Large Diameter Flotation Wheels for Soft Soil Seeding

Solution Overview

Problem

Agricultural implements, such as air seeders, face challenges in operating in soft soil conditions due to sinking and increased rolling resistance, which limits the window for seeding and increases the risk of crop damage and financial losses, especially in wet weather conditions.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of large diameter front wheels with a controlled rolling orientation mechanism, allowing the wheels to pivot within a reduced envelope, enabling closer mounting to the hitch and improving flotation, maneuverability, and reducing soil disturbance during turns.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional small diameter front wheels are used, then the implement can maneuver and turn easily, but the implement sinks into soft soil and becomes stuck

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to operate in soft soilVSAvoidmaneuverability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the diameter parameter of the front wheels from conventional small size to large size (flotation wheels). This parameter change increases the contact area with the ground, reducing ground pressure and preventing sinking into soft soil, thereby resolving the contradiction between operational reliability in soft soil and ease of maneuvering

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a controlled pivoting mechanism that allows the large diameter flotation wheels to rotate and pivot. This dynamic capability enables the wheels to adapt to turning requirements while maintaining their large diameter for flotation, thus preserving maneuverability despite the size increase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If large diameter flotation wheels are used, then flotation and reduced sinking is achieved, but the wheels require a large pivot envelope for turning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflotation capabilityVSAvoidpivot envelope area

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a controlled pivoting mechanism with stops that dynamically manage the wheel orientation. The wheels can pivot when needed for turning but are constrained within a reduced envelope compared to free-castering large wheels, thus maintaining flotation capability while reducing the required pivot envelope area

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces a control mechanism as an intermediary between the large flotation wheels and the implement frame. This intermediary controls the pivoting motion, allowing the wheels to achieve necessary orientation changes for turning while limiting the overall pivot envelope to a smaller area than would be required by uncontrolled large wheels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If large diameter flotation wheels are mounted close to the hitch, then maneuverability is improved, but the rolling orientation control becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovemaneuverabilityVSAvoidwheel control mechanism complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a control mechanism as an intermediary between the large flotation wheels and the implement frame. This intermediary controls the pivoting motion, allowing the wheels to achieve necessary orientation changes for turning while limiting the overall pivot envelope to a smaller area than would be required by uncontrolled large wheels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs a controlled pivoting mechanism that allows the large diameter flotation wheels to rotate and pivot. This dynamic capability enables the wheels to adapt to turning requirements while maintaining their large diameter for flotation, thus preserving maneuverability despite the size increase

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9820424B2Flotation for agricultural implements

Publication Date: 2017.11.21 BOURGAULT INDS LTD

AI summary

An agricultural implement has front flotation wheels with a significantly increased diameter, increasing flotation and improving rolling characteristics, especially in soft soil conditions. The implement has a frame supported on front and rear wheels. Front flotation wheels are pivotally mounted to the frame about vertical axes. A hitch tongue is pivotally attached to the frame about a vertical hitch pivot axis. A wheel control mechanism connects the front flotation wheels to the hitch tongue, and is configured such that when the hitch tongue is in a neutral position the front flotation wheels roll in the operating direction, and pivoting the hitch tongue causes the front flotation wheels to pivot in the same direction.