Work Vehicle Pressure Matching for Pneumatic Commodity Delivery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seeding work vehicles face challenges in automatically matching container pressure with commodity delivery path pressure, leading to issues like siphoning and floating, due to manual intervention and potential mismatches in pressure levels, which affect product flow rates.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes an electric control system coordinating the operation of a container pressure delivery system with a commodity delivery system, using movable manifold and container pressure regulators, and sensors to automatically match pressure levels, ensuring precise pressure coupling and flow control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a mechanical selector valve is used to manually balance container pressure with delivery run pressure, then pressure matching can be achieved, but the system requires significant manual operator intervention and is prone to improper selection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical selector valve system with an automated electronic control system. The controller automatically actuates the container pressure regulator based on the selected delivery run configuration, eliminating the need for manual operator intervention while maintaining accurate pressure matching between the container and delivery run.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service operation where the container pressure regulator automatically adjusts and maintains the correct pressure based on controller signals. The system serves itself by automatically coordinating the pressure regulation with the delivery run selection without requiring external manual operation.
2Productivity
If container pressure is increased to maintain high product delivery rates, then productivity improves, but siphoning or floating occurs when pressure does not match delivery run pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback control where the controller monitors the selected delivery run configuration and automatically adjusts the container pressure regulator to maintain the correct pressure match. This closed-loop control ensures that high product delivery rates are maintained while preventing siphoning or floating by continuously coordinating pressure with delivery run selection.
3Stress or pressure
If the system is sealed off to atmospheric pressure to maintain air pressure within runs, then high pressure delivery is achieved, but pressure balancing with container becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex manual pressure balancing mechanisms with an automated electronic control system. The controller automatically coordinates the container pressure regulator to match the sealed delivery run pressure requirements, simplifying the overall system while achieving accurate pressure balancing under sealed high-pressure conditions.
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 ensures accurate pressure matching and flow control, minimizing siphoning and floating, and maintaining consistent product delivery rates without manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
The delivery system may have a variety of selectable configurations wherein the commodity may be commuted along different delivery paths using a pneumatic conveyance system providing a source of pressurized air for entraining the commodity in a fluidized flow
Implementation Method 2
providing a source of pressurized air for entraining the commodity in a fluidized flow
Implementation Method 3
controlling a container pressure delivery system that selectively fluidly couples the container storing the commodity with the selected one of the plurality of delivery runs for matching or otherwise controlling a balancing between the pressure in the container holding a commodity with a pressure in the commodity delivery path to minimize or otherwise prevent siphoning and/or floating of the commodity
Data Source
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AI summary
A work vehicle (100) comprises a commodity container (128) and a commodity delivery system (132) to distribute the commodity between first and second delivery runs (171, 172) with first and second fluid pressures. A manifold regulator defining a manifold valve member (361) that is movable between first and second positions to selectively distribute the commodity into the associated first or second fluid run. A container pressure delivery system (135) selectively fluid coupling the container with the associated first or second fluid pressure. A control system (140, 260) operably coupling the container pressure delivery system (135) with the commodity delivery system (132) for coordinating: the manifold valve member selectively moved to the first or second position with the container pressure delivery system (135) selectively fluid coupling the container (128) with the associated first or second fluid at the first or second pressure to pressurize the container (128) accordingly.