Multi-Section Cutting Platform Height Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Draper platforms in agricultural harvesting machines have a rigid framework that fails to flex and follow ground contours, leading to missed crop material and potential damage from uneven terrain, resulting in lost revenue and equipment damage.
Innovation Solution
A height control system with lift and tilt cylinders that adjust the platform sections independently, allowing the cutting platform to follow ground contours by sensing and adjusting the height and tilt of each platform section using sensors and a controller.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid framework is used for the draper platform, then structural strength and stability are improved, but the ability to follow ground contours is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cutting platform is divided into multiple independent platform sections (center section and wing sections) that can be adjusted relative to each other. Each section has its own height control system with lift and tilt cylinders, allowing localized adaptation to ground contours while maintaining overall structural integrity through the rigid framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The platform sections are made dynamically adjustable through hydraulic lift cylinders that control height and tilt cylinders that control angular orientation. This allows the rigid framework to adapt its configuration in real-time to follow ground contours during harvesting operation.
2Reliability
If the platform is placed in a float position to avoid ground contact, then damage from terrain irregularities is reduced, but crop material is missed in ground depressions
Solution Approach 1:
Height control sensors are positioned at each platform section to detect the actual height and orientation during harvesting. This feedback information is used by the control system to automatically adjust the lift and tilt cylinders, maintaining optimal cutting height and preventing both ground contact damage and crop material loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the height and tilt parameters of each platform section based on real-time ground conditions detected by sensors. This allows the platform to maintain consistent cutting depth across uneven terrain without the cutterbar digging into ground elevations or missing material in depressions.
3Device complexity
If a single height control system is used for the entire platform, then system complexity is reduced, but localized height adjustment capability is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The height control system is segmented into independent control units for each platform section. Each section has its own sensors and actuators (lift and tilt cylinders) that can be adjusted independently, providing localized height control capability while maintaining a modular system architecture that manages complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural harvesting machine includes a feeder housing and a cutting platform. The cutting platform includes a center platform section carried by the feeder housing. A first wing platform section extends laterally from one side of the center platform section, and a second wing platform section extends laterally from another side of the center platform section. A height control system includes a lift cylinder coupled with the feeder housing, a first tilt cylinder coupled between the center platform section and the first wing platform section, and a second tilt cylinder coupled between the center platform section and the second wing platform section. The lift cylinder, first tilt cylinder and second tilt cylinder are automatically adjusted independent from each other during harvesting operation of the cutting platform.