Towed Implement Orientation Control for Bale Deposition on Slopes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural systems face challenges in efficiently depositing bundled agricultural material, such as round bales, in non-standard orientations to prevent rolling down slopes or for optimal storage, as existing solutions rely on complex and impractical adjustments of the baler or tractor, which are not feasible for larger angles.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a traction vehicle and a towed implement with an actuator and control device that generates control data for adjusting the implement's orientation and the tractor's speed and direction to deposit material in a desired orientation, allowing for automated or manual control to position the implement appropriately for non-standard deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the implement orientation is adjusted manually for non-standard deposition, then the material can be deposited in the desired orientation, but the operation becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment with an automated control system that uses sensors to detect slope orientation and automatically controls the implement's orientation through electronic actuation, eliminating time-consuming manual operations while maintaining precise deposition orientation
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs self-positioning by automatically detecting the slope characteristics and adjusting the implement orientation without operator intervention, making the system serve itself in determining and executing the optimal deposition orientation
2Manufacturing precision
If complex adjustments of the baler or tractor are used to achieve non-standard deposition orientations, then the material can be deposited correctly, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the orientation control function from the complex mechanical adjustment systems of the baler or tractor and implements it as a separate, dedicated control system with sensors and actuators specifically designed for orientation management, simplifying the overall system architecture
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control system that acts as a mediator between the tractor/baler and the deposition process, using sensors to detect orientation requirements and actuators to adjust the implement, thereby avoiding direct complex mechanical coupling
3Ease of operation
If manual positioning of the implement is performed, then the operator can control the deposition orientation, but the operator's task complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically performs the positioning task by detecting slope characteristics and self-adjusting the implement orientation, completely relieving the operator of complex manual positioning tasks while maintaining full control capability
Data Source
AI summary
A system for picking up, bundling and depositing agricultural material having a traction vehicle and a towed implement, the system comprising: an actuator associated with the implement; a control device configured to generate control data for controlling the orientation of the implement and steering of the traction vehicle, the control data including information relating to the orientation of the implement adjustable by the actuator, a desired orientation of the deposited agricultural material and at least one of a speed and a direction of travel of the traction vehicle; and wherein, using the control data, the actuator adjusts the orientation about a vertical axis of the implement relative to the traction vehicle to deposit the agricultural material.