Mower Deck Roller Conditioner Gap Control for Crop Volume Flow
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mowers lack real-time monitoring and measurement capabilities to accurately determine the volume of harvested crops, leading to inefficiencies and potential over- or under-harvesting.
Innovation Solution
A mower equipped with a roller conditioner featuring adjustable conditioning rollers, sensors to determine gap width and driving speed, and a control device that calculates crop volume flow, along with additional sensors for moisture content and GPS for yield mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If real-time monitoring and measurement capabilities are added to mowers, then measurement precision of crop volume is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical measurement systems with optical and electronic sensing. The gap width is measured optically between the conditioning rollers, and crop volume is calculated electronically using sensor data and control unit processing, eliminating the need for physical measurement devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that processes data from multiple sensors (gap width sensor, speed sensor, moisture sensor) and calculates crop volume and yield. This centralized processing simplifies the overall system architecture by consolidating measurement and calculation functions in one unit.
2Loss of information
If multiple sensors and control systems are integrated into the mower, then information availability on harvest quantities is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mower system performs self-measurement and self-monitoring of crop volume and yield without requiring external weighing equipment or manual measurement. The integrated sensors and control unit automatically track harvest quantities, eliminating the need for additional operational steps by external devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit continuously receives feedback from sensors monitoring gap width, driving speed, and moisture content, and automatically adjusts calculations of crop volume and yield. This closed-loop feedback system provides real-time information without requiring manual intervention or additional operational complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the upper conditioning roller axis is made displaceable to adapt gap width, then adaptability to different crop amounts is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper conditioning roller axis is made displaceable rather than fixed, allowing the gap width to dynamically adapt to varying crop amounts. This dynamic adjustment capability enables the mower to maintain optimal performance across different harvesting conditions without requiring multiple fixed configurations.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap width parameter is made variable through the displaceable upper roller axis, allowing continuous adjustment based on crop volume. This parameter change enables the system to adapt to different harvesting scenarios while maintaining a relatively simple mechanical structure through a single degree of freedom.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a mower (1) with a plurality of mowing elements positioned next to one another to form a mower bar (2), and with a roller conditioner (4) arranged behind the mower bar (2) as seen in the direction of flow of mown crop (3), said roller conditioner having an upper conditioning roller (5) and a lower conditioning roller (6), wherein a gap (s) between the conditioning rollers (5, 6), through which the crop (3) is transported, is variable depending on a quantity of the crop (3), and wherein means are provided for determining a width of the gap (s) and means for determining a driving speed (V) or harvesting speed (V), as well as a control device (9) which is designed to calculate a volume flow of the crop (3) from the width of the gap (s), a width (b) of the conditioning rollers (5, 6), and the driving speed (V) or harvesting speed (V).