Task-Specific Ride-Height Control for Agricultural Applicator Suspension
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Solution Overview
Problem
High ground clearance agricultural product applicators face issues with varying ground clearance due to load changes, affecting product application precision and ride quality, and handling characteristics, especially when transitioning between loaded and unloaded states, which complicates on-road transport.
Innovation Solution
A controllable ride-height trailing arm suspension system with extensible air struts and angular position sensors, controlled by an electronic unit, maintains a consistent ride height across different operating modes and conditions, ensuring precise application and stable handling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If compression springs are used for supporting the load carried by the applicator, then the applicator can be fully loaded with several thousand pounds of product, but ground clearance varies from minimum when fully loaded to extended when unloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces static compression springs with a dynamic suspension system comprising air struts, trailing arms, and electronic control. The air struts can dynamically adjust their extension length to maintain constant ground clearance regardless of load variations. The system transitions from a passive spring-based system to an actively controlled system that responds to load changes in real-time, resolving the contradiction between load capacity and clearance consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system using sensors to detect the actual ground clearance and the electronic control unit to compare it with the desired clearance. Based on this feedback, the electronic control unit adjusts the air strut extension to maintain the desired ground clearance. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates the ground clearance variation that occurs with passive spring systems under varying loads.
2Quantity of substance
If compression springs are used for suspension, then the applicator can operate in fully loaded state, but ride quality and handling characteristics deteriorate as springs extend from compressed state
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic suspension system with air struts and electronic control that maintains optimal suspension characteristics across all load conditions. The system actively adjusts the air strut extension to keep the applicator body at the desired height, ensuring consistent ride quality and handling whether fully loaded, partially loaded, or empty. This replaces the passive, load-dependent spring system with an actively managed suspension that adapts to maintain optimal performance.
3Reliability
If suspension is optimized for one type of operating mode, then performance is improved for that mode, but performance in other operating modes is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal suspension system that performs optimally across multiple operating modes including fully loaded application, partially loaded application, empty transit, and on-road travel. The electronic control system adjusts the air strut extension based on the current operating mode, allowing the same suspension system to provide optimal performance whether the applicator is carrying full load or traveling empty on public roads. This multi-functional capability eliminates the need for mode-specific optimization.
Solution Approach 2:
The dynamic nature of the air strut suspension system allows it to adapt its characteristics to match different operating modes. The electronic control unit can adjust the suspension stiffness and ground clearance based on whether the applicator is in application mode or transit mode, providing optimal performance for each mode while using the same physical suspension components. This dynamic adaptability enables the system to be universally effective across all operating conditions.
4Manufacturing precision
If high ground clearance is maintained for product application, then application precision is improved, but transport on public roads becomes difficult due to height limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamically adjustable ground clearance system using air struts and electronic control. During product application, the system maintains high ground clearance for optimal spray or spread pattern precision. During transit on public roads, the electronic control unit commands the air struts to extend or retract to reduce the overall height and meet road transport regulations. This dynamic height adjustment capability allows the applicator to optimize for application precision when needed while complying with transport restrictions when moving between fields.
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 provides task-specific ride-height control, maintaining optimal ground clearance and ride quality regardless of load changes, enhancing product application precision and handling characteristics, and facilitating easier transport by adjusting height for different tasks and conditions.
Implementation Method 1
an extensible air strut... An air power source provides a controlled flow of pressurized air to the air strut of each of the suspension systems, to thereby control ride-height by controlling extension of each of the air struts
Implementation Method 2
an angular position sensor operatively interconnected to one another and disposed between a rolling axis of the ground engaging wheel independently supported by that suspension system and a point of attachment of the suspension system to the frame, such that the position sensor detects a relative angular position between the upper and lower suspension arms
Data Source
AI summary
A system, apparatus and method for providing task-specific ride-height control in a self-propelled agricultural product applicator utilize a controllable ride-height trailing arm suspension system for independently joining each wheel to a frame of the applicator. Each trailing arm suspension system includes upper and lower suspension arms, an extensible air strut, and an angular position sensor operatively interconnected to one another and disposed between a rolling axis of the ground engaging wheel independently supported by that suspension system and a point of attachment of the suspension system to the frame, such that the position sensor detects a relative angular position between the upper and lower suspension arms at a present extension of the air strut. An electronic control unit utilizes the angular positions detected by the sensors, in conjunction with a desired task input, to control the air struts in a manner providing a ride-height corresponding to the desired task input.