Agricultural Rotor Height Control During Turns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural rakes experience uneven raking and potential soil contamination when turning, as the inner rotor is pushed closer to the ground, leading to inefficient crop collection and potential damage to tines.
Innovation Solution
A control system that detects when the tool is turning and adjusts the height of both the inner and outer rotors to maintain even operation, using sensors like GPS to identify rotor positions and adjust the height via mechanical or hydraulic means.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rake is towed along a curve or bend, then the inner rotor experiences increased downwards force and is pushed closer to the ground, but this causes uneven raking, untidy swathe, crop loss, and potential tine damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the rotor height adjustable during operation. The height adjustment mechanism allows the inner rotor to be raised during turns, transforming the static height configuration into a dynamic one that adapts to turning conditions, thereby maintaining raking uniformity and preventing tine damage
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the inner rotor is lowered closer to the ground during turns, then the downward force is increased for better ground engagement, but this causes tines to contact the earth and distribute contaminants into the crop
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary anti-action by raising the inner rotor before or during the turn, which prevents the harmful effect of tine-ground contact and subsequent contamination before it can occur. This counteracts the potential contamination issue by establishing a safe clearance position in advance
3Device complexity
If manual height adjustment mechanisms are used, then the structure is simple, but the complexity increases when automated control systems with sensors and actuators are added
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using sensors to detect the rake's position and orientation, particularly during turns, and automatically adjusting the rotor height in response. This closed-loop feedback system enables automatic adaptation to turning conditions, maintaining raking uniformity without requiring manual intervention
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural tool comprising an elongated frame, ground engaging wheels for supporting the frame on the ground and at least two rotors carried by a respective arm. Each respective arm is moveable into a working position in which the rotors are carried on opposing sides of the frame at a distance away from the frame. Each of said rotors comprises a hub provided with tines and each of said hubs is supported above the ground by at least one support wheel. The tool further comprises a control system which detects when the tool is moving around a bend and identifies which of the rotors is an inner rotor moving on the inside of the bend and raises the inner rotor to compensate for the downwards force exerted on the inner rotor during the turn.