Load Sensor Tripping Detection for Agricultural Shanks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Farmers face difficulties in detecting tripping and floating of ground-engaging shanks during tillage operations, which can negatively impact the quality and efficiency of soil cultivation due to blocked views of the shanks by the implement and vehicle frames.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural implement equipped with a frame, pivotably coupled ground-engaging shanks, and a biasing element, along with load sensors and a computing system that determines when the shanks are tripping or floating by analyzing load data, allowing for immediate notification and control actions such as adjusting speed or depth of tillage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the operator relies on visual inspection to detect tripping and floating of shanks, then the operator can directly observe the shank position, but the operator's view is blocked by the implement frame and vehicle wheels making detection difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical visual inspection system with an electronic sensing system. Load sensors (electronic devices) are installed at pivot joints to detect forces on shanks, and a computing system processes this data to determine tripping and floating events, eliminating the need for direct visual observation by the operator.
2Measurement precision
If the operator manually monitors each shank for tripping and floating, then detection accuracy can be maintained, but the time required to perform tillage operations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load sensors continuously monitor forces on all shanks simultaneously during the tillage operation, providing uninterrupted detection of tripping and floating events. This eliminates the need for periodic manual checks, maintaining continuous detection accuracy while allowing the tillage operation to proceed without interruption or time loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the implement to self-monitor its own operational status. The load sensors and computing system automatically detect and identify tripping and floating events without requiring operator intervention, allowing the implement to serve itself in terms of monitoring and reporting its condition.
3Reliability
If load sensors are installed at pivot joints to detect tripping and floating, then real-time detection capability is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The load sensors installed at the pivot joints serve multiple functions: they detect both tripping events (when shanks hit obstacles) and floating events (when shanks rise due to soil resistance). This single sensing location provides universal monitoring capability for both types of anomalies, reducing the need for separate sensing systems and simplifying the overall device complexity.
4Productivity
If the computing system automatically determines tripping and floating events, then operator intervention is eliminated, but the extent of automation increases system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The computing system is pre-programmed with the logic and algorithms needed to analyze load sensor data and determine tripping and floating events. This preliminary preparation of the detection logic allows the system to automatically process sensor inputs in real-time without requiring complex runtime decision-making, thereby increasing automation while managing system complexity through pre-established processing rules.
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 enables real-time detection and automatic response to tripping and floating, improving the quality and efficiency of tillage operations without requiring operator intervention.
Implementation Method 1
a load sensor in operative association with one of the first pivot joint or the second pivot joint. The load sensor is configured to generate data indicative of a load being applied to the one of the first pivot joint or the second pivot joint by the ground-engaging shank
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement includes a shank assembly having a ground-engaging shank. Furthermore, the shank assembly includes a biasing element coupled to a frame of the agricultural implement via a first pivot joint and coupled to the ground-engaging shank via a second pivot joint. Additionally, the agricultural implement includes a load sensor(s) configured to generate data indicative of the load(s) being applied to the first and second pivot joints by the biasing element. In addition, the agricultural implement includes a computing system configured to determine when the ground-engaging shank is tripping or floating based on the data generated by the load sensor(s).