Combined Agricultural Machine With Hydraulic Roller Depth Adjustment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing combined agricultural machines face inefficiencies due to the need for mechanical adjustment of roller depth, lack of versatility in operating stations, and high costs associated with articulated parallelogram supports, which hinder effective and economical construction and operation.

Innovation Solution

Agricultural machines with a first operating station featuring a hinged pivoting arm and a support for a roller, combined with an articulated quadrilateral linkage, allowing hydraulic adjustment and maintaining the sowing bar parallel to the ground, enabling efficient conversion of conventional harrows to combined machines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If an articulated parallelogram type mechanism is used to connect the roller to the harrow, then the sowing bar can be maintained parallel with the ground for constant sowing depth, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesowing depth controlVSAvoidroller support structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the roller support system into two independent functional parts: (1) a hinged pivoting arm mechanism for depth adjustment, and (2) a separate parallelogram linkage system for maintaining sowing bar parallelism. This segmentation allows each subsystem to perform its specific function without requiring the entire structure to be complex, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention introduces a parallelogram linkage as an intermediary mechanism between the hinged pivoting arm and the sowing bar. This intermediary component specifically addresses the parallelism requirement without affecting the depth adjustment mechanism, thereby maintaining simplicity while achieving precision in sowing depth control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of manufacture

If a hinged roller support with movable pins is used for mechanical adjustment, then the structure is simpler and more economical, but the ease of operation deteriorates due to manual adjustment requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveroller support structureVSAvoidroller depth adjustment
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The invention replaces the manual movable pin adjustment system with a hydraulic actuator that automatically adjusts the roller depth. The hydraulic cylinder connects the pivoting arm to the carrier structure, providing powered adjustment that eliminates the need for operators to manually remove and reposition pins, thereby improving ease of operation while maintaining the structural simplicity of the hinged support.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

3Ease of manufacture

If a special frame is designed for the sower to enable connection to the harrow, then the combined machine can be constructed, but the adaptability and versatility decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecombined machine constructionVSAvoidoperating station replacement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention designs the carrier structure with universal mounting points and standardized connection interfaces that can accommodate different types of operating stations. The rear connection system is configured to work with various sowing devices, ground preparation tools, or other attachments, allowing the harrow to serve multiple functions and enhancing versatility without complicating the basic construction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4241544B1Agricultural machine provided for combined application
Publication Date: 2025.09.17 MASCHIO GASPARDO
  • EP4241544B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4241544B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP4241544B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

An agricultural machine (1) which is provided for combined application comprises a first operating station (2) which is provided with a carrier structure (10) and a support (15) for a roller (14) which is mounted in a pivoting manner on the carrier structure about a first axis (17a). The support (15) includes a first arm (17) which is hinged to the carrier structure (10) about the first axis (17a) and which carries the roller (14) rotatably about a second axis (20) which is parallel with and spaced apart from the first axis (17a). The first station (2) is provided with an additional support (23) for mounting a second operating station (3) in concatenation.