Non-Parallel Seed Disc Row Unit for Precision Drilling Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing row units for agricultural implements lack precision in material positioning, especially at varying drilling depths, leading to issues such as material bouncing or sinking too deeply into the ground.
Innovation Solution
A row unit design featuring a pair of seed discs with non-parallel axes of rotation, allowing adjustable orientation via a pivotable axle unit and depth regulator, which controls the seed furrow width and depth, ensuring precise material placement regardless of the drilling depth.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If seed discs are arranged with fixed parallel axes of rotation, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the precision of material positioning deteriorates at varying drilling depths
Solution Approach 1:
The axle unit is pivotable relative to the frame, so that the orientation of at least one of the axes of rotation is adjustable. The row unit can be adjusted by pivoting the axle unit relative to the frame, so that the orientation of at least one of the axes of rotation is changed.
2Manufacturing precision
If seed discs are positioned for shallow drilling, then material bouncing is prevented, but material placement precision deteriorates at deeper drilling depths
Solution Approach 1:
The orientation of the seed discs is adjustable by pivoting the axle unit. The mutual spacing between the peripheries of the seed discs is non-constant, allowing optimization of seed furrow width and depth parameters for different drilling conditions.
3Manufacturing precision
If the mutual spacing between seed discs is constant, then the structure is simple, but material positioning precision deteriorates at varying depths
Solution Approach 1:
The axes of rotation are non-parallel to each other, so that a mutual spacing between the peripheries of the seed discs is non-constant. The axle unit is pivotable relative to the frame, allowing the orientation and spacing parameters to be adjusted dynamically.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3a~4b
AI summary
This document discloses a row unit (1, 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, 1f, 1g, 1h) for an agricultural implement (2), comprising a frame (11, 132) and a seed furrow-opener (13a, 13b), wherein the seed furrow-opener comprises a pair of seed discs (131a, 131b) rotatably connected to the frame via at least one axle unit (133), wherein each of the seed discs has a respective geometric axis of rotation (Ra, Rb), and wherein the axes of rotation are non-parallel, so that a mutual spacing between the peripheries of the seed discs (131a, 131b) is non-constant. The axle unit (133) is pivotable relative to the frame (11 ), so that the orientation of at least one of the axes of rotation is adjustable. The document also discloses an agricultural implement comprising at least one such row unit and a method of adjusting a row unit.