Harvester Yield Sensor Assembly Mass Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing yield monitoring systems in crop harvesting are inaccurate in measuring mass flow rate of grain, which is crucial for site-specific farming practices requiring precise spatial yield maps.
Innovation Solution
A yield sensor assembly is installed at the top end of the clean grain elevator, comprising a sensor housing with left and right sensors mounted on a sensor plate. The sensor plate deflects upward as grain piles slide along it, and Hall-effect sensors generate a signal proportional to the deflection, allowing for accurate mass flow rate measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional impact-type mass flow sensors are used, then the monitoring system can indicate relative rate of mass flow, but the measurement accuracy is substantially inaccurate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional impact-type mechanical mass flow sensors with a combination of capacitive sensors and optical sensors. The capacitive sensors detect changes in capacitance signal in response to grain flow, while optical sensors detect grain passage through light interruption. This substitution of mechanical sensing with electrical and optical sensing mechanisms resolves the measurement accuracy problem while maintaining system reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sensing parameter from mechanical impact force to electrical capacitance and optical light interruption. By measuring capacitance changes as grain passes between capacitive plates, and detecting light interruption by optical sensors, the system achieves more accurate mass flow rate measurements compared to impact-type sensors, directly addressing the measurement precision contradiction.
2Measurement precision
If accurate yield measurements are implemented, then precise spatial yield maps can be generated, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing technologies (capacitive sensors and optical sensors) into a single integrated sensor assembly mounted on the combine harvester. This merging of different sensing principles into one unified device achieves accurate yield measurements while managing complexity through integration rather than separate systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assembly serves multiple functions: capacitive sensors detect grain flow rate, optical sensors detect grain passage and moisture content, and all data are processed together to generate yield maps. This multi-functionality allows accurate yield measurement without requiring multiple separate devices, thereby managing device complexity.
3Productivity
If site-specific farming practices are implemented, then crop input applications can be optimized, but the need for accurate measurements increases system requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where sensor data from the combine harvester is continuously collected, processed, and used to generate real-time yield maps. These maps provide feedback on actual crop productivity by location, enabling farmers to optimize crop input applications (fertilizer, pesticides) based on measured yield variations across different field zones, thereby improving farming efficiency through data-driven decisions.
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 yield sensor assembly provides accurate measurements of mass flow rate, enabling the generation of precise spatial yield maps, which is essential for effective site-specific farming practices.
Implementation Method 1
Hall-effect sensors generate a signal proportional to the deflection
Data Source
AI summary
A sensor assembly for determining yield of grain harvested by a harvesting machine during harvesting operations. The sensor assembly includes a sensor housing, a displaceable sensor member and a displacement sensor. The sensor housing is mounted to the grain elevator housing above an upper sprocket of a conveyor disposed within the grain elevator housing. The sensor member is displaceably supported via the sensor housing within the elevator housing above the upper sprocket and along a direction of travel of the grain piles thrown by the conveyor flights rotating around the upper sprocket. The thrown grain piles produce a grain force on the sensor member causing a displacement of the sensor member in relation to the grain force. The displacement sensor generates a grain force signal corresponding to the displacement of the sensor member.