Towed Cultivator Central Tine Decoupling Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Towed cultivators face issues with the forwardly offset central tine, which can impair its function due to changes in working depth and angle of attack when the drawbar is adjusted, particularly during road transport and when using different hitch variants, leading to restricted functionality.

Innovation Solution

The central tine is decoupled from the drawbar and attached to a separate linkage bracket that allows the drawbar to pivot without altering the tine's working position, enabling adjustable configurations without repositioning the tine, and incorporating a support strut for variable length adjustments to maintain consistent operation across different tractor attachments and soil conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the central tine is mounted on the drawbar, then the drawbar can be adjusted for different working depths and angles, but the working position and angle of attack of the central tine change when the drawbar is adjusted, impairing its function

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadjustability of drawbarVSAvoidfunctionality of central tine
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The cultivator is divided into two independent mounting systems: the drawbar for traction and the linkage bracket for the central tine. This segmentation allows the drawbar to be adjusted for different working conditions while the central tine maintains its fixed working position and angle of attack, resolving the contradiction between drawbar adaptability and central tine reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The central tine is extracted from the drawbar mounting system and attached to a separate linkage bracket that is rigidly connected to the machine frame. This extraction ensures that adjustments to the drawbar do not affect the central tine's working parameters, maintaining its functional reliability while preserving drawbar adjustability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of operation

If the drawbar is articulated to pivot for road transport and hitch adjustment, then transport and hitch adaptability are improved, but the working depth and angle of attack of the central tine are altered

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport and hitch adjustmentVSAvoidworking position accuracy of central tine
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system is segmented into a movable drawbar assembly for transport and hitch adjustment, and a fixed linkage bracket assembly for the central tine. This allows the drawbar to pivot freely for ease of operation while the linkage bracket maintains precise, fixed positioning of the central tine, eliminating interference between these functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If various hitch types are used with different heights, then hitch versatility is improved, but the drawbar must be adjusted to different heights, changing the central tine's working parameters

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehitch type compatibilityVSAvoidconsistency of central tine operation
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system separates the hitch adaptation function (drawbar) from the working function (central tine via linkage bracket). The drawbar can be adjusted to different heights and angles to accommodate various hitch types, while the linkage bracket maintains the central tine's working parameters constant, ensuring operational reliability despite hitch versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The central tine is extracted from the drawbar's movement influence by mounting it on a separate linkage bracket. This allows the drawbar to adapt to different hitch heights and types without transmitting these changes to the central tine, maintaining consistent working parameters while achieving hitch versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3620038B1Towed cultivator
Publication Date: 2021.12.15 ALOIS POETTINGER MASCHFAB
  • EP3620038B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3620038B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3620038B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an agricultural tillage machine, in particular a trailed cultivator, with a machine frame comprising several crossbeams arranged one behind the other, to each of which several tillage tools, in particular cultivator tines, are attached. A drawbar with a coupling joint for articulated attachment to a tractor is arranged at the front of the machine frame, and an additional intermediate tool is provided below the drawbar in front of the foremost crossbeam and the tillage tools attached thereto. According to the invention, the additional intermediate tool is attached to a separate pivot bracket, which is attached to the machine frame and projects forward from the front of its foremost crossbeam.