Agricultural Machine Shield Locking Control Circuit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural machinery lacks an integrated, automatic locking mechanism for protective devices that ensures safety during tool operation and movement, requiring manual intervention and lacking consideration for tool position and actuation state.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural machine with a control circuit that automatically locks the protective means in position based on the working speed of the tool, using an adjustment actuator and locking device that transforms the tool's state into a control variable to authorize or block the protective device's movement, eliminating the need for separate locking components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate locking mechanism is provided for the protective device, then the protective means can be securely locked in position, but the device complexity increases and manual intervention is required
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is merged with the actuator that moves the protective means. The actuator serves dual purposes: moving the protective means between positions and locking it in place. This eliminates the need for a separate locking mechanism, reducing device complexity while maintaining locking reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuator is designed to perform multiple functions: it acts as both a movement device and a locking device. By making the actuator universal, the patent avoids adding extra components, thereby simplifying the overall device structure while ensuring reliable locking.
2Device complexity
If manual locking operation is required, then the locking mechanism can be simple, but the ease of operation deteriorates and human intervention is needed
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically locks the protective means without requiring manual intervention. The control circuit monitors the actuator position and automatically engages the locking function when the protective means reaches the desired position, making the system self-servicing and eliminating the need for operator action.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit incorporates feedback from position sensors to automatically determine when the protective means is in the correct position and when locking is required. This feedback mechanism enables automatic locking operation, improving ease of operation while maintaining simple mechanism design.
3Ease of operation
If the protective means can be freely moved, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to potential unsafe positions
Solution Approach 1:
The locking mechanism is designed to be dynamic rather than static. It automatically engages and disengages based on the operational state and position of the protective means, allowing free movement when safe and providing automatic locking when required, thus balancing ease of operation with safety reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit continuously monitors the position and operational state of the protective means through sensors and automatically controls the locking function accordingly. This feedback-based approach ensures the protective means can move freely when safe while automatically locking when safety requires, maintaining both ease of operation and reliability.
4Extent of automation
If the locking mechanism is integrated with the control circuit, then the extent of automation is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control circuit is merged with the actuator control system. The same control circuit that manages actuator movement also manages the locking function, eliminating the need for a separate control system. This integration achieves automation while avoiding additional complexity from separate control circuits.
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuit is designed to perform multiple functions: controlling actuator movement and managing the locking mechanism. By making the control circuit universal, the patent achieves high automation without adding separate control systems, thereby avoiding increased device complexity.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to an agricultural machine comprising an improved device for controlling a shield. Said agricultural machine has at least one working tool (2) which can be driven by a drive means (3) which can have a variable drive speed, at least one movable shield means (4) which can be moved at least between operational and non-operational positions, and a device for moving said at least one shield means (4), comprising at least one adjusting actuator (7) and a device for locking the shield means. The machine (1) is characterised in that the movement device has a circuit for controlling the actuator which includes the locking device, which circuit automatically converts a variable input quantity into a control quantity which can adopt a first control value used for preventing said adjusting actuator from being moved out of a first configuration, the input quantity being a value which is a function of or dependent on the drive speed of the drive means (3) or on the working speed of the at least one tool (2) in question.