Drill Attachment Till Plate Depth Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soil working tools, such as manual tillers and drill accessories, face challenges in efficiently loosening topsoil, controlling depth, and removing weeds without requiring excessive labor or causing soil displacement, especially in difficult terrains and soils.

Innovation Solution

A drill attachment with a shaft and a till plate featuring a planar body with perforations and angled teeth, designed for use with a rotary power source, providing intrinsic depth control and efficient soil working while minimizing labor and soil disruption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If manual tools are used for soil working, then cost and storage space are reduced, but labor requirement increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoidlabor requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual mechanical soil working with a powered rotary tiller that uses rotational mechanical energy to loosen soil, remove weeds, and incorporate fertilizer. The tiller head with tines and cutter blades is driven by a motor, converting electrical or fuel energy into mechanical work, thereby reducing human labor while performing multiple soil working functions simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If power tillers are used for soil working, then productivity increases, but cost and storage space requirement increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil working efficiencyVSAvoidcost

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent designs a multi-functional tiller head that combines soil loosening, weed removal, and fertilizer incorporation capabilities in a single device. The tiller head features both tines for loosening soil and cutter blades for removing weeds, allowing one machine to perform multiple tasks that would otherwise require separate tools, thereby improving productivity without proportionally increasing cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Productivity

If conventional tillers are used for fertilizer mixing, then fertilizer incorporation is achieved, but depth control is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefertilizer incorporationVSAvoiddepth control

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent incorporates a depth control mechanism with a feedback system that includes a depth gauge and adjustable stops. The operator can set the desired tillage depth using the adjustable stop, and the depth gauge provides visual feedback to ensure the tiller operates at the predetermined depth, maintaining consistent fertilizer incorporation depth across different operating conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of manufacture

If manual tools are used in difficult soils, then cost is reduced, but effectiveness decreases and labor requirement increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecostVSAvoideffectiveness in difficult soils

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses curved and angled tine and blade designs that are optimized to cut through and break up compacted or difficult soils more effectively than straight manual tools. The curved tines follow the soil structure to reduce resistance, while angled cutter blades provide mechanical advantage for penetrating hard or rocky soils, maintaining effectiveness in difficult soil conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 enables quick and efficient soil working with minimal labor, effective weed removal, precise fertilizer application, and reduced soil displacement, while being economical and suitable for various terrains and soils, with improved safety and reduced debris accumulation.

Implementation Method 1

powered tillers can ease the time and effort required

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectMechanical Force: Mechanical Force

Implementation Method 2

The tines are configured to engage the soil and break it up as the tiller head rotates

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Implementation Method 3

a rotary power source, providing intrinsic depth control

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic Induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 4

Transform Chemical Energy to Mechanical Energy

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS10257971B2Drill attachment for tilling soil

Publication Date: 2019.04.16 KITTELSON RODNEY T

AI summary

A drill attachment for tilling soil has an extended drill shaft that is coupled with a till plate. The combination may be driven by an ordinary hand drill. The drill shaft has a stabilizer tip that protrudes beyond the till plate. The till plate includes a plurality of teeth that dig into and work top soil, while a generally planar disk-shaped body member at the top of the till plate prevents the till plate from sinking below the surface of the soil. The teeth are stamped from the till plate, forming openings in the generally planar disk-shaped body member. These openings and other optional openings cooperate with the teeth to further break up clumps of soil, and help to balance forces from the teeth pulling into the soil against the force of the body member that resists sinking into the earth. Optional weed-out and hole tools are also disclosed.