Displaceable Seed Coulter for Constant Depth on Slopes and Curves
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing strip-till seed drills face challenges in accurately placing seeds in fields with significant plant residues and when sowing in curves or on sideways slopes, leading to uneven working depth and increased risk of seed coulter damage.
Innovation Solution
A seed coulter designed for a direct seed drill that is freely displaceable along a tine, connected via a depth-control device, allowing for constant seeding depth adjustment and protection against lateral forces, with features like a depth wheel, pressure-loading device, and rotary joint for optimal placement and reduced wear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If the seed coulter is fixed rigidly to the tine, then the structure is simple and strong, but the seeding depth varies when sowing in curves or on slopes leading to inaccurate seed placement
Solution Approach 1:
The seed coulter is made displaceable along the tine via a guiding portion with bushings that allow longitudinal movement. This dynamic configuration enables the seed coulter to maintain accurate seeding depth independent of tine working depth changes, while following the groove formed by the tine in curves and on slopes, thereby resolving the contradiction between seed placement accuracy and structural simplicity.
2Manufacturing precision
If the seed coulter is positioned far behind the tine, then it is protected from damage, but the seed placement accuracy decreases due to groove irregularities
Solution Approach 1:
The displaceable connection allows the seed coulter to dynamically adjust its position along the tine, enabling it to follow the groove profile when positioned close for accuracy, while the independent depth control provides protection against damage by decoupling the seeding depth from the tine working depth.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the seed coulter working depth is coupled to tine working depth, then the structure is simple, but independent adjustment of seeding depth is not possible
Solution Approach 1:
The seed coulter's displaceable connection to the tine enables independent depth adjustment. The guiding portion with bushings allows the seed coulter to move independently along the tine, decoupling its working depth from the tine working depth, thereby providing adaptability while maintaining relatively simple structure.
4Manufacturing precision
If conventional tillage is used to prepare seedbed, then seed placement accuracy is improved, but soil erosion and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The tine performs preliminary action by forming a groove in the soil before the seed coulter places the seed. This groove formation replaces the need for extensive conventional tillage, allowing accurate seed placement directly in the groove while minimizing soil disturbance and preventing erosion.
5Device complexity
If the seed coulter uses fixed bushings for guiding, then the structure is simple, but wear and friction increase over time
Solution Approach 1:
The bushings are designed as replaceable wear parts that can be discarded when worn and recovered/replaced with new ones. This allows the simple guiding mechanism structure to be maintained while extending the overall service life of the seed coulter through easy replacement of consumable components.
Data Source
AI summary
A seed coulter arranged to place one or more inputs in a groove behind a tine of a direct seed drill for field crops. The seed coulter is arranged for displaceable connection to the tine and is freely displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the tine between a lower position and an upper position. A seeding unit comprising the seed coulter. A direct seed drill comprising a plurality of the seeding units.