Thermal Imaging Camera for Harvester Fire Risk Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire risk mitigation systems in agricultural harvesters are inadequate as they rely on temperature sensors that cannot effectively monitor risks outside the harvester's main body, particularly in areas where hot air flows from the engine can trap and ignite chaff, leading to unreliable detection due to insufficient or excessive sensor placement.
Innovation Solution
A thermal imaging camera mounted on a movable component, such as the unloading tube, captures thermal images of the harvester's lateral side, processing unit analyzes temperature parameters, and activates warning signals or fire extinguishing systems when thresholds are exceeded.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If temperature sensors are mounted at particular locations inside the harvester's main body, then the system can detect fire risks inside the harvester, but the system cannot effectively monitor fire risks outside the harvester's main body where engine-related hot air flows trap and ignite chaff
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical temperature sensor system with a thermal imaging camera system that uses infrared radiation detection. The thermal imaging camera captures thermal images of the harvester's lateral side, allowing detection of fire risks outside the main body without requiring physical sensor mounting in hazardous locations. This substitution resolves the contradiction by improving detection reliability in previously inaccessible areas while avoiding the complexity of extensive sensor placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from point-based temperature sensing (1D/3D spatial limitations) to area-based thermal imaging (2D/3D spatial coverage). The thermal imaging camera provides a two-dimensional thermal map of the lateral side, enabling simultaneous monitoring of multiple critical areas including engine-related hot air flow zones without requiring multiple discrete sensors. This dimensional change improves reliability while reducing system complexity.
2Reliability
If an insufficient number of temperature sensors are used, then the system remains simple, but the detection becomes unreliable in large fire risk areas where the exact location of burning or smoldering chaff may vary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple discrete temperature sensor functions into a single thermal imaging camera system. Instead of deploying numerous individual sensors across the lateral side to cover large fire risk areas, the thermal imaging camera integrates thermal detection across the entire field of view, providing comprehensive monitoring in one unified system. This merging improves reliability by ensuring complete coverage while avoiding the complexity and cost of installing many sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermal imaging camera serves multiple detection functions simultaneously - it can monitor engine-related hot air flow areas, chaff accumulation zones, and other critical thermal zones within its field of view. This multi-functionality allows a single device to replace what would otherwise require multiple specialized sensors positioned at various locations, improving detection reliability without increasing system complexity.
3Reliability
If an overly large number of temperature sensors are deployed to cover all fire risk areas, then detection reliability improves, but the system becomes too complex and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical system of numerous temperature sensors with a single thermal imaging camera system. The thermal imaging camera provides comprehensive thermal monitoring of the lateral side, including all engine-related hot air flow areas and chaff accumulation zones, without requiring the complex wiring, power supply, and data processing infrastructure needed for multiple discrete sensors. This substitution achieves high reliability while dramatically reducing system complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from one-dimensional point measurements (individual temperature sensors) to two-dimensional area mapping (thermal imaging). This dimensional change allows a single camera to provide the equivalent information that would require multiple sensors distributed across the lateral side, achieving comprehensive coverage and high detection reliability without the complexity and expense of deploying an overly large number of sensors.
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 provides reliable detection and mitigation of fire risks by monitoring critical areas outside the harvester's main body, reducing the likelihood of engine-related fires and protecting the machine and surrounding field.
Implementation Method 1
at least one thermal imaging camera mounted or positionable in a location that enables the camera to capture a thermal image of at least part of one lateral side of the harvester
Data Source
AI summary
At least one thermal imaging camera mounted or positionable in a location that enables the camera to capture a thermal image of at least part of one lateral side of a harvester when the harvester is operational in a field. The camera may for example be mounted on a movable component or subsystem of the harvester, such as the unloading tube of a combine harvester according to an embodiment of the invention. When the unloading tube is in the unloading position, the camera is enabled to capture an image of the unloading side of the harvester. The system further includes a processing unit and a control unit, configured to process and analyze captured thermal images, and compare temperature-related parameters derived from said images to a threshold.