Swath Flap Control System for Windrowing Vehicles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing work vehicles for processing crop materials lack efficient and automated systems for configuring and controlling windrowing arrangements, leading to suboptimal windrow formation and yield measurement.
Innovation Solution
A windrowing work vehicle equipped with a control system that includes a processor, memory element, and actuator, allowing for automatic and programmable movement of swath flaps to adjust their position based on stored settings and sensor data, enabling precise windrow formation and yield measurement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual adjustment of swath flap is used, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity and measurement precision deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The control system automatically adjusts the swath flap position based on stored position settings and sensor data without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates by processing positioning control signals and actuating the swath flap to maintain optimal windrow formation, thereby improving productivity while managing complexity through automation.
2Measurement precision
If automated control system is implemented, then productivity and measurement precision are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system incorporates sensors that detect the actual position setting of the swath flap and feed this information back to the processor. The processor compares the actual position with the stored position setting and generates corrective positioning control signals to achieve precise windrow formation and accurate yield measurement, thereby improving measurement precision while managing complexity through closed-loop control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment of the swath flap with an automated control system that uses electronic sensors, processors, and actuators. This substitution of mechanical manual operation with electronic control systems improves measurement precision and productivity while managing the complexity through integration of standardized electronic components.
3Manufacturing precision
If swath flap position is frequently adjusted, then windrow formation quality is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system stores optimal position settings for the swath flap in advance, corresponding to different operating conditions and locations. When the vehicle reaches a specific location or operating condition, the system retrieves the pre-stored position setting and automatically adjusts the swath flap, thereby achieving high windrow formation quality without requiring frequent manual adjustments and reducing time loss.
Data Source
AI summary
A windrowing work vehicle with a swath flap arrangement is disclosed. The swath flap arrangement includes a swath flap that is supported for movement by a support structure between a raised position and a lowered position. The swath flap is configured to at least partially shape a windrow of a crop material. A method includes receiving, by a processor of a control system from a memory element, a stored position setting that corresponds to a position of the swath flap relative to the support structure. The method further includes processing, by the processor, a positioning control signal based, at least in part, on the stored position setting. Also, the method includes moving, with an actuator, the swath flap relative to the support structure between the raised position and the lowered position according to the positioning control signal.