Grain Cart Weight Measurement with Presence Sensor Tare
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Solution Overview
Problem
The manual recording of grain cart unloading operations is error-prone and poses safety risks due to operator saturation, as operators must manage multiple tasks simultaneously, including weight measurement, equipment positioning, and environmental awareness, leading to potential collisions and inaccuracies in tracking material movement.
Innovation Solution
A system that integrates a presence sensor with a load cell and scale controller to automatically initiate and stop weight measurement based on the presence of a second storage carrier, using a tare mode to calculate the weight of material transferred, and includes geo-location and image identification to log unloading events, reducing operator error and enhancing safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual recording of grain cart unloading operations is used, then the operator can control multiple tasks, but operator error increases and safety risks arise due to task saturation
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-recording of weight measurements through presence sensors that detect when a second storage carrier is present. The scale controller automatically initiates and stops weight recording based on sensor detection, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention and reducing task saturation while improving recording reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical button-pressing operations with an automated sensing system. Presence sensors detect the second storage carrier and trigger automatic weight recording, substituting human manual control with an automated electromechanical system that improves both ease of operation and recording accuracy
2Measurement precision
If the operator manually monitors weight measurement, then accuracy can be maintained, but operator workload increases leading to safety risks
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic feedback control where presence sensors continuously monitor for the second storage carrier and automatically provide feedback signals to the scale controller. This triggers automatic initiation and termination of weight recording, maintaining measurement precision while eliminating the need for complex manual monitoring tasks
3Productivity
If automatic presence detection is implemented, then operator workload is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The presence sensor system is integrated with the existing scale controller to perform multiple functions: detecting the second storage carrier, automatically initiating weight recording, and triggering tare mode. This multi-functionality approach increases productivity while minimizing additional system complexity by leveraging existing components
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 automates weight recording and reduces operator workload, enhancing the accuracy and safety of grain cart unloading operations by minimizing human error and ensuring precise tracking of material movement from the field to the elevator.
Implementation Method 1
a presence sensor combined to the first storage carrier for detecting a presence of the second storage carrier
Implementation Method 2
A load cell measures the weight of the material expelled from the first storage carrier
Data Source
AI summary
A presence sensor combined to a first storage carrier for detecting a presence of a second storage carrier. A load cell measures the weight of the material expelled from the first storage carrier. A scale controller in communication with the presence sensor responds to the presence of the second storage carrier by recording of the weight measurement from the load cell.