Wing Leveling Actuator for Off-Highway Implement Uniformity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Off-highway working vehicles face inefficiencies in ground engagement during work tasks due to non-uniform soil interaction across their width and length, particularly when operating on uneven terrain, which affects their operational effectiveness and auto-steering systems.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of sensor-actuator systems that use hydraulic cylinders and hitch tilt actuators to autonomously adjust the downforce and pressure of wing assemblies and ground implements, respectively, based on real-time measurements to optimize soil engagement, ensuring uniform contact and improved working efficiency without requiring manual adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the working machine operates on uneven terrain, then the ground implements can work the ground, but non-uniform soil interaction occurs across the width and length
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the ground implements adjustable through actuators that can change the position and orientation of the implements in real-time. The system transitions from a static implement configuration to a dynamic one where the implements can be independently positioned to maintain uniform soil engagement across varying terrain conditions, thereby resolving the contradiction between productivity and engagement uniformity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes physical parameters of the ground implements by adjusting their position, orientation, and contact force with the ground through sensor-actuator feedback control. By continuously monitoring soil engagement parameters and modifying implement positioning accordingly, the system maintains uniform soil interaction across the working width and length while operating on uneven terrain.
2Manufacturing precision
If manual adjustments are used to maintain uniform soil engagement, then soil engagement uniformity can be maintained, but operational complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the ground implements to automatically adjust their own positioning and orientation through integrated sensor-actuator systems. The implements monitor their own soil engagement and make corrections without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining uniform soil engagement while reducing operational complexity and time consumption associated with manual adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies feedback control by using sensors to continuously monitor soil engagement parameters and feeding this information back to the actuator system. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables automatic adjustment of implement positioning to maintain uniform soil engagement, eliminating the need for manual adjustments and reducing operational complexity.
3Device complexity
If the ground implements are fixed in position, then the structure is simple, but non-uniform soil interaction occurs on uneven terrain
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a static fixed-position implement structure to a dynamic adjustable structure. By incorporating actuators and sensors, the system can change implement positions and orientations in response to terrain variations, thereby achieving uniform soil engagement while maintaining reasonable structural simplicity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies segmentation by dividing the ground implement system into independently controllable sections or modules. Each segment can be adjusted independently to optimize soil engagement on uneven terrain, allowing the system to maintain uniform overall engagement while keeping individual components simple and manageable.
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
This solution enhances the working efficiency of off-highway vehicles by maintaining uniform soil engagement across the working width and length, even on uneven terrain, thereby improving the effectiveness of work tasks and reducing the impact on auto-steering systems.
Implementation Method 1
use hydraulic cylinders and hitch tilt actuators to autonomously adjust the downforce and pressure of wing assemblies
Implementation Method 2
sensor-actuator systems that use hydraulic cylinders and hitch tilt actuators to autonomously adjust the downforce and pressure
Data Source
AI summary
Some embodiments may include a working machine comprising 1) a frame assembly including first and second sections, 2) ground implements to work a ground surface, the first section including at least one first implement of the ground implements and the second section including at least one second different implement of the ground implements, respectively, and 3) a transportation system including transportation devices and at least one actuator to pivotally or hingably move one part of the working machine relative to another part of the working machine; the working machine further including: at least one sensor to produce at least one measurement indicative of a degree of engagement of the at least one first implement or the at least one second implement with a corresponding part of the ground surface; and one or more processors to operate the at least one actuator of the transportation system while the machine is working the ground surface, based on the at least one measurement. Other embodiments may be disclosed and/or claimed.