Agricultural Implement Plugging Detection via Weight Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Farmers face difficulties in detecting plugging conditions of agricultural implement ground-engaging tools, which leads to inefficient tillage operations due to material accumulation, making it challenging to identify and address the issue from the operator's cab.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a frame assembly, wheel assemblies, and a sensor system that generates data on operating parameters, coupled with a computing system to calculate the implement's weight and identify a plugged condition when it falls below a reference weight for a predefined time, enabling timely corrective actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the operator views the ground-engaging tools from the cab, then the operator can monitor the implement, but the operator cannot detect plugged conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces direct visual inspection (mechanical/optical system) with a sensor-based detection system that measures weight changes. Sensors detect material accumulation through weight changes in the ground-engaging tools, converting a visual inspection problem into a measurable physical quantity that can be detected electronically from the cab.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces weight sensors as an intermediary between the ground-engaging tools and the operator. These sensors act as mediators that translate the physical state of material accumulation into electrical signals, allowing indirect detection of plugged conditions without requiring direct visual access to the tools.
2Productivity
If material accumulates on ground-engaging tools, then the implement can continue operating, but the tillage performance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback system where sensors continuously monitor the weight of ground-engaging tools and provide real-time information about material accumulation. This feedback loop allows the operator to detect plugged conditions and take corrective action, maintaining tillage performance while enabling continuous operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables preliminary detection of material accumulation before it severely impacts tillage performance. By continuously monitoring weight changes, the system can identify plugged conditions early, allowing the operator to intervene before significant performance deterioration occurs.
3Reliability
If the operator takes corrective action to remove material, then the plugged condition is resolved, but the operation downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback system provides real-time information about material accumulation, allowing the operator to respond promptly to plugged conditions. This enables timely corrective action that minimizes the duration of downtime while ensuring reliable resolution of the plugged condition.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for identifying plugging within an agricultural implement includes a frame assembly supporting one or more components. A sensor system is operably coupled with at least one of the one or more components and configured to generate data indicative of one or more operating parameters of the at least one of the one or more components. A computing system is communicatively coupled to the sensor system. The computing system is configured to receive, from the sensor system, the data indicative of the one or more operating parameters, calculate a weight of one or more sections of the frame assembly based at least in part on the data, and identify a plugged condition when the calculated weight is less than a reference weight for a predefined amount of time.