Hydraulic Gauge Wheel Pressure Control for Tillage Depth Setting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural tillage implements require manual adjustment of gauge wheel depth, which is time-consuming and inconvenient, especially when adjusting tool depth, as operators need to exit the tractor and manually adjust linkage pressure on gauge wheels.
Innovation Solution
A tillage implement with vertically-adjustable stabilizer-wheel assemblies and a hydraulic gauge-wheel pressure system that includes hydraulic cylinders, a pressure-reducing valve, and a blocking valve, allowing for automated adjustment of gauge wheel pressure based on desired stiffness and depth settings, enabling operators to set and maintain desired gauge wheel positions without continuous hydraulic supply.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If manual adjustment of gauge wheel depth is used, then the implement can be adjusted, but the process is time-consuming and requires operator to exit the tractor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical adjustment system with a hydraulic actuation system. Hydraulic cylinders are connected to the gauge wheels through linkages, allowing the operator to adjust gauge wheel depth from inside the tractor using hydraulic controls, eliminating the need to manually adjust linkages while outside the tractor.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hydraulic circuit with a pressure-reducing valve to provide controlled downward pressure on the gauge wheels. The hydraulic system allows precise adjustment of the downward pressure precharge on gauge wheels, enabling automated depth control without manual intervention.
2Extent of automation
If hydraulic cylinders are used to adjust gauge wheel depth, then automated adjustment is possible, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the existing hydraulic system of the tractor to power the gauge wheel adjustment cylinders. By sharing the hydraulic supply and control mechanisms with other implement functions, the system achieves automated adjustment without adding a completely separate hydraulic system, thereby reducing overall complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a pressure-reducing valve as an intermediary component in the hydraulic circuit. This valve automatically regulates the pressure supplied to the gauge wheel cylinders, simplifying the control system by eliminating the need for complex pressure control mechanisms and manual pressure adjustments.
3Manufacturing precision
If downward pressure precharge is applied to gauge wheels, then consistent depth settings are achieved, but the hydraulic circuit complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies downward pressure precharge to the gauge wheels through the hydraulic system before tillage operations begin. The pressure-reducing valve is configured to automatically establish the appropriate precharge pressure, ensuring consistent gauge wheel contact with the ground and stable depth control from the start of operation without requiring continuous adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydraulic circuit with the pressure-reducing valve is designed to automatically maintain the downward pressure precharge on the gauge wheels. The system self-regulates the pressure without requiring continuous operator intervention, using the hydraulic supply and valve configuration to automatically compensate for pressure changes and maintain consistent depth control.
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
This solution automates the adjustment of gauge wheel depth, reducing operator time and ensuring consistent settings, allowing for faster and more precise adjustments of tillage depth without the need for manual intervention.
Implementation Method 1
each gauge-wheel hydraulic cylinder connecting with its respective gauge wheel through a linkage such that each cylinder provides a downward pressure precharge on its gauge wheel
Implementation Method 2
the gauge-wheel pressure system includes a pressure-reducing valve configured to regulate a pressure in a secondary side of the hydraulic circuit
Implementation Method 3
a blocking valve configured to isolate the pressure-reducing valve and hydraulic circuit from the hydraulic supply
Data Source
AI summary
A tillage implement has a frame with a center section and first and second outer wing sections hingedly attached to respective outer ends of the center section. Controlling a pressure in a secondary side of a hydraulic circuit enables adjustment of the downward pressure precharge provided by hydraulic cylinders based on a desired stiffness of the implement. Flow from a hydraulic supply through a pressure-reducing valve puts the downward pressure precharge on gauge wheels. Once this desired downward pressure precharge has been achieved, flow from the hydraulic supply is shut off and a check valve holds the pressure such that the hydraulic cylinders hold the gauge wheels in the desired position.