Harvesting Head Tilt Control for Wing Angle Limit Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural headers with limited wing rotation range struggle to maintain a consistent cutting height over uneven and steeply sloped terrain, leading to variance in cutter bar assembly height, which affects harvesting efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a controller receiving wing angle and height signals, outputting tilt and lift signals to actuators to maintain the cutter bar assembly at a target height, utilizing a tilt actuator to rotate the center section and lift actuator to adjust the header's position, ensuring the cutter bar assembly remains at the target height by tilting and lifting the center section when wing angles exceed the angle limit threshold.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the wing actuators continuously adjust the wings to maintain target height, then cutting height consistency improves, but the system becomes complex and the actuators may exceed their operational range
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously receives feedback from wing angle sensors and height sensors, comparing actual positions with target positions. Based on this feedback, the controller automatically adjusts the wing actuators and tilt actuator to maintain the cutter bar assembly at the target height, enabling precise closed-loop control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically switches between different actuator configurations based on real-time conditions. When wings are within their operational range, wing actuators are used; when wings approach their limits, the tilt actuator is engaged to rotate the center section, providing continuous adaptability without exceeding component limits.
2Manufacturing precision
If the center section is tilted to maintain cutting height on steep slopes, then the cutting height variance is reduced, but additional actuators and control mechanisms are required
Solution Approach 1:
The tilt actuator serving the center section performs multiple functions: it can tilt the center section to compensate for longitudinal slopes, and its position can influence the overall header attitude. This multi-functional design reduces the need for separate dedicated actuators for each function.
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural harvester includes a controller (166) configured to receive at least one wing angle signal indicative of an angle at least one wing (130) with respect to a center section (126) of a header. The controller (166) is also configured to receive a wing height position signal indicative of a distance between the at least one wing (130) and a soil surface (146), determine whether the angle of the at least one wing (130) exceeds an angle limit threshold based at least in part on the wing angle signal, and output a tilt signal to a tilt actuator (124) in response to determining the angle of the wing exceeds the angle limit threshold. The tilt signal is indicative of instructions to maintain the distance between the at least one wing and the soil surface within a target distance threshold.