Decoupled Actuating Mechanism for Soil Cultivation Side Plate

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soil cultivating machines face challenges in efficiently managing side plate movement and adjustment, leading to friction and wear issues, as well as the accumulation of soil mounds during operation.

Innovation Solution

A soil cultivating machine with a side plate that uses decoupling actuating components and a spring or hydraulic/pneumatic mechanism to move the side plate between operative and non-operative positions, preventing friction and automatically returning to its original position, while also featuring a guide plate to manage soil material.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the side plate is continuously coupled to the pivot axis via actuating components, then the side plate can be forcibly moved between positions, but friction and wear occur between the actuating components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside plate positioning reliabilityVSAvoidfriction and wear between actuating components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating mechanism is segmented into two separate actuating components: one coupled to the pivot axis and another coupled to the side plate. These components are decoupled from each other, allowing independent movement and eliminating friction between them while maintaining reliable positioning control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Object-generated harmful factors

If the side plate is rigidly fixed to prevent lateral movement, then soil mound accumulation is prevented, but the machine cannot adapt to uneven ground

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesoil mound accumulationVSAvoidadaptability to uneven ground
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-generated harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The side plate is designed with dynamic positioning capability, allowing it to be forcibly moved between a first position (lowered towards ground) and a second position (raised away from ground) via the decoupled actuating components. This enables the side plate to adapt to uneven ground conditions while preventing soil mound accumulation when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the actuating components are always engaged, then the side plate can be controlled precisely, but friction increases wear on the components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveside plate adjustment easeVSAvoidactuating component wear
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The actuating system is divided into separate, decoupled actuating components that only engage when needed for positioning. This segmentation allows precise control during operation while minimizing continuous friction and wear, improving both ease of operation and component durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution reduces friction and wear, prevents soil mound accumulation, and allows for efficient adjustment and operation on uneven ground, enhancing the machine's operational reliability and effectiveness.

Implementation Method 1

a spring or hydraulic/pneumatic mechanism to move the side plate between operative and non-operative positions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

a spring or hydraulic/pneumatic mechanism to move the side plate between operative and non-operative positions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic: Hydraulic Press

Implementation Method 3

a spring or hydraulic/pneumatic mechanism to move the side plate between operative and non-operative positions

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPneumatic:

Data Source

PatentEP3545736B1Soil processing machine
Publication Date: 2020.11.25 KVERNELAND AS
  • EP3545736B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3545736B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3545736B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a soil cultivation machine comprising: a frame (2); a soil cultivation tool which is pivotable about a pivot axis extending transversely to the direction of travel relative to the frame (2) between a working position in which the soil cultivation tool is lowered towards the ground and a non-working position in which the tool is raised away from the ground; a protective device comprising a side shield (6) which is arranged laterally to the side of the tool in a direction transverse to the direction of travel, at least when the tool is in the working position;and an actuating device (11) which is assigned to and configured for the protective device, to forcibly move the side plate (6) relative to the frame between a first position, in which the side plate (6) is lowered towards the ground, and a second position, in which the side plate (6) is raised away from the ground, when the tool is moved between the working position and the non-working position. The actuating device (11) has a pivot-axis-side actuating component (11a) which couples to the pivot axis, and a side-plate-side actuating component (11b) which couples to the side plate (6). The pivot-axis-side and side-plate-side actuating components (11a, 11b) are decoupled from each other when the side plate (6) is in the first position, and couple to each other to forcibly move the side plate (6) from the first to the second position;