Agricultural Spreader Setting Recommendations via Standardized Throwing Parameters

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for determining setting recommendations for agricultural spreaders are inefficient, as they often rely on incorrect spread charts and do not account for actual spreading properties, leading to unintended grit distribution due to changes in grit or spreader conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method using standardized throwing distance and direction calculations, facilitated by a mobile terminal device, to determine suitable settings for agricultural spreaders, allowing conversion of data from different spreader discs and speeds, and incorporating database-retrieved conversion factors for optimal throwing distance and direction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If spreading charts based on laboratory tests are used to determine setting recommendations, then farmers can obtain recommended settings for spreading operations, but the settings are often incorrect due to not accounting for actual flight characteristics and material changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of setting recommendationsVSAvoidreliability of spreading results
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms physical spreading parameters (throwing distance, working width, disc speed) into standardized dimensionless parameters through mathematical relationships. This allows conversion between different spreading conditions and materials, accounting for actual flight characteristics rather than relying on fixed laboratory test data. The setting recommendations are dynamically adjusted based on material properties and machine configuration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If complex spreading tests are conducted with the material and spreading disc to obtain calculation parameters, then accurate setting recommendations can be determined, but the process becomes time-consuming and complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccuracy of setting recommendationsVSAvoidtime for spreading tests
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary normalization of spreading parameters to create standardized reference values that can be stored and reused. By pre-establishing the mathematical relationships between different parameters and creating conversion formulas, the system eliminates the need for repeated complex tests. Once the standardized parameters are established, setting recommendations can be quickly determined for any spreading condition.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates standardized reference models of spreading behavior that can be copied and applied to different situations. Instead of conducting new tests for each spreading operation, the system uses standardized parameter sets that represent typical spreading conditions, allowing farmers to obtain accurate recommendations without repeating complex physical tests.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If spreading data from different spreading discs and speeds is to be converted, then the system must handle various machine settings, but the conversion process becomes increasingly complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to convert different spreading dataVSAvoidcomplexity of conversion process
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a universal standardized parameter system that can handle conversions between any spreading discs and speeds through a common mathematical framework. By normalizing all spreading parameters to a standardized reference condition, the system provides a single conversion methodology that works universally across different machine configurations, materials, and operating conditions, eliminating the need for separate conversion procedures for each scenario.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3656201B1Method for determining setting recommendations
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 AMAZONEN WERKE H DREYER GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3656201B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3656201B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3656201B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining setting recommendations for an agricultural spreader (10) for a planned spreading operation, wherein the agricultural spreader (10) has at least one spreading disc, comprising the steps of: providing information on the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader (10) which is used in the planned spreading operation, providing a value for the working width (120) to be implemented in the planned spreading operation, and calculating setting recommendations for the agricultural spreader (10) which determine and/or enable the setting of an optimal throwing direction (126) and an optimal throwing distance (122) of the spreading material for the planned spreading operation.wherein the calculation of the setting recommendations for the agricultural spreader (10) is carried out using the provided information on the spreading disc of the agricultural spreader (10) and the provided value for the working width (120) to be implemented in the planned spreading operation.