK-5 linear position sensor

Key features:
  • Installation directly inside the hydraulic cylinder, with no external encumbrance
  • Contactless magnetostrictive technology, eliminating wear and ensuring long service life
  • High resistance to shocks, vibrations, and contaminants

 

GRA rotary sensor with shaft

Key features:
  • Available with single or redundant output for applications with high safety requirements
  • Supports analog and digital interfaces (CANopen, SAE J1939) for versatile integration
  • Robust design, resistant to shocks and vibrations
Thanks to this combination of linear and rotary measurement technologies, Gefran provides a complete and reliable control system capable of delivering consistent performance even in the harshest operating conditions.

Necessidade:

Grain tank hatch opening/closing adjustment

The combine harvester must open and close the grain tank hatch with precision and in synchronization with the other machine functions.
A reliable control system ensures safe management of the grain flow, preventing accidental or incomplete openings that could compromise the efficiency of the unloading process or the sealing of the tank during operation.
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Gefran recommends the GR3P rotary sensor with shaft as the ideal solution for controlling the opening and closing of the grain tank hatch.
Key features:
  • Contactless Hall-effect technology ensuring long operational life
  • Resin-sealed housing for maximum protection against dust, moisture, and external agents
  • High resistance to shocks, vibrations, and extreme temperatures (up to 125°C)
Thanks to these characteristics, the GR3P shaft rotary sensor provides a versatile and safe solution for adjusting the grain tank hatch, ensuring precise control and reliable management of field operations.

Operating principle

The combine harvester brings together several operating functions: cutting the crop, separating the grain, and cleaning the harvested product.
The engine delivers power to the drive system and to the various mechanical and hydraulic circuits that coordinate the movement of the cutting bar, the threshing drum, and the internal cleaning and grain-transport systems.
During operation, position and pressure sensors detect parameters such as the height of the cutting bar, the rotation angle of the threshing drum, and the pressure in the hydraulic circuit—providing essential data to guarantee optimal performance and safe operation.
Real-time control of these parameters allows the combine to automatically adapt to changing crop conditions, improving efficiency, reducing fuel consumption, and minimizing product losses.

Requirements and technology

Combine harvesters operate in demanding agricultural environments, where precision, reliability, and the ability to adapt to variable terrain and crop conditions are essential. For this reason, it is crucial to integrate sensors that allow precise monitoring and control of key operating variables.
The main technological needs include:
  • Adjustment of the header height and cutting bar
  • Adjustment of the header tilt angle
  • Control of pedal and lever position
  • Steering angle control
  • Monitoring of hydraulic circuit pressure
  • Regulation of hydraulic pump flow rate
  • Adjustment of the grain unloading tube position
  • Adjustment of the grain tank hatch opening/closing
Gefran meets these needs with a complete range of angular, inclination, linear position, and pressure sensors designed to ensure reliability, efficiency, and safety in combine harvesters and all agricultural harvesting machinery.

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