Pivoting Side Frames for Uniform Seeding Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Towed agricultural implements face challenges in maintaining consistent soil tillage and sowing conditions across the entire working width, leading to uneven work results and requiring complex and expensive hydraulic systems for depth control.
Innovation Solution
A towed agricultural implement design featuring a central frame with a pivoting frame and laterally extending side frames that can be pivoted upwards and forwards, allowing depth control elements and sowing elements to cover the entire working width, with support transitioning from depth control elements to running gear during different operational positions, simplifying the structure and improving weight distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If depth control wheels are used to maintain constant seeding depth, then seeding depth consistency is improved, but the structure becomes more complex and expensive due to requiring separate hydraulic cylinders for each depth control wheel
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the depth control function with the side frame structure itself. The side frames are made pivotable about a horizontal axis, allowing the entire side frame assembly (including attached seeding elements and depth control wheels) to pivot together. This eliminates the need for separate hydraulic cylinders at each depth control wheel, as the depth control is achieved through the collective pivoting action of the side frames rather than individual wheel adjustment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The side frames serve multiple functions: they support the seeding elements, provide depth control through pivoting, and act as the structural framework for the implement. By making the side frames themselves pivotable, a single structural component performs both support and depth control functions, reducing the need for additional specialized components like separate hydraulic depth control systems.
2Strength
If depth control wheels and running wheels are positioned to support the implement, then structural support is improved, but the working conditions become uneven across the working width since these wheels do not extend over the entire working width
Solution Approach 1:
The implement is divided into multiple side frames that extend laterally across the working width. Each side frame can pivot independently about a horizontal axis, allowing localized depth control at different positions across the working width. This segmentation ensures that depth control and structural support are distributed across the entire working width rather than concentrated at specific wheel positions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a new dimension of control by making the side frames pivotable about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the direction of travel. This adds a rotational degree of freedom that allows the side frames to adjust their angle relative to the ground, enabling depth control across the entire lateral width of the implement rather than just at discrete wheel contact points.
3Adaptability or versatility
If side frames are pivoted upwards and forwards into transport position, then transport capability is improved, but the structure requires more complex pivoting mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The transport positioning function is merged with the depth control pivoting mechanism. The same horizontal pivot axis that enables depth control during operation also enables transport positioning. By pivoting the side frames upwards and forwards about this axis, the implement achieves a compact transport configuration without requiring separate actuators or mechanisms specifically for transport positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivotable side frame mechanism serves dual purposes: it controls seeding depth during operation and enables transport positioning when needed. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate transport positioning mechanisms, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining both operational and transport capabilities.
Data Source
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AI summary
A towed agricultural implement (10), in particular a tillage and/or seeding implement, is disclosed, comprising a central frame (12) with a running gear (16) and a drawbar (14), to which a pivoting frame (26) and side frames (28) extending laterally are attached at the rear. Depth control elements (30) and seeding elements (32) are attached to the side frames (28) at regular intervals across their entire width. The pivoting frame (26) and the side frames (28) extending laterally are pivotable upwards relative to the central frame (12) about a pivot axis (24) extending transversely to the direction of travel (22) by means of at least one actuating device (48).The side frames (28) are each pivotable forwards or backwards in a position extending in the direction of travel (22) about a pivot axis (38) located approximately at their end, which runs upright in the upwardly pivoted position of the pivot frame (26). To create a trailed agricultural implement, in particular a tillage and/or seeding implement with a large working width, in which conditions remain constant across the entire working width, it is provided that in a working and headland position, the pivot frame (26) is pivoted by means of the actuator such that depth control and support of the implement (10) are achieved exclusively by means of the depth control elements (30), and that in a transport position, the pivot frame (26) is pivoted by means of the actuating device (48) such that support of the implement (10) is achieved solely via the running gear (16).