Plough Frame Orientation Control via Ground Contour Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ploughs face challenges in maintaining consistent soil penetration depth and alignment with ground contours, leading to uneven furrows and potential damage, especially when operating on uneven terrain or reversing configurations.
Innovation Solution
A plough equipped with an actuator mechanism and controller that adjusts the roll and pitch angles based on real-time ground-contour data, ensuring the frame is aligned with the ground, using depth-wheel-adjustable-linkages, tractor-adjustable-linkages, and turning actuators to maintain consistent soil engagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the plough frame is rigidly attached to maintain constant distance from ground, then structural simplicity is improved, but adaptability to uneven terrain deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the plough frame adjustable relative to the ground through depth-wheel-adjustable-linkages and tractor-adjustable-linkages. These linkages allow the frame's position and orientation to be dynamically modified during operation, enabling adaptation to varying terrain conditions while maintaining operational simplicity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If depth wheels are used to control ground clearance, then working depth adjustability is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The depth wheels serve multiple functions: they control ground clearance, adjust working depth, and help maintain frame alignment with ground contours. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate adjustment mechanisms, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving versatile depth control.
3Productivity
If the plough reverses configuration by rotating main frame, then productivity is improved, but alignment precision with ground contours deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by using ground-contour data to continuously monitor terrain conditions and automatically adjusting the frame's roll and pitch angles via actuator mechanisms. This closed-loop control ensures precise alignment with ground contours is maintained even during reversing operations, preventing degradation of alignment precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator mechanisms dynamically adjust the frame orientation in real-time during reversing operations, allowing the plough to adapt to changing ground contours. This dynamic adjustment maintains alignment precision throughout the reversing cycle, enabling continuous productivity without precision loss.
4Manufacturing precision
If actuator mechanism adjusts roll and pitch angles based on ground-contour data, then alignment precision with ground contours is improved, but device complexity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces purely mechanical adjustment systems with an integrated control system that uses ground-contour data to automatically actuate the frame position. This substitution of manual or simple mechanical systems with automated sensing and actuation achieves high alignment precision while managing overall system complexity through integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A plough comprising: a frame; a ground engaging tool that is connected to the frame; and an actuator mechanism that is configured to control a roll angle and/or a pitch angle of the frame. The plough also includes a controller that is configured to: receive ground-contour-data that is representative of contours of a field that the plough is to work; and determine an actuator-control-signal for the actuator mechanism based on the ground-contour-data, wherein the actuator-control-signal is for setting the roll angle and/or the pitch angle of the frame.