Swathboard Control for Windrow Merger Attachment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Windrowers face issues with crop discharge inefficiencies due to manual adjustments of the swathboard and merger attachment, leading to incomplete windrow formation and crop loss when operators forget to raise or lower these components at the right times during the farming process.
Innovation Solution
A windrower equipped with a position sensor and control system that automatically adjusts the swathboard position based on the movement of the merger attachment, ensuring optimal crop discharge by raising the swathboard when the merger is lowered and lowering it when the merger is raised, thereby ensuring consistent windrow formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the swathboard is manually adjusted during operation, then the operator can control crop discharge direction, but operator error or forgetfulness leads to incomplete windrow formation and crop loss
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the merger attachment's own position sensor signals to automatically control the swathboard, making the swathboard self-regulating based on merger position without requiring separate operator input. When the merger is lowered, the swathboard automatically raises; when the merger is raised, the swathboard automatically lowers.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors the merger attachment position through position sensors and uses this feedback to automatically adjust the swathboard position. The controller receives position signals from the merger and sends corresponding control signals to the swathboard actuator, creating a closed-loop feedback system that ensures reliable windrow formation.
2Reliability
If the swathboard position is automatically controlled by the merger position, then windrow formation consistency is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional sensors and control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The merger attachment's position sensor serves dual purposes: it controls both the merger attachment operation and the swathboard position automatically. This multi-functional use of the existing sensor reduces the need for separate control components and minimizes additional device complexity while achieving reliable automatic swathboard control.
3Productivity
If the merger attachment is lowered to combine windrows, then crop combining efficiency is improved, but crop may be lost if the swathboard is not raised
Solution Approach 1:
The control system proactively raises the swathboard before the merger attachment begins its combining operation by detecting the merger's lowering motion through position sensors. This preliminary adjustment ensures the crop stream is properly directed onto the merger conveyor before combining starts, preventing any crop loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The system preemptively counteracts the potential harmful effect of crop loss by automatically adjusting the swathboard position in advance. When the merger is lowered for combining, the swathboard automatically raises to prevent crop from falling under the machine or forming balls, thus preventing the adverse outcome before it can occur.
Data Source
AI summary
A windrower has a crop merger attachment with a conveyor configured to receive crop material from a crop conditioning mechanism and direct the crop material to a side of the windrower, the crop merger attachment being mounted for adjusting movement between a lowered and a raised position. The windrower has a swathboard mounted for adjusting movement between a fully raised position in which the crop material passes beneath the swathboard for engagement with the merger attachment and a lowered position in which the crop material down to the ground under the merger attachment under the windrower. A control system automatically adjusts movement of the swathboard when movement of the merger attachment is detected.