Agricultural Implement Hitch Leveling via Dual Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural implement leveling systems lack accuracy and effectiveness, particularly for implements with significant lateral spans, as they struggle to maintain uniform tool contact and depth in varying terrain conditions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a combination of vehicle-based and implement-based sensors to monitor inclination angles, with a controller adjusting the hitch position to maintain the implement's inclination within a predetermined range, ensuring level orientation across inclined surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a remote leveling system uses sensor feedback from inclinometers mounted on the implement to control hydraulic actuators, then the implement inclination can be adjusted, but the accuracy and effectiveness are insufficient for implements with significant lateral spans
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the implement into multiple sections with independent leveling control. Each section has its own sensors and actuators, allowing localized adjustment that accounts for the implement's lateral span and articulation, thereby improving overall leveling accuracy without requiring a completely complex monolithic system
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary leveling adjustments by detecting implement inclination before ground-engaging tools contact the soil. This anticipatory action allows the implement to be pre-positioned in the correct orientation, improving accuracy while using simple sensor-actuator pairs rather than complex real-time correction mechanisms
2Productivity
If the implement span is increased to realize greater efficiency and speed, then productivity improves, but maintaining uniform tool contact and level positioning becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic leveling control that continuously adjusts implement inclination based on real-time sensor feedback. This dynamic adjustment compensates for the challenges of large lateral spans and articulation, maintaining uniform tool contact across the entire implement width while allowing high productivity operation
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor feedback from inclinometers to continuously monitor implement inclination and provides closed-loop control to hydraulic actuators. This feedback mechanism ensures that even with increased span for productivity, the system can maintain precise level positioning and uniform tool contact through automatic correction
3Adaptability or versatility
If the implement travels across inclined surfaces, then operational versatility is improved, but maintaining level orientation and uniform depth becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The system detects when the work vehicle begins to travel across an inclined surface and performs preliminary hitch position adjustments to counteract the expected inclination changes. This preemptive action maintains level implement orientation and uniform depth even when operating on varied terrain, enhancing versatility without sacrificing precision
Data Source
AI summary
A method for automatically leveling an agricultural implement being towed by a work vehicle includes monitoring a vehicle inclination angle via at least one vehicle-based sensor supported on the work vehicle, monitoring an implement inclination angle via at least one implement-based sensor supported on the implement, and determining that the work vehicle has begun to travel across an inclined surface based on the vehicle inclination angle. The method further includes initially adjusting a position of a hitch of the work vehicle in a first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within a predetermined angular inclination range as the vehicle travels across the inclined surface and adjusting the position of the hitch in a second direction opposite the first direction to maintain the implement inclination angle within the predetermined angular inclination range.