Harvester Elevator Paddle-Mounted Moisture Sensor
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current crop moisture measuring techniques introduce errors due to the dynamic nature of crops moving relative to sensors, particularly when measuring heterogeneous crops, leading to inaccurate moisture content determination.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that utilize multiple sensors mounted on paddles within a harvester elevator to measure crop moisture content while the crop is static relative to the sensors, allowing for continuous and accurate measurement of moisture content without interruptions, reducing errors associated with dynamic crop flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a static sensor is used to measure moisture content of moving crop, then the sensor structure is simple, but measurement precision deteriorates due to crop fluidity and heterogeneity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by mounting moisture sensors on moving paddles within the harvester elevator, allowing the sensors to move with the crop flow. This dynamic positioning enables the sensors to measure moisture content of crop that is relatively static to the sensor, improving measurement precision while maintaining operational simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the harvester elevator paddles as an intermediary carrier to transport both the crop and the moisture sensors together. This intermediary approach allows the sensors to be positioned within the crop flow without requiring separate complex positioning mechanisms, resolving the contradiction between measurement accuracy and system complexity
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed to measure heterogeneous crop moisture, then measurement precision improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the moisture measurement function across multiple sensors distributed on different paddles within the harvester elevator. Each paddle-mounted sensor independently measures moisture content of the crop it contacts, and the results are aggregated to provide comprehensive moisture data for heterogeneous crop loads, improving precision without requiring a single complex sensor system
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the paddle structure serve multiple functions: it transports the crop through the elevator and simultaneously carries the moisture sensor. This multi-functionality allows the sensor system to be integrated into existing harvester infrastructure, reducing overall device complexity while enabling multiple measurement points across the crop flow
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
This approach significantly reduces measurement errors by ensuring the crop is static relative to the sensors, enabling precise determination of moisture content, even in heterogeneous crops, and allows for real-time monitoring and mapping of crop moisture across fields.
Implementation Method 1
One example of a moisture sensor used with crop flows includes one or more capacitance plates configured to determine the capacitance of a crop as it passes each of the one or more plates. The measured capacitance signal is conditioned and converted into moisture content.
Data Source
AI summary
A system for measuring crop moisture content in a harvester elevator includes a receiver and processing node and one or more moisture sensing instruments coupled to one or more paddles of the harvested elevator, respectively. The moisture sensing instruments each include a moisture sensor and a transmitter in communication with a receiver and processing node. The moisture sensor is configured to dynamically measure the moisture content of a static harvested crop, relative to the sensor and corresponding paddle, at ascends in the harvester elevator.