Articulating Air Seeder Cart Pivot Control for Skew Correction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing air seeding implements face issues with skewing due to uneven forces and soil characteristics, leading to altered furrow spacing and hose bending during turns, and weight variation of tanks affecting furrow opener depth.
Innovation Solution
A seeding apparatus with a pivotally connected primary and secondary air seeder cart system, equipped with an implement pivot limiting system and skew correction mechanism, reduces hose bending and maintains proper orientation using actuators and hydraulic cylinders to control pivoting, and allows tanks to be mounted on carts rather than the implement frame.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the air seeder cart is pivotally connected to the implement frame, then the system can turn and change direction, but the hoses must bend to follow the turn radius causing hose bending
Solution Approach 1:
The air seeder system is divided into multiple independently pivotable sections (primary cart and secondary cart) connected by articulation points. Each section can pivot independently to follow the turn radius, reducing the bending stress on hoses compared to a single rigid connection point.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs dynamic pivoting mechanisms with adjustable pivot points that allow the carts to move and adjust their position during turns. This dynamic adjustment enables the hoses to follow the turn radius more smoothly, reducing bending and potential damage.
2Device complexity
If the tank is mounted directly on the implement frame, then the number of hoses is reduced, but the weight variation of the tank causes the tires to flex to different degrees altering furrow opener depth
Solution Approach 1:
The tank is extracted from the implement frame and mounted on the air seeder cart instead. This separation removes the source of weight variation from the implement frame, preventing tire flexing and ensuring consistent furrow opener depth, while still maintaining efficient hose connections through the articulation system.
3Manufacturing precision
If the implement skews due to uneven forces, then the furrow spacing is altered, but adding skew correction mechanisms increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic pivoting mechanisms that allow the air seeder cart to adjust its angle relative to the implement frame during operation. This dynamic adjustment compensates for skewing forces caused by uneven terrain, maintaining consistent furrow spacing without requiring complex active correction mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot angle and articulation parameters of the air seeder cart are adjusted in response to operational conditions to compensate for skewing. By changing these geometric parameters dynamically, the system maintains proper furrow spacing alignment despite varying terrain conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A seeding apparatus includes an implement frame mounted on wheels and a plurality of furrow openers mounted on the implement frame. A primary air seeder cart is pivotally connected about a vertical implement pivot axis to an implement hitch on the implement frame, and an implement pivot limiting system is operative to limit a degree of pivoting of the primary air seeder cart about the implement pivot axis with respect to the implement frame to a selected degree chosen to reduce bending of conduits. A secondary air seeder cart can be pivotally connected to a cart hitch on the primary air seeder cart about a vertical cart pivot axis and an cart pivot limiting system is operative to limit the degree of pivoting of the secondary air seeder cart about the cart pivot axis.