Agricultural Header Reel Sensor Arm With Gimbal Terrain Sensing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural headers face challenges in maintaining accurate detection and orientation of terrain features during harvesting, leading to inefficiencies in crop cutting and transport.
Innovation Solution
A reel assembly with a device mounting assembly that includes sensors or light sources, coupled to a gimbal or mass-damper system, maintains orientation relative to the ground and gravity vector, enabling precise detection and visualization of terrain features despite changes in position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the sensor is rigidly connected to the reel support arm, then the sensor moves with the reel arm during reel height adjustment, but the sensor orientation relative to the ground changes, causing inaccurate terrain feature detection
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor mounting assembly transitions from a rigid static connection to a dynamic system with degrees of freedom. The sensor is mounted on the reel support arm through a mechanism that allows the sensor to maintain a fixed orientation relative to the ground while the reel arm moves vertically for height adjustment. This dynamic mounting enables the sensor to adapt to the moving reel arm while preserving accurate terrain detection capability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the sensor is mounted on the reel support arm to monitor crop top, then the sensor can detect terrain features, but the sensor orientation changes when the harvester travels over varying terrain, reducing detection accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
An intermediary sensor mounting assembly is introduced between the reel support arm and the sensor. This intermediary structure includes mechanisms (such as gimbals, pendulums, or active orientation control systems) that decouple the sensor orientation from the motion of the reel support arm and harvester body. The intermediary allows the sensor to remain oriented perpendicular to the ground surface while the reel arm and harvester move over varying terrain, thus maintaining accurate terrain feature detection.
3Ease of operation
If the sensor arm is extended to reach over the reel, then the sensor can monitor the top of the crop, but the sensor orientation becomes unstable during reel rotation and height adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor mounting assembly incorporates counterbalancing mechanisms such as gravity-compensating gimbals, pendulum mounts, or active counterweight systems. These counterbalancing elements offset the effects of reel rotation and height adjustment forces, maintaining the sensor arm in a stable, predetermined orientation relative to the ground. The counterweight mechanism ensures that the sensor consistently monitors the crop canopy at the correct angle regardless of reel position changes.
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
Ensures consistent and accurate detection of terrain features, enhancing the efficiency of crop cutting and transport by maintaining device orientation, even when the harvester travels over varying terrain.
Implementation Method 1
A reel assembly with a device mounting assembly that includes sensors or light sources, coupled to a gimbal or mass-damper system, maintains orientation relative to the ground and gravity vector
Implementation Method 2
A reel assembly with a device mounting assembly that includes sensors or light sources, coupled to a gimbal or mass-damper system, maintains orientation relative to the ground and gravity vector
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a reel assembly (200) for an agricultural header (200) including a reel arm (227) configured to rotatably couple to a frame (201) of the agricultural header and configured to support a reel (221) of the reel assembly. Additionally, the reel assembly includes device mounting assembly (250) coupled to the reel arm (227) and configured to support a sensor device (252) that is configured to monitor a terrain feature (height and or position of the crops/ground). The device mounting assembly (250) is configured to maintain an orientation between the sensor device (252) and a ground (150) on which the agricultural header is positioned as the reel arm rotates relative to the frame of the agricultural header. This may be achieved, e.g. by means of a gimbal (258) which allows to accurately monitor the terrain feature.