Hydraulic Cylinder Position Sensor for Implement Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional agricultural implement depth control systems using rockshafts are inconsistent in setting depth, require manual adjustment, and lack the ability to adjust individual work units, leading to costly repairs and inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A work unit positioning control system with position sensors measuring linear translation of hydraulic cylinders, providing real-time feedback to a controller to adjust hydraulic fluid flow and maintain operator-selected depths for individual work units, allowing for precise control and adjustment from the operator cab.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a rockshaft is used to mechanically adjust work unit positions, then all work units can be adjusted simultaneously, but individual adjustment of particular work units cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the work unit adjustment system into independent segments, with each work unit having its own hydraulic cylinder and position sensor. This segmentation allows individual work units to be adjusted independently while maintaining the ability to control multiple units, resolving the contradiction between simultaneous adjustment and individual adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static mechanical rockshaft connection to a dynamic hydraulic control system. Each work unit can be dynamically adjusted independently through hydraulic cylinders controlled by solenoid valves, enabling both simultaneous and individual adjustment as needed through electronic control.
2Device complexity
If a rockshaft is used for depth control, then the construction is relatively simple, but the rockshaft can fail or be damaged and is costly to replace
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical rockshaft system with a hydraulic control system consisting of hydraulic cylinders, solenoid valves, and electronic controllers. This substitution eliminates the mechanical rockshaft and its associated reliability issues while maintaining depth control functionality, and the individual components are more easily replaced if failed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses hydraulic cylinders with solenoid-controlled directional control valves to adjust work unit positions. This hydraulic system provides reliable, failure-resistant depth control without the mechanical weaknesses of the rockshaft, while individual hydraulic components can be replaced independently if needed.
3Ease of operation
If a poppet valve is used to stop hydraulic fluid flow, then the depth can be set, but the valve is inconsistent and requires manual adjustment until flow is reversed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates position sensors on each hydraulic cylinder that provide real-time feedback to the electronic controller. This feedback mechanism allows the system to precisely determine cylinder position and make accurate adjustments, eliminating the inconsistency of manual poppet valve operation and achieving consistent, precise depth settings through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual poppet valve system is replaced with an electronic control system using solenoid-controlled directional control valves. This electronic system provides consistent, repeatable depth setting without manual intervention, and the solenoid valves offer more precise and reliable flow control compared to manual poppet valves.
4Ease of operation
If manual adjustment is required for depth control, then the system is simple to operate, but it requires continuous manual labor and is time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automatic depth control where the electronic controller continuously monitors position sensor feedback and automatically adjusts hydraulic fluid flow to maintain desired work unit depths. This self-service capability eliminates the need for continuous manual adjustment while preserving simple operator interface for setting desired depths, significantly reducing time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback from position sensors enables the automatic depth control system to continuously monitor and adjust work unit positions without manual intervention. The controller compares actual positions with desired positions and makes automatic corrections, eliminating time-consuming manual adjustments while maintaining ease of operation through simple target depth setting.
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
Enables precise, real-time control and adjustment of individual work units, reducing manual labor and mechanical failures, while improving depth consistency and reducing operational costs by allowing remote adjustment and automatic correction of depth variances.
Implementation Method 1
a position sensor directly measures linear translation of a hydraulic cylinder that lifts and lowers an individual work unit on an implement frame
Implementation Method 2
a hydraulic cylinder that lifts and lowers an individual work unit on an implement frame
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement has a depth control system in which a position sensor directly measures linear translation of a hydraulic cylinder that lifts and lowers a work unit on an implement frame to set and adjust the depth of the work unit without the use of a rockshaft. The position sensor may be positioned adjacent to or integrally formed with the hydraulic cylinder, and provides a voltage to a controller remote from the implement. The controller automatically adjusts the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the hydraulic cylinder to maintain the depth of each work unit at an operator-selected level and can be used to calibrate the actual position of multiple work units relative to the frame and to one another.