Windrower Merger Conveyor Speed Control for Uniform Windrows
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing windrower implements face challenges in forming a uniform combined windrow during double pass operations due to variations in pass alignment and changing crop conditions, which can result in incomplete windrow formation.
Innovation Solution
A windrower implement equipped with a merger attachment and a merger controller that uses sensors to determine the location of the windrow formed during a belly pass and adjusts the conveyor speed to achieve a desired throw distance for the crop material during a merger pass, ensuring accurate placement onto the previous windrow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the merger attachment uses a fixed conveyor speed during merger passes, then the device complexity is reduced, but the manufacturing precision of windrow formation deteriorates due to variations in pass alignment and crop conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The conveyor speed is made dynamically adjustable during merger passes based on real-time detection of windrow location and crop conditions. The controller modifies conveyor speed to compensate for variations in pass alignment and crop density, ensuring accurate windrow formation despite changing field conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates sensors that detect the actual windrow location and crop conditions during merger passes. This feedback information is fed to the controller, which adjusts the conveyor speed accordingly to maintain precise windrow formation accuracy
2Productivity
If the windrower implement executes multiple parallel passes with fixed spacing, then the productivity is improved, but the reliability of windrow formation deteriorates due to alignment variations and changing crop conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows dynamic adjustment of conveyor operation parameters during multiple passes. When alignment variations or crop condition changes are detected, the controller modifies conveyor speed to maintain reliable windrow formation, enabling consistent results across multiple productivity-boosting passes
Solution Approach 2:
The controller changes operational parameters (conveyor speed) in response to detected variations in pass alignment and crop conditions. This parameter adjustment maintains windrow formation reliability while allowing multiple passes to execute for improved productivity
Data Source
AI summary
A windrower implement includes a merger attachment coupled to a frame rearward of an implement head. The merger attachment includes a conveyor positioned relative to the implement head to receive discharged crop material from the implement head and convey the crop material laterally relative to the central longitudinal axis to form a windrow laterally offset from the central longitudinal axis. A merger controller is operable to determine a location of a windrow formed during a belly pass and save the location of the windrow as a windrow track location. The merger control algorithm may determine a current position of the conveyor relative to the windrow track location and control a current speed of the conveyor based on the windrow track location of the belly pass and the current position of the conveyor to achieve a desired throw distance of crop material discharged from the conveyor.