Press Wheel Segmented Coil Design for Furrow Closure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional press wheels fail to effectively close furrows in various soil conditions, including clay soils and no-till applications with heavy crop residue, leading to soil cracking, seed displacement, and uneven germination, and are prone to damage in rough and wet conditions.
Innovation Solution
A press wheel design featuring a resilient coil member mounted on a base member with a guard member made of polymeric material, providing a frustoconical configuration to prevent sinking in sloppy soils and protect the coil from damage, while maintaining soil contact and ensuring proper furrow closure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional rubber press wheel is used, then the wheel can travel along the ground surface to close the furrow, but it compresses the soil excessively in clay type soils, resulting in surface cracking or smearing that hardens the soil around the seeds
Solution Approach 1:
The press wheel is segmented into discrete tines rather than a continuous rubber surface, allowing selective contact with the soil through gaps between tines that reduce excessive compression while maintaining furrow closing capability
Solution Approach 2:
The design changes the contact parameter from continuous rubber surface to discrete tine elements with specific spacing and dimensions, controlling the degree of soil compression to prevent surface cracking while maintaining effective furrow closure
2Reliability
If a conventional rubber press wheel is used in no-till cropping applications, then the wheel is designed to close the furrow, but it bounces along the unprepared ground surface with heavy crop residue and fails to adequately close the furrow and cover the seeds
Solution Approach 1:
The segmented tine structure allows the wheel to penetrate through crop residue and uneven surfaces more effectively than a continuous rubber wheel, maintaining contact with the ground to close furrows in no-till conditions
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of relying on continuous surface contact, the design uses discrete penetrating tines that actively engage with the ground surface, inverting the approach from passive rolling to active penetration for better performance on unprepared ground
3Reliability
If spiked closing wheels are used to replace traditional rubber wheels, then the wheels can penetrate the soil and crop residue to break up the soil and avoid bouncing, but they penetrate too deeply into the soil surface in softer soil conditions, resulting in seed displacement and requiring operator replacement during use
Solution Approach 1:
The tine dimensions, spacing, and material properties are specifically engineered to control penetration depth, allowing effective soil engagement without excessive penetration that would displace seeds or require frequent maintenance
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the tine structure have different properties - the leading edges are designed for penetration while the lower portions are designed to engage soil at controlled depths, creating localized functions that prevent both bouncing and excessive penetration
4Reliability
If coil press wheels are used to close and compress the furrow, then the wheel performs a squeezing action to press air pockets from the soil and provide good soil-seed contact, but in particularly rough soil conditions with heavy stubble and uneven surface, the coils may bounce and undergo deformation due to the forces present, causing damage and adversely affecting function
Solution Approach 1:
The coil structure is segmented into discrete tines that are individually supported, preventing uncontrolled deformation while maintaining the squeezing action needed to remove air pockets and ensure good soil-seed contact
Solution Approach 2:
The tine structure provides inherent flexibility and shock absorption before forces can cause damage, cushioning against impacts from rough terrain and heavy stubble while maintaining functional integrity
5Adaptability or versatility
If coil wheels are used in wet and muddy soil conditions, then the open nature of the coil is designed to allow soil passage, but the wheel sinks into the soil and fails to perform its function due to sloppy conditions caused by heavy stubble, becoming buried and dragged through the soil
Solution Approach 1:
The tine spacing and dimensions are optimized to allow wet soil to pass through while maintaining structural support, preventing sinking in sloppy conditions while still enabling effective furrow closure
Solution Approach 2:
The press wheel design achieves universal performance across multiple soil conditions - dry, wet, clay, no-till, and rough terrain - through the adaptable tine structure that functions effectively in all environments without sacrificing reliability in any single condition
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 press wheel effectively handles rugged terrain and wet conditions, preventing sinking and damage, ensuring optimal soil-seed contact and consistent germination by maintaining surface contact and reducing coil deformation.
Implementation Method 1
coil press wheels have proven effective as they perform a squeezing action as they flex and travel over the ground surface, pressing any air pockets from the soil
Data Source
AI summary
A press wheel may be configured for use on cultivation equipment and may include a base member configured to be mounted to an axle. The base member may comprise a plate portion and a rim portion; a resilient coil member mounted to the plate portion of the base member; and a guard member mounted to the base member. The resilient coil member may be configured to wind about the base member to define an outer periphery of the press wheel extending from the plate portion toward the rim portion of the base member. The guard member may at least partially extend between the plate portion and the rim portion of the base member. The guard member may be configured to extend under the resilient coil member.