Air Strut Suspension Speed Control for Agricultural Applicators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-clearance self-propelled agricultural product applicators face issues with varying ground clearance due to load changes, affecting product application precision and ride quality, and require improved suspension systems to maintain consistent performance across different operating modes and conditions.
Innovation Solution
A weight-based task-specific speed control system with a controllable ride-height trailing arm suspension system, utilizing extensible air struts and angular position sensors, along with an electronic control unit to adjust ride height and speed based on the load and task requirements, ensuring consistent ground clearance and ride quality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If compression springs are used for suspension, then the applicator can support heavy loads, but ground clearance varies as the load decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs air suspension systems with adjustable air pressure that can dynamically adapt to changing load conditions. The suspension height is controlled by regulating air pressure in the air springs, allowing the system to maintain consistent ground clearance whether the applicator is fully loaded, partially loaded, or traveling empty. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction between supporting heavy loads and maintaining stable ground clearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical parameter of suspension stiffness by using air pressure instead of fixed spring rates. By varying the air pressure in the suspension system, the effective spring rate and damping characteristics can be adjusted to maintain optimal ground clearance across different operating conditions, from fully loaded to empty states.
2Length of stationary object
If compression springs are used for suspension, then the applicator can achieve high ground clearance, but ride quality and handling characteristics deteriorate when springs are extended
Solution Approach 1:
The air suspension system dynamically adjusts its characteristics based on operating conditions. When the applicator is unloaded and springs would be fully extended, the system can increase air pressure to maintain proper suspension stiffness and damping, ensuring good ride quality and handling characteristics while preserving high ground clearance capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates sensors and control systems that monitor suspension height and load conditions, providing feedback to the air pressure regulation system. This closed-loop control ensures that the suspension maintains optimal characteristics for ride quality and handling while achieving the required ground clearance, automatically adjusting air pressure based on real-time conditions.
3Productivity
If the applicator travels at high speed, then productivity increases, but safety and reliability decrease when heavily loaded
Solution Approach 1:
The control system monitors load conditions through weight sensors and automatically adjusts the maximum allowable speed based on the current load. When the applicator is heavily loaded, the system reduces the speed limit to ensure safe and reliable operation. When lightly loaded or empty, the system permits higher speeds to maximize productivity. This dynamic speed regulation resolves the contradiction between productivity and safety.
4Manufacturing precision
If ground clearance is increased for high clearance applicators, then product application precision improves, but the applicator cannot be transported on standard trailers
Solution Approach 1:
The air suspension system allows the applicator to dynamically adjust its height. For product application, the system maintains high ground clearance to ensure precise spray or granular distribution patterns. For transportation, the system can lower the applicator by reducing air pressure in the suspension, enabling it to fit on standard trailers and transport vehicles with height restrictions. This dynamic height adjustment resolves the contradiction between application precision and transport capability.
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 system maintains consistent ground clearance and ride quality across varying loads and operating conditions, enhancing product application precision and safety by automatically adjusting speed and ride height according to the task and load, thereby improving operational reliability and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
Each trailing arm suspension system includes... an extensible air strut... A common electronic controller... for controlling a flow of pressurized air to the strut of each of the suspension systems, to thereby control extension of the struts
Data Source
AI summary
A system, apparatus and method for providing weight-based task-specific speed control in a self-propelled agricultural product applicator utilize a controllable ride-height trailing arm suspension system, including an extensible air strut and an angular position sensor, for independently joining each wheel to a frame of the applicator. An electronic control unit utilizes the angular positions detected by the sensors, in conjunction with a desired task input, to calculate a present suspended weight and control maximum speed of the applicator for each task, per a predetermined schedule in response to the present suspended load of the applicator.