Agricultural Seeding Down Force Control System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern agricultural seeding machines face excessive soil compaction due to dynamic down force control systems adjusting for varying soil hardness, leading to increased pressure and compaction in areas like roadways and waterways, which are not planted, resulting in reduced crop yield and increased system costs.
Innovation Solution
A control system that uses map-based field information to disengage dynamic down force control in designated areas like roadways and waterways, maintaining the down force at a previous magnitude when entering these areas, thereby preventing excessive soil compaction upon exit and reducing system pressure fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dynamic down force control is used to compensate for varying soil hardness, then opener penetration is improved, but excessive soil compaction occurs in non-planted areas like roadways and waterways
Solution Approach 1:
The control system pre-loaded with map data identifies non-planted areas (roadways, waterways) before the implement enters them. When approaching these areas, the system proactively disengages dynamic control and maintains constant down force, preventing the excessive pressure buildup that would occur if dynamic control tried to compensate for the harder soil in these areas. This preliminary action based on geographic information eliminates the harmful compaction effect before it occurs.
2Adaptability or versatility
If high capacity hydraulic pump or air compressor is used to achieve wide pressure variations, then down force adjustment capability is improved, but system cost increases considerably
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using a high-capacity pump or compressor capable of producing wide pressure variations throughout the entire field, the system applies down force adjustments locally and selectively. By using map data to identify only the specific areas where dynamic control should be disengaged (non-planted areas), the system maintains moderate pressure variations only where needed, rather than requiring the capability to handle extreme variations across the whole field. This reduces the required pump/compressor capacity and associated costs.
3Manufacturing precision
If dynamic control continuously adjusts down force in response to soil conditions, then furrow depth consistency is improved, but system complexity increases with load sensors and control algorithms
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses pre-loaded map data containing information about non-planted areas to anticipate where dynamic control adjustments will be harmful. This geographic information is processed beforehand, and the control system simply follows pre-determined instructions to disengage dynamic control when entering these areas. This approach maintains furrow depth consistency in planted areas through dynamic control while avoiding the complexity of real-time soil analysis in all areas, as the map data provides advance notice of where to switch to constant down force mode.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system and method of operation of a product distribution apparatus or machine that uses map based information to disengage the dynamic down force control for certain designated areas of the field. These areas can be roadways or waterways that are not planted with seed but through which the machine does operate. The control system disengages the down force dynamic control when the designated areas are reached and leaves the down force applied by the actuator at the magnitude immediately prior to entering the area or at some other desired level. This magnitude of down force will typically be much closer to the magnitude needed when the roadway, waterway or other designated area has been crossed.