Hill-compensating Planter Self-leveling Dispenser
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional seed planters experience inconsistencies in seed distribution when operating on slopes, leading to 'skips' when going uphill and 'doubles' or 'triples' when going downhill, resulting in uneven crop yields and a striped pattern in the field.
Innovation Solution
A hill-compensating planter device with a self-leveling mechanism that maintains the seed dispenser axis upright and a pivotally attached seed hopper and dispensing assembly, ensuring consistent seed drop positioning relative to the planting shoe, regardless of the slope, using a combination of hydraulic and mechanical systems controlled by a computer controller and inclination sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standard cup-type planter is used on sloped terrain, then the planter can operate on hills, but seed distribution becomes inconsistent with skips uphill and doubles/triples downhill
Solution Approach 1:
The seed hopper and dispensing assembly are made dynamically adjustable through pivotal attachment to the frame, allowing the system to adapt its orientation to compensate for slope-induced angle changes and maintain consistent seed distribution across varying terrain
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the seed dispenser by adjusting its angle relative to the frame through pivotal movement, thereby maintaining optimal dispensing geometry despite variations in terrain slope
2Adaptability or versatility
If the seed dispenser angle changes on slopes, then the planter adapts to terrain, but seed pieces fail to dispense properly causing skips and doubles
Solution Approach 1:
The pivotal attachment enables the seed hopper and dispensing assembly to dynamically adjust their orientation in response to terrain changes, maintaining proper dispensing angle and preventing seed handling errors that cause skips and doubles
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses inclination sensors to detect slope conditions and provides feedback to the control system, which then adjusts the pivotal assembly orientation to compensate for slope effects and maintain accurate seed placement
3Productivity
If alternating uphill and downhill passes are used, then the field can be fully planted, but a striped pattern is created reducing crop yield
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the dispensing assembly orientation parameter in response to direction changes, compensating for slope effects in both uphill and downhill passes to eliminate the striped planting pattern and achieve uniform seed distribution across the entire field
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
The solution ensures consistent seed planting across varying terrain, reducing skips and doubles/triples, resulting in improved crop yield and uniform plant spacing, thus enhancing agricultural productivity.
Implementation Method 1
The seed hopper and dispensing assembly are pivotally attached to the frame and configured to pivot about a generally horizontal axis to compensate for angle changes induced by slopes
Implementation Method 2
using a combination of hydraulic and mechanical systems controlled by a computer controller and inclination sensors
Data Source
AI summary
A seed planting device operable on ground includes a main frame, having wheels, configured to be moved in a planting direction on the ground, a seed hopper, attached to the frame, having a discharge, and a cup-type seed dispenser, having a dispenser axis, disposed adjacent to the discharge of the hopper. The seed dispenser is configured to controllably receive and dispense individual seeds from the hopper and drop the seeds from a seed discharge below the frame. The seed hopper and seed dispenser are pivotally attached to the main frame and configured to rotate about a generally horizontal axis to maintain the dispenser axis in a substantially upright orientation relative to an uphill or downhill planting direction.