Harvester Active Suspension for Vibration Damping

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Harvesting machines for root crops face disruptions and vibrations when driving over uneven ground, affecting driving speed and the efficiency of the harvesting process.

Innovation Solution

The harvesting machine incorporates a control device that detects transverse movements and fluctuations using sensors, and an actuating cylinder with pressure sensors interacting with a hydraulic or electrical control system to actively counteract vibrations, ensuring optimal working conditions by compensating for driving excitations and oscillations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the harvesting machine drives over uneven ground structures, then the machine can adapt to field terrain variations, but vibrations and disruptive excitations occur affecting harvesting process and speed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to uneven groundVSAvoiddriving speed
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The support axle is made dynamically adjustable through an actuating cylinder that can actively change the position of support wheels during operation. This dynamic adaptation allows the machine to follow uneven terrain while maintaining stable superstructure positioning, thus preserving driving speed despite terrain variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If the harvesting machine drives over uneven ground structures, then the machine can adapt to field terrain variations, but vibrations and disruptive excitations occur affecting the lifting and collecting process

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to uneven groundVSAvoidharvesting process stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts support wheel positions via the actuating cylinder to maintain optimal contact with uneven ground, thereby stabilizing the superstructure and ensuring reliable harvesting operations despite terrain variations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Pressure sensors provide real-time feedback on forces acting on support wheels, enabling the control unit to continuously adjust the actuating cylinder position. This closed-loop feedback system maintains stable harvesting conditions by compensating for terrain-induced vibrations and excitations

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If sensors and control devices are added to detect and counteract vibrations, then vibration damping and stability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration dampingVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system automatically regulates the actuating cylinder position based on pressure sensor feedback without requiring external intervention. The system self-adjusts to maintain optimal support conditions, reducing the need for complex manual control mechanisms while achieving effective vibration damping

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 effectively maintains driving speed and minimizes adverse effects on the lifting and collecting process, providing electromechanical vibration damping and improved stability on uneven terrain.

Implementation Method 1

an actuating cylinder with at least one pressure sensor in the area between the machine frame and a support axle receiving the support wheels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPressure sensing:

Implementation Method 2

this actuating cylinder interacts with a hydraulic or electrical control system

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic actuation: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 3

a control unit that processes the signals is then regulated in such a way that the optimal working conditions provided for in the area of the superstructure of the harvesting machine are maintained

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectActive vibration control: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP2591660B1Harvester, in particular for root crops
Publication Date: 2015.11.25 GRIMME LANDMASCHINENFABRIK GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2591660B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2591660B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2591660B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The harvesting machine (1) has a harvesting- and sieve sets (2), a collection hopper (3) and similar structures for supporting a machine frame (4), on which two supporting wheels (7) are supported at bottom side, where the supporting wheels are connected to a supporting axle. A machine movement acting in the region of the machine frame is sensorially detected. The machine movement is provided for actively influencing a control device by using an actuator. The respective guide wheels are detected in the region of the driving suggestions transmitted to the machine structure.