Independent Cell Rotor Segments for Flexible Agricultural Dosing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing agricultural metering systems, such as those used in seed machines, lack flexibility due to the limitations of rotary valve designs with drive motors mounted on opposite sides of the housing, making it difficult to add more sections for increased flexibility.

Innovation Solution

A metering device with a cell rotor having independently operable rotor segments, each driven by separate motors, allowing for independent activation and speed control, and mounted in a way that enables easy change and alignment, including concentric and non-coaxial arrangements, to enhance flexibility without increasing installation space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If drive motors are mounted on opposite sides of the rotary valve housing, then the rotary valve can be divided into sections, but expansion by adding further sections is not possible

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility in distributionVSAvoidlimitation in expanding sections

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements nesting by placing one drive motor inside the housing of another drive motor. Specifically, a first drive motor is mounted on the housing, and a second drive motor is mounted inside the housing of the first drive motor. This nested arrangement allows multiple drive motors to be accommodated in a compact space, enabling the rotary valve to be divided into multiple independently driven sections without increasing the overall footprint or complexity of the system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Adaptability or versatility

If the rotary valve is divided into multiple sections with separate drives, then flexibility in distribution is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindependent operation of rotor segmentsVSAvoidnumber of drive units and mounting arrangements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple drive units by mounting them in a consolidated manner on the housing. Specifically, multiple drive motors are mounted on the housing in a compact arrangement, with some drives positioned inside the housings of other drives. This merging approach allows multiple independently operable rotor segments to be controlled without proportionally increasing device complexity, as the drive units share common mounting space and structural support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

3Ease of operation

If rotor segments are mounted on coupling bushings with concentric and non-coaxial arrangements, then flexibility and ease of alignment are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of change and alignmentVSAvoidcomplexity of mounting arrangements

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements universality by designing coupling bushings that can accommodate both concentric and non-coaxial mounting arrangements. The coupling bushings are designed with universal mounting features that allow rotor segments to be coupled in various configurations depending on the specific application requirements. This universal design enables the same coupling bushing component to serve multiple functions and accommodate different alignment needs without requiring specialized components for each configuration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4165967A1Dosing device, dosing system for agricultural distribution machine and distribution machine with such a dosing system

Publication Date: 2023.04.19 HORSCH MASCHINEN SE & CO KG

Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 2C

AI summary

The invention relates to a metering device (20), preferably for a metering system (10) for metering material for an agricultural distribution machine (200), in particular for a seed drill or a fertilizer spreader, comprising at least one housing (22), a cell rotor (50) rotatable within the housing (22), and at least one drive unit (100), preferably mounted on the housing (22), for driving the cell rotor (50), wherein the cell rotor (50) comprises at least one rotor section (54) with at least two rotor segments (52), each of which can be operated independently of one another by means of a separate drive (102) of the drive unit (100), and which are preferably concentric to one another, wherein at least one rotor segment (52) is indirectly and/or directly coupled to a first coupling bushing (56), and wherein at least one rotor segment (52) is indirectly and/or directly coupled to a second coupling bushing (58). is coupled.The invention also relates to a metering system (10) and an agricultural distribution machine, preferably a seed drill or a fertilizer spreader, with a metering system.