Adjustable Planter Wheel Assemblies for Narrower Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural planters with wider row spacing face challenges in transport due to wheel spacing that is too wide for standard trailers and roadways, leading to soil compaction and operational difficulties.
Innovation Solution
The implement features wheel assemblies coupled to a frame via parallel linkages and actuators, allowing lateral and longitudinal movement to adjust track width and hitch weight, enabling both working and transport configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If wheel spacing is increased to match row spacing multiples (e.g., 120 inches for 30-inch rows), then soil compaction from tires on crops is reduced, but the implement becomes too wide for normal transport on public roadways or standard trailers
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assemblies are made dynamically adjustable through parallel linkages and actuators, allowing the track width to change between working configuration (wider spacing for reduced soil compaction) and transport configuration (narrower spacing for road and trailer compatibility). This dynamic reconfiguration resolves the contradiction between optimal planting conditions and transport requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the spatial parameter (track width) of the wheel assemblies by adjusting the position of wheel assemblies laterally and longitudinally relative to the frame. This parameter change enables the implement to transition between two operational states: one optimized for field work with reduced soil compaction, and another optimized for transport within standard infrastructure constraints.
2Productivity
If planters are made wider and seed hoppers are made larger to increase planting speed, then productivity increases, but the weight and width make transport and handling more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The implement employs dynamically adjustable wheel assemblies that can reconfigure the overall width and weight distribution of the planter. This allows the system to accommodate larger seed hoppers and wider row configurations for increased productivity while being able to contract to standard transport dimensions when needed, resolving the contradiction between enhanced planting capacity and transport manageability.
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement includes a frame coupled to a tow hitch, a toolbar coupled to frame, a plurality of row units carried by the toolbar, a first wheel assembly coupled to the frame, a second wheel assembly coupled to the frame. Each wheel assembly is configured to be moved laterally and longitudinally relative to the frame. The tow hitch is configured to be pulled by a tractor. Methods of configuring agricultural implements are also disclosed.