Adjustable Earth Moving Blade Assembly for Ditching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ditching implements are limited in their versatility and adaptability, as they are typically configured for either deep and narrow or wide, flat trenches, and lack the ability to adjust to varying ground conditions and ditch widths, restricting their application in agricultural drainage.
Innovation Solution
An earth moving implement with a blade assembly featuring pivotally adjustable main and outer blades that diverge rearwardly from a central apex, allowing for a wide range of configurations from V-shaped to box blade configurations, enabling the formation of various ditch widths and adapting to different ground conditions by varying the draft forces required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the blades are arranged in a fixed V-shaped configuration, then the implement can effectively form wide, flat trenches, but it cannot adapt to varying ground conditions or form ditches of different widths
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly is designed with pivotal connections that allow the blades to dynamically adjust their configuration. The main blades can pivot relative to the main frame about upright axes, and outer blades can pivot relative to the main blades, enabling the structure to adapt from a narrow V-shape to a wider box blade configuration based on ground conditions and desired ditch width.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade assembly is divided into multiple independent segments including main blades and outer blades that can be adjusted separately. This segmentation allows each blade component to be positioned independently to optimize performance for different trench widths and ground conditions, resolving the contradiction between versatility and complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the blades are arranged in a narrow V-shaped configuration for deep and narrow trenches, then cutting depth is improved, but the implement cannot effectively form wide ditches or adapt to soft ground conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotal blade design allows the operator to dynamically adjust the blade configuration based on operational needs. The main blades can be positioned at different angles relative to the main frame, and outer blades can be adjusted relative to the main blades, providing operational flexibility without requiring multiple separate implements.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade assembly is designed to perform multiple functions through configuration changes. The same blade structure can form narrow deep trenches, wide flat ditches, and adapt to soft ground conditions by adjusting the blade angles and positions, eliminating the need for separate specialized implements.
3Reliability
If the implement uses a fixed blade orientation, then the structure is simple, but it cannot adjust to different ground conditions such as soft ground or varying ditch depths
Solution Approach 1:
The blade assembly incorporates pivotal connections that enable dynamic adjustment of blade orientation. The main blades pivot about upright axes and outer blades pivot relative to the main blades, allowing the structure to adapt its configuration to match varying ground conditions and ditch requirements, improving reliability without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The blade configuration parameters such as blade angles, positions, and orientations can be changed through the pivotal connections. This allows the implement to adjust parameters like cutting width, blade inclination, and overall configuration to match different ground conditions, enhancing reliability while keeping the adjustment mechanism relatively simple.
Data Source
AI summary
An earth moving implement for forming a ditch when towed across ground includes a frame, a tow arm connecting the frame to a towing vehicle, wheels supporting the frame for rolling movement along the ground, and a blade assembly comprising a plurality of earth moving blades. The blades include two main blades arranged to be configured to extend rearwardly in opposing lateral directions from a blade apex of the blade assembly such that the earth moving blades diverge rearwardly from the blade apex, and two outer blades supported on the main blades respectively. The orientation of the outer blades relative to the main blades and of the main blades relative to the frame can all be adjusted while the bottom cutting edges remain level with one another to readily vary cutting width and the lateral direction of earth movement by the blade assembly as desired.