Disc Slot Unit for Liquid Manure Distributor

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing liquid manure spreading devices face challenges in achieving large working widths due to high tractive effort requirements and superficial fertilizer deposition, with existing disc slot devices being too heavy and inefficient, while slotted shoes struggle with dry ground conditions and wear.

Innovation Solution

A lightweight disk slot unit with a spring element and rotatably mounted slotted disk, allowing for deep furrow creation and efficient manure injection, featuring a pivotable holder and adjustable nozzle for varying furrow widths and depths, and a cover element to prevent nutrient loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional disc slotting machines are used to inject fertilizer deeply into the soil, then fertilizer utilization is improved, but weight and tractive force requirement increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefertilizer utilization effectivenessVSAvoidmachine weight
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The disc slotting machine is divided into multiple independent working discs (at least two discs) that can be separately mounted on the vehicle chassis. Each disc operates independently to create slots and inject fertilizer, allowing the system to achieve deep injection effectiveness while distributing the total weight across multiple lighter components rather than one heavy monolithic structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention changes the operational parameters by allowing the working discs to be adjusted in terms of their injection depth, slot width, and positioning. This enables effective deep fertilizer injection without requiring the entire machine to be heavily constructed, as the parameters can be optimized for specific soil conditions and fertilizer application requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Area of stationary object

If trailing shoes or skid shoes are used to achieve large working widths with little traction, then working width is improved, but fertilizer deposition becomes superficial

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking widthVSAvoidfertilizer deposition depth
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of using a single wide trailing shoe that deposits fertilizer superficially, the invention segments the fertilizer application into multiple discrete working discs. Each disc creates its own slot and deposits fertilizer at a controlled depth, ensuring that even with large working widths achieved through multiple discs, each individual fertilizer application maintains proper injection depth.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The working discs act as intermediary elements between the fertilizer source and the soil. Rather than directly depositing fertilizer onto the soil surface as with trailing shoes, the discs first create slots in the soil and then deliver fertilizer into these slots, ensuring deep deposition while maintaining the ability to cover large working widths through multiple disc units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Area of stationary object

If slot injectors or slot skids are used to create grooves in the soil with low traction requirement, then working width is improved, but they cannot create slits in dry soil and experience high wear

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveworking widthVSAvoidoperational reliability in dry soil
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The working discs are designed to be dynamically adjustable and adaptable to different soil conditions. The discs can be pressed into the soil with controlled force and can be adjusted or replaced based on whether the soil is dry or moist. This dynamic capability allows the system to maintain operational reliability in dry soil conditions while still achieving large working widths through multiple disc units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The invention allows for parameter changes in the disc design and operation, such as adjusting the disc material, thickness, and pressing force, to adapt to dry soil conditions. By changing these parameters, the system can create effective slots in dry soil without experiencing the high wear that plagues conventional slot injectors, while maintaining large working widths through multiple disc units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Enables effective, deep, and efficient liquid manure distribution across large areas with reduced tractive effort, minimizing wear and nutrient loss, and preventing nitrogen volatilization and odor formation.

Implementation Method 1

The disc slot unit (16) comprises a spring element (20) which can be attached to the slurry spreading device (12) at a first longitudinal end. The spring element is preferably made of spring steel and is designed in the form of a leaf spring.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

a slotting disc (26) for cutting a furrow (28) in the ground is rotatably mounted on the bracket (24)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentEP3320765B1Disc slot unit for a liquid manure distributor
Publication Date: 2019.09.25 FLIEGL AGRARTECHN GMBH
  • EP3320765B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3320765B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP3320765B1 patent drawingFigure 6~7

AI summary

The invention relates to a disc slot unit (16) for a slurry spreading device (12), comprising a spring element (20) which can be attached to the slurry spreading device (12) at a first longitudinal end; a holder (24) attached in the region of a second longitudinal end of the spring element (20), on which a slotted disc (26) for cutting a furrow (28) in the ground is rotatably mounted; a discharge hose (34) arranged along the longitudinal direction of the spring element (20), on which a slurry nozzle (36) is attached, the outlet opening of which is directed towards a slurry injection point (38) which, with respect to a intended direction of movement of the disc slot unit (16), is arranged behind a contact point (40) of the slotted disc (26).