Common-Carrier Agricultural Tool Control for Working Depth and Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural machines require numerous hydraulic cylinders for maintaining consistent working depth and ground pressure, which are costly, prone to leaks, and fail to absorb vibrations effectively, leading to inconsistent tool guidance and limited rebound characteristics.
Innovation Solution
Agricultural machines with a reduced number of actuators, using a common carrier to mechanically couple multiple tools via elastically deformable bearing elements, allowing tools to deflect and absorb vibrations, and a control system to adjust contact pressure and working depth based on measured values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a hydraulic cylinder is assigned to each working tool to generate ground pressure, then the contact pressure can be controlled, but the device complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple working tools are mounted on a common carrier instead of requiring separate actuators for each tool. The carrier integrates the support function for multiple tools, reducing the total number of hydraulic cylinders needed while maintaining individual contact pressure control through the shared mechanical structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The common carrier serves multiple functions: it supports multiple working tools, provides mechanical coupling between them, and enables collective control of contact pressure. This multi-functional component replaces what would otherwise require multiple separate hydraulic cylinders and pivot bearings.
2Reliability
If hydraulic cylinders are used to maintain ground pressure, then contact pressure can be regulated, but maintenance requirements increase due to leaks and wear
Solution Approach 1:
The pivot bearing, which is a high-maintenance component prone to wear, is extracted from the system. Instead of using pivot bearings to mount working tools on the carrier, the patent uses elastic bearing elements that eliminate the need for maintenance-intensive pivot bearings while maintaining the ability to regulate contact pressure.
Solution Approach 2:
Elastic bearing elements are used as a replacement for expensive, maintenance-intensive hydraulic cylinders and pivot bearings. These elastic elements are simpler, more durable, and require no maintenance, effectively replacing complex hydraulic components with simpler elastic elements.
3Reliability
If hydraulic cylinders are rigidly connected to working tools, then ground pressure is controlled, but vibration absorption is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical connection between the carrier and working tools is changed from rigid (via pivot bearings) to elastically deformable. This parameter change allows the elastic bearing elements to absorb high-frequency vibrations while maintaining consistent contact pressure, as the elastic deformation accommodates vibrational movements without compromising pressure control.
4Adaptability or versatility
If pivot bearings are used to mount working tools, then tools can be adjusted, but wear leads to inconsistent tool guidance
Solution Approach 1:
Elastic bearing elements replace pivot bearings, eliminating wear-related precision loss. These elastic elements maintain consistent tool guidance over time without the degradation that occurs with pivot bearing wear, while still allowing for tool adjustment and positioning.
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
This design reduces maintenance, minimizes hydraulic coupling, and ensures consistent working depth and ground pressure while allowing tools to rebound from obstacles, enhancing operational efficiency and reducing costs.
Implementation Method 1
They are mounted on the carrier by means of elastically deformable bearing elements, by means of which high-frequency vibrations can be absorbed
Implementation Method 2
the working tools can be mounted on the carrier in a pivotable manner by means of elastically deformable bearing elements
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 2
AI summary
A control system for agricultural working tools (12), such as seed coulters, cutting discs, rollers or the like, is disclosed, wherein at least two such working tools (12) are each pivotably mounted on a carrier (22) by means of elastic bearing elements (26), which carrier (22) is pivotably mounted or attached to a bearing flange (30) or a frame element (32) of an agricultural machine (10) by means of an actuator (34), wherein the respective angular position of the carrier (22) in relation to a field area can be variably changed by means of the actuator (34), whereby the working depth of the working tools (12) can be changed, wherein a measuring means (38) is assigned to at least one working tool (12) and/or the carrier (22) for measuring the working depth.To create a control system for regulating the working depth of agricultural implements, in which the number of actuators can be reduced to a minimum and hydraulic or fluid coupling between the implements can be dispensed with, while also allowing the respective implements to deflect upon encountering obstacles, it is provided that the actuator (34) is controlled based on the working depth determined by means of the measuring device (38) and the number of implements (12) mounted on the common carrier (22). Furthermore, a method for regulating the working depth of agricultural implements (12) is disclosed.