Ground Sensing Apparatus for Agricultural Header Height Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current automatic header height control systems for agricultural harvesting machines are ineffective at higher cutting heights, as the skid shoes are not in contact with the ground, leading to potential header contact with the ground and the need for a ground sensing capability that operates at greater distances below the cutter bar.
Innovation Solution
A ground sensing apparatus with a shaft and sensor system, including a linkage arrangement between the shaft and skid shoes, allowing rotation of the shaft by skid shoe movement to change the sensor state, enabling operation of automatic header height control even when the cutter bar is fixed in position, particularly at higher elevations for cutting grasses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cutter bar is fixed in position at higher cutting heights, then crop flow onto the lower pan is facilitated and cutting height is maintained, but the automatic height control system becomes ineffective because skid shoes are not in contact with the ground
Solution Approach 1:
The ground sensing apparatus is segmented into multiple skid shoes positioned at different locations and heights. This allows some skid shoes to contact the ground even when the cutter bar is fixed at higher positions, maintaining ground sensing capability while preserving the fixed cutter bar configuration for improved crop flow.
Solution Approach 2:
The skid shoes serve as intermediary elements between the ground and the automatic height control system. They transmit ground contact information to the sensor and control system, enabling the system to detect ground contact and adjust header height even when the cutter bar is fixed at elevated positions.
2Productivity
If the header is lengthened to increase productivity, then more crops are harvested during each pass, but the risk of header contacting the ground increases due to unevenness
Solution Approach 1:
The ground sensing apparatus provides continuous feedback to the automatic height control system about ground contact conditions. The sensor detects when skid shoes contact the ground and sends signals to the control system, which then adjusts header height in real-time to prevent contact, enabling longer headers to operate safely over uneven terrain.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces purely mechanical ground contact detection with a sensor-based detection system. The sensor detects ground contact through the skid shoes and converts this mechanical information into electrical signals for the control system, enabling more precise and reliable height control for longer headers.
3Ease of operation
If skid shoes are positioned higher above the ground, then the cutter bar can be fixed in position, but ground contact sensing capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The ground sensing capability is extended to a lower dimension by positioning skid shoes below the cutter bar. This creates a vertical dimension for ground contact detection that is separate from the cutter bar position, allowing the system to detect ground contact even when the cutter bar is fixed at higher elevations.
Data Source
AI summary
Ground sensing apparatus for a header (12) of an agricultural harvesting machine (10), configurable for sensing the ground (28) with a cutter bar (18) of the header (12) in a fixed and/or raised position. The apparatus utilises a linkage arrangement (58) in connection with a sensor shaft (40) and a skid shoe (48) deployable to a lowered position and movable when in the lowered position for effecting rotations of the sensor shaft (40) and thus signalling to an appropriate control, information relating to contact with the ground (28).