Oscillating Soil Probe Arm for Continuous Vehicle Sampling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current soil sampling methods require vehicles to stop at each sampling location, making the process inefficient and impractical for use with general-purpose vehicles like tractors or ATVs.
Innovation Solution
A soil sampling device attached to a vehicle featuring a rotatable arm with a soil probe that oscillates in a pendulum-like motion, allowing for continuous sampling without stopping, using a frame assembly and impelling device to penetrate and retract soil samples while a soil removing device detaches the sample from the probe.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a vehicle-mounted soil sampling device is used, then soil sampling can be performed mechanized and automated, but the vehicle must be brought to a standstill between each sampling location
Solution Approach 1:
The arm is designed to rotate dynamically during vehicle movement, allowing the soil sampling device to continuously scan across the field while the vehicle is in motion, eliminating the need for stopping at each sampling location
Solution Approach 2:
The rotating arm enables continuous soil sampling action throughout the field during vehicle movement, maintaining uninterrupted sampling operation without idle stopping periods between locations
2Productivity
If a specialized vehicle is used for soil sampling, then automated sampling without stopping is achieved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The soil sampling device is designed as an attachable unit that can be mounted on general-purpose vehicles like tractors or ATVs, allowing the same vehicle to perform both transportation and soil sampling functions without requiring specialized sampling-only vehicles
Solution Approach 2:
The sampling system is divided into a modular arm assembly with rotating soil sampling devices that can be independently controlled, allowing the main vehicle to remain simple while the sampling component handles the complex automated scanning function
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 efficient, automatic soil sampling on moving vehicles, reducing the need for frequent stops and improving the efficiency of soil data collection for precision farming.
Implementation Method 1
rotating a proximate section of a rotatable arm with a distant section including a soil probe in a pendulum-like repeating oscillating pattern
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5a~6b
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and device for sampling soil. In the method, a frame assembly (110, 120) is attached to a vehicle (184) positioned on a soil surface. A proximate section (130) of a rotatable arm is rotated by an impelling device (114). The rotatable arm also has a distant section (140) which includes a soil probe (150). The proximate (130) and the distant (140) sections of the rotatable arm are pivotably interconnected by a second pivot axis (132). During operation, the rotatable arm describes an oscillating pattern which includes two phases. The phases includes a first phase wherein the soil probe is operable to retract a sample of soil, and a second phase wherein the soil probe is operable to engage with a soil removing device in order to detach the sample of soil from the soil probe.