Seed Drill Coulter Height Adjustment via Linear Guide Suspension
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural seed drill coulter arrangements are costly, maintenance-intensive, and prone to wear due to numerous joints and pivot points, which complicates height adjustment and susceptibility to contamination.
Innovation Solution
A seed drill with a coulter carrying device connected to a frame via a height-adjustable suspension featuring a linear guide unit, eliminating the need for additional joints and using hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders for vertical adjustment, allowing for easy depth control during operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If rack and pinion devices are used for height adjustment of coulters, then adjustment precision is improved, but device complexity and construction costs increase due to large number of parts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the complex rack and pinion mechanism entirely, extracting only the essential function of height adjustment. Instead of using a mechanical gear-based system with multiple parts, the invention uses a simplified suspension system with fewer components that achieves the same adjustment purpose through direct mechanical linkage and gravity-assisted positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The coulter support tube is divided into multiple independently adjustable sections, each capable of height adjustment through simpler individual mechanisms rather than one complex centralized system. This segmentation allows each section to be adjusted separately with fewer parts per section, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining adjustment precision.
2Ease of operation
If rack and pinion adjustment devices are used, then adjustment control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to requirement of special tools
Solution Approach 1:
The suspension system is designed to be self-adjusting through gravity and mechanical linkage, allowing operators to make height adjustments without requiring special tools or complex procedures. The system automatically maintains position through its mechanical design, eliminating the need for tool-assisted adjustment mechanisms found in rack and pinion systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple rack and pinion devices are used on coulter support tube, then adjustment range is improved, but adjustment time increases due to need for multiple sequential adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple adjustment functions into a unified suspension system where sections can be adjusted simultaneously or in rapid succession. The mechanical linkage and hydraulic lift system allow coordinated adjustment of multiple sections without the sequential time-consuming process required by separate rack and pinion devices, reducing total adjustment time while maintaining full adjustment range.
4Ease of operation
If four-bar linkage arrangement with hydraulic cylinder is used, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to large number of moving parts susceptible to dirt
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the four-bar linkage arrangement and its associated moving parts that are susceptible to contamination. By extracting this complex mechanism and replacing it with a simpler suspension system, the invention eliminates the pivot points and joints that require maintenance, thereby improving reliability while preserving ease of operation through direct mechanical control.
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 solution provides a low-maintenance, wear-resistant, and quickly adjustable coulter arrangement that can be adjusted automatically based on external parameters, reducing operational costs and improving ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
using hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders for vertical adjustment
Implementation Method 2
using hydraulic or pneumatic cylinders for vertical adjustment
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An agricultural distribution machine (10) is disclosed, comprising a central supply and conveying unit for the distributed material or seed and a plurality of seed coulters (18) which are mounted side by side on a common coulter support device (30) arranged transversely to a feed or travel direction (24) and are coupled to the central supply and conveying unit in terms of conveying and material flow. The coulter support device (30) is connected to a frame (14) of the distribution machine (10) via a height-adjustable suspension (33). The height-adjustable suspension (33) includes a linear guide unit (34) which forms a linearly adjustable connection between the frame (14) of the distribution machine (10) and the coulter support device (30) with the plurality of seed coulters (18) attached thereto.The invention also includes a method for the common and simultaneous height adjustment of a plurality of seed coulters (18) which are attached side by side to a common coulter support device (30) of an agricultural distribution machine (10) arranged transversely to a feed or travel direction (24).