Impact Mass Flow Sensor for Peanut Harvest Yield Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current yield monitoring technologies for peanut harvesting are inadequate, with existing systems experiencing high errors and inability to accurately quantify crop yield due to issues like debris interference and poor in-load resolution, limiting the ability of peanut producers to make informed management decisions.
Innovation Solution
A yield monitoring system for peanut harvesting machines that incorporates a force sensor in mechanical communication with an impact plate, optionally combined with optical sensors, air pressure sensors, and moisture sensors, to provide accurate yield monitoring by measuring the impact of crops during pneumatic conveyance, thereby improving correlation with actual yield.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If optical sensors are used for yield monitoring in peanut harvesting, then the system can detect crop mass flow, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to debris interference and abrasion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an air stream as an intermediary medium between the peanuts and the optical sensor. Clean air flows across the sensor surface, carrying peanuts past the detection point while preventing debris from directly contacting or adhering to the sensor. This mediator protects the sensor from harmful factors while maintaining detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the harmful debris from the measurement process by using air flow to separate clean peanuts from contaminated material. The air stream selectively carries only the desired crop material past the sensor, leaving debris behind, thus removing the source of measurement errors.
2Measurement precision
If load cells are mounted below the hopper basket for yield monitoring, then the system can measure harvested crop weight, but the device complexity increases and in-load resolution remains poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical load cell weighing system with an optical detection system that measures crop mass flow through light interaction. This substitution eliminates the need for complex mechanical mounting structures while achieving superior measurement resolution through non-contact optical sensing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy or representation of the mass flow characteristics by measuring light attenuation or scattering properties of the moving peanuts. This optical copy provides accurate yield information without requiring physical contact or mechanical weighing structures.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If deflectors are added to reduce debris flow across sensors, then the harmful factors are reduced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic principles by introducing a controlled air stream to manage debris separation. Instead of mechanical deflectors, pressurized air flows across the sensor area, dynamically clearing debris while allowing peanuts to pass through for measurement. This pneumatic approach reduces mechanical complexity while maintaining protection.
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 system achieves an error rate of 15% or less in crop yield monitoring, allowing for improved management capabilities and reduced input costs, enabling more precise prescription maps and input application optimization.
Implementation Method 1
an impactor positioned to receive the flow of peanuts and induce an impact force thereon; a force sensor positioned in communication with the impactor to provide a signal having a voltage output proportional to the impact force
Data Source
AI summary
Yield monitoring systems for harvesting machines and methods that can provide yield monitoring of crops are described. Machines include those that pneumatically convey crop through the machine such as peanut harvesting machines. The yield monitoring system includes a force sensor that can be located in conjunction with a duct of the harvesting machine such that impact of the crop materials on an impact plate within the duct will be registered by the force sensor. This registration can be used to determine a mass flow rate for the crop, which can be correlated to yield of the crop. The systems can include additional components such as optical monitors, moisture sensors, and pressure sensors.