Agricultural Spreader Boom Position Control via Hydraulic Valves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional agricultural distribution machines face challenges in maintaining a consistent distance between the distribution linkage and the ground over a wide working width, leading to uneven material application and increased drift, due to inclinations and fluctuations in the distribution linkage.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural distribution machine with a pressure medium-operated actuating device and sensor system that uses pressure medium control valves to precisely control the rotational position of the distribution linkage, eliminating the need for additional pressure or force sensors by determining setpoint specifications based on rotational position data, allowing for precise and cost-efficient control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the spreader boom is made wide to cover large area, then productivity is improved, but maintaining consistent distance from ground becomes difficult leading to uneven application
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements an active control system that dynamically adjusts the rotational position of the spreader boom using a positioning device. The control unit continuously receives rotational position data from sensors and sends correction commands to the positioning device, enabling real-time dynamic compensation for distance variations across the wide working width, thus resolving the contradiction between wide coverage and distance consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a feedback loop where sensors continuously measure the rotational position of the spreader boom, transmit this data to the control unit, which then adjusts the positioning device to maintain the target rotational position. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that even with a wide boom spanning 20+ meters, consistent distance from the ground is maintained across the entire working width.
2Measurement precision
If conventional sensor fusion methods are used to determine rotational position, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sensors and integration algorithms
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex sensor fusion integration algorithm from the control system. Instead of fusing data from multiple sensors through complex mathematical integration, the system directly uses rotational position data from sensors to determine the rotational position of the spreader boom. This extraction of the integration step significantly reduces device complexity while maintaining measurement precision through direct sensor feedback.
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
This solution ensures uniform material application and minimizes drift by maintaining a consistent distance, reducing the need for additional sensors and providing efficient control over the distribution linkage, thus improving application precision and reducing operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a pressure medium circuit (16) having a first pressure medium control valve (20) assigned to the first operating range (14) and a second pressure medium control valve (21) assigned to the second operating range (15)
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an agricultural spreading machine (1) comprising: a carrier vehicle (2); a spreading boom (3) for spreading material, which is arranged on the carrier vehicle (2) so as to be movable at least about a pivot axis (A) extending in the direction of travel; a sensor device (4) for determining a rotational position of the spreading boom (3), which comprises at least one sensor (5) arranged on the spreading boom for detecting a rotational position or rotational speed of the spreading boom (3); and a control device (7) for controlling and/or regulating a rotational position of the spreading boom (3) about the pivot axis (A).The control device (7) comprises a pressure-medium-actuated actuating device (8) with two essentially opposing working areas (14, 15) to move the distributor linkage (3) about the pivot axis (A), wherein each working area (14, 15) is assigned a pressure medium control valve (20, 21) and a control unit (9) which, depending on the specific rotational position of the distributor linkage (3), determines a setpoint (70) of a pressure or actuating force of the pressure medium acting on the working areas (14, 15) and electrically adjusts the pressure medium control valves (20, 21) to the setpoint.