Gang Mower Assembly With Dynamic Lateral Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gang mower assemblies face inefficiencies due to lateral overlap during straight-line travel and the risk of unmown areas and flattened crops during steering or turning maneuvers, exacerbated by GPS inaccuracies in agricultural machinery positioning.
Innovation Solution
A control system utilizing sensors to determine yaw rate and speed, actuated by a controller, adjusts the lateral position of mower units to minimize overlap and prevent unmown areas during maneuvers, employing IMU, speedometers, and hydraulic systems for precise movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If lateral overlap is provided between successive mower units during straight-line travel, then the risk of creating unmown areas during steering maneuvers is minimized, but the mowing capacity is reduced due to inefficient use of mowing width
Solution Approach 1:
The mower units are made dynamically adjustable in their lateral positioning. The control system continuously monitors steering maneuvers and automatically adjusts the lateral position of individual mower units in real-time, allowing the system to transition between different overlap configurations based on operational conditions rather than maintaining a fixed overlap setting
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral position parameter of each mower unit is dynamically changed based on detected steering maneuvers. The control system modifies the lateral position parameter of affected mower units to compensate for the steering-induced displacement, thereby maintaining optimal overlap coverage without requiring constant overlap during straight-line travel
2Productivity
If lateral overlap is reduced between mower units to improve mowing capacity, then efficiency increases, but the risk of creating unmown areas during steering or turning maneuvers increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements a feedback mechanism by continuously detecting the steering state of the gang mower assembly and using this information to automatically adjust the lateral positioning of mower units. This closed-loop control ensures that the system responds to actual operating conditions, maintaining coverage completeness even when minimal overlap is used during straight-line travel
Solution Approach 2:
The control system performs preliminary adjustment of mower unit lateral positions in anticipation of or during steering maneuvers. By detecting the steering state and proactively adjusting the lateral positions before or during the maneuver, the system prevents unmown areas from forming rather than reacting after the problem occurs
3Measurement precision
If GPS systems are used for positioning agricultural machinery, then location data can be obtained, but the system may be inaccurate or unavailable due to satellite signal blockage from forests, hills, and mountains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary inertial measurement system that does not rely on external satellite signals. The inertial sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes) serve as a mediator to measure the actual movement and orientation of the gang mower assembly, providing positioning information that is independent of GPS satellite availability and works reliably in environments where GPS signals are blocked
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 mowing efficiency by minimizing overlap and preventing unmown areas, even in tight turns, through instantaneous adjustments of mower units, ensuring complete crop coverage without flattening.
Implementation Method 1
a first sensor for determining the yaw rate of a gang mower assembly
Implementation Method 2
a second sensor, or means, for determining the speed of a gang mower assembly
Implementation Method 3
employing IMU, speedometers, and hydraulic systems for precise movement
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
A control system that uses the yaw rate and speed measured data inputs to reduce overlap while reducing or preventing leaving unmown areas between the path of mower units of a gang mower assembly.