Common Pivot Bar Depth Adjustment for Agricultural Ground Openers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ground opener support assemblies for disc drills inefficiently distribute high loads, leading to premature wear and failure of components, and independent depth-adjustment processes for multiple openers are time-consuming and cumbersome.
Innovation Solution
A support assembly with a laterally-extending toolbar and depth-adjustment assembly that allows simultaneous adjustment of operating depths for multiple ground openers via a common pivot bar, incorporating a linkage assembly and depth-adjustment arm to secure the opening disc and gauge wheel, enabling efficient load distribution and streamlined depth adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If independent depth-adjustment handles are used for each ground opener, then each opener can be adjusted individually, but the adjustment process becomes time-consuming and cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple independent depth-adjustment handles for each ground opener are merged into a single common depth-adjustment handle. This common handle is laterally extended to control multiple ground openers simultaneously, reducing the number of adjustment operations required and eliminating the time-consuming process of adjusting each opener individually.
2Reliability
If traditional support assemblies are used for ground openers, then the structure is simple, but high loads are not effectively distributed leading to premature wear and failure
Solution Approach 1:
The support assembly is segmented into multiple linkage arms (first linkage arm, second linkage arm, third linkage arm) that are interconnected through pivot points. This segmentation allows the load to be distributed across multiple components rather than concentrated on a single support structure, thereby improving reliability and reducing premature wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The common depth-adjustment handle serves multiple functions: it adjusts the depth of all ground openers simultaneously, controls the position of the gauge wheel, and operates the opening disc. This multi-functionality reduces the overall complexity of the system while maintaining reliability through integrated load distribution.
3Ease of operation
If multiple independent depth-adjustment mechanisms are provided for each ground opener, then precise individual control is achieved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple independent depth-adjustment mechanisms are merged into a single common depth-adjustment handle that laterally extends to control multiple ground openers. This consolidation maintains operational control while significantly reducing the number of separate adjustment mechanisms required in the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The common depth-adjustment handle is designed as a universal control mechanism that can adjust the depth of multiple ground openers simultaneously. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate adjustment mechanisms for each opener, thereby reducing device complexity while maintaining ease of operation.
Data Source
AI summary
A depth-adjustment assembly for ground openers of an agricultural implement. The ground openers each include an opening disc, a gauge wheel, and a support assembly securing the ground opener to the agricultural implement. The support assembly is configured to raise and lower the ground opener with respect to the ground and/or to adjust a down-pressure of the ground opener. The depth-adjustment assembly comprises for each of the ground openers, a linkage assembly and a depth-adjustment arm configured to adjust a relative position between the opening disc and the gauge wheel. At least a portion of the linkage extends in parallel relationship with the support assembly. The depth-adjustment assembly further comprises a laterally-extending common pivot bar. Each linkage assembly is secured to the common pivot bar, such that rotation of said common pivot bar is configured to simultaneously adjust the relative position between the opening disc and the gauge wheel of each of the ground openers.