Row Cleaner Wheel Blockage Detection and Auto-Lift
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Solution Overview
Problem
Row cleaner wheels in ground working machines often struggle with traction in tilled soil, leading to wheel rotation cessation due to caught crop residue, resulting in reduced planting efficiency as operators must manually clear obstructions or stop and reposition the machine.
Innovation Solution
A control system equipped with a sensor to detect non-rotating ground engaging wheels, a controller to receive this input, and an actuator to autonomously raise the wheel, allowing the machine to move over accumulated residue without interrupting the planting process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If row cleaner wheels are used to clear crop residue, then the ground is cleared more uniformly for seed placement, but the wheels frequently become blocked by caught residue and stop rotating
Solution Approach 1:
The row cleaner wheels are mounted on a floating linkage that allows dynamic adjustment of wheel position and pressure. When blockage is detected via sensor, the system automatically raises the affected wheel section, allowing the operator to clear the blockage without stopping the planter. This dynamic adjustment capability resolves the contradiction by maintaining both uniform ground clearing (when wheels are engaged) and continuous operation (when wheels are raised to clear blockages).
Solution Approach 2:
A sensor system continuously monitors the rotation status of each row cleaner wheel and provides feedback to the control system. When a wheel stops rotating due to blockage, the system receives this feedback and automatically activates the hydraulic actuator to raise the affected wheel. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures reliable detection and response to blockage conditions while maintaining uniform ground clearing during normal operation.
2Reliability
If the planter is stopped and raised to move over residue piles, then the blocked wheel is cleared, but planting efficiency is reduced and gaps may be left in the field
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system detects wheel blockage immediately when it occurs, triggering automatic wheel raising before the residue pile can grow large enough to impact adjacent rows. This preliminary action prevents the situation from escalating to a point where the planter must be stopped and repositioned, thereby maintaining continuous planting operation and preventing gaps in the field.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides self-service by automatically detecting and responding to wheel blockage conditions without requiring operator intervention. The sensor-controller-actuator system autonomously raises the blocked wheel, allowing the operator to clear the blockage while the planter continues moving forward, thus maintaining planting efficiency and eliminating the need to stop or leave gaps in the field.
3Reliability
If manual clearing of residue piles is performed, then the blocked wheel is cleared, but time is lost and planting efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor system provides immediate feedback when a wheel becomes blocked, triggering automatic wheel raising through the hydraulic actuator. This eliminates the need for manual detection and intervention, allowing the operator to clear the blockage instantly while the planter continues operating, thereby eliminating time loss associated with manual clearing procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The automatic detection and wheel raising system performs the blockage response function without operator involvement, enabling the operator to clear the blockage immediately while planting continues. This self-service capability eliminates the time required for manual detection, decision-making, and execution of clearing operations, thereby maintaining planting efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A ground working machine having a frame, a ground engaging wheel mounted to the frame and movable between a raised position not engaging the ground and a working position engaging the ground. The ground engaging wheel, when in the working position, rotating about a wheel axis as the machine is moved over the ground. An actuator raises and lowers the ground engaging wheels. A control system includes a sensor to detect rotation of the ground engaging wheel and a controller that receives an input from the sensor. The controller commands the actuator to raise the ground engaging wheel when the sensor detects that the ground engaging wheel is not rotating.