Chain Harrow Discs and Links for Soil Leveling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current agricultural implements fail to effectively break up and incorporate stubble and weeds into the soil, while also leveling the ground surface, often exacerbating issues like nutrient removal and soil erosion.
Innovation Solution
An agricultural implement with a frame and multiple harrow members, each comprising discs and chains with concave and convex sides, oriented to engage the soil and prevent high-centering, allowing for efficient breaking and leveling of the ground surface, with offset wheels to maintain even contact and prevent digging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If a heavy chain is used to level the ground surface, then the ground leveling effect is improved, but the ability to break up and incorporate stubble and weeds into the soil deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functions into a single agricultural implement: the chain harrow simultaneously levels the ground surface and breaks up stubble and weeds through its interconnected links that engage with and crush vegetation while maintaining ground contact for leveling purposes
Solution Approach 2:
The chain harrow is designed to perform multiple functions: it levels uneven ground surfaces, breaks up stubble, uproots weeds, and incorporates all this material into the soil, making a single device capable of replacing multiple separate implements
2Ease of operation
If a chain operates like a heavy broom or rake to sweep material away, then the ground is cleared, but the material is removed from the location rather than settled in situ for decomposition
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of sweeping material away from the field as traditional rakes do, the chain harrow inverts this action by crushing and incorporating the stubble and weeds directly into the soil at their original location, transforming waste material into nutrient-rich compost in situ
Solution Approach 2:
The implement converts what would normally be considered waste material (stubble and weeds) into beneficial organic matter by breaking it up and incorporating it into the soil, where it decomposes and returns nutrients to the earth
3Object-generated harmful factors
If multiple harrow members with discs and chains are used to break up and incorporate material into the soil, then the soil health is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The harrow is divided into multiple independent chain harrow members, each capable of operating autonomously to break up and incorporate material. This segmentation allows each member to focus on specific ground conditions while collectively achieving comprehensive soil treatment
Solution Approach 2:
The chain links are nested within each other in an interconnected structure, with each link contributing to the overall crushing and incorporating action. This nested arrangement maximizes the breaking capability within a compact configuration
Data Source
AI summary
An agricultural implement includes first and second outer harrows positioned adjacent front and left sides and front and right sides of a frame, respectively, at generally opposite diagonal directions. Third and fourth harrows are similarly positioned adjacent rear and left sides and rear and right sides of the frame, respectively, at generally opposite diagonal directions. The implement may include inner harrows positioned to close gaps left by the outer harrows and positioned at generally opposite diagonal configurations. Each harrow includes a plurality of discs and a chain with a plurality of links. Each outer harrow chain is held in relative tension by a spring interconnecting a respective chain end and the frame. Left and right sides of the frame are foldable upwardly and inwardly for transport and storage.