Ground Preparation Blade Depth Control for Load and Skid Limits
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current ground preparation methods and vehicles in forestry and agriculture are heavily dependent on operator expertise and do not adapt to varying environments, leading to undesirable results and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A system integrated with a forestry or agricultural vehicle that includes a blade unit and a control unit to monitor load, power, and skid parameters, adjusting the blade depth based on predefined thresholds to prevent overloading, excessive power consumption, and wheel skidding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the blade depth is increased to improve ground preparation efficiency, then the productivity increases, but the load on the blade exceeds thresholds causing system damage and wheel skidding
Solution Approach 1:
The blade depth is made dynamically adjustable based on real-time monitoring of load, power, and skid parameters. The control unit automatically modifies the blade depth from the desired depth Di to an adjusted depth Da when thresholds are exceeded, allowing the system to adapt to varying ground conditions and prevent damage while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors load (Ti), power (P), and skid (S) parameters and uses this feedback to control blade depth. When any parameter exceeds its threshold, the control unit receives feedback and automatically adjusts the blade depth downward. When parameters return to acceptable ranges, the blade depth is restored to the desired level, creating a closed-loop control system.
2Ease of operation
If the blade depth is set in advance to simplify operation, then the ease of operation improves, but the adaptability to varying ground conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-adjustment of blade depth based on monitored parameters without requiring continuous manual intervention. The control unit automatically compares actual parameters against thresholds and modifies blade depth accordingly, allowing the system to serve itself in adapting to ground conditions while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade depth transitions from a static predetermined value to a dynamic value that automatically adapts to ground conditions. The control unit modifies the blade depth in real-time based on load, power, and skid parameters, enabling the system to respond to varying environmental conditions without complex manual adjustment.
3Reliability
If the blade depth is continuously adjusted to prevent damage, then the reliability improves, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves multiple functions: it monitors load, power, and skid parameters, compares them against thresholds, determines blade depth adjustments, and controls the blade unit positioning. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing system complexity while achieving reliable protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism uses existing system parameters (load, power, skid) that are already measured during operation. By utilizing these existing measurements for control decisions rather than requiring entirely new sensing systems, the invention achieves reliable protection with minimal additional complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1a
Figure 1b~2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
A system (100) and a method (1000) arranged for ground preparation and arranged to be integrated with a forestry or agricultural vehicle (110) are provided. The system comprises at least one blade (210) and a control unit (300) configured to attain a desired depth, Di, of the blade(s), wherein the system is configured to register a load (400) applied on the blade(s), a power parameter (410), and/or a skid parameter (420), wherein the control unit, based on at least one load threshold, Ti, a power threshold, P, and/or a skid threshold, S, is configured to indicate a raising (500) (and lowering (510), respectively) of the blade unit in case of the load exceeds (subceeds) the load threshold(s), Ti, the power parameter of the vehicle exceeds (subceeds) the power threshold, P, and the skid parameter exceeds (subceeds) the skid threshold, S.