Spring-Loaded Detector Wheel for Loose Soil Warning on Combines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large farm equipment lacks the ability to detect soil quality, leading to potential getting stuck in loose or muddy soil, resulting in significant downtime and costly repairs.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system mounted on the header of farm equipment, featuring an arm with a detector wheel and spring, which emits an alarm when the wheel's movement exceeds a predetermined threshold, indicating loose soil, allowing the operator to avoid such conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If farm equipment is equipped with loose soil detection capability, then the reliability of equipment operation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electronic soil detection systems with a simple mechanical detection mechanism. A detector wheel with a spring-loaded arm mechanically senses loose soil conditions through direct physical contact and movement, eliminating the need for sophisticated sensors, electronics, and power systems while maintaining reliable detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses inexpensive, simple mechanical components (detector wheel, spring, arm) that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed. These basic mechanical parts provide reliable detection without the high cost and complexity of electronic sensor systems, making the detection capability accessible and maintainable.
2Loss of time
If the detector wheel is positioned at a lag distance from the front wheel, then the loss of time for detection is reduced, but the measurement precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The detector wheel is positioned ahead of the main equipment wheels by a lag distance, allowing it to detect loose soil conditions before the equipment encounters them. This preliminary detection provides advance warning to the operator, enabling proactive avoidance of problematic areas and preventing equipment from becoming stuck.
Solution Approach 2:
The detector wheel acts as an intermediary between the unknown soil conditions and the main equipment. It physically precedes the equipment, senses conditions through its mechanical interaction with the ground, and communicates findings to the operator, bridging the gap between soil quality and equipment operation.
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
The system effectively alerts the operator of loose soil before the equipment's wheels engage it, preventing getting stuck and reducing downtime and repair costs by allowing for proactive avoidance of unsuitable soil conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a spring configured to bias the arm or the wheel in a first direction
Data Source
AI summary
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed to an apparatus for detecting loose soil having an arm with a first end and a second end. A detector wheel is engaged with the second end of the arm. A spring is configured to bias the arm or the detector wheel in a first direction. An alarm is configured to emit a signal when the movement of the arm or the detector wheel in the first direction exceeds a predetermined threshold.