Curved Cultivating Disc with Straight Cutting Edge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern tillage implements with curved disc blades experience soil compaction issues due to the convex side of the cutting edge, which reduces cultivation efficiency and increases stress on the disc blades, especially when penetrating vertically or at shallow angles.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates a cultivating disc with a straight cutting edge portion and a curved connecting portion, reducing the surface area of the convex side that contacts the soil, thereby minimizing compaction and enhancing the disc's strength and longevity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a curved disc blade is used to lift and turn soil, then the disc blade strength is increased and soil lifting capability is improved, but soil compaction on the convex side increases and cultivation efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisc blade strengthVSAvoidcultivation efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The disc blade is segmented into distinct functional zones: a curved upper portion for lifting and turning soil, and a straight lower cutting edge portion for clean soil cutting. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function optimally without the negative effects of a fully curved design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different portions of the disc blade have different geometries tailored to their specific functions. The curved portion provides strength and lifting capability where needed, while the straight cutting edge portion minimizes compaction and maximizes cutting efficiency at the soil interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If the disc blade penetrates vertically or at shallow angles to increase soil contact, then more soil is cultivated, but the surface area of the convex side contacting soil increases causing greater compaction and stress

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil cultivation amountVSAvoidsoil compaction

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

By separating the disc blade into curved and straight portions, the cutting edge that contacts soil is minimized to only the necessary straight edge, reducing the harmful contact area while still allowing effective soil penetration and cultivation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design converts the potential harm of disc blade curvature into benefit by using the curved portion for its intended purpose (strength and lifting) while eliminating its harmful effect (compaction) at the soil contact point by using a straight cutting edge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Data Source

PatentUS11540434B2Curved cultivating disc with a straight cutting edge portion

Publication Date: 2023.01.03 BLUE LEAF I P INC

AI summary

A cultivating disc for a tillage implement includes an attachment portion positioned at a radial center of the cultivating disc. The attachment portion includes one or more attachment features configured to couple the cultivating disc to the tillage implement about an axis of rotation of the cultivating disc. The attachment portion extends along a first plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the cultivating disc. The cultivating disc also includes a cutting edge portion positioned at a distal end of the cultivating disc relative to the axis of rotation. The cutting edge portion extends along a second plane parallel to the first plane. The cultivating disc further includes a curved connecting portion positioned between and connecting the attachment portion to the cutting edge portion. The curved connecting portion further defines one or more radii of curvature.