Sensor-Controlled Steerable Soil Tools for Slope Cultivation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural implements face challenges when working on slopes, as they require significant space for yaw devices, leading to increased lateral movement and displacement of the towing vehicle's center of gravity, impairing steering behavior.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural implement with steerable soil engagement means, an inclination sensor, and a control unit to adjust lateral offset and alignment relative to the towing vehicle, allowing for yaw-free movement and improved steering stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If an actively driven yaw device is provided for rotating the working tools about a vertical axis, then accurate soil cultivation can be carried out when traveling across slopes, but the space required in the working direction increases and the center of gravity shifts away from the towing vehicle, impairing steering behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the steering function from a complex yaw device and implements it through simple steerable soil engagement means that can be actively steered relative to the base frame. This eliminates the need for a space-consuming actively driven yaw device while maintaining the capability to counteract implement drifting on slopes.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical yaw device with a control system that uses sensors (inclination sensor, implement sensor) and a control unit to actively steer the soil engagement means. This substitution of mechanical complexity with sensor-based control achieves the same function with reduced space requirements.
2Manufacturing precision
If an actively driven yaw device is provided for rotating the working tools about a vertical axis, then accurate soil cultivation can be carried out when traveling across slopes, but the center of gravity shifts further away from the towing vehicle, relieving load on front wheels and impairing steering behavior
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the yaw device that caused the center of gravity shift and instead implements steering control through the soil engagement means. This extraction eliminates the harmful effect on steering behavior while preserving the ability to maintain cultivation accuracy on slopes through active steering control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit acts as an intermediary that processes signals from inclination and implement sensors to control the steering of soil engagement means. This intermediary control system enables accurate cultivation on slopes without requiring a physical yaw device that would adversely affect the center of gravity and steering behavior.
3Device complexity
If the at least one ground engagement means is arranged directly below the base frame, then only a small amount of installation space is required in the working direction, but the implement must be actively steered to maintain alignment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the soil engagement means dynamically steerable relative to the base frame, allowing active adjustment of their position and orientation. This dynamic capability enables the compact arrangement directly below the base frame while maintaining alignment through active steering control based on sensor feedback.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback control system where inclination sensors and implement sensors provide continuous information to the control unit, which adjusts the steering of the soil engagement means accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables the compact arrangement to maintain proper alignment and counteract drifting without requiring additional space.
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
Reduces lateral movement and maintains steering stability by minimizing the space required for yaw devices, keeping the implement's center of gravity closer to the towing vehicle, thus enhancing cultivation precision on slopes.
Implementation Method 1
an inclination sensor is provided for detecting a lateral inclination angle of the working device, in particular at right angles, to a working direction
Implementation Method 2
at least one ground engagement means arranged steerably on the base frame, which is in soil engagement at least during soil cultivation... the at least one ground engagement means can be controlled based on the lateral offset of the working device and the determined inclination angle
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an agricultural implement, in particular for cultivating row crops, for arrangement on a mounting device of a towing vehicle, wherein the implement comprises a plurality of soil cultivation tools as well as at least one base frame and at least one soil engagement means steerable on the base frame, which is in soil engagement at least during soil cultivation.According to the invention, an inclination sensor is provided for detecting a lateral inclination angle of the work device, in particular perpendicular to a working direction; in addition, a device sensor is provided which is designed and configured to determine a lateral offset between the work device, in particular the base frame, and the towing vehicle when the work device is mounted on the towing vehicle; and a control unit is provided by which the at least one ground engagement means can be steered based on the lateral offset of the device and the determined inclination angle.