Tillage Equipment Debris Detection via Sensor Displacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems require work machines to stop frequently to identify and remove debris during soil manipulation, disrupting operations and prolonging the time needed to prepare the underlying surface.

Innovation Solution

A work machine equipped with a ground engaging mechanism, sensors, and a controller that uses a location system to mark and store the position of debris contact points, allowing for continuous operation while identifying and recording obstruction locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the work machine stops to identify and remove debris, then the user can detect and remove unexpected debris, but the operation time is prolonged and productivity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris detection capabilityVSAvoidsoil manipulation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary detection of debris using sensors (acoustic, vibration, force, or displacement sensors) before the debris causes damage to the implement. The controller processes sensor data to identify debris contact and determines geographic locations in advance, allowing the work machine to continue operating without stopping to visually inspect and remove each piece of debris.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the manual visual inspection and debris removal process with an automated sensor-based detection system. Instead of relying on the operator's senses (sight, sound, touch) to detect debris, the system uses electronic sensors and a controller to automatically identify debris contact events and log their locations, eliminating the need for frequent machine stops.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If the user visually inspects the underlying surface before work, then obvious debris can be removed, but debris positioned beneath the surface remains undetected

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris identification accuracyVSAvoidsubsurface debris detection

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual visual inspection with electronic sensors that can detect debris through multiple physical parameters (acoustic signals, vibration patterns, force changes, or displacement). These sensors mounted on the ground-engaging mechanism can detect debris contact events that occur during operation, including subsurface debris that would be invisible during visual inspection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller continuously monitors sensor data during operation and provides real-time feedback about debris contact events. When the sensor detects abnormal patterns indicating debris contact, the controller logs the geographic location and can alert the operator, creating a closed-loop system that continuously detects and records debris positions throughout the work process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If multiple sensors are used to detect debris, then detection reliability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedebris contact detection accuracyVSAvoidsensor and controller system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The controller is designed to handle multiple sensor types (acoustic, vibration, force, displacement sensors) through a unified processing architecture. The same controller that processes data from any one sensor type can process data from multiple sensor types simultaneously, allowing the system to detect debris through multiple physical parameters without requiring separate processing systems for each sensor type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables continuous operation of work machines by automatically identifying and recording debris locations, reducing downtime and increasing efficiency in soil manipulation tasks.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor coupled to the ground engaging mechanism, the sensor positioned to identify a displacement of the ground engaging mechanism relative to the frame

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDisplacement sensing: Displacement

Data Source

PatentUS10869422B2Object detection and documentation system for tillage equipment

Publication Date: 2020.12.22 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A work machine, with a frame member, a ground engaging mechanism coupled to the frame member and configured to at least partially contact an underlying surface, a sensor coupled to the ground engaging mechanism, the sensor positioned to identify a displacement of the ground engaging mechanism relative to the frame, a controller in communication with the sensor, and a location system in communication with the controller. Wherein, the controller marks a location that corresponds with the position of the ground engaging mechanism, the location being identified by the location system when the sensor identifies the displacement of the ground engaging mechanism.