V-Coulter Soil Sensor Unit for Real-Time pH and Temperature
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soil sampling and measurement technologies face limitations due to high energy consumption, limited flexibility in using multiple sensors, long measurement times, and interruptions in agricultural work for parameter determination, particularly in measuring pH and humidity.
Innovation Solution
A multifunctional unit with a 'V' form coulter mounted on trailed agricultural equipment, featuring a spheric head for soil sampling, a shutter and transducer with sensors for real-time data collection, and a linear actuator for continuous operation, allowing simultaneous measurement of pH, humidity, and GPS data processing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If hydraulic system is used to raise soil sample to sensor level, then soil pH measurement is enabled, but energy consumption increases and measurement time lengthens
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of raising the soil sample vertically to a fixed sensor level using hydraulic power, the invention inverts the approach by moving the sensor down to meet the soil sample. The sensor assembly travels vertically along the coulter to contact the soil sample at its location, eliminating the need for high-energy hydraulic lifting while enabling pH measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces the complex hydraulic mechanical lifting system with a simpler sensor traversal mechanism. The sensor moves vertically along the coulter using a more efficient mechanical or electrical actuation system, reducing energy consumption while maintaining measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If hydraulic system is used to raise soil sample to sensor level, then soil pH measurement is enabled, but measurement time increases due to vertical travel
Solution Approach 1:
The invention inverts the measurement approach by having the sensor travel to the soil sample rather than the sample traveling to the sensor. This reversal allows the sensor to reach the soil sample more quickly and enables continuous measurement without the time-consuming vertical lifting process.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor traversal mechanism enables continuous measurement action as the sensor moves along the coulter and contacts successive soil samples. This eliminates the interruption and waiting time associated with lifting each sample vertically, maintaining continuous useful action throughout the measurement process.
3Measurement precision
If single-purpose equipment is used for pH measurement, then pH determination is achieved, but flexibility for multiple sensor types is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly is designed with universal adaptability to accommodate multiple types of sensors. The structure allows different sensors (pH, humidity, temperature, etc.) to be mounted on the same traversal mechanism, enabling a single piece of equipment to perform multiple measurement functions by simply changing the sensor component.
Solution Approach 2:
The sensor assembly is designed dynamically to accept different sensor types. The mounting mechanism and connection interfaces are adaptable, allowing the system to be reconfigured for different measurement parameters without requiring complete equipment replacement, thus providing operational flexibility.
4Ease of operation
If manual soil sampling kits are used, then portability is improved, but soil temperature measurement capability is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The sensor assembly incorporates multiple sensor types including temperature, humidity, and pH sensors in a single integrated unit. This multi-functional design maintains the portability advantage of manual kits while adding comprehensive measurement capabilities that manual kits lack, allowing simultaneous measurement of multiple soil parameters.
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, accurate, and efficient data collection of multiple soil parameters in real-time, reducing measurement time and costs, while allowing higher operational speeds and increased data density without technological interruptions.
Implementation Method 1
transducer with sensors to read the parameters from the soil sample
Implementation Method 2
transducer with sensors to read the parameters from the soil sample
Implementation Method 3
sensor for measuring the temperature of the soil
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is referring to a multifunctional section, which is mounted on a frame of a trailed agricultural equipment, intended for soil sampling, reading and computer processing of soil parameters, for example pH and temperature, as well as GPS coordinates. Multifunctional section for reading soil parameters mounted on a frame of a trailed agricultural equipment is made up of coulter 1 in the form of a lying "V", with the tip towards the forward direction, of a mounting bracket 2 on the frame, the tube 3 with spheric head provided with a hole for taking soil samples, the shutter 4 which stops the soil inside the coulter for reading the parameters and allows to take the soil sample, gutter 5 through which the soil circulates or stands from which the samples are taken, linear actuator 6 which actuates the shutter 4 vertically between the ends of a slider on the c travel, the transducer 7 for determining the temperature and pH of the soil through sensors S1 and S2, mounted solidary with the shutter 4, as well as an electronic data - processing and storage system (command and control unit - UCC, GPS, portable calculator, etc.).