Harvester Crop Throughput Sensing via Hydraulic Flap Pressure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harvesting machines require additional complex elements like strain gauges and potentiometers for crop throughput sensing, which complicates the machinery and may not accurately measure crop throughput for efficient operation.
Innovation Solution
A crop throughput sensing system using a pressure sensor connected to a hydraulic actuator in a harvesting machine's crop conveying channel, allowing for real-time monitoring of hydraulic pressure to control the flap position and adjust the harvesting machine's speed based on crop flow, with an electronic control unit managing valve operations to maintain optimal pressure and throughput.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If strain gauges, potentiometers or other sensors are added to driven elements or movable parts for crop throughput sensing, then crop throughput measurement capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - the movable flap - that indirectly senses crop throughput through hydraulic pressure changes rather than directly measuring crop flow. The flap acts as a mediator between the crop stream and the pressure sensor, converting mechanical crop pressure into hydraulic pressure signals that can be measured electronically.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical sensing systems (strain gauges, potentiometers on driven elements) with a hydraulic pressure sensing system. Instead of mechanically attaching sensors to moving parts, the solution uses hydraulic fluid pressure to transmit force information from the crop stream to a stationary pressure sensor.
2Loss of information
If existing sensor systems are used for throughput sensing, then crop throughput data can be obtained, but the system requires additional complex elements that may not accurately measure crop throughput
Solution Approach 1:
The movable flap is a pre-existing component in the crop conveying channel that naturally responds to crop pressure. The system leverages the flap's inherent mechanical response to crop flow and combines it with hydraulic pressure sensing, making the system self-calibrating and automatically adaptive to varying crop conditions without requiring additional calibration mechanisms.
3Measurement precision
If torque or pressure sensors are used on drive shafts or chains for throughput sensing, then throughput measurement is achieved, but additional elements are added to the harvesting machine
Solution Approach 1:
The movable flap serves multiple functions: it acts as a flow control element for managing crop material in the conveying channel, a sensing element for detecting crop throughput through hydraulic pressure, and a mechanical amplifier that converts small crop pressure changes into significant hydraulic pressure variations. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated sensing 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
This solution simplifies the harvesting machine by eliminating the need for additional sensors, providing accurate crop throughput measurement and enabling efficient operation by controlling the harvesting machine's speed and flap position based on real-time pressure data, thereby improving yield mapping and reducing operational complexity.
Implementation Method 1
A crop throughput sensing arrangement comprises a pressure sensor adapted to sense a hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic actuator
Data Source
AI summary
A harvesting machine comprises a crop conveying channel with a movable bottom flap coupled to a hydraulic actuator controlling the position of the flap and a crop throughput sensing arrangement with a pressure sensor adapted to sense a hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic actuator.