Agricultural Implement Weight Sensor Diagnosis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural systems face challenges in detecting the conditions of working implements efficiently, leading to potential faults and increased maintenance costs due to the need for multiple sensors.

Innovation Solution

A working implement diagnostic system that utilizes a weight sensor and a controller to diagnose the condition of the working implement based on changes in weight, allowing for simple and efficient condition monitoring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple sensors are provided to detect respective target conditions of a working implement, then the detection accuracy and reliability of working implement conditions is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetection accuracy of working implement conditionsVSAvoidnumber of sensors and components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies multi-functionality by using a single weight sensor to detect multiple conditions of the working implement. The weight sensor measures weight changes that can indicate various states such as soil adhesion, material consumption, and wear, allowing one sensor to serve multiple diagnostic purposes without requiring separate sensors for each condition

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes parameter changes by monitoring weight as a physical parameter that varies with different working conditions. By detecting changes in weight (increase for soil adhesion, decrease for material consumption), the system infers multiple condition states from a single parameter measurement, avoiding the need for multiple sensors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If multiple sensors are installed to monitor working implement conditions, then the reliability of fault detection is improved, but the maintenance cost and time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefault detection capabilityVSAvoidmaintenance cost and time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The weight sensor serves multiple diagnostic functions including detecting soil adhesion, material consumption, and wear conditions. This multi-functionality reduces the total number of sensors that need to be maintained and replaced, thereby reducing maintenance cost and time while maintaining comprehensive fault detection capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If a weight sensor is used to detect weight changes of the working implement, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision for specific conditions may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of componentsVSAvoiddetection precision of specific working conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system monitors weight as a physical parameter that varies with different working conditions. By detecting changes in weight (increase for soil adhesion, decrease for material consumption), the system infers multiple condition states from a single parameter measurement, achieving sufficient precision for diagnostic purposes without requiring multiple sensors

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

Weight change acts as an intermediary parameter that indirectly reflects multiple working conditions. Instead of directly measuring soil adhesion, material consumption, or wear with separate sensors, the system uses weight change as a mediator that correlates with these conditions, providing sufficient diagnostic information with a single sensor

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 the detection of working implement conditions with a simplified configuration, reducing maintenance costs and preventing faults by providing real-time diagnostic results.

Implementation Method 1

a weight sensor (17) to detect a weight of a working implement (2)

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP4548734A1Work device diagnosis system, agricultural machine, agricultural work assistance system

Publication Date: 2025.05.07 KUBOTA CORP

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AI summary

A working implement diagnostic system (11) includes a weight sensor (17) to detect the weight of a working implement (2) connected to a traveling machine body (3) of an agricultural machine (1) that travels in an agricultural field (H), and a controller (12) to diagnose the working implement based on a change in the weight of the working implement. An agricultural machine includes a working implement diagnostic system, a traveling machine body, and a connector (8) to connect a working implement to the traveling machine body. An agricultural work support system (100) includes the working implement diagnostic system, an agricultural machine, and a management server (20) including a database (21) that is accessible from outside. The agricultural machine further includes a communicator (18) to wirelessly communicate with the management server. The controller transmits a result of diagnosing the working implement to the management server via the communicator. The management server receives the result of diagnosing the working implement and stores the diagnosis result in the database.