Walking Axle Equalizer Assembly for Rough-Field Seed Depth
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural seed planters face challenges in maintaining consistent seed depth and preventing damage when operating in rough field conditions with moist or wet soil, and they often require removal of fertilizer equipment for folding, which is inefficient.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a walking axle assembly with a pivotally coupled lever arm, a fertilizer furrow opener disc, and a trailing furrow closer wheel, allowing the components to oscillate and follow field contours, maintaining consistent pressure and enabling the planter to fold without removing fertilizer equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If fertilizer depositing equipment is located on the front side of the planter, then liquid fertilizer can be deposited in the fertilizer furrow, but moist or wet soil accumulates on the gage wheels causing the planter to run too shallow
Solution Approach 1:
The planter is divided into separate functional modules: the fertilizer depositing equipment is separated from the gage wheels and seed depositing mechanism. This segmentation allows the fertilizer equipment to be positioned on the front side without interfering with the gage wheel operation and seed depth control, thus maintaining both fertilizer deposition capability and seed depth consistency.
Solution Approach 2:
A trailing arm assembly with lever arm acts as an intermediary mechanism between the fertilizer depositing equipment and the main planter frame. This intermediary allows the fertilizer equipment to be mounted on the front while using a trailing arm configuration that prevents soil accumulation on gage wheels, resolving the conflict between fertilizer deposition and seed depth control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the planter size is increased to accommodate fertilizer depositing equipment on the front end, then liquid fertilizer can be provided, but the planter cannot be folded without removing the fertilizer depositing equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The fertilizer depositing equipment is mounted on a trailing arm assembly with lever arms that are designed to be collapsible or foldable. This dynamic configuration allows the equipment to be extended during operation for fertilizer deposition and then folded or collapsed when the planter needs to be transported or stored, eliminating the need to remove the equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailing arm assembly with lever arms is designed to nest or collapse into a compact configuration. The lever arms can be folded back against the main frame, and the fertilizer depositing equipment can be positioned within the folded structure, allowing the entire assembly to be compacted for transport without removal.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the planter operates in rough field conditions with substantial surface deviation, then it can traverse various terrains, but seed depth becomes inconsistent and planter components may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The trailing arm assembly with lever arms provides a dynamic, articulated structure that can adapt to rough field conditions. The lever arms can pivot and adjust their position in response to terrain variations, allowing the fertilizer depositing equipment to follow the contour of the field while maintaining consistent operating depth and protecting components from damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The trailing arm assembly allows for changes in the operational parameters of the fertilizer depositing equipment in response to field conditions. The lever arm configuration enables automatic adjustment of the equipment's position and depth based on terrain variations, maintaining consistent performance across rough surfaces without requiring manual intervention or compromising component safety.
Data Source
AI summary
A bracket for use with an agriculture planter including a trailing arm frame defining a pivot point thereon may include an arm bracket assembly with first and second arms. Each arm may extend from a middle portion of the bracket. First and second implements may be rotatably mounted on mounting ends of two of the arms. The middle portion of the bracket may be pivotally coupled to the trailing arm frame at the pivot point.