Planter Wheel Assembly Repositioning for Field and Transport Width
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Solution Overview
Problem
Agricultural planters with wider row spacings face challenges in transport due to wheel spacing that is too wide for standard trailers or narrow roads, leading to issues like soil compaction, increased hitch weight, and the need for specialized equipment.
Innovation Solution
The implement features wheel assemblies coupled to the frame via parallel linkages and actuators, allowing lateral and longitudinal movement, enabling adjustment of wheel positions for both working and transport configurations, thereby optimizing track width and hitch weight distribution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If wheel spacing is increased to reduce soil compaction and accommodate wider row spacing, then field planting performance is improved, but transport capability deteriorates due to inability to fit on standard trailers or narrow roads
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly incorporates movable wheels that can change their lateral position relative to the implement frame. During field operations, wheels are positioned at wider spacing to reduce soil compaction and accommodate row spacing. During transport, wheels are moved inward to narrow the track width, enabling the implement to fit on standard trailers and narrow roads without specialized equipment.
2Productivity
If wheel spacing is increased to accommodate wider row spacing, then planting efficiency is improved, but device complexity increases due to need for adjustable wheel positioning mechanisms
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel assembly uses movable wheels connected to the implement frame through linkages and actuators. The actuators can be hydraulic or electric, providing powered adjustment capability. This allows relatively simple adjustment mechanisms to achieve the desired wheel repositioning, balancing the complexity against the benefit of increased planting speed through wider row spacing accommodation.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If wheel spacing is increased to reduce soil compaction, then crop growth conditions are improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in adjusting wheel positions
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel positioning system incorporates actuators that can automatically adjust wheel positions based on operational mode (field vs. transport). The system may include sensors and control logic that detect the current state and automatically reposition wheels without requiring manual intervention, thereby maintaining ease of operation while achieving the soil compaction reduction benefit.
Data Source
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AI summary
An agricultural implement includes a frame coupled to a tow hitch, a toolbar coupled to frame, a plurality of row units carried by the toolbar, a first wheel assembly coupled to the frame, a second wheel assembly coupled to the frame. Each wheel assembly is configured to be moved laterally and longitudinally relative to the frame. The tow hitch is configured to be pulled by a tractor. Methods of configuring agricultural implements are also disclosed.