Ground-Following Harrow Linkage for Consistent Soil Contact
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing harrow designs struggle to effectively follow undulating ground surfaces, leading to inefficient soil working and potential damage from uneven terrain.
Innovation Solution
A harrow apparatus with a mounting assembly that allows the harrow section to pivot and adjust its engagement with the ground surface, utilizing a beam and pivot arms or a parallel linkage with an extendable actuator to maintain consistent contact and vary the force applied, enhancing ground following capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the harrow section is mounted rigidly to the implement frame, then the structure is simple and stable, but the harrow cannot follow ground contours and maintains inconsistent contact with the soil surface
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting assembly transforms the rigid connection into a dynamic system with pivotally attached arms and a parallel linkage system. This allows the harrow section to move relative to the implement frame, enabling it to follow ground contours while maintaining structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting assembly is divided into separate components including front and rear arms, upper and lower links, and an actuator system. Each component can move independently, allowing the harrow section to adapt to terrain variations while maintaining overall structural integrity.
2Reliability
If the harrow section is allowed to move independently to follow ground contours, then ground following capability is improved, but control over downforce application is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The parallel linkage system provides mechanical feedback between the harrow section position and the actuator. As the harrow follows ground contours, the linkage automatically adjusts the actuator position, maintaining controlled downforce application while adapting to terrain variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting assembly acts as an intermediary between the implement frame and the harrow section. It transmits controlled forces while allowing relative movement, mediating between the need for ground following and the need for downforce control.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the harrow uses a wide implement frame for stability, then the structure is stable, but the harrow sections cannot independently follow ground variations
Solution Approach 1:
The harrow is divided into multiple independently mounted sections, each with its own mounting assembly. This segmentation allows each section to follow ground variations independently while the overall implement frame maintains stability through its wide base.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting assembly introduces dynamic movement capability to each harrow section while the implement frame remains stable. The pivotally attached arms and parallel linkage allow sections to move vertically to follow ground contours without affecting the stability of the overall implement.
Data Source
AI summary
A harrow apparatus comprising an implement frame and a harrow section attached to a mounting assembly extending rearward from the implement frame such that the harrow section engages the ground surface. The mounting assembly is movable upward and downward to move the harrow section down and up. The mounting assembly comprises a beam extending rearward above the harrow frame, and front and rear arms pivotally attached at upper ends thereof to corresponding front and rear beam pivot axes located on the beam. The front arm slopes downward and rearward to a lower end thereof that is pivotally attached to the harrow frame at a front frame pivot axis, and the rear arm slopes downward and forward to a lower end thereof that is pivotally attached to the harrow frame at a rear frame pivot axis located rearward of the front frame pivot axis.