Mower Combination Conveyor Control for Swath Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mower combinations with rear mowing units produce uneven swaths when turning, causing issues for subsequent processing equipment like self-propelled forage harvesters and baler or loader wagons, as the swaths become offset or damaged due to differing turning radii.
Innovation Solution
A control unit that receives signals for the agricultural vehicle's steering angle, speed, and conveyor unit operations, adjusting the speed and lateral displacement of conveyor units to maintain aligned or narrowed swaths during turns, ensuring even swath formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the mower combination turns during mowing operation, then the agricultural vehicle and front mower can avoid obstacles, but the towed rear mowing units produce offset swaths that are uneven and misaligned
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the conveyor units adjustable in speed and lateral position. The control system dynamically modifies conveyor operation based on vehicle steering angle and speed, allowing the system to adapt to turning conditions while maintaining swath alignment. This resolves the contradiction by enabling the system to change its behavior dynamically rather than being fixed in a straight-line configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control where sensors detect the vehicle's steering angle and speed, and this information is fed to the control system which then adjusts the conveyor unit speeds and positions accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that swath alignment is maintained during turning operations by continuously monitoring and correcting the system's behavior based on actual vehicle motion.
2Productivity
If the towed rear mowing units follow the agricultural vehicle during turning, then they can continue mowing, but the swaths become uneven and may overlie the central swath
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor units are made dynamically adjustable in both speed and lateral position. During turning, the control system modifies conveyor operation to compensate for the different turning radius of towed units, maintaining uniform swath deposition even as the vehicle changes direction. This allows continuous productivity while preserving swath quality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operational parameters (conveyor speed and lateral position) based on vehicle motion state. When turning is detected via steering angle sensors, the system adjusts conveyor parameters to compensate for the geometric mismatch between the vehicle's turning path and the towed units' path, thereby maintaining swath uniformity despite the turning motion.
3Adaptability or versatility
If subsequent processing equipment follows a different turning radius than the mower combination, then it can navigate obstacles, but its ground engaging wheels may run over and damage the swath
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-adjusting the swath deposition pattern before the subsequent vehicle arrives. The control system anticipates the turning maneuver and modifies conveyor operation in advance to create a swath configuration that accommodates the subsequent vehicle's different turning radius, preventing wheel contact and damage before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system acts as an intermediary that coordinates between the mower combination's turning action and the subsequent vehicle's path. By adjusting swath deposition as an intermediate variable, the system creates a buffer that allows both vehicles to follow different turning radii without conflict, preventing the subsequent vehicle's wheels from contacting the swath.
Data Source
AI summary
A mower combination including an agricultural vehicle and a front mowing unit as well as two lateral mowing units located behind and to the sides of the front mowing unit. Each of the lateral mowing units has a conveyor unit to deposit cut crop as a swath. A control unit receiving a plurality of signals from the combination including signals representing a steering angle of the agricultural vehicle, a speed of operation of each conveyor unit and a lateral displacement of each conveyor unit and comparing them against a predetermined set of values. As required the control unit adjusts the speed of operation of at least one conveyor unit based on this comparison. Swaths produced by towed rear mowing units are controlled, in particular to enable aligned curved swaths to be produced when the mower combination is turned, or to enable a narrow swath to be produced when the mower combination is turned.