Rotatable Planter Toolbar for Flexible Row Spacing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing planter implements face challenges in accommodating varying row spacings and seed hoppers, with existing technologies limiting the flexibility and flexibility in positioning wheels, and existing technologies failing to efficiently support the weight of the wing sections, with the location of the wing wheels restricting row unit placement and requiring physical reconfiguration for different crops.
Innovation Solution
A planter implement design featuring a frame with a wheel support member that supports a wheel and a rotatable toolbar, allowing for adjustable positioning of the toolbar support member, with a toolbar coupled to the wheel support member, and a toolbar support member, and a toolbar support member that can change the angle of the toolbar relative to the wheel support member, enabling flexible row unit placement and wheel positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the wing wheels are positioned to enable particular spacing between row units, then the row spacing is fixed and stable, but the adaptability to different crops with different row spacings deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the toolbar rotatable relative to the wing section, allowing the row units to be repositioned dynamically. The toolbar can rotate to different angular positions, enabling adjustment of row spacing without physically moving the wing wheels, thus maintaining stability while achieving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the planter implement into distinct functional modules: the wing section with fixed wheels, the rotatable toolbar, and the row units. This segmentation allows the toolbar to be independently rotated to different positions, enabling flexible row spacing adjustment while the wing section remains stable with its fixed wheel positions.
2Device complexity
If the toolbar is fixed to the wing section, then the structure is simple and stable, but the flexibility in positioning row units deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a rotatable connection between the toolbar and wing section, transforming the fixed structure into a dynamic one. The toolbar can rotate to different angular positions relative to the wing section, providing flexibility in row unit placement while maintaining relatively simple structural implementation through the use of a rotation mechanism.
3Productivity
If the central hopper is made larger to increase planting speed, then the productivity increases, but the weight increases requiring more or larger wheels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent distributes the seed storage function across multiple smaller hoppers located at different positions on the planter, rather than using one large central hopper. This dimensional distribution allows the system to maintain high planting productivity while reducing the weight concentration on any single support point, thereby avoiding the need for additional or larger wheels.
4Stability of the object's composition
If the wing wheels are positioned to support the wing section, then the wing section is stable, but the location limits where row units can be placed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent separates the support function (wing wheels on wing section) from the planting function (row units on toolbar). The wing section with its stable wheel positioning remains fixed, while the toolbar with row units can rotate independently to different positions, thus maintaining wing section stability while expanding row unit placement options.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotatable connection between the toolbar and wing section enables dynamic repositioning of row units without affecting the stable positioning of the wing wheels. The toolbar can rotate to access different planting positions while the wing section remains stationary and stable, resolving the conflict between stability and placement flexibility.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A planter implement (102) includes a frame (103), at least one wheel support member (124) coupled to the frame, at least one wheel (118) carried by the wheel support member, and a toolbar (104) coupled to the at least one wheel support member (124).