Agricultural Spray Boom Variable Damping Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural spray boom systems face challenges in effectively damping unwanted vibrations during various driving conditions, such as acceleration, deceleration, and cornering, leading to high forces and potential damage, as most damping systems operate continuously without distinguishing movement types.
Innovation Solution
A spray boom system with monitoring devices to determine the current position and type of movement, using this data to adjust damping via actuators, allowing variable damping based on driving conditions, ensuring the boom sections remain aligned during straight movement and maintaining spring deflection during acceleration and deceleration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If damping means are continuously activated to counteract oscillating movements, then vibration reduction is improved, but mechanical stress on the boom increases during acceleration and deceleration
Solution Approach 1:
The damping means are designed with variable damping characteristics that automatically adapt to different driving conditions. The system transitions between soft damping characteristics during normal operation and hard damping characteristics during acceleration/deceleration phases, optimizing both vibration reduction and mechanical stress protection
Solution Approach 2:
The damping characteristics are changed based on the absolute value of the second derivative of the boom position. When |y''| exceeds a threshold value, the damping characteristic switches from soft to hard, thereby adapting the damping behavior to the current operational state and preventing excessive mechanical stress
2Ease of operation
If elastic spring elements are used to maintain spring deflection, then freedom of movement is improved, but vibration damping effectiveness decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the damping characteristic between soft and hard based on real-time acceleration detection. During normal operation, soft damping maintains freedom of movement while providing adequate vibration reduction. During acceleration/deceleration, hard damping activates to prevent excessive mechanical stress
Solution Approach 2:
The damping parameter is changed based on the measured acceleration magnitude. The system uses a threshold-based approach where the damping characteristic is switched according to the absolute value of the second derivative of position, thereby optimizing both freedom of movement and vibration damping under different conditions
3Object-affected harmful factors
If damping means are continuously activated, then vibration reduction is improved, but alignment accuracy during slope driving deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The damping system automatically adjusts its characteristic based on the detected motion state. During slope driving at constant speed, the system maintains soft damping characteristics that allow the boom to naturally align with the slope. During acceleration/deceleration, hard damping activates to maintain alignment accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The damping parameter is dynamically changed based on the second derivative of the boom position. This allows the system to maintain appropriate damping levels for different operational conditions, preserving alignment accuracy during slope driving while providing adequate vibration reduction when needed
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
The system effectively reduces vibrations and maintains alignment during straight movement while allowing necessary spring deflection during changes in speed or direction, minimizing mechanical stress on the boom.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration absorber is attached directly to the distributor linkage and there is no connection to the frame of the field sprayer. In this case, the vibration absorber can be designed, for example, as a spring-mass system
Implementation Method 2
the lateral sections each have elasticity or a spring deflection via the vertical pivot and rotation axes
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an agricultural distribution machine (10) for applying liquid and/or solid active ingredients, with a distribution device (20) arranged transversely to the direction of travel (12) having a central section (24) and lateral sections (28, 28') rotatably mounted via vertical pivot and rotation axes (26, 30), wherein the pivot and rotation axes (26, 30) are provided with damping elements (44) and means (40') for reducing a spring travel (52, 52') of the lateral sections (28, 28') are arranged between the central section (24) and the lateral sections (28, 28'), and that these means can be controlled and/or adjusted via a control unit (60) depending on the type of movement of the distribution machine (10).