Foldable Agricultural Roller with Pendulum Axles

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing soil cultivation devices with collapsible agricultural implements and chassis packer rollers face issues with ground adjustment and optimal seedbed preparation due to limited interaction between driving and transport positions, leading to suboptimal seedbed formation and unsafe transport on uneven roads.

Innovation Solution

A foldable agricultural implement combination with four interconnected chassis packer roller units, featuring pendulum axles for oscillation and a hydraulic accumulator for maintaining consistent wheel pressure, allowing for optimal ground following during work and safe transport by adapting to road curvature without additional space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the side parts are folded in for transport, then the device achieves a compact transport position, but the side parts cannot adjust to ground unevenness and run crooked in the track groove

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransport position compactnessVSAvoidground following ability
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The side parts are designed with pendulum axles that allow dynamic oscillation during work to follow ground contours, while in transport position they are folded in compactly. This dynamic capability enables the side parts to adapt to ground unevenness during operation while maintaining compactness during transport, resolving the contradiction between compact transport and ground following ability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If the pendulum axle is arranged in the center of the roller unit, then optimal ground following is achieved during work, but the wheel loads become unequal during transport

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveground following abilityVSAvoidwheel load distribution
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the operational parameters of the pendulum axle based on the mode of operation. During work, the pendulum axle is arranged in the center for optimal ground following. During transport, the parameter changes as the side parts are folded in, and the energy accumulator compensates for unequal wheel loads by providing additional force to balance the load distribution, thus resolving the contradiction between ground following and wheel load stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Volume of moving object

If the frame is pivotally connected to the intermediate arm with 90° pivot, then compact ordering combination is achieved, but additional free spaces are required for compensating movements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombination compactnessVSAvoidspace for compensating movements
Core Design Contradiction:
Volume of moving objectVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The side parts are nested into the middle part halves during transport position, achieving a compact ordering combination. The 90° pivot connection allows the side parts to be folded in tightly against the middle part, minimizing the overall volume. This nesting arrangement eliminates the need for additional free spaces for compensating movements, as the compact nested structure inherently accommodates all necessary movements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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

Ensures optimal guidance and seedbed preparation while providing safe and stable transport on uneven roads, maintaining consistent wheel pressure and load distribution across wheels, regardless of the seed hopper's load status.

Implementation Method 1

the roller units can each oscillate about pendulum axles located in the longitudinal direction

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPendulum oscillation: Pendulum

Implementation Method 2

During work, the roller units can each oscillate about pendulum axles located in the longitudinal direction. These pendulum axles are then also used in the transport position to adapt the respective middle section halves to the ground

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravitational force: Gravitation

Implementation Method 3

an energy accumulator is provided which acts on the pivot box at a distance from the pendulum axis and is designed to ensure a constant wheel load on the wheels of the respective central part half

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHydraulic pressure: Hydraulic Accumulator

Implementation Method 4

The energy store is designed in such a way that it allows the undercarriage packer roller to follow the ground while maintaining the same wheel pressure for the individual wheels

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnergy storage: Accumulator (energy)

Data Source

PatentEP2055164B1Foldable combination of agricultural tools
Publication Date: 2011.09.14 LEMKEN GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2055164B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2055164B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2055164B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The combination (1) has a chassis packer roller (2) with side parts (6) arranged at left and right of a middle part (3). The parts (6) are foldable around rotation axes (10) via a hydraulic cylinder (15). The part (3) is formed as a chassis (4) and has right and left middle part halves (20, 21), where the side parts form right and left roller units in a folded operating condition using the halves. Each unit has a horizontal pendulum axle (25) that is arranged in an operating direction, where the axle is arranged at a distance to the axis and formed for base adjustment of the units.