Modular Closing Wheel Segmented Rim for Soil Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional closing wheels for seed furrows inadequately distribute soil, leading to incomplete furrow closure, especially in wet conditions, and result in high manufacturing waste due to complex machining requirements and material inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A modular closing wheel assembly featuring a hub with a recessed circumferential channel and a rim composed of interchangeable modular pieces with radial extensions, which can be easily assembled and disassembled to form a single wheel, reducing waste and manufacturing costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional closing wheels with fixed diameter and rubber tires are used, then the wheel structure is simple, but the soil distribution is uneven and furrow closure is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The rim is divided into multiple replaceable modular segments that can be independently configured. Each segment can be customized with different radial extension patterns, allowing optimization of soil distribution while maintaining a simple overall wheel structure. The segments attach to a standardized hub, preserving structural simplicity while enabling precision soil placement.
2Manufacturing precision
If metal features with radial extensions are used instead of rubber tires, then soil redistribution improves, but manufacturing waste increases due to complex machining and scrap metal
Solution Approach 1:
The rim is segmented into multiple replaceable modules that can be manufactured separately and assembled. This segmentation allows for more efficient material utilization during manufacturing and enables replacement of only damaged segments rather than the entire wheel, significantly reducing manufacturing waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The radial extensions are designed with adjustable parameters including angle, length, and spacing that can be optimized for different soil conditions. This parametric design allows standardization of components, reducing manufacturing complexity and material waste while maintaining effective soil redistribution.
3Manufacturing precision
If conventional closing wheels with smearing action are used, then the wheel structure is simple, but hard sidewalls form and furrow closure is incomplete
Solution Approach 1:
The rim is divided into segments with radial extensions that actively break down soil rather than smear it. This segmentation allows precise control over soil movement patterns, ensuring complete furrow closure by distributing soil evenly across the furrow opening while maintaining overall structural simplicity through standardized hub and segment interfaces.
4Ease of manufacture
If metal tines are cut from metal sheets, then the wheel can be manufactured, but large center portions become scrap metal waste
Solution Approach 1:
The rim is manufactured as segmented modules rather than from a single metal sheet. This segmentation enables more efficient nesting and arrangement of components during manufacturing, maximizing material utilization and minimizing scrap. Each segment can be independently optimized for material efficiency while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized production processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A closing wheel includes a hub and a rim configured to rotate about an axis and couple to a trailing arm assembly of a tractor. The closing wheel may act to close a seed furrow. The closing wheel may be a modular closing wheel where the hub is defined by portions and the rim is defined by modular pieces. The portions of the hub may define features to support or couple the rim to the hub. The modular pieces of the rim may each connect to an adjacent modular piece. The modular pieces may include radial features extending from the rim and configured to disturb soil.