Variable Conditioner Roll Speed for Mower-Conditioner Mass Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mower-conditioner machines face a challenge in optimizing conditioner roll speed independently of the cutting mechanism speed, leading to suboptimal conditioning quality due to tied speed ratios, which affect mass flow rate and power consumption.
Innovation Solution
A control system that adjusts conditioner roll speed independently based on the ground speed of the mower-conditioner machine, allowing for variable speed control to optimize mass flow rate and reduce power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If disc speed is increased to improve cut quality, then cut quality is improved, but conditioner speed increases which reduces mass flow rate and conditioning quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conditioner roll speed variable and adjustable independently from the disc speed. The system transitions from a fixed mechanical coupling to a dynamic control system that can adapt conditioner speed based on operating conditions, allowing optimization of both cut quality and conditioning quality simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operating parameter of conditioner roll speed from being fixed by mechanical coupling to being independently variable. This allows the conditioner speed parameter to be adjusted separately from disc speed, enabling optimization of conditioning quality without being constrained by cutting mechanism speed requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If conditioner speed is increased to improve conditioning quality, then conditioning quality is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables dynamic adjustment of conditioner roll speed to match actual operating conditions. Rather than running at fixed high speed, the conditioner speed can be optimized in real-time to provide adequate conditioning quality while minimizing power consumption, especially when operating conditions don't require maximum conditioning intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows the conditioner speed parameter to be varied independently, enabling operation at lower speeds when high conditioning quality is not required, thus reducing power consumption while maintaining adequate conditioning performance.
3Use of energy by moving object
If conditioner roll speed is reduced to decrease power consumption, then power consumption is reduced, but mass flow rate decreases and conditioning quality worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses feedback to monitor operating conditions and adjust conditioner roll speed accordingly. This ensures that the conditioner speed is optimized based on actual mass flow rate and conditioning requirements, preventing both excessive power consumption and inadequate conditioning quality.
4Manufacturing precision
If ground speed is decreased to improve cut quality in heavy crop material, then cut quality is improved, but mass flow rate through conditioner rolls is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts conditioner roll speed in response to changes in ground speed and mass flow rate. When ground speed is decreased to improve cut quality, the control system compensates by adjusting conditioner speed to maintain adequate mass flow rate and conditioning quality, decoupling the two previously tied parameters.
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural machine system (135, 335) includes: a mower-conditioner machine (101, 301) including a plurality of conditioner rolls (112, 312); a control system (129) operatively coupled with the mower-conditioner machine (101, 301), the control system (129) including a controller system (128), characterized in that the controller system (128) is configured for determining a conditioner speed adjustment, as an independent parameter, based at least in part on a ground speed of the mower-conditioner machine (101, 301).