Gauge Wheel Ring Scraper to Prevent Opener Disc Debris Plugging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional scrapers in agricultural machines often direct soil and debris into the gauge wheel, causing a plug to form and reducing the effectiveness of the gauge wheel and scraper.

Innovation Solution

A scraper system for agricultural machines is designed with a ring-shaped scraper that rotates with the gauge wheel, featuring teeth that contact the opener disc to remove soil and debris, and is positioned away from the frame to prevent debris from entering the gauge wheel.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the conventional scraper disc is coupled directly to the frame and positioned to scrape soil from the opener disc, then the scraper can effectively remove soil and debris, but the scraper directs soil and debris inside the gauge wheel causing a plug to form that reduces effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescraper effectivenessVSAvoidgauge wheel clogging

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper is extracted from the conventional frame-coupled position and repositioned to be coupled directly to the gauge wheel. This separates the scraping function from the frame structure and integrates it with the gauge wheel assembly, allowing the scraper to clear debris away from the gauge wheel interior while maintaining scraping effectiveness on the opener disc.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Ease of manufacture

If the scraper is positioned on the frame to scrape the opener disc, then the scraper structure is simple and cost effective, but the scraper directs debris into the gauge wheel reducing operational efficiency

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescraper structure simplicityVSAvoidgauge wheel effectiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper and gauge wheel are merged into a single integrated assembly where the scraper is coupled directly to the gauge wheel. This combination allows the scraper to leverage the gauge wheel's position and motion to effectively direct debris away from the gauge wheel interior, maintaining structural simplicity while improving operational effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the scraper is fixed to the frame, then the scraper position is stable, but the clearance between the scraper and opener disc cannot be easily adjusted by the operator

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvescraper position stabilityVSAvoidclearance adjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper-gauge wheel assembly incorporates an adjustable coupling mechanism that allows the operator to dynamically adjust the clearance between the scraper and opener disc while maintaining stable operation. The coupling enables both fixed positioning during operation and adjustable repositioning when needed, combining stability with operational flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS12262652B2Gauge wheel scraper for opener disc

Publication Date: 2025.04.01 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A scraper system for an agricultural machine includes a frame, an opener disc coupled to the frame, a gauge wheel positioned adjacent the opener disc and configured to rotate relative to the frame, and a scraper configured to rotate with the gauge wheel to remove soil or debris from the opener disc. The scraper is ring-shaped, directly coupled to the gauge wheel, and spaced apart from the frame.