Helical Seed Positioning Device Centrifugal Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seed metering and sensing systems face inaccuracies at high seeding rates due to seeds passing at random angles, speeds, and in clumps, leading to inaccurate volume or rate measurement and improper seed delivery.
Innovation Solution
A seed positioning device utilizing a helical surface and centrifugal force to align and separate seeds, ensuring they are presented uniformly to a sensor and delivered accurately, comprising a seed sensor and pneumatic distribution system with a seed meter and positioning member that extends radially from a central axis to a radially outer portion, accelerating seeds by gravity and centrifugal force for precise dispensing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ground speed of agricultural machinery is increased to improve productivity, then productivity increases, but seed counting and volumetric measurement accuracy deteriorates due to seeds passing at random angles, speeds, and in clumps
Solution Approach 1:
The seeds are positioned and aligned in a controlled manner before reaching the sensor. The positioning device pre-arranges seeds in a uniform stream, ensuring they pass through the sensor in an organized sequence rather than randomly, thereby maintaining measurement accuracy at high speeds
Solution Approach 2:
A positioning device is introduced as an intermediary component between the seed meter and the sensor. This device mediates the seed flow by controlling their trajectories and spacing, ensuring uniform presentation to the sensor while allowing high ground speeds to be maintained
2Productivity
If ground speed is increased to improve productivity, then productivity increases, but seed delivery accuracy deteriorates due to seeds passing in clumps and at random angles
Solution Approach 1:
Seeds are pre-positioned and aligned in a controlled stream before delivery to the field. The positioning device ensures proper spacing and orientation of seeds beforehand, preventing clumping and ensuring accurate placement even at high operating speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning device acts as an intermediary that controls seed trajectories and spacing between the metering mechanism and the soil delivery point, ensuring uniform seed distribution and proper delivery accuracy while maintaining high productivity
3Productivity
If seeds are allowed to pass through the sensor at high rates to improve productivity, then productivity increases, but measurement precision deteriorates due to random angles, speeds, and clumping
Solution Approach 1:
Seeds are pre-aligned and uniformly spaced before reaching the sensor. The positioning device creates an organized seed stream that maintains consistent spacing and orientation, allowing high volumetric flow rates while preserving accurate sensor measurements
Solution Approach 2:
A positioning device is positioned between the seed source and sensor to mediate the flow. It controls seed trajectories and spacing, ensuring that even at high volumetric rates, seeds pass through the sensor in a uniform, measurable manner
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
Improves the accuracy of seed counting and volumetric measurement, ensuring proper seed delivery and alignment, even at increased seeding machine speeds, by uniformly positioning seeds for precise placement and monitoring.
Implementation Method 1
The seeds are positioned by centrifugal force, wherein the seed positioning member is comprising a helical surface and the housing member is comprising a central axis and a radially outer portion. The seed positioning member extends radially from the central axis to the radially outer portion, and the seeds are accelerated only by gravity force radially outward toward a wall of the housing member.
Implementation Method 2
The seed positioning member extends radially from the central axis to the radially outer portion, and the seeds are accelerated only by gravity force radially outward toward a wall of the housing member.
Data Source
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AI summary
A seed positioning device (106) is disclosed. The seed positioning device comprises an axially extending housing member (114) having an upper portion (126) and a lower portion (128); and a seed positioning member (110) extending axially through the housing member (114) and configured to transfer a plurality of seeds (104) between the upper portion and the lower portion of the housing member and configured to position the plurality of seeds by centrifugal force, wherein the seed positioning member (110) comprises a helical surface (112) with at least one axially overlapping portion (122) and with a pitch angle (124) in a range of between 30 degrees and 60 degrees. Further, a seed dispensing system (100) with such a seed positioning device (106), a seeding machine (10) with such a dispensing system (100) and a method of positioning a plurality of seeds is disclosed.