Articulating Tongue Control for Bale Positioning and Road Maneuverability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tongue arrangements for towing agricultural implements, such as balers and mower-conditioners, lack maneuverability and are cumbersome, especially when transporting on public roadways, and do not assist operators during bale formation and ejection, particularly in challenging terrains like hills.
Innovation Solution
An articulating tongue arrangement with a beam assembly that adjusts its effective tow length and pivot angles, controlled by a controller architecture, allowing for enhanced maneuverability and auto-articulation functions like adaptive feedrate modifications and bale positioning, utilizing actuators like hydraulic cylinders and linkages to maintain optimal positioning and movement of the implement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a conventional fixed-length tongue arrangement is used, then the structure is simple, but the maneuverability and steerability are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the tongue arrangement adjustable in length during operation. The beam assembly can extend and retract to change the effective tow length, allowing the system to adapt between different operational modes (e.g., shorter length for maneuverability on roadways, longer length for field operations). This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by providing both simplicity and maneuverability at different times rather than requiring a complex fixed structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The tongue arrangement is divided into segmented components including a beam assembly with multiple sections that can be extended or retracted. This segmentation allows independent control of different parts of the tongue, enabling adjusted length configuration while maintaining structural integrity. The segmented design provides maneuverability benefits without requiring an entirely complex new structure.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional tongue arrangement is used, then the device complexity is low, but the operator workload during bale formation and ejection is high
Solution Approach 1:
The controller architecture automatically monitors and adjusts the tongue arrangement configuration based on operational conditions without requiring constant manual intervention from the operator. The system self-regulates the beam assembly length and articulation angles to optimize performance during bale formation and ejection, reducing operator workload while managing the complexity through automated control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller architecture incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor operational parameters and automatically adjust the tongue arrangement accordingly. This feedback loop enables the system to respond to changing conditions during bale formation and ejection, reducing the need for manual operator adjustments and thereby reducing workload despite the added control system complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the effective tow length is fixed, then the structural design is simple, but the adaptability to different terrains and operations is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The beam assembly incorporates dynamic length adjustment capability, allowing the effective tow length to be changed during operation to adapt to different terrains and operational requirements. This dynamic feature provides versatility for various working conditions while managing structural complexity through engineered extension and retraction mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of tow length to adapt to different operational conditions and terrains. By allowing the beam assembly to extend or retract, the system modifies this key parameter dynamically, providing adaptability without requiring multiple different tongue arrangements, thereby managing complexity through a single adjustable structure.
4Ease of operation
If the tongue arrangement is rigid, then the manufacturing is simpler, but the ability to maintain optimal positioning during towing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The tongue arrangement transitions from a rigid structure to a dynamic articulating mechanism that can adjust its configuration during towing. The articulating beam assembly can change angles and lengths to maintain optimal positioning, providing superior control while managing complexity through engineered joint mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The rigid tongue is segmented into articulating sections with controlled joints that enable flexible positioning. This segmentation allows the system to maintain optimal orientation and length during towing operations while keeping the articulating mechanism manageable through standardized joint designs.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is carried-out by a controller architecture coupled to a beam assembly actuator, which is included in an articulating tongue arrangement connecting an agricultural implement to a tow vehicle. In an embodiment, the method includes: (i) monitoring, via the controller architecture, an effective tow length of an articulating beam assembly further included in the articulating tongue arrangement, the effective tow length measured along a straight line extending from a leading pivot joint of the articulating tongue arrangement to a trailing pivot joint of the articulating tongue arrangement; (ii) determining, at the controller architecture, an effective tow length target of the articulating tongue arrangement based upon operator input, sensor input, or a combination thereof; and (iii) transmitting commands from the controller architecture to the beam assembly actuator to maintain the effective tow length of the articulating beam assembly in conformance with the effective tow length target.