Resilient Stalk Sensing Members for Accurate Crop Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing stalk sensing methods in agricultural implements face issues such as simultaneous measurement of multiple stalks, sensor tip wear, dynamic seal wear, dust-induced wear, plugging, and measurement oscillations due to rigid sensing members, leading to inaccurate diameter measurements and difficulty in distinguishing individual stalks.
Innovation Solution
The use of flexible, resilient sensing members that eliminate the need for dynamic seals and maintain contact through their own force, allowing for accurate measurement of stalk perimeter and count by measuring deflection, and incorporating magnetic field sensors for durability and precision.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If rigid sensing members are used to maintain contact with stalks, then adequate sensing force is provided, but measurement oscillations occur that make distinguishing individual stalks difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the sensing member from rigid to resilient/flexible. This allows the member to maintain contact force with stalks while absorbing impact energy, preventing rebound oscillations that occur with rigid members. The resilient material property enables the sensing member to deform elastically upon stalk contact and return to its original position without oscillating, thereby maintaining measurement precision while providing adequate sensing force.
2Ease of operation
If dynamic seals are used in the sensing mechanism, then the sensing members can move freely, but wear occurs that reduces reliability over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the dynamic seal component from the sensing mechanism. By using a resilient sensing member that is fixed at one end and free to deflect at the other, the system achieves sensing member mobility without requiring any moving seals or bearings. This removal of the dynamic seal eliminates the wear problem that would otherwise occur at the seal interface, thereby maintaining reliability over extended operational periods.
3Productivity
If multiple stalks are present between the sensing plates simultaneously, then high productivity is maintained, but accurate measurement of individual stalks becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement function by using multiple independent sensing members positioned at different locations. Each sensing member independently contacts and measures individual stalks as they pass through the harvesters. This segmentation allows the system to process multiple stalks simultaneously while still providing accurate individual measurements, as each stalk interacts with its own sensing member or a subset of sensing members, preventing measurement confusion that occurs with single-point sensing.
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 resilient sensing members provide improved wear resistance, reduce signal oscillations, and enable accurate stalk counting and sizing, even with angled stalks, while minimizing damage from foreign objects, thus enhancing the reliability and precision of yield estimation.
Implementation Method 1
a flexible, resilient sensing member(s) or wand(s)... as the resilient sensing member flexes in response to stalk contact
Implementation Method 2
incorporating magnetic field sensors for durability and precision
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus, system, and method that relate to a physical stalk sensing system comprising at least one resilient member. Sensors having the resilient member or members are able to estimate the size of the stalks of row crops as they pass through a field, such as a corn field. The sensors can be mounted on a corn head and the results can be analyzed and visualized. A system for predicting crop yields in real-time or near real-time. A system for adjusting a stripper plate gap.