Self-Propelled Air Seeder with Remote Override
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Solution Overview
Problem
Large air seeders face issues with soil compaction, reduced visibility for operators, and increased weight, which affects traction and fuel efficiency, especially in wet conditions, due to the heavy weight of product tanks and tractors used in conventional seeding systems.
Innovation Solution
A self-propelled air seeder apparatus with a tank propulsion vehicle mounted on wheels, where the weight of the driven implement wheels acts as ballast, reducing the need for heavy tractors and allowing for unmanned operation with external guidance, cameras, and sensors to monitor plugging and encroachment, enabling operation on wet ground with reduced weight and compaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If heavy tractors and large product tanks are used in conventional air seeding systems, then sufficient power and product capacity are achieved, but soil compaction increases and traction decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the traditional tractor-implement combination into separate functional units: a self-propelled air seeder with integrated product tanks and a separate towing vehicle. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently - the air seeder carries sufficient product capacity while the towing vehicle provides only the minimum necessary power, reducing overall weight and soil compaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The air seeder is designed as a self-propelled unit with its own power source and product delivery system. By integrating the product tanks directly onto the air seeder body, the system eliminates the need for heavy external tank carts and reduces dependence on high-horsepower tractors, thereby reducing soil compaction while maintaining operational capability.
2Productivity
If large product tanks are mounted on the air seeder, then field coverage per hour increases, but the weight increases causing more soil compaction
Solution Approach 1:
The product tanks are merged directly with the air seeder body structure, creating an integrated unit. This merging eliminates the need for separate tank carts and reduces the overall weight compared to conventional systems where tanks are mounted on separate vehicles or articulated trailers, while still providing sufficient product capacity for high field coverage.
3Weight of moving object
If the air seeder is designed as a self-propelled unit with integrated tanks, then the weight is reduced, but the width of the implement is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the air seeder into a self-propelled base unit with integrated product tanks and a separate furrow opener implement. This segmentation allows the base unit to maintain a compact, lightweight design while the furrow openers can be extended to provide the necessary field width, overcoming the limitation of integrated designs.
4Quantity of substance
If towed tank carts are used, then product capacity is increased, but visibility of furrow openers is blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The product tanks are merged with the air seeder body rather than being mounted on separate towed carts. This integration eliminates the blocking effect of external tank carts on the view of furrow openers, while still providing sufficient product capacity through the integrated tank design.
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 solution reduces soil compaction, improves traction and flotation, decreases fuel consumption, and allows for prolonged operation with reduced operator stress, while also lowering manufacturing and operating costs by minimizing the weight and size of the tank propulsion vehicle.
Implementation Method 1
product is carried from the product tanks to the furrow openers by an air stream
Implementation Method 2
the weight of the driven implement wheels acts as ballast, reducing the need for heavy tractors
Data Source
AI summary
An air seeder includes a combination tank propulsion vehicle with mounted product tanks, and metering devices dispensing product from each product tank. A furrow opener implement is towed by the vehicle and an engine rotates the vehicle wheels and two or more implement wheels. A pneumatic distribution system conveys dispensed products to the furrow openers. The external guidance system sends location signals indicating a location of the implement frame to the operator. Steering, metering, and distribution signals are sent by both the external guidance system and an operator with a remote operator control, and operator signals override signals from the external guidance system.