Forage Harvester Press-Roller Pressure Sensing for Foreign Bodies
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foreign body detection systems in forage harvesters are susceptible to failure due to indirect measurement methods, leading to either false alarms or insufficient detection accuracy, which reduces productivity by potentially damaging downstream components.
Innovation Solution
A forage harvester design with vertically movable press rollers pretensioned by mechanical and/or hydraulic means, utilizing damping cylinders to detect pressure changes caused by foreign bodies, combined with pressure and potentially acceleration or angle sensors to enhance detection accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If indirect measurement methods (vibration sensors, throughput sensors) are used for foreign body detection, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces indirect mechanical measurement methods (vibration sensors, throughput sensors) with a direct mechanical measurement approach using pressure sensors that directly measure the contact force between feed rollers and crop material. This substitution eliminates the need for complex signal processing and correlation analysis while providing direct, reliable foreign body detection through pressure changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces pressure sensors as intermediary measurement elements that directly detect the interaction forces between feed rollers and crop material. These pressure sensors act as mediators that translate mechanical interactions into measurable pressure signals, providing a more direct and reliable detection method compared to vibration or throughput sensors.
2Measurement precision
If high sensitivity is set for signal evaluation to improve detection accuracy, then the measurement precision improves, but the reliability deteriorates due to increased false alarms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the measurement parameter from vibration amplitude or throughput variation to contact pressure magnitude. Pressure provides a more direct indicator of foreign body presence, allowing for more reliable detection with fewer false alarms. The pressure-based measurement inherently filters out many false triggers that affect vibration-based systems.
3Device complexity
If indirect measurement methods are used, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates due to false alarms or insufficient detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces indirect mechanical measurement methods (vibration sensors, throughput sensors) with a direct mechanical measurement approach using pressure sensors that directly measure the contact force between feed rollers and crop material. This substitution eliminates the need for complex signal processing and correlation analysis while providing direct, reliable foreign body detection through pressure changes.
4Productivity
If the forage harvester operates at low intake speeds or with large crop layers, then the productivity is maintained, but the detection accuracy deteriorates with indirect measurement methods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces indirect mechanical measurement methods (vibration sensors, throughput sensors) with a direct mechanical measurement approach using pressure sensors that directly measure the contact force between feed rollers and crop material. This substitution eliminates the need for complex signal processing and correlation analysis while providing direct, reliable foreign body detection through pressure changes.
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
Enhances the reliability of foreign body detection, reducing false triggers and improving accuracy, especially at low intake speeds and with varying crop conditions, thereby preventing damage to the chopping device.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pressurized damping cylinder for damping an evasive movement of one of the press rollers
Implementation Method 2
the foreign body detection device has a control device which is designed and configured to conclude the presence of a foreign body by evaluating pressure signals which are attributable to a pressure change detected in the damping cylinder
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a forage harvester (1) with a feed device (6) arranged in a feed housing (7) and with a foreign body detection device assigned to the forage harvester (1), wherein at least two feed rollers (8A, 8B) are arranged in the lower region of the feed housing (7) and at least one front press roller (9) and at least one rear press roller (10) are arranged in the upper region of the feed housing (7) in a height-adjustable manner on at least one link (17), wherein the press rollers (9, 10) are pre-tensioned by mechanical and/or hydraulic pre-tensioning means (15, 16, 20), wherein at least one pressurized damping cylinder (18) for damping an evasive movement of one of the press rollers (9, 10) is articulated with one end to the at least one link (17) and with its other end to the feed housing (7), wherein the foreign body detection device has a control device (19) which is designed to is executed and set up,to conclude the presence of a foreign body (FK) by evaluating pressure signals which are due to a pressure change detected in the damping cylinder (18).