Adjustable Suspension for Crop-Safe Agricultural Vehicle Height Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional high clearance agricultural vehicles are unsuitable for spraying mature crops as they risk damaging the crops, and aerial spraying is weather-dependent and less effective than ground spraying.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic adjustment system that varies the height of the vehicle's chassis by extending or retracting a leg, allowing the vehicle to move away from or closer to the ground, enabling safe and efficient spraying of mature crops without damaging them.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the vehicle uses a fixed high clearance design, then it can pass through tall crops, but it cannot spray mature crops without damaging them due to excessive height
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed clearance design with an adjustable suspension system that allows the chassis to move between high and low positions. The leg assembly with telescopic sections and hydraulic actuators enables dynamic adjustment of vehicle height, allowing the same vehicle to adapt to different crop growth stages - maintaining high clearance for tall crops and reducing clearance for mature crop spraying.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the vehicle is designed for high clearance to avoid crop damage, then it can traverse tall crops, but ground spraying effectiveness is reduced due to increased distance from the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable suspension system dynamically changes the vehicle's position relative to the ground. During mature crop spraying, the chassis is lowered to maintain effective spray distance while the booms extend to reach over the crop canopy. This dynamic positioning resolves the contradiction between maintaining safe clearance and ensuring spraying effectiveness.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If aerial spraying is used to spray mature crops, then crop damage is avoided, but spraying effectiveness is reduced due to weather dependence and limited spray concentration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables ground-based spraying of mature crops by dynamically adjusting the chassis height and boom positioning. The vehicle lowers its chassis while extending booms outward and upward to position spray nozzles over the crop canopy. This allows effective ground spraying without crop contact, eliminating weather constraints and improving spray concentration compared to aerial methods.
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 hydraulic adjustment system allows for dynamic height adjustment, reducing the risk of crop damage and improving the effectiveness of crop spraying by enabling precise control over the vehicle's clearance, enhancing the ability to spray mature crops efficiently.
Implementation Method 1
The adjustment system includes a hydraulic assembly for extension of the adjustment system
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 2B
AI summary
A machine (10), such as a mobile asset, vehicle, or agricultural vehicle, includes a chassis (20), an adjustment system (100), and a wheel (40). The adjustment system replaces a conventional non-extendable leg connected between the chassis and the wheel of the machine. The adjustment system can extend and withdraw in length, such that the height of the machine