Combine Sensor Cleaning Mechanism Using Material-Flow Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural sensors on combine harvesters are often obscured by obscurants such as dust and debris, affecting their performance and output quality.
Innovation Solution
A sensor cleaning mechanism featuring a spring and cleaning material that extends and retracts across the sensor surface in response to material flow, using a cleaning actuator to clean the sensor when predetermined criteria are met.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the sensor is exposed to material flow for harvesting operations, then productivity is improved, but obscurants accumulate on the sensor surface degrading measurement precision
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning mechanism performs preliminary cleaning actions before obscurants can completely obscure the sensor. The spring-loaded cleaning material is positioned to contact the sensor surface proactively, preventing complete obscuration rather than waiting for severe contamination to occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The cleaning mechanism utilizes the existing material flow and spring energy storage to automatically clean the sensor without external intervention. The spring accumulates energy during material flow and automatically actuates to clean the sensor, making the system self-sufficient.
2Measurement precision
If a cleaning mechanism is continuously activated, then sensor cleanliness is maintained, but energy consumption and device complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning mechanism operates periodically rather than continuously. The spring accumulates energy during material flow periods and releases it to clean the sensor at intervals, creating a rhythmic clean-contaminate-clean cycle that reduces energy consumption compared to continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the kinetic energy from material flow itself to charge the spring, which then automatically actuates the cleaning material against the sensor. This self-powered operation eliminates the need for external energy sources or continuous power consumption.
3Measurement precision
If the spring is designed to extend and retract frequently, then cleaning effectiveness is improved, but mechanical durability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The spring mechanism is designed with dynamic characteristics that allow frequent extension and retraction cycles. The spring rate and material selection accommodate the required movement frequency while managing stress cycles to maintain durability despite repeated actuation.
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
Effectively removes obscurants from agricultural sensors, enhancing their performance and output quality by cleaning at optimal times based on material flow and machine conditions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one spring configured to extend and retract... the spring may extend in the first direction and retract in a second, opposite direction... material flow in the first direction may cause the spring to extend in the first direction
Data Source
AI summary
In one aspect of the invention, an agricultural machine is provided. The agricultural machine may be configured to perform a function that results in material flow through the machine, which may result in at least one obscurant in the machine. The machine may further include sensor(s) exposed to the obscurant and a sensor cleaning mechanism. The sensor cleaning mechanism may include at least one spring configured to extend and retract and at least one cleaning material. The spring may be configured to move the cleaning material across a surface of the sensor during extension and/or retraction of the spring. In some embodiments, flow of material through the machine may cause the spring, and therefore the cleaning material, to extend across the sensor surface. The spring and cleaning material may retract when material flow is reduced and/or stops. The agricultural machine may be an agricultural harvester, such as a combine harvester.