Pneumatic Tool Support for Obstacle Avoidance in Agricultural Implements
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural tools face challenges in efficiently avoiding obstacles and maintaining consistent working depth, leading to suboptimal weeding quality due to complex mechanisms, pollution risks, and manual adjustments that are difficult to manage, especially in uneven terrain and when working multiple rows simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A tool support system with a deformable quadrilateral structure and pneumatic actuator that automatically adjusts the tool's position relative to the row axis to avoid obstacles and regulate working depth, using a feeler and sensor for obstacle detection and a pneumatic actuator for precise movement, allowing for efficient and pollution-free operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a double-acting hydraulic actuator is used to assist the spreading movement of the tool, then the tool can effectively avoid obstacles, but the device complexity increases and oil pollution risk arises
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the hydraulic actuator with a pneumatic actuator (bellows-type). The pneumatic actuator uses compressed air instead of hydraulic oil, eliminating pollution risks while maintaining the force needed for obstacle avoidance. The bellows structure provides linear motion when inflated, directly pushing the tool away from the row axis upon obstacle detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex hydraulic system (actuator + double-acting distributor) with a simpler pneumatic system. The pneumatic actuator can be directly controlled by a simple valve or even a pressure-regulated system, eliminating the need for complex hydraulic distribution mechanisms while achieving the same obstacle avoidance function.
2Power
If hydraulic oil is used as fluid in the actuator, then the actuator can provide sufficient force for tool movement, but pollution occurs in the event of a leak
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes hydraulic fluid with pneumatic fluid (compressed air). The bellows-type pneumatic actuator generates force through air pressure differential when inflated. This provides sufficient force for obstacle avoidance while being environmentally friendly, as air leaks pose no pollution risk compared to hydraulic oil.
3Adaptability or versatility
If manual adjustment of working depth is performed, then the tool can be adapted to different conditions, but the operation becomes difficult when working multiple rows simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-regulating working depth control through individual deformable parallelograms for each tool. Each parallelogram automatically adjusts its own tool's working depth based on terrain variations, eliminating the need for manual adjustment. The system adapts to different ground conditions autonomously while maintaining consistent working depth across multiple rows.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent divides the working depth control system into independent segments - each tool has its own deformable parallelogram mechanism. This segmentation allows each tool to independently adjust its working depth without affecting other tools, making it easy to operate when working multiple rows simultaneously while maintaining adaptability to local terrain conditions.
4Reliability
If a deformable parallelogram is used for obstacle avoidance, then the tool can be spaced from the row axis, but relatively large forces are generated at the level of the feet
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a pneumatic actuator that generates force remotely (at the actuator location) rather than at the feet. The bellows-type actuator inflates to push the entire parallelogram structure, spreading the force application point away from the feet. This reduces the concentrated force at the feet while maintaining effective obstacle avoidance capability.
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
The system effectively avoids obstacles and maintains consistent working depth, reducing manual effort and pollution risks while optimizing power usage and weeding quality by simplifying the mechanism and using pneumatic energy for flexible and efficient operation.
Implementation Method 1
at least one pneumatic actuator controlled by said detection means ensuring at least the maintenance of the support in the second state
Implementation Method 2
using pneumatic energy for flexible and efficient operation
Implementation Method 3
a feeler and sensor for obstacle detection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The support has an arm (22) with an end articulated along a rotation axis (24) to a distal end of an arm (20), and an arm (26) at which a tool (16) e.g. shovel, is connected. An end of the arm (26) is articulated along a rotation axis (28) to another end of the arm (22), where axis (28) is parallel to the axis (24). A pneumatic actuator (54) is inserted between the arm (20) and an extension (62) of the arm (22), where the extension of the arm is arranged opposite to the axis (28) with respect to the axis (24).