Crop Throughput Measuring Device Density Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing measuring devices for agricultural working machines, such as forage harvesters, face challenges in accurately determining crop throughput due to variations in crop density and moisture content, which are often measured at different points, leading to inaccurate data.
Innovation Solution
A measuring device that compensates for crop density by determining the volume and moisture content of a partial crop stream in the same area, using contact elements and microwave sensors to scan the crop flow, ensuring precise determination of crop throughput by accounting for the influence of moisture on density.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If sensors are arranged at different points on the forage harvester to detect various parameters, then multiple parameters can be sensed, but the crop throughput cannot be precisely determined because moisture and density are measured at different sections of the crop flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the moisture content sensor and density sensor to measure both parameters at the same measurement location within the crop flow. This merging of measurement functions at a single location eliminates the error caused by measuring different parameters at different sections, thereby enabling precise crop throughput determination while maintaining multi-parameter detection capability
2Measurement precision
If a separate measuring device is used to determine crop density by removing and compacting crop samples, then density can be accurately measured, but the device complexity increases and additional conveying elements are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the measurement function from a separate complex device and integrates it directly into the crop flow path. By placing sensors that measure moisture and density directly within the flowing crop stream, the system eliminates the need for separate sample removal, compaction mechanisms, and return conveying elements, thereby maintaining high measurement precision while significantly reducing device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical sample removal and compaction systems with non-contact or minimal-contact sensing technologies. Electromagnetic sensors (such as microwave or capacitive sensors) are used to measure moisture and density parameters directly in the flowing crop without mechanical intervention, substituting complex mechanical systems with simpler electronic measurement systems
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 approach provides more accurate crop throughput measurements by compensating for density fluctuations and ensuring that moisture and density are determined in the same section of the crop flow, resulting in improved precision and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
a sensor device (40) designed as a microwave sensor for generating at least one crop parameter signal (B) which is proportional to the moisture content in the at least one partial flow (39)
Implementation Method 2
the microwave sensor (40) is set up to determine the water mass contained in the partial flow (39) and the density of this partial flow (39)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The measuring device has the frame, chassis, receiving accessory, treatment device for the treatment of the harvested crop, output devices and operating devices for operating the individual machine components. The measuring device is arranged to determine the harvest parameter of throughput rate of the harvest of a partial current (39) of the intensity of yield of crop that pass through the agricultural working machine (1) in a harvest frequency compensated manner. An independent claim is also included for the use of the measuring device for the measurement of parameters in the agricultural working machine.