Combine On-the-Go Unloading Timing Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural practices face inefficiencies in unloading combines into grain carts during harvesting, particularly when the combine bin fills before the grain cart can return, leading to extended downtime and reduced harvesting productivity.
Innovation Solution
A combine unloading management system that determines the optimal starting point for unloading based on grain flow rate and tank level, allowing for on-the-go unloading to prevent the combine from becoming full, using processors and sensors to communicate wirelessly with the grain cart for efficient unloading strategies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the combine operates continuously to maximize harvesting time, then productivity is improved, but the combine bin will fill up and require stopping for unloading
Solution Approach 1:
The system calculates and communicates the optimal unloading starting point in advance based on projected grain flow rate and tank level. This allows the grain cart to be positioned and ready before the combine bin actually fills up, enabling continuous operation without unnecessary stops.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors actual grain flow rate and tank level, comparing them against projected values. This feedback mechanism allows dynamic adjustment of unloading timing to optimize both productivity and minimize downtime, adapting to real-time field conditions.
2Reliability
If the combine stops to unload when the bin is full, then the bin can be emptied, but harvesting productivity decreases due to extended downtime
Solution Approach 1:
By calculating the optimal unloading starting point in advance and communicating it to the grain cart operator, the system ensures the bin will be emptied efficiently without requiring the combine to stop prematurely or extend downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system adapts unloading timing dynamically based on actual grain flow rate and tank level measurements, allowing the combine to maintain optimal productivity while ensuring reliable bin emptying through flexible, real-time adjustments.
3Reliability
If the grain cart waits for the combine to fill the bin completely before unloading, then the bin can be emptied efficiently, but the combine must stop harvesting
Solution Approach 1:
The system determines the optimal unloading starting point in advance and communicates it to the grain cart operator, allowing the grain cart to move to the correct position before the combine bin actually fills up. This eliminates the need for the combine to stop and wait for the grain cart to return.
Solution Approach 2:
By coordinating the grain cart's movement and positioning in advance, the system enables continuous harvesting operation without interruption. The useful action of harvesting continues uninterrupted while the bin emptying is prepared and executed at the optimal moment.
Data Source
AI summary
A combine unloading management system comprising one or more processors and one or more computer-readable storage media comprising instructions that configure the one or more processors to: determine a grain flow rate of grain flowing into a combine tank of a combine harvesting along a current pass of a grain field; determine a combine tank level corresponding to a current amount of grain in the combine tank; and determine a starting point for unloading the combine tank on-the-go into a grain cart, the starting point based on the grain flow rate and the combine tank level.