Cultivator Pivot Geometry for Consistent Tool Depth
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern cultivators face challenges with depth control of ground engaging tools due to increased size and operating speed, leading to inconsistent soil penetration as they traverse uneven fields.
Innovation Solution
The cultivator design features a main frame with ground wheels aligned horizontally with a pivot axis, allowing for precise depth control through hydraulic actuators that adjust the position of ground engaging tools and packer rollers, and a hydraulic circuit that synchronizes these adjustments for consistent operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the cultivator increases in size and operating speed to cover more field area, then productivity increases, but depth control of ground engaging tools deteriorates leading to inconsistent soil penetration
Solution Approach 1:
The cultivator employs a pivotable tilling section that can dynamically adjust its angle relative to the main frame, allowing the system to adapt to varying field conditions while maintaining consistent tool depth. The ground wheels are positioned to define an axis substantially aligned with the pivot axis, creating a dynamic geometric relationship that self-adjusts during operation
Solution Approach 2:
The alignment of the ground wheel axis with the pivot axis creates a specific geometric parameter relationship that changes the operational characteristics of the cultivator. This alignment ensures that as the tilling section pivots, the ground engaging tools maintain consistent penetration depth while the overall system covers larger field areas
2Productivity
If the cultivator operates at higher speeds to till fields faster, then productivity increases, but depth control and soil penetration consistency worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotable tilling section with ground wheels whose axis is substantially aligned with the pivot axis creates a dynamic system that automatically compensates for speed variations. This geometric arrangement allows the tilling section to pivot and adjust its position in response to operational conditions, maintaining consistent tool-to-soil contact depth even at higher operating speeds
3Productivity
If the cultivator increases in size to cover more field area, then productivity increases, but adaptability to field contours deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The tilling section is designed to pivot relative to the main frame, creating a dynamic configuration that allows the large cultivator to adapt to field contours. The ground wheels, positioned with their axis substantially aligned with the pivot axis, serve as reference points that enable the tilling section to rotate and follow ground variations while maintaining overall system stability
Solution Approach 2:
The cultivator is divided into distinct functional sections: a stable main frame with ground wheels for support and positioning, and a pivotable tilling section for soil engagement. This segmentation allows the larger system to maintain adaptability by isolating the contour-following function to the tilling section while the main frame provides stable base support
Data Source
AI summary
A cultivator is provided. The cultivator can have a main frame having a front end and a back end, a hitch assembly connected to the front end of the main frame, a tilling section attached to the back end of the main frame, a pair of main ground wheels, a first wing ground wheel and a second wing ground wheel, a plurality of ground engaging tools connected to and extending below the tilling section.