Active Vibration Damping for Agricultural Spreader Linkages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural field sprayers experience significant forward vibrations due to their relatively low stiffness in the forward direction, leading to inconsistent application rates, and existing vibration damping solutions require high effort and are insufficient in effectively eliminating these vibrations.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural spreader with a spreader linkage and a ground-supporting chassis, equipped with an electronic controller that activates an actuator to induce anti-phase vibrations in the distributor linkage, reducing or eliminating forward vibrations by adjusting the propulsion speed and direction of the chassis and distributor linkage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the distributor linkage is made less stiff in the forward direction to reduce weight and cost, then weight and manufacturing cost are reduced, but forward vibrations increase leading to inconsistent application rates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies active vibration cancellation by generating counter-vibrations using actuators. Sensors detect the oscillating movements of the distributor linkage, and actuators produce opposing vibrations to cancel out the unwanted forward direction oscillations, thereby maintaining application rate consistency while keeping the linkage lightweight.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs sensors to continuously monitor the position and velocity of the distributor linkage components. This feedback information is processed by a controller that adjusts actuator commands in real-time to counteract detected oscillations, creating a closed-loop control system that maintains precision despite reduced structural stiffness.
2Manufacturing precision
If active vibration damping actuators are added to counteract oscillations, then application rate consistency is improved, but device complexity and effort increase
Solution Approach 1:
The actuators serve dual functions: they control the distributor linkage positioning for proper operation and simultaneously generate vibration cancellation forces. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated vibration damping components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while maintaining vibration control capabilities.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the chassis acceleration is limited to reduce vibrations, then forward vibrations are reduced, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of limiting acceleration, the system actively generates counter-vibrations through actuators that produce forces opposing the oscillating movements. This allows the chassis to accelerate and decelerate at normal rates while the vibration cancellation system neutralizes the harmful oscillations, thereby maintaining both comfort and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
Sensors continuously monitor the actual acceleration and vibration levels, providing feedback to the controller. The controller dynamically adjusts actuator output based on real-time conditions, allowing aggressive acceleration profiles when vibrations are low while actively canceling vibrations when they occur, thus optimizing both ride quality and field work speed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution effectively reduces or eliminates forward vibrations in the distributor linkage, maintaining consistent application rates and reducing the acceleration of the linkage, thereby improving the precision of field spraying operations.
Implementation Method 1
control an actuator influencing the propulsion speed and/or direction of travel of the chassis and/or the distributor linkage in order to reduce forward vibration of the distributor linkage
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural spreading machine (12) is equipped with a spreading linkage (44), a chassis (16) and an electronic control (36) which controls an actuator in response to a detected or expected vibration of the spreading linkage (44) in the forward direction (V) such that the resulting change in speed (Δv2) and/or change in direction of travel induces an antiphase vibration in the spreading linkage (44), which leads to a reduction or cancellation of the vibration.