Adjustable Blade Gangs and Wheel Suspension for Tillage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional tillage implements are often limited in their ability to effectively operate in varied field conditions and purposes, requiring multiple implements or operating in less-than-ideal manners, which can lead to stress and strain on the machine and uneven terrain handling.
Innovation Solution
A tillage implement with angularly and vertically adjustable gangs of circular, rotatable blades that can be adjusted on-the-go, combined with a wheel suspension system allowing non-corresponding shifting of front wheels to maintain equal load distribution across both wheels, even in uneven terrain, preventing concentration of load on one wheel.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single tillage implement is used to operate in varied field conditions, then the number of implements needed is reduced, but the implement must be configured for less-than-ideal operation in some conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The blade gangs are made dynamically adjustable through hydraulic cylinders that enable on-the-go modification of gang angle and depth without stopping the implement. This allows the single implement to adapt to varied field conditions while maintaining ideal operation performance across different soil types and terrain, resolving the contradiction between versatility and operational effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The implement utilizes adjustable parameters including gang angle (via hydraulic cylinders moving gangs laterally), penetration depth (via vertical positioning), and blade rotation speed to optimize performance for different field conditions. These parameter changes enable the single implement to effectively operate across diverse conditions without sacrificing ideal operation in any specific condition.
2Ease of operation
If the main frame height is adjusted to change blade depth, then blade penetration depth is changed, but the depth of tillage shanks is also affected
Solution Approach 1:
The implement separates the adjustment mechanisms for blade gangs and tillage shanks into independent systems. The blade gangs have dedicated hydraulic cylinders for lateral and vertical positioning, while tillage shanks have separate depth control. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of blade depth without affecting shank depth, enabling operators to optimize each component for its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediate positioning mechanisms including lateral movement of blade gangs relative to the frame and independent vertical positioning systems. These intermediaries decouple the relationship between frame height and blade depth, allowing blade depth to be adjusted without changing frame height or affecting tillage shank depth, thus enabling independent adjustment capability.
3Device complexity
If wheels are locked at fixed height relative to the frame, then structural simplicity is maintained, but load concentrates on one wheel when terrain is uneven
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel suspension system is made dynamic through linkage mechanisms that allow wheels to move vertically relative to the frame in response to terrain variations. This dynamic adjustment distributes load evenly across all wheels even on uneven terrain, preventing load concentration on single wheels while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through mechanical linkages rather than complex active control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The suspension system uses mechanical linkages and spring elements that act as counterbalancing mechanisms to offset the effects of uneven terrain. When one wheel encounters a high spot, the linkage system redistributes the load through the frame to other wheels, effectively counteracting the uneven weight distribution that would otherwise occur with fixed-height wheels.
Data Source
AI summary
A tillage implement has a main frame provided with ground-engaging wheels that support the main frame at a selected height above the ground. Tillage shanks may be provided on the main frame and, if so, have their depth of penetration into the ground determined by the selected height of the main frame. Gangs of freely rotatable circular blades are carried on the main frame for both fore-and-aft angle adjustment relative to the main frame about respective upright pivot axes and up-and-down depth adjustment relative to the main frame about respective horizontal pivot axes. Such angle and/or depth adjustments can be carried out on-the-go from the tractor seat and without raising or lowering the main frame such that if tillage shanks are provided on the main frame, the working depth of the tillage shanks can remain unchanged as the gangs are adjusted.