Polyurethane Gauge Wheel Tire With Radial Flex and Axial Rigidity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional gauge wheel tires made of low modulus materials like rubber are inadequate as they lack flexibility and rigidity, leading to mud build-up and soil compaction issues, while higher modulus materials with hollow channels fail to maintain axial rigidity, allowing debris to enter the tire.
Innovation Solution
A gauge wheel tire design utilizing polyurethane materials with a hollow cavity that allows radial flexing while maintaining axial rigidity, comprising multiple individually constructed pieces or a single integral unit, with features like protrusions and flanges to prevent over-flexing and ensure consistent seed placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional rubber tires are used, then flexibility is improved, but mud build-up and soil compaction occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from rubber to polyurethane, which has different mechanical properties including higher elasticity and resistance to deformation. This parameter change allows the tire to eject mud more effectively while reducing soil compaction, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and harmful effects.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If higher modulus materials with hollow channels are used, then mud ejection is improved, but axial rigidity is lost allowing debris entry
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the tire structure into multiple components: an outer component with ground-engaging portion, an inner component forming a hollow cavity, and a rim component. This segmentation allows the outer component to flex radially for mud ejection while the inner component and rim maintain axial rigidity to prevent debris entry.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction with multiple elastomeric components (outer component and inner component) that can have different material properties. The outer component can be designed for flexibility and mud ejection, while the inner component provides structural support and axial rigidity, resolving the contradiction between mud ejection and debris prevention.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If radial flexing is allowed, then mud ejection is improved, but over-flexing may occur affecting seed placement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates protrusions on the inner component that protrude into the hollow cavity to preliminarily constrain the outer component's radial movement. These protrusions prevent over-flexing before it occurs, ensuring that the tire maintains sufficient rigidity for consistent seed placement while still allowing enough radial flexing for effective mud ejection.
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
The design effectively ejects mud, reduces soil compaction, and prevents debris entry by allowing radial movement while maintaining axial rigidity, ensuring consistent seed depth and improved planting conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the axial support portion is spaced apart from the ground-engaging portion to form a gap that allows radial movement of the ground-engaging portion relative to the axial support portion
Data Source
AI summary
A disclosed example embodiment of a gauge wheel tire includes a first polyurethane sidewall portion, a second polyurethane sidewall portion, a polyurethane ground-engaging portion, and a polyurethane axial support portion. The first polyurethane sidewall portion is spaced apart from the second polyurethane sidewall portion, and the polyurethane ground-engaging portion extends from the first polyurethane sidewall portion to the second polyurethane sidewall portion and is adapted to contact a ground surface as the gauge wheel tire rotates about an axis of rotation. The polyurethane axial support portion extends from the first polyurethane sidewall portion to the second polyurethane sidewall portion, and is spaced apart from the polyurethane ground-engaging portion to form a gap that allows radial movement of the polyurethane ground-engaging portion relative to the polyurethane axial support portion.