Harvester Header Height Control via Mulching Device Position
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing self-propelled harvesting machines require additional sensors to adjust the height and inclination of harvesting headers, which are costly and sensitive to damage, and cannot adapt during ongoing operations to ground contours or wheel size changes.
Innovation Solution
A harvesting machine with a mulching device that is vertically movable and follows the ground contour, using sensors to detect its position relative to the harvesting header, which then controls actuators to adjust the header's height and inclination, thereby serving as both a processing tool and a sensor for controlling the header's position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors are used to detect header height and control actuator position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mulching device is designed to serve dual purposes: it performs the mechanical function of mulching crop residues while simultaneously serving as a reference object for height detection. The sensor detects the position of the mulching device to infer header height, eliminating the need for separate height detection sensors and reducing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The mulching device provides information about its own position to the control system through sensor detection. This self-referential measurement approach allows the system to determine header height without requiring additional external sensors, making the measurement system self-sufficient.
2Measurement precision
If mechanical sensors are used to measure header height, then measurement precision is improved, but reliability decreases due to sensitivity to damage
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of directly measuring header height with a vulnerable mechanical sensor, the system uses a sensor to detect the position of the mulching device, which serves as a reference copy or proxy. This indirect measurement approach protects the sensor from damage while still providing accurate height information.
3Device complexity
If the header angle is fixed, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to ground contours and wheel size changes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The header angle is changed from a fixed parameter to a dynamic, adjustable parameter. The control system automatically adjusts the header angle based on real-time sensor feedback about ground contours and mulching device position, allowing the system to adapt to varying field conditions while maintaining manageable complexity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements a feedback loop where the sensor continuously monitors the mulching device position and ground contour, and the control system automatically adjusts the header angle in response to these measurements. This closed-loop control enables automatic adaptation to changing conditions without requiring complex manual adjustment mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
An arrangement for controlling the height and/or inclination of a harvesting header (20) for harvesting stem-like crops comprises a control unit (62) which is connected to and operable with a sensor (72) for detecting the height of the harvesting header (20) above the ground and an actuator (48, 60) for controlling the height and/or inclination of the harvesting header (20), and which controls the actuator (48, 60) depending on signals from the sensor (72). A mulching device (64) with a processing tool (66) for shredding plant stumps is attached to the harvesting header (20) in a height-adjustable manner and follows the ground contour, and the sensor (72) is configured to detect the position of the mulching device (64) relative to the harvesting header (20).