Center-Pivot Mower Tongue Control for End-of-Row Turns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural mower systems face challenges in efficiently controlling a towed mower during turns, particularly when GPS data is unavailable, leading to inefficiencies and safety hazards due to the operator's difficulty in managing both steering and actuator control simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural mower system with a towing vehicle, mower, tongue actuator, towing angle sensor, and controller that automatically adjusts the mower's position relative to the towing centerline during end-of-row turns, allowing the operator to focus on steering by determining the turn initiation and outputting adjustment signals to the actuator to move the mower to the opposite side of the centerline.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operator manually controls the tongue actuator during turns, then the mower position can be adjusted, but the operator cannot efficiently control both steering and actuator simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses GPS data and automated control logic to independently determine when turns are occurring and automatically adjusts the tongue actuator position, allowing the system to self-regulate without operator intervention for actuator control during turning operations
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors GPS position data to detect turning operations and uses this feedback to automatically control the tongue actuator, creating a closed-loop control system that adjusts mower position based on real-time vehicle orientation changes
2Reliability
If the operator focuses on steering during turns, then safety is improved, but manual actuator control must be automated
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces manual mechanical actuator control with an automated electronic control system that uses GPS data and electronic signals to control the tongue actuator, eliminating the need for operator hand control while maintaining precise mower positioning
Solution Approach 2:
The controller acts as an intermediary between the GPS system and the tongue actuator, processing position data and automatically sending control signals to the actuator to adjust mower position during turns without operator intervention
3Productivity
If GPS-based automatic control is implemented, then operator workload is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The controller serves multiple functions: it processes GPS position data, detects turning operations, determines appropriate tongue actuator positions, and sends control signals to the actuator, consolidating multiple control functions into a single multi-functional device that reduces overall system complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural mower system (100) includes: a towing vehicle (110) including an engine (112) and a tongue coupler (117), the towing vehicle (110) defining a towing centerline (TCL); a mower (120) including a frame (121) carrying a plurality of cutters (122) and pivotably coupled to a tongue (123) that is pivotably coupled to the tongue coupler (117) so the mower (120) is on a first side of the towing centerline (TCL), the tongue (123) defining a towing angle (θ) with respect to the towing centerline (TCL); and a tongue actuator (130) coupled to the tongue (123) and configured to pivot the tongue (123) relative to the towing centerline (TCL). A towing angle sensor (150) is associated with the tongue (123) and configured to output a towing angle signal corresponding to the towing angle (θ) and a controller (160) is operably coupled to the towing angle sensor (150) and the tongue actuator (130). The controller (160) is configured to: determine the towing vehicle (110) has initiated an end-of-row turning operation; and output at least one adjustment signal to the tongue actuator (130) responsively to determining the end-of-row turning operation has initiated so the tongue actuator (130) moves the tongue (123) such that the mower (120) defines the towing angle(θ) on a second side of the towing centerline (TCL) opposite the first side by a conclusion of the end-of-row turning operation.