Retractable Spike Tooth Harrow Folding Without Bar Tangling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing spike tooth harrows in field cultivators often get tangled during folding, causing damage to the implement and requiring manual untangling, which disrupts operation.

Innovation Solution

A retractable spike tooth harrow design with hydraulic cylinders and cables allows for controlled extension and retraction of bars relative to arms, preventing tangling and damage during folding and operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the spike tooth harrow uses chains and catch brackets for folding, then the harrow can be folded for transport, but the chains tend to catch on bolts and get tangled during folding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefolding capabilityVSAvoidtangling prevention

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the chains and catch brackets from the folding mechanism. Instead of using chains that connect the spike tooth harrow to the cultivator frame, the invention allows the harrow to fold independently without these intermediary components, eliminating the source of tangling and catching problems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The spike tooth harrow is divided into separable components (harrow bars, arms, and spikes) that can be independently positioned and folded. This segmentation allows each component to be controlled separately during the folding operation, preventing entanglement between different parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If the spike tooth harrow includes bars with spikes for soil engagement, then the harrow can level the soil effectively, but the bars may shift during folding and catch on other wing fold sections

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil leveling capabilityVSAvoidfolding safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The harrow bars are made dynamically adjustable during the folding process. The system transitions from a static fixed-bar configuration to a dynamic reconfigurable structure where bars can be repositioned or retracted during folding to prevent interference with other wing sections

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The folding sequence is carefully planned and executed in a predetermined order. Before the bars can potentially catch on other sections, the folding operation initiates controlled movements that guide the bars through safe paths, preventing contact with potential obstacles in advance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If catch brackets are installed to retain the spike tooth harrow during folding, then the harrow can be held in position, but if the harrow misses the catch bracket, it can crash down and damage components

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveharrow retentionVSAvoiddamage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The folding and retention system is designed to be self-regulating and self-protecting. The mechanism automatically controls the folding sequence and positioning without requiring external intervention or complex catch bracket systems, eliminating the risk of missed engagement and subsequent damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates protective measures in advance of potential failure modes. By controlling the folding sequence and bar positioning beforehand, the design prevents situations where the harrow could miss the catch bracket and crash down, cushioning against potential damage before it can occur

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

4Device complexity

If the chains are used to couple the bars to the arms, then the bars can be suspended from the arms, but the chains get tangled during folding requiring manual untangling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesuspension mechanismVSAvoiduntangling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The chains are completely removed from the suspension mechanism. The patent replaces the chain-based suspension with a direct rigid or articulated connection between the bars and arms, eliminating the flexible elements that cause tangling and the subsequent time-consuming manual untangling operations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible chain-based mechanical suspension system is replaced with a more rigid or controlled articulation system. This substitution eliminates the tangling problem inherent in flexible chains while maintaining the necessary suspension and movement capabilities of the harrow bars

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12543618B2Retractable spike tooth harrow for large field cultivator

Publication Date: 2026.02.10 CNH INDUSTRIAL AMERICA LLC

AI summary

A spike tooth harrow of a tillage implement includes a plurality of arms configured to couple to a frame section of the tillage implement. The spike tooth harrow also includes a plurality of bars coupled to the plurality of arms, wherein each bar of the plurality of bars includes a plurality of spikes angled relative to a direction of travel of the tillage implement, the plurality of bars are coupled to the plurality of arms via cables, and the spike tooth harrow is configured to extend and to retract the plurality of bars relative to the plurality of arms.