Inter-Row Cultivator Tool Segments Offset Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inter-row cultivators with large working widths face challenges in guiding soil working tools between plant rows due to offsets caused by seeders operating with smaller working widths, leading to damage or destruction of crops, as existing solutions fail to reliably compensate for these offsets.
Innovation Solution
The inter-row cultivator features remotely adjustable tool segments with a control and regulating unit that allows for transverse displacement and height adjustment of hoeing assemblies, equipped with detection means such as cameras and GPS data storage, to accurately guide soil working tools between plant rows, and includes a steering axle and coulter discs to manage terrain and slope conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If tool segments are combined into a rigid unit with fixed distance between hoeing assemblies, then the structure is simple and stable, but the offset between adjacent plant rows of individual working widths cannot be compensated, causing soil working tools to damage crops
Solution Approach 1:
The tool segments are divided into independently movable units, each capable of transverse displacement relative to the base frame. This segmentation allows each segment to independently adjust its position to compensate for offsets between plant rows, thereby maintaining reliable guidance of soil working tools without requiring a complex fully adjustable system.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool segments are designed with moving units that enable dynamic adjustment of their transverse position on the base frame. This dynamic capability allows the segments to adapt to varying distances between plant rows while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity.
2Area of moving object
If the working width of the inter-row cultivator extends over two or more tracks of the seeder, then the working width is large, but the offset from imprecise placement of seed lies within the working width, making guidance difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The large working width is divided into multiple tool segments, each responsible for a specific portion of the working width. Each segment can independently adjust its transverse position to compensate for seed placement offsets within its section, maintaining precision across the entire large working width.
Solution Approach 2:
The transverse position of each tool segment is made variable through the moving units, allowing the system to adapt the spacing between hoeing assemblies to match the actual distance between plant rows. This parameter adjustment capability enables precise tool guidance even when the working width spans multiple seeder tracks with varying offsets.
3Ease of operation
If hoeing assemblies are arranged at fixed preset distance on tool segments, then the arrangement is simple, but the distance between adjacent hoeing assemblies cannot be adjusted to match varying distances between plant rows
Solution Approach 1:
The distance between adjacent hoeing assemblies is made dynamically adjustable through the moving units that displace tool segments transversely. This dynamic adjustment mechanism allows the hoeing assemblies to be repositioned to match varying plant row distances while maintaining operational simplicity through automated control.
Solution Approach 2:
The control and regulating unit receives input from detection means about the actual distance between plant rows and automatically adjusts the transverse position of tool segments accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables easy adaptation to varying plant row distances without requiring complex manual adjustment procedures.
Data Source
AI summary
An inter-row cultivator with a large working width, comprising a base frame with a chassis, via which the base frame is supported on the soil, and a drawbar by means of which the inter-row cultivator can be suspended on a towing vehicle; at least two tool segments, which extend transversely to the travel direction over the entire working width in a working position and which preferably extend along the travel direction in a transport position; and a plurality of hoeing assemblies which are arranged on the tool segments via a respective height guide device, preferably a remotely adjustable height guide device, wherein soil working tools paired with individual plant rows are arranged on the hoeing assemblies. The aim of the invention is to improve the care of cultivated plants. This is achieved in that the tool segments are arranged on the base frame separately movable manner transversely to the travel direction via a respective moving unit so as to be controllable and/or regulatable at least in working position, and a control and/or regulating unit is provided in order to determine suitable positions of the tool segments and to set said positions by means of the moving units.