Front Loader Bale Placement with Adaptive Lifting Force

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for depositing crop bales are prone to incorrect operation due to the need for precise pressure adjustment on varying storage surfaces, leading to damage or deformation of the bales and inefficiencies in the loading process.

Innovation Solution

An agricultural machine equipped with a driving assistance system automatically adjusts the lifting force of the front loader based on the storage surface type, using predefined settings and real-time data such as moisture levels to ensure optimal friction and minimize errors.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the lifting force is increased to ensure proper bale placement, then the bale can be pressed firmly against the surface, but the bale may become damaged through deformation or tearing of the bale bands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebale placement successVSAvoidbale damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically adjusts the lifting force parameter based on the identified storage surface type, changing the force applied to match the specific requirements of each surface (steel, concrete, wood, or bale). This prevents both excessive force that would damage the bale and insufficient force that would cause dragging.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses friction coefficient data for different surface types to provide feedback on the appropriate lifting force required. By storing pre-determined friction coefficients for various surfaces, the system can automatically select and apply the correct lifting force without operator intervention, ensuring reliable placement without damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the lifting force is decreased to prevent bale damage, then the bale remains intact, but the bale may drag across the surface due to insufficient friction

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebale damageVSAvoidloading speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically changes the lifting force parameter according to the storage surface type. For surfaces with higher friction coefficients, a lower lifting force suffices to prevent dragging. For surfaces with lower friction coefficients, a higher lifting force is automatically applied to ensure the bale is pressed firmly enough to prevent dragging, thus maintaining productivity without damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary identification of the storage surface type and pre-calculates the appropriate lifting force before the actual bale placement operation. This preliminary action ensures that the correct lifting force is immediately available when needed, preventing both dragging and damage without requiring manual adjustment during the operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If manual adjustment of lifting force is required for different surfaces, then precise control can be achieved, but the complexity of operation increases and errors are more likely

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepressure control precisionVSAvoidoperator workload
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically identifying the storage surface type and selecting the appropriate lifting force from stored friction coefficient data. This eliminates the need for the operator to manually adjust the lifting force for different surfaces, reducing operational complexity and the likelihood of errors while maintaining precise pressure control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically changes the lifting force parameter based on the detected storage surface type. By storing pre-determined friction coefficients for different surfaces (steel, concrete, wood, bale), the system can automatically select and apply the correct parameter setting, eliminating manual adjustment while maintaining precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Reliability

If repeated depositing attempts are made to achieve proper bale placement, then the bale can be correctly positioned, but the loading time increases and the bale suffers damage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebale placement accuracyVSAvoidloading time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary identification of the storage surface type and pre-determines the optimal lifting force before the bale placement operation begins. This preliminary action ensures that the correct lifting force is applied from the first attempt, eliminating the need for repeated depositing attempts and the associated time loss and bale damage.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses stored friction coefficient data as feedback to determine the appropriate lifting force for each storage surface type. This feedback mechanism ensures that the correct lifting force is applied immediately, achieving proper bale placement on the first attempt without requiring repeated operations that would increase loading time and damage the bale.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 solution reduces damage to crop bales and stacks, accelerates the loading and unloading process, and enhances operator safety by minimizing the need for manual adjustments and repetitive operations, while allowing for adaptable handling of different storage surfaces.

Implementation Method 1

the friction between the bale and the surface is insufficient to, for example, pull the front loader forks out of the bale

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP4029824B1Method for placing a bale of harvested material on a surface
Publication Date: 2023.12.06 CLAAS TRACTOR
  • EP4029824B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4029824B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4029824B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method for depositing a bale of harvested crop (2) onto a depositing surface using an agricultural machine (1) is described. The machine (1) comprises a front loader (3), a hydraulic system (4) for applying lifting force to operate the front loader (3), and a driver assistance system (5) for at least partially automated operation of the front loader (3) during the depositing of the bale of harvested crop (2). To further develop a method for depositing a bale of harvested crop (2) of the type described above in such a way as to minimize the occurrence of operator errors during the depositing of the bales of harvested crop (2), it is proposed that the lifting force with which the front loader (3) is operated during the depositing process is automatically adjusted, at least depending on the respective depositing surface (6), using the driver assistance system (5).