Air Spring Down-Pressure System for Agricultural Implement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional suspension systems for agricultural implements, such as grain drills, suffer from inconsistent down pressure, mechanical complexity, vulnerability to contamination, and frequent maintenance due to their spring-based designs, which lack adjustability and have numerous wear points.
Innovation Solution
An air spring assembly is used between upper and lower mounts, with a guide rod maintaining parallel alignment, allowing adjustable down pressure through air pressure variation and repositioning of the air spring within apertures, reducing mechanical advantage and wear points.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional spring-based suspension systems are used, then down pressure is generated, but the down pressure varies over the range-of-travel and is inconsistent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical spring-based suspension system with a hydraulic suspension system. The hydraulic cylinder uses fluid pressure to generate suspension force, eliminating the variable mechanical advantage inherent in spring linkages. This substitution provides consistent down pressure throughout the range of travel because hydraulic force depends only on pressure, not on the position or geometry of moving parts.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic cylinder with piston and rod assembly to provide suspension force. The hydraulic fluid transmits force uniformly regardless of the cylinder's extension or compression state, ensuring consistent down pressure on the implement throughout its range of motion. The hydraulic system replaces the inconsistent mechanical spring force with controllable fluid pressure.
2Force
If spring-based suspension systems with mechanical linkages are used, then down pressure is exerted, but the system has numerous pivot points and wear points requiring frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent eliminates multiple mechanical linkages, pivot points, and spring components by replacing them with a direct hydraulic cylinder mounting. The hydraulic cylinder connects between fixed mounting points on the tractor and implement, removing all intermediate mechanical joints that would require maintenance. This reduces wear points from numerous spring linkages to essentially zero moving parts in the suspension mechanism.
3Force
If conventional spring suspension systems are used, then down pressure is provided, but the system is vulnerable to contamination from soil and residue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces exposed mechanical spring components and linkages with a sealed hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic system is enclosed, protecting the force-generating mechanism from soil and residue contamination. Only the piston rod extends outward, and even this is protected by seals and boots, eliminating the vulnerability of open mechanical linkages to agricultural environment contaminants.
4Force
If spring-based suspension systems are used, then down pressure is generated, but the system lacks adjustability and has fixed mechanical geometries
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables down pressure adjustment by changing the hydraulic pressure parameter. The implement height and down pressure can be controlled by adjusting the hydraulic system pressure, allowing infinite adjustability within the system's operational range. This replaces the fixed mechanical geometry of spring systems with a controllable fluid pressure system that can be easily adjusted to match varying field conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An implement with a ground working tool mounted on an arm pivotably movable between raised and lowered positions includes a pneumatic down pressure control system. The down pressure control system includes upper and lower mounts with an air spring located between them and having compressed and extended configurations with said arm raised and lowered respectively. A parallel plate mechanism maintains the upper and lower mounts in parallel relation and maintains a relatively consistent down pressure of the air spring. Multiple air springs can be provided on an implement and pneumatically interconnected by an air line for simultaneously charging to a constant air pressure.