Agricultural Spout Deflection Mechanism for Crop Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural working machines, such as self-propelled harvesters, face challenges in evenly distributing crops into transport containers during transfer processes, requiring high energy consumption and reaction time to adjust spout angles or vehicle speeds.
Innovation Solution
An operator assistance system controls a deflection mechanism within the spout to dynamically adjust the crop flow direction, reducing energy consumption by allowing more precise control over the outlet mouth's position, both longitudinally and laterally, using actuators to adjust the outlet mouth's orientation relative to vertical and horizontal planes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the spout is pivoted or vehicle speed is changed to distribute crops evenly, then crop distribution improves, but energy consumption and reaction time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is divided into multiple segments that can be independently adjusted. Instead of pivoting the entire spout, only specific segments are adjusted to change crop flow direction, reducing the energy and mass involved in the adjustment while achieving the same distribution effect.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout segments are made dynamically adjustable during operation, allowing real-time modification of crop flow direction without stopping the harvesting process. This dynamic adjustment capability enables precise control with minimal energy input compared to static repositioning of the entire spout.
2Ease of operation
If the spout is pivoted to adjust crop flow direction, then distribution control improves, but power demand increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is segmented into adjustable sections, allowing distribution control to be achieved by moving only small segments rather than the entire heavy spout structure. This dramatically reduces the power demand while maintaining ease of operation for distribution control.
Solution Approach 2:
Adjustable guide elements or deflectors are introduced as intermediaries within the spout system. These intermediaries redirect crop flow without requiring movement of the entire spout, reducing power demand while preserving distribution control capability.
3Manufacturing precision
If vehicle speed is continuously altered to distribute crops, then crop distribution improves, but reaction time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The spout is segmented into adjustable sections, allowing immediate local adjustments to crop flow direction without waiting for vehicle speed changes to take effect. This provides faster reaction time while achieving the same distribution precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The spout segments are made dynamically adjustable during operation, allowing real-time modification of crop flow direction without stopping the harvesting process. This dynamic adjustment capability enables precise control with minimal energy input compared to static repositioning of the entire spout.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention is directed to an agricultural working machine comprising a spout (2) for conveying harvested crops forming a crop flow (3) to a transport container (4), preferably of a transport vehicle (5), in a transfer process, wherein the spout (2) comprises at his distal end a deflection mechanism (6) forming an outlet mouth (7) for the crop flow (3) and wherein the deflection mechanism (6) comprises an actuator arrangement (8) for adjusting at least part of the outlet mouth (7) in order to change the flow direction (F1, F2) of the crop flow by deflection and wherein the agricultural working machine (1) further comprises an operator assistance system (9), which controls the deflection mechanism (6). It is proposed that the deflection mechanism (6) may be controlled by the operator assistance system (9) such that for distribution of the crops in the transport container (4) along the drive direction (D) of the agricultural working machine (1) during a side-by-side transfer process of the agricultural working machine (1) and the transport container (4) the change in flow direction (F1, F2) may comprise a deflection component (DD) in drive direction of the agricultural working machine (1).