Airless Wheel Assembly with Segmented Traction for Irrigation Ruts
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Movable agricultural irrigation systems experience deep ruts due to wheel wear, leading to traction issues and crop damage when trying to repair or shift the wheel path, and existing solutions are either costly, time-consuming, or damaging.
Innovation Solution
A wheel assembly with outwardly protruding spokes and a flexible covering featuring primary and secondary traction lugs that create a corrugated path, improving traction and minimizing rut formation by aligning with previously formed peaks and valleys in the soil.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the irrigation system uses standard wheels, then the system can move across the field, but deep ruts develop that cause the wheels to become stuck
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel covering is divided into multiple rigid sections and flexible sections arranged alternately around the wheel circumference. The rigid sections create peaks in the soil while flexible sections allow the wheel to conform to terrain variations, providing continuous traction without forming deep ruts that would cause the wheel to get stuck.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sections of the wheel covering have different properties - rigid sections for creating stable peaks and flexible sections for adapting to terrain. Additionally, traction lugs are strategically positioned on the outer surface of the covering to enhance grip at specific locations where contact with the soil peaks occurs.
2Reliability
If the path is repaired by filling ruts with soil, then the path can be restored, but it requires substantial material, is time consuming, and may damage crops
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel design proactively prevents rut formation by creating a corrugated path structure during normal operation. The rigid and flexible sections work together to distribute soil displacement, building up peaks and valleys that maintain path integrity without requiring subsequent repair interventions.
3Reliability
If wider wheels are used to traverse un-worn ground, then the wheels can avoid ruts, but this requires an additional set of wheels and damages the path
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel covering incorporates flexible sections that allow the wheel to dynamically adapt to the corrugated path structure it creates. This dynamic flexibility enables the same wheel to maintain traction on the corrugated surface without requiring alternative wider wheels for different ground conditions.
4Reliability
If the center pivot point is shifted to create a new path, then ruts are minimized, but crops are destroyed and additional infrastructure is required
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly creates and maintains its own operational path through the corrugated structure formed by rigid and flexible sections. This self-generated path structure allows the irrigation system to operate repeatedly on the same track without requiring path shifts or creating additional infrastructure, thereby avoiding crop damage.
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 wheel assembly reduces wear on the field, enhances traction, and minimizes rut formation by forming a pattern that improves wheel alignment and soil retention, thus reducing path damage and maintenance needs.
Implementation Method 1
The rigid sections are pressed by the outwardly protruding spokes into a layer of soil on the ground
Implementation Method 2
a set of flexible sections that flex inwardly towards the recesses between the spokes
Implementation Method 3
Each primary traction lug is aligned with a middle of a flexible section of the covering and is taller than the secondary traction lugs. The secondary traction lugs are positioned near ends of the flexible sections
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel assembly for traversing a path along a ground surface having a layer of soil, the wheel assembly comprising a central support and an airless flexible covering mounted on the central support and having a plurality of rigid sections and a plurality of flexible sections. The outwardly protruding spokes urge the rigid sections into the layer of soil when the rigid sections contact the ground surface. The flexible sections include a set of traction lugs for gripping peaks of a corrugated pattern in the ground surface for improved traction.