Rear Linkage Mass Determination for Work Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for determining the mass of attachments on agricultural vehicles are complex and inefficient, particularly for attachments with variable payloads like sprayers and fertilizers, as they require extensive data and computing effort, and do not provide real-time information to drivers for optimal workload management.
Innovation Solution
A method using easily determinable physical variables, such as angles and forces on the rear linkage, measured by standard sensors like length, angle, and pressure sensors, to calculate the mass of the attachment, allowing for efficient and real-time mass determination and payload management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If complex methods with extensive data and computing effort are used to determine attachment mass, then measurement precision may be improved, but device complexity and productivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential physical variables needed for mass determination from the complex set of all possible measurement parameters. By selecting specifically the angles and forces on the rear linkage that directly relate to attachment mass through physical laws, the method achieves accurate mass determination without requiring extensive data collection and processing infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the vehicle's existing rear linkage structure and standard sensors already present on the agricultural vehicle to determine attachment mass. The rear linkage itself provides the measurement platform, and standard length, angle, and pressure sensors that are already part of the vehicle's equipment serve the dual purpose of vehicle control and mass determination, eliminating the need for additional complex measurement systems.
2Ease of operation
If real-time mass information is provided to drivers for workload management, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing standard sensors on the agricultural vehicle serve multiple functions: they are used both for the vehicle's normal operation and control, and simultaneously for determining attachment mass and providing workload management information to the driver. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate dedicated measurement systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle's existing sensor infrastructure and processing capabilities serve the additional function of mass determination and driver information provision. The system leverages what is already available on the vehicle rather than adding separate dedicated systems, thereby improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Productivity
If minimal data and computing effort are used to determine attachment mass, then productivity is improved, but measurement precision worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and utilizes only the critical physical variables that have direct mathematical relationships with attachment mass through well-established physical laws. By focusing on the angles and forces in the rear linkage that are most directly related to mass determination, the method achieves both efficiency with minimal data and precision in the results.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the approach from measuring multiple unrelated parameters to measuring specific physical parameters (angles and forces) that can be directly transformed into mass information through physical laws. This parameter selection and transformation approach enables accurate mass determination with minimal data collection and computing effort.
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 accurate and efficient determination of attachment mass and payload distribution, improving vehicle control and workload management with minimal data and computing effort, providing essential information to drivers visually and acoustically.
Implementation Method 1
a force acting on a connection between the top link and attachment and acting along the top link
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining the mass of an implement (10) which is articulated at the rear to a support structure (14) of a commercial vehicle by means of a rear linkage (12). The rear linkage (12) has at least one top link (16) and at least one lower link (18). The mass of the implement (10) is determined as a function of at least one of the following quantities: - an angle (ψ) between the top link (16) and a vehicle horizontal (22), - an angle (ϕ) between the lower link (18) and a vehicle horizontal (22), - an angle of inclination (θ) of a vehicle horizontal (22) relative to the earth horizontal (21), - a distance (LV) which represents a connection along the lower link (18) between the supporting structure (14) and the implement (10), and - a force acting on a connection (U) between the top link (16) and the implement (10) and acting along the top link (16).