Cultivator Disc Orientation for Level Soil Excavation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural disc implements, particularly those with X-shape configurations, face challenges in maintaining a level soil surface and stability while cultivating, as the center discs work deeper due to raised soil between tractor wheels, leading to uneven excavation and potential ridges or troughs.

Innovation Solution

The points of change for disc implement rows are displaced at least half a meter towards the tractor's wheel tracks, maintaining the X-shape configuration while ensuring discs balance each other, thus improving soil levelness and stability without additional material costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the machine is constructed with X-shape configuration, then the machine runs stably and straight behind the tractor, but it is difficult to get uniform excision in the centre and the soil surface becomes uneven with ridges or troughs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemachine stabilityVSAvoidsoil surface levelness
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The disc implement rows are segmented into fore row and rear row with distinct functions. The fore row discs are positioned to break up soil while the rear row discs level the soil surface. This segmentation allows each row to specialize in its function, resolving the contradiction between stability and surface levelness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the machine have different disc orientations and functions. The fore row has discs oriented for soil breaking while the rear row has discs oriented for leveling. This local differentiation of quality allows the machine to simultaneously achieve stability through X-shape configuration and uniform excision through specialized local functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Quantity of substance

If the discs in the centre of the machine work deeper due to raised soil between tractor wheels, then more soil is handled in the centre, but it becomes more difficult to get good excision and levelness behind the centre

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoil handling capacityVSAvoidexcision uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The machine applies different disc configurations to different locations. In the centre where soil is raised, the fore row breaks up the additional soil while the rear row levels it. At the sides where soil is not raised, the discs work with normal depth. This local adaptation resolves the contradiction between handling raised centre soil and maintaining uniform excision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Manufacturing precision

If the machine is constructed with V-shape arrangement, then it is easier to get a flat surface behind the machine, but the machine runs obliquely or unstably due to unbalanced lateral forces

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoil surface levelnessVSAvoidmachine stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The machine uses asymmetric X-shape configuration where the fore row and rear row have different disc orientations and functions. The fore row discs are oriented for soil breaking while the rear row discs are oriented for leveling. This asymmetric arrangement provides both stability through force balance and surface levelness through functional specialization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Solution Approach 2:

The disc implement is segmented into two distinct rows with different functions. The fore row handles soil breaking while the rear row handles leveling. This segmentation allows the machine to achieve both stability and flat surface, resolving the contradiction present in V-shape arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2482627B1Cultivator with two rows of discs in direction of travel
Publication Date: 2018.10.24 VAEDERSTAD HOLDING AB
  • EP2482627B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2482627B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2482627B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention refers to an agricultural machine (101; 201; 301) comprising two mainly parallel, in the direction of travel cross-running disc implement rows (102a, 102c; 202a, 202b; 304a, 304b), wherein the orientation of the disc implements (102b, 102d; 203a, 203b; 302a, 302b) contained in the mentioned disc implement rows is arranged so that the fore row (102a; 202a; 304a) has disc implements that are mounted on a frame beam (110; 211; 303) and that are angled outwards backwards towards the sides of the machine and in a dividing line mainly parallel to the direction of travel of the machine form a first point of change (208a, 304c), and the rear row (102c, 202b; 304b) has disc implements (102d; 203b; 302b) that are mounted on a frame beam (110; 211; 303 ) and that are angled inwards backwards from the sides of the machine and in the dividing line form a second point of change (208b, 304a), wherein the fore row is adapted to throw soil from the first point of change outwards towards the sides of the machine and the other row is adapted to throw soil from the sides of the machine inwards towards the second point of change. The dividing line with the first point of change (208a, 304c), and with the second point of change (208b, 304) is arranged at a predetermined distance from the centre line of the machine (101; 201; 301) across the direction of travel.