Boom Mounting Assembly Slope Balancing Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing boom mounting assemblies for agricultural machines face challenges in maintaining uniform dispensing of spray materials on inclined ground surfaces, as they struggle to balance the boom effectively, leading to potential damage and uneven application.
Innovation Solution
A boom mounting assembly with a primary frame and a boom support frame that can pivot in a transverse plane around a longitudinal axis, utilizing an actuator to adjust the distance between support sections relative to a pivot point based on ground inclination measurements, ensuring the center of mass remains vertically aligned and allowing the boom to adapt to slope changes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the boom support frame is suspended from the primary frame allowing pitch and yaw movement, then the boom can balance on inclined ground, but the structural complexity increases due to additional dampers and suspension mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The boom support frame is designed with dynamic suspension mechanisms that allow pitch and yaw movements relative to the primary frame. Dampers are integrated into the suspension system to control and dampen these movements, enabling the boom to automatically balance on inclined ground while adapting to varying operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension mechanism incorporates dampers that provide counterbalancing forces to offset the effects of gravity on the boom when operating on inclined terrain. This counterweight mechanism helps maintain the boom in a balanced position without requiring complex active control systems.
2Stability of the object's composition
If dampers are connected between the primary frame and boom support frame to control pitch and yaw movement, then asymmetric yaw movement is damped, but the device complexity and potential failure points increase
Solution Approach 1:
The dampers in the suspension mechanism provide passive feedback control by automatically adjusting their damping forces in response to the boom's movement. This feedback mechanism stabilizes the boom position without requiring active sensors or control systems, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The dampers are pre-configured in the suspension system to provide cushioning forces that prevent excessive pitch and yaw movements before they can cause damage. This beforehand cushioning protects the boom and support structure from harmful asymmetric movements while maintaining operational stability.
3Ease of operation
If the boom is allowed to move freely to balance on slopes, then uniform dispensing is achieved, but the risk of damage from excessive movement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The dampers provide continuous feedback control that allows the boom to move freely enough to balance on slopes while simultaneously limiting excessive movements that could cause damage. This feedback mechanism ensures the boom remains within safe operational parameters while maintaining balancing capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension dampers are designed to provide beforehand cushioning that prevents the boom from exceeding safe movement limits. This protective mechanism allows the boom to adapt to slope conditions while preventing damage from excessive pitch or yaw movements, thereby maintaining reliability during operation on inclined terrain.
Data Source
AI summary
A boom mounting assembly for attachment to an agricultural machine is disclosed, which may comprise a primary frame, and a boom support frame configured to support a boom and being suspended from the primary frame to pivot in a transverse plane around a longitudinal axis of rotation provided in a pivot point. The boom support frame may comprise a first sub-frame connected to the primary frame; a second sub-frame supported by the first sub-frame in support sections provided on opposite sides of the pivot point in a transverse direction; and an actuator connected to the sub-frames and operable such that the support sections move relative to the pivot point to increase and decrease, in the transverse direction, a respective distance on opposite sides of the pivot point at the same time. Further, a method for controlling operation of a boom mounting assembly attached to an agricultural machine is provided.