Agricultural Attachment Sliding Frame for Precise Tool Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural machinery lacks precise adjustment mechanisms for working tools, leading to inconsistent work quality and potential crop damage during soil cultivation and maintenance operations, particularly on uneven terrain.

Innovation Solution

An agricultural attachment equipped with an electronic data processing device that derives correction data for the position and orientation of working tools using a sliding frame, incorporating sensory and optical detection devices to account for multi-dimensional inclinations and external influences, ensuring precise alignment and avoiding crop damage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If the position and orientation of working tools are corrected manually or using basic mechanical means during soil cultivation, then some adjustment capability is provided, but the precision and reliability of correction are insufficient to ensure consistently high work quality and prevent crop damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition and orientation precision of working toolsVSAvoidreliability of correction during cultivation operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an electronic control system that uses sensors to detect the actual position and orientation of working tools, processes this data electronically, and automatically actuates hydraulic or electric actuators to make precise corrections. This substitution of mechanical systems with electronic control enables significantly higher precision and reliability in maintaining tool positioning during cultivation operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a closed-loop feedback system where sensors continuously monitor the position and orientation of working tools, feed this information to a control unit, which then compares the actual state with the desired state and automatically adjusts the tools via actuators. This feedback mechanism ensures consistently high work quality and reliable prevention of crop damage by maintaining accurate tool positioning throughout the cultivation operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If the working tools are moved by a sliding frame during cultivation, then position correction is possible, but the system lacks the capability to account for multi-dimensional inclinations and external influences, resulting in insufficient correction accuracy

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to compensate for external influencesVSAvoidposition and orientation correction precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs sensors that measure position and orientation in multiple dimensions, including longitudinal, lateral, and vertical inclinations. The control unit processes this multi-dimensional data to calculate comprehensive correction values that account for all external influences such as slope, wind, and terrain variations. This multi-dimensional approach enables the system to adapt to complex operating conditions and maintain high correction precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Productivity

If manual adjustment of working tools is performed, then some correction capability is provided, but the operator cannot continuously monitor and correct position deviations, leading to inconsistent work quality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvework quality consistencyVSAvoidposition and orientation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-correcting system where the machinery automatically monitors its own position and orientation using integrated sensors, processes the data through a control unit, and adjusts the working tools without operator intervention. This self-service capability ensures continuous monitoring and correction of position deviations, maintaining consistent high work quality and precise positioning throughout the cultivation operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4602904A1Attachable machine and method for adjusting an attachable machine
Publication Date: 2025.08.20 AMAZONEN WERKE H DREYER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP4602904A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4602904A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4602904A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to an agricultural cultivation machine (10), in particular an agricultural hoe or field sprayer, having a plurality of working tools (12) for cultivating the soil and/or for caring for crops on an agricultural area (N) and a sliding frame (14) which is designed to move the working tools (12) to correct the position and/or the orientation of the working tools (12) depending on a current machine state of the cultivation machine (10).