Agricultural Work Machine Tank Shutoff for Residual Product Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional agricultural work machines face challenges in efficiently managing and minimizing leftover product in distribution systems, leading to time-consuming manual cleaning processes and potential damage to components due to residual product.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural work machine equipped with a control system and mechanism that determines the amount of product remaining in distribution lines, hoppers, and meter assemblies, allowing for automated control of product flow to ensure only the necessary amount is used, minimizing residual product and reducing cleaning efforts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual cleaning operations are performed to remove residual product from distribution systems, then component damage is prevented, but significant time and effort are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by determining the amount of product remaining in the distribution system before the cleaning operation is needed. This allows planning the remaining product usage to minimize residual product, thereby reducing the extent of cleaning required later while still preventing component damage.
2Quantity of substance
If product flow is continuously supplied from tank to row units, then adequate product availability is maintained, but excessive residual product remains in the distribution system
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback by continuously determining the amount of product remaining in the distribution system (distribution lines, hoppers, meter assemblies) and using this information to control the product flow. This allows the system to maintain adequate product availability while minimizing residual product by adjusting supply based on real-time inventory levels.
3Measurement precision
If automated control systems are implemented to manage product flow, then product usage accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies self-service by enabling the agricultural work machine to automatically determine and manage its own product inventory levels without requiring external intervention. The control system autonomously monitors product quantities in the distribution system and adjusts product flow accordingly, improving measurement accuracy while keeping the system relatively simple through self-management capabilities.
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 manages product distribution, preventing component damage and reducing manual cleaning time by ensuring accurate product usage and residual management.
Implementation Method 1
a blower operably controlled to provide an air flow through the distribution line to transfer product from the tank to the row unit
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural work machine (10) is disclosed. The work machine (10) comprising: a frame (12); a tank (30) coupled to the frame (12) and configured to store a product, the tank (30) including a nozzle portion (39); a row unit (14) coupled to the frame (12), the row unit (14) comprising a hopper (18) and a meter assembly (20); a product distribution line (28) coupled between the nozzle portion (39) of the tank (20) and the hopper (18); a blower (32) operably controlled to provide an air flow through the distribution line (28) to transfer product from the tank (30) to the row unit (14); and a mechanism (40), (314) located in the tank above the nozzle portion, the mechanism (40), (314) operably controlled between an open position and a closed position; wherein, in the open position, the product in the tank (30) flows through the mechanism (40), (314) into the nozzle portion (39); wherein, in the closed position, the mechanism (40), (314) blocks the product in the tank (30) from flowing into the nozzle portion (39).