Agricultural Machine Hydraulic Control System with Automatic Valve Assignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural work machines with hydraulic control systems face challenges in simplifying operation and avoiding assignment errors between machine connections and control units, which can lead to malfunctions.

Innovation Solution

The agricultural work machine is equipped with a hydraulic control system that directly assigns valves to hydraulic functions of connected work equipment, using a control unit with input and output elements to simplify operation and reduce the risk of assignment errors. This system stores assignments in a data storage, allowing for easy recall and adaptation based on the type of work equipment and task.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual assignment of hydraulic functions to control elements is used, then flexibility and adaptability are maintained, but operation complexity increases and assignment errors occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassignment accuracyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system automatically detects the connected implement type and self-configures the hydraulic function assignments without requiring manual intervention. The system retrieves pre-stored assignment data based on implement identification, eliminating manual configuration steps and preventing assignment errors while maintaining system flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Assignment data for various implement types is pre-stored in the control system's memory before operation. When an implement is connected, the system quickly retrieves the appropriate pre-configured assignments, avoiding the need for manual configuration and ensuring correct function mapping from the start of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If detailed manual configuration is required for each implement, then precise control is achieved, but operation time and operator workload increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperation speedVSAvoidconfiguration time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control system automatically performs the configuration process by detecting implement type and retrieving appropriate assignments from stored data, eliminating the time-consuming manual configuration process while maintaining precise control over hydraulic functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

All possible implement assignments are pre-configured and stored in the system memory. During operation, the system simply retrieves the relevant pre-configured data based on implement identification, reducing configuration time from minutes to seconds while maintaining detailed control capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If automatic assignment based on implement type is used, then operation is simplified and errors reduced, but adaptability to custom configurations may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol simplicityVSAvoidconfiguration flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides automatic self-configuration for standard implements, simplifying operation and reducing errors. The system detects implement type and automatically applies appropriate hydraulic function assignments, making the control process simple and intuitive for routine operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The control system is designed to handle both automatic configuration for standard implements and manual configuration for custom applications. The system can retrieve pre-stored assignments for common implements while also allowing operators to manually override or create custom assignments, providing universal applicability across different implement types and configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3400769B1Agricultural machine and method for operating an agricultural machine
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 CLAAS TRACTOR
  • EP3400769B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3400769B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3400769B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present invention relates to an agricultural machine (1, 2) with a hydraulic control system which controls valves of the machine (1, 2), each of which is assigned machine connections (10) to which at least one implement (3) with counter-connections (11) for controlling a hydraulically actuated adjusting element can be connected, and with an operating unit (17) which includes input and output means (16) and which is connected to the control system via a signal system, wherein the hydraulic control system is designed such that each valve is directly assigned a hydraulic function and at least one operating element (13) of the operating unit (17), wherein these assignments can be stored in a data memory (20) of the machine (1, 2).