Row Unit Rotation Monitoring for Plugging Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural planting machines experience plugging conditions in their rotatable elements due to soil and residue buildup, leading to reduced performance and yield, which are often undetected by operators, especially on large planters with many row units.

Innovation Solution

A control system monitors the rotational speed of ground-engaging elements on row units and automatically detects or predicts plugging conditions, controlling the machine to perform actions such as adjusting speed, direction, or vibration to rectify the issue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If operators manually monitor row units for plugging conditions on large planters, then they can detect issues, but the time and labor required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplugging detection accuracyVSAvoidoperator monitoring time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-monitoring of plugging conditions through sensors that detect rotational speed variations of ground-engaging elements, eliminating the need for continuous manual inspection by operators while maintaining reliable detection of plugging conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

Manual visual inspection and physical checking of row units is replaced by an automated sensor-based detection system that uses rotational speed measurements to identify plugging conditions, significantly reducing operator time while improving detection consistency

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If planters operate continuously without interruption, then productivity increases, but undetected plugging conditions reduce yield and performance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplanter uptimeVSAvoidrow unit performance

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors rotational speed of ground-engaging elements and provides real-time feedback on plugging conditions, enabling operators to address issues promptly while maintaining high planter uptime and preventing yield loss from undetected problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The detection system identifies plugging conditions at early stages before they significantly impact yield, allowing preventive maintenance actions to be taken that minimize interruptions to planter operation while protecting row unit performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Productivity

If multiple row units are monitored simultaneously, then overall planting efficiency improves, but detection of individual plugging conditions becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveplanting efficiencyVSAvoidplugging condition detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring system is segmented to provide individualized detection and identification for each row unit, allowing simultaneous monitoring of multiple units while maintaining clear distinction and detection accuracy for plugging conditions on each specific row

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250212718A1Row unit plugging detection and control system

Publication Date: 2025.07.03 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A method of controlling a mobile agricultural machine includes operating a row unit to deliver a product to a furrow. The row unit has a ground-engaging element configured to engage a ground over which the mobile agricultural machine travels. The method includes receiving an indication of rotational speed of the ground-engaging element and controlling an aspect of rotation of the ground-engaging element based on a determination that the rotational speed of the ground-engaging element is below a threshold.