Middle Breaker Offset Discs Tillage Continuity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern tillage implements face challenges in maintaining consistent ground engagement and tillage across their width due to discontinuities in tool placement, leading to issues like uneven draft loads and irregular cutouts, particularly in the central region.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of a middle breaker with offset discs that can adjust their horizontal and vertical angles, coupled via a linkage system, ensures continuous tillage across the implement's width by evenly distributing ground material and mitigating the need for additional actuation systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If gang assemblies are arranged in a mirrored symmetric array about the centerline, then the implement structure is simplified and easier to manufacture, but a discontinuity of untilled ground material appears in the central region

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidtillage continuity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The middle breaker introduces an asymmetric element to the otherwise symmetric gang assembly configuration. By positioning a single breaker unit at the centerline rather than maintaining perfect symmetry, the design eliminates the central untilled gap while preserving the manufacturing simplicity of symmetric arrangements. This asymmetric placement allows ground material to be continuously tilled across the centerline without requiring complex non-symmetric gang assembly patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

2Manufacturing precision

If gang assemblies are placed in a staggered array to address central region discontinuity, then tillage continuity is improved, but the implement becomes longer and wider creating foldability and transport issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetillage continuityVSAvoidimplement length
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The middle breaker acts as a segmented solution that divides the tillage function into distinct zones: symmetric gang assemblies on the outer portions and a centralized breaker unit in the middle. This segmentation allows the implement to maintain a compact, foldable structure while achieving continuous tillage. The breaker unit processes ground material from both sides simultaneously, eliminating the need for extended staggered arrangements that would increase implement length and width.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Manufacturing precision

If gang assemblies are placed in a staggered array to address central region discontinuity, then tillage continuity is improved, but uneven draft loads cause dog tracking and inconsistent cutout

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetillage continuityVSAvoiddraft load uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The middle breaker introduces controlled asymmetry at the centerline position to balance the overall draft load distribution. By concentrating tillage action at the center rather than extending staggered gang assemblies asymmetrically, the design achieves tillage continuity while maintaining symmetric load distribution across the implement width. This prevents the uneven draft loads and dog tracking associated with asymmetric staggered configurations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP3581007B1Middle breaker for a tillage implement
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 DEERE & CO

AI summary

A tillage implement having a frame member extending in a fore-aft direction of the implement, the frame member pivotally connected in a foldable configuration, the frame member comprising a main frame section; a first wing section and a second wing section, each being pivotally connected at opposing lateral sides of the main frame section in the fore-aft direction; and a middle breaker including a first disc coupled to the main frame section, the first disc laterally offset from a centerline of the main frame section extending in the fore-aft direction, the first disc having a concave side facing towards the centerline, and a second disc coupled to the main frame section, laterally offset from the centerline, the second disc having a concave side facing towards the centerline.