Basket Assembly De-plugging via Inflatable Bladder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for de-plugging basket assemblies of agricultural implements are not sufficiently effective, as they rely on scrapper blades that can only remove accumulated field materials from a single surface, leading to inefficiencies in tillage operations.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a bladder system within the basket assembly, where the bladder is configured to inflate and deflate, forcing field materials outward through voids defined by the circumferentially arranged blades, thereby de-plugging the basket assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If scrapper blades are used to remove accumulated field materials, then materials can be removed from a single surface, but the de-plugging effectiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using scrapper blades that scrape materials from the exterior surface, the patent inverts the approach by placing a bladder inside the basket assembly that expands inward to push materials outward through the bars. This inverted mechanism achieves more thorough de-plugging by addressing materials from the interior cavity rather than attempting to scrape them from the exterior.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a pneumatic system using an inflatable bladder that can be filled with air or fluid to expand and exert force on accumulated field materials. This pneumatic mechanism provides controlled, adjustable pressure to effectively remove materials from the interior cavity, overcoming the limitations of mechanical scrapper blades.
2Ease of manufacture
If scrapper blades are used for de-plugging, then the device structure is simple, but materials accumulated within the interior cavity cannot be effectively removed
Solution Approach 1:
The basket assembly is segmented with multiple bars creating voids between them, allowing the bladder to expand and push materials outward through these segmented openings. This segmentation enables the bladder to effectively reach and remove materials from all areas of the interior cavity, significantly improving de-plugging effectiveness while maintaining operational efficiency.
3Reliability
If a bladder system is implemented, then field materials can be forced outward through all voids for thorough de-plugging, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder system serves multiple functions: it can be inflated to remove materials from the interior cavity, deflated to allow normal basket operation, and potentially adjusted to different pressure levels for varying material removal needs. This multi-functionality justifies the added complexity by providing a versatile solution that addresses all de-plugging requirements.
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
This solution enables more thorough and efficient de-plugging of basket assemblies, improving the operational effectiveness of agricultural implements by allowing for the removal of accumulated materials from all surfaces of the basket assembly.
Implementation Method 1
a bladder positioned within the interior cavity, with the bladder configured to be inflated and deflated such that the bladder expands and contracts relative to the plurality of circumferentially arranged blades
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement includes a frame and a basket assembly supported on the frame. The basket assembly, in turn, includes including a plurality of circumferentially arranged blades such that the basket assembly is configured to roll relative to a surface of a field as the agricultural implement travels across the field. Furthermore, the plurality of circumferentially arranged blades define a plurality of voids and at least partially defining an interior cavity within the basket assembly, with each void being defined between an adjacent pair of the plurality of circumferentially arranged blades. Additionally, the agricultural implement includes a bladder positioned within the interior cavity, with the bladder configured to be inflated and deflated such that the bladder expands and contracts relative to the plurality of circumferentially arranged blades to force field materials present within the interior cavity outward through the plurality of voids.