Electrohydraulic Drop Floor Control for Harvester Clog Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Harvesters, such as round balers, often experience clogging in the crop feeding channel due to high crop material volume, leading to reduced efficiency as operators must stop the machine to clear blockages, and existing solutions limit the movement of the bottom floor, which can hinder proper bale formation.
Innovation Solution
An electrohydraulic circuit with pressure sensors, supply and return controllers, and hydraulic cylinders allows independent movement of the bottom floor assembly, increasing the volume of the crop collection channel to prevent clogging by automatically adjusting the depth in response to pressure changes, enabling continuous operation without manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the bottom floor is allowed to move to increase crop material volume, then clogging is prevented, but bale formation quality deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom floor assembly is divided into multiple independently controllable sections (front section with first hydraulic cylinder, rear section with second hydraulic cylinder). This segmentation allows selective movement of different floor sections to optimize both crop flow and bale formation - the front section can move to prevent clogging while the rear section maintains position for proper bale formation.
Solution Approach 2:
The bottom floor transitions from a static structure to a dynamic, actively controlled system. Hydraulic cylinders with pressure sensors and control panels enable real-time adjustment of floor position based on crop material volume and flow conditions, allowing the system to adapt between preventing clogs and maintaining bale quality as needed.
2Productivity
If the bottom floor moves to prevent clogging, then harvesting efficiency improves, but operator intervention is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Pressure sensors are installed on the bottom floor to detect crop material buildup in real-time. When pressure exceeds a threshold indicating potential clogging, the control panel automatically activates the hydraulic cylinder to move the floor section, clearing the blockage without operator intervention. This closed-loop feedback system maintains high harvesting efficiency while eliminating the need for manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system monitors its own operational state through pressure sensors and automatically corrects clogging conditions by actuating hydraulic cylinders. The bottom floor assembly becomes self-regulating, detecting and resolving its own problems without external operator input, thereby maintaining continuous harvesting operations.
3Productivity
If independent movement of front and rear floor sections is enabled, then crop flow is optimized, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The hydraulic system is segmented into independent control circuits for front and rear floor sections. Each section has its own hydraulic cylinder, pressure sensor, and control logic, allowing localized optimization of crop flow without requiring complex centralized control. This modular approach manages system complexity while achieving superior crop flow optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The control panel serves multiple functions: it monitors pressure from sensors, controls hydraulic cylinder activation, manages floor section movement, and coordinates between front and rear sections. This multi-functional control system optimizes crop flow through independent section management without proportionally increasing overall system complexity.
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 prevents clogging by dynamically adjusting the crop collection channel depth, ensuring continuous harvesting and maintaining proper bale formation without the need for operator intervention, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
at least a first pressure sensor, set to at least a first pressure value and in electronic communication with the control panel; upon detecting a pressure greater than the at least first pressure value, the at least first pressure sensor sends a signal to the control panel
Implementation Method 2
two hydraulic cylinders each comprising at least a first fluid opening on one end of the hydraulic cylinder, in fluid communication with the source of pressurized fluid; allowing pressurized hydraulic fluid from the source of pressurized hydraulic fluid to enter into the at least first fluid opening
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure relates generally to a crop feeding system in a harvester (10) comprising a electrohydraulic circuit comprising electric and hydraulic connections that allow for the movement of a bottom floor assembly (610), such movement defining the depth of a crop feeding channel in the harvester and allowing at least one variable setting for removing a clog of material in a crop collection channel.