Active Vibration Damping for Harvester Transfer Device

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Solution Overview

Problem

Long transfer devices in self-propelled agricultural harvesters experience significant vibrations due to pitching and rolling movements, as well as operational vibrations, leading to unstable crop discharge and increased material stress, which complicates the overloading process and reduces the service life of components.

Innovation Solution

A system with sensors and an evaluation and control unit actively dampens vibrations by adjusting the height of the transfer device using an actuator, detecting changes in position and bearing forces to maintain a stable position during overloading, thereby reducing unwanted vibrations and material stress.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the transfer device is made longer to enable overloading onto transport vehicles at greater distances, then the overloading capability is improved, but the vibration sensitivity and position instability increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverloading capabilityVSAvoidposition stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies active dynamic control by using sensors to detect vibrations of the transfer device and control units to calculate compensation values. The height of the transfer device is dynamically adjusted via actuators to counteract detected vibrations, maintaining position stability despite the device's increased length and vibration sensitivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the transfer device is made longer to maintain crop discharge accuracy at greater distances, then the overloading range is extended, but the material stress and service life reduction worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverloading rangeVSAvoidservice life
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful effect of vibrations into useful information by using sensors to detect vibration causes and characteristics. This detected information is then used to calculate compensation values that actively counteract the vibrations, transforming the previously harmful vibrations into a controllable parameter that extends overloading range without compromising service life.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Reliability

If passive vibration damping is used to reduce vibrations of the transfer device, then the material stress is reduced, but the position control precision and overloading accuracy deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice lifeVSAvoidposition control precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback control system where sensors continuously detect the transfer device's vibration state and position, control units calculate appropriate compensation values based on this feedback, and actuators adjust the device height in real-time. This closed-loop feedback mechanism maintains position control precision while actively reducing vibrations, unlike passive damping methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

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 active vibration damping system simplifies the overloading process, ensures accurate crop discharge, and extends the service life of the transfer device and its bearing points by effectively mitigating vibrations caused by uneven ground and operational movements.

Implementation Method 1

an actuator (20) for adjusting the height of the transfer device (14), wherein the actuator (20) is actuated depending on the detected cause of vibration in order to dampen vibrations of the transfer device (14)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Data Source

PatentEP2397027B1Agricultural harvester
Publication Date: 2016.01.27 CLAAS SELBSTFAHRENDE ERNTEMASCHINEN GMBH
  • EP2397027B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2397027B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A self-propelled agricultural harvesting machine (1) with a loading device (14) mounted opposite a machine frame (2) of the harvesting machine (1), which can be adjusted in height by means of an actuator (20), is characterized by a system for actively damping vibrations of the loading device (14), which includes at least one sensor (24, 25, 26) for detecting a vibration cause acting on the loading device (14) and an evaluation and control unit (22) which actuates the actuator (20) depending on the detected vibration cause in order to dampen vibrations of the loading device (14).