Agricultural Output Unit with Moveable Outlet for Seed Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing agricultural implements face challenges in achieving compact, precise, and cost-effective control of drilling depth, particularly in volumetric seed drills, with existing solutions being bulky, complex, and difficult to maintain, and requiring manual adjustment during operation.
Innovation Solution
An output unit with a moveable material outlet relative to the seed furrow-opener, featuring a setting device to adjust the delivery point height and depth regulator, allowing synchronized control of working depth and delivery point position, facilitated by a cam surface and pivotable components for automated adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a depth regulator is positioned in a fixed relationship to the seed furrow-opener, then drilling depth control is simple, but drilling depth precision is insufficient when ground conditions vary
Solution Approach 1:
The material outlet is made movable relative to the seed furrow-opener, allowing its vertical position to be dynamically adjusted. This dynamic positioning enables the delivery point to be optimized for different working depths and ground conditions, improving drilling depth precision without requiring a completely complex control system.
Solution Approach 2:
A setting device acts as an intermediary mechanism between the depth regulator and the material outlet. This intermediary component translates depth regulator movements into corresponding material outlet position adjustments, enabling precise depth control while maintaining reasonable system complexity.
2Measurement precision
If the material outlet is fixed relative to the seed furrow-opener, then the structure is simple and compact, but drilling depth cannot be precisely controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The material outlet is designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing it to adjust its vertical position relative to the seed furrow-opener. This dynamic capability enables precise drilling depth control while the movement is constrained within a compact range to minimize volume increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The setting device serves multiple functions: it controls the material outlet position, coordinates with the depth regulator, and adapts to varying ground conditions. This multi-functionality allows precise depth control without requiring separate dedicated components for each function, thereby limiting volume increase.
3Productivity
If manual adjustment of drilling depth is used, then the device complexity is low, but productivity is reduced due to time-consuming adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables operators to quickly adjust drilling depth by simply moving the depth regulator, which then automatically coordinates with the material outlet positioning through the setting device. This self-service mechanism reduces adjustment time and improves productivity without requiring complex automated control systems.
4Adaptability or versatility
If drilling depth is set for the entire implement, then adjustment is simple, but individual output units cannot be optimized for local ground variations
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented so that each output unit has its own independent depth regulator and material outlet positioning mechanism. This segmentation allows individual output units to be adjusted independently to adapt to local ground variations, while each unit maintains a relatively simple control structure.
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
Enables precise and automated control of drilling depth, reducing wear and energy consumption, and accommodating ground variations, while maintaining consistent seed placement across varying soil conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a setting part, pivotable about a setting axle, and a setting link, connected to a portion of the setting part located at a distance from the setting axle, so that a torque about the setting axle is applicable using a force along the setting link
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 2c~3a
AI summary
An output unit (21a, 21 b) for an agricultural implement (1), for feeding granular material to the ground on which the agricultural implement (1) is travelling, comprises a seed furrow-opener (2111), a depth regulator (212), for controlling a work depth for the seed furrow-opener (2111), and a material outlet (213) defining a delivery point at which the granular material leaves the material outlet (213). The material outlet (213) is moveable relative to the seed furrow-opener (2111), so that the delivery point is moveable at least vertically relative to the seed furrow-opener (2111) and has a setting device (216), for controlling or limiting a height position for the delivery point relative to the seed furrow-opener (2111).