Crop Flow Measuring Sensor Alignment With Rotary Adjusting Ring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural machines require time-consuming adjustments to the relative position of measuring devices, such as forage harvesters, which examine crop flow, due to the need to adjust screws in the adjustment mechanism.

Innovation Solution

An agricultural machine with an adjusting ring that allows for easy alignment of the measuring device by rotating it relative to the wall, limiting the penetration depth and ensuring a flush surface with the wall, using an internal and external thread interaction for precise adjustment, and an eccentric lever for easy mounting and replacement.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the measuring device is adjusted using screws on an adjustment device, then the relative position of the measuring device can be changed, but considerable effort is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of adjustmentVSAvoidtime for adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional screw-based mechanical adjustment system with a rotary adjusting ring mechanism. The adjusting ring, which can be rotated relative to the wall, serves as a stop for the measuring device and limits its penetration depth into the wall recess. This substitution of the mechanical system enables easy adjustment with minimal effort, directly resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the measuring device penetration depth is increased, then more adjustment range is available, but the alignment precision decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustment rangeVSAvoidalignment precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a dynamic adjustment mechanism where the adjusting ring can be rotated to different positions, allowing the penetration depth of the measuring device to be dynamically adjusted. The adjusting ring serves as a stop that limits the penetration depth while maintaining alignment precision. This dynamic mechanism enables the system to adapt to different adjustment requirements while preserving precision, resolving the contradiction between adjustment range and alignment precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4523515B1Agricultural machine
Publication Date: 2026.05.20 CLAAS SAULGAU GMBH
  • EP4523515B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4523515B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4523515B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Agricultural machine, comprising a measuring device (12) for examining crops or fertilizer to be handled by the agricultural machine, comprising an adjusting device (19) for adjusting the relative position of the measuring device (12) relative to a wall (16) of the agricultural machine, which wall (16) at least partially delimits a conveying space and/or receiving space of the agricultural machine for the crops or fertilizer to be handled, wherein the measuring device (12) projects with a section (18) into a recess (17) of the wall (16), wherein the adjusting device (19) has an adjusting ring (20) rotatable relative to the wall (16), which serves as a stop for the measuring device and limits the penetration depth of the section (18) of the measuring device (12) into the adjusting ring (20) and into the recess (17) of the wall (16) in such a manner,that a surface (21) of the section (18) of the measuring device (12) facing the crop or fertilizer, which projects into the setting ring (20), can be set flush with a surface (22) of the wall (16) facing the crop or fertilizer.